3rd Infantry Division - Rock of the Marne

Activated 12 Nov 1917  •  Entered Combat 8 Nov 1942 North Africa  •  Days of Combat 531  •  Casualties 25,977

Division Chronicle

The 3d Division first saw action in the North African invasion, landing at Fedala, 8 November 1942, and capturing half of French Morocco. On 10 July 1943, the Division made an assault landing on Sicily, fought its way into Palermo before the armor could get there, and raced on to capture Messina, thus ending the Sicilian campaign. Nine days after the Italian invasion, 18 September 1943, the 3d landed at Salerno and in intensive action drove to and across the Volturno and to Cassino.

After a brief rest, the Division was ordered to hit the beaches at Anzio, 22 January 1944, where for 4 months it maintained its toe-hold against furious German counterattacks. On 29 February 1944, the 3d fought off an attack by three German Divisions. In May the Division broke out of the beachhead and drove on to Rome, and then went into training for the invasion of Southern France.

On 15 August 1944, another D-day, the Division landed at St. Tropez, advanced up the Rhone Valley, through the Vosges Mountains, and reached the Rhine at Strasbourg, 26-27 November. After maintaining defensive positions it took part in clearing the Colmar Pocket, 23 January18 February 1945, and on 15 March struck against Siegfried Line positions south of Zweibrucken. The Division smashed through the defenses and crossed the Rhine, 26 March 1945 ; then drove on to take Nurnberg in a fierce battle, capturing the city in block-by-block fighting, 17-20 April. The 3d pushed on to take Augsburg and Munich, 27-30 April, and was in the vicinity of Salzburg when the war in Europe ended.

Division Organization

7th Infantry Regiment

15th Infantry Regiment

30th Infantry Regiment

3rd Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)

10th Engineer Combat Battalion

3rd Medical Battalion

HHB Division Artillery

10th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

39th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

41st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

9th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)

741st Tank Battalion (attached)

756th Tank Battalion (attached)

601st Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached)

703d Ordnance Light Maintenance Company

3rd Quartermaster Company

3rd Signal Company

Military Police Platoon

Headquarters Company