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World War I
Activated: 1917.
Overseas: 5 June 1918.
Major
operations: Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne.
Days of combat:
69.
Casualties: Total: 12,820 (KIA: 2,160; WIA: 10,660).
Commanders: Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron (3 December 1917-14 August
1918), Brig. Gen. Benjamin A. Poore (14 August-27 August 1918), Maj. Gen.
John L. Hines (27 August-11 October 1918), Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron (11
October-22 October 1918), Brig. Gen. Benjamin A. Poore (22 October-31
October 1918), Maj. Gen. Mark L. Hersey (31 October11 November 1918).
Returned to U. S.: July 1919. Inactivated: 1 August 1919.
World War II
Activated: 3 June 1940.
Overseas: 18 January 1944.
Campaigns: Normandy, Central Europe, Northern France, Rhineland,
Ardennes-Alsace.
Days of combat: 299.
Distinguished Unit
Citations: 12.
Awards: MH-3 ; DSC-60 ; DSM-2 ; SS-1,283 ; LM-15;
SM-22 ; BSM-6,795 ; AM-78.
Commanders: Maj.. Gen. Walter E. Prosser (June-October
1940), Maj. Gen. Lloyd R. Fredendall (October 1940-July 1941), Maj. Gen.
Oscar W. Griswold (August-September 1941), Maj. Gen. Harold R. Bull
(October-November 1941), Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen (December 1941),
Maj. Gen. Fred C. Wallace (January-June 1942), Maj. Gen. Raymond 0. Barton
(July 1942-December 1944), Maj. Gen. Harold W. Blakeley (December
1944-October 1945), Maj. Gen. George P. Hays (November 1945-5 March 1946),
Maj. Gen. Jens A. Doe (15 July 1947-28 February 1949), Maj. Gen. Robert T.
Frederick (28 February 1949-). Returned to U. S.: 10 July 1945.
Inactivated: 5 March 1946.
Reactivated: 15 July 1947.
Combat chronicle
The 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division
was one of the first Allied units to hit the beaches at Normandy on D-day, 6
June 1944. Relieving the isolated 82d Airborne Division at Ste. Mere Eglise,
the 4th cleared the Cotentin peninsula and took part in the capture of
Cherbourg, 25 June.
After taking part in the fighting near Periers,
6-12 July, the Division broke through the left flank of the German Seventh
Army, helped stem the German drive toward Avranches, and by the end of
August had moved to Paris, assisting the French in the liberation of their
capital.
The 4th then moved into Belgium through
Houffalize to attack the Siegfried Line at Schnee Eifel, 14 September, and
made several penetrations.
Slow progress into Germany continued in
October, and by 6 November the Division reached the Hurtgen Forest, where a
severe engagement took place until early December.
It then shifted to Luxembourg, only to meet the
German winter offensive head-on, 16 December 1944. Although its lines were
dented, it managed to hold the Germans at Dickweiler and Osweiler, and,
counterattacking in January across the Sauer, overran German positions in
Fouhren and Vianden.
Halted at the Prum in February by heavy enemy
resistance, the Division finally crossed 28 February near Olzheim, and raced
on across the Kyll, 7 March.
After a short rest, the 4th moved across the
Rhine 29 March at Worms, attacked and secured Wurzburg and by 3 April had
established a bridgehead across the Main at Ochsenfurt.
Speeding southeast across Bavaria, the Division
had reached Miesbach on the Isar, 2 May 1945, when it was relieved and
placed on occupation duty.
Assignments in the ETO
10 January 1944: First Army.
14 January 1944: V Corps,
First Army.
2 February 1944: VII Corps.
16 July 1944:
VIII
Corps.
19 July 1944: VII Corps.
1 August 1944: VII Corps,
First Army, 12th Army Group.
22 August 1944: V Corps.
8 November 1944: VII Corps. 7 December 1944: VIII Corps. 20 December
1944: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
21 December 1944:
XII
Corps.
27 January 1945: VIII Corps.
10 March 1945: 12th
Army Group, but attached to Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
20 March 1945: VI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
25 March 1945:
XXI
Corps.
8 April 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
2 May 1945:
Third Army, 12th Army Group.
6 May 1945: III Corps, Third Army, 12th
Army Group.
General
Nicknames:
Ivy Division; Famous Fourth.
Slogan: Steadfast
and loyal.
Shoulder patch: Four green ivy leaves attached at the
stems and opening at the four corners of a squadron on brown background.
Association [in 1950]:
National Fourth "IVY" Division Association; Box 654, Boston
2, Mass.
Publications [as of
1950]:
Famous Fourth by unit members. TI&E ;
distributor, National Fourth Division Association.
History of the Fourth
Infantry Division, by Capt. Francis H. Fife, unit historian.
Baton Rouge, La.: Army & Navy Publishing Co., 1947.
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