2nd Infantry Division - Indian Head

Activated 18 Nov 1917  •  Entered Combat 8 Jun 1944 Normandy•  Days of Combat 303  •  Casualties 16,795

Division Chronicle

After training in Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July.

Exploiting the St. Lo break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15 August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26 September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March.

The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Gottingen 8 April, established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved 200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the GermanCzech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, reaching that city as the war in Europe ended.

Division Organization

9th Infantry Regiment

23rd Infantry Regiment

38th Infantry Regiment

HHB Division Artillery

15th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

37th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

38th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

12th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)

2nd Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)

2nd Engineer Combat Battalion

2nd Medical Battalion

2nd Counter Intelligence Corps

HQ Special Troops

702d Ordnance Light Maintenance Company

2nd Quartermaster Company

2nd Signal Company

Military Police Platoon

Headquarters Company

Band

741st Tank Battalion (attached)

759st Tank Battalion (attached)

612th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached)

629th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached)

644th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached)

Assignments to Higher Units