44th Infantry Division (United States) - World War II

World War II

The 44th Division participated in the First Army Maneuvers in Upstate New York from 7–24 August 1940, prior to being inducted into federal service for twelve months of training on 16 September 1940. Posted at Fort Dix, New Jersey during 1940–1941, the division's training culminated in the Carolina Maneuvers, September–December 1941. The division was en route to New Jersey on 7 December 1941, returning to Fort Dix when news was heard of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A regimental combat team, based on the 113th Infantry, was immediately detached from the division and attached to the Eastern Defense Command to provide ground forces for the defense of the East Coast from New York to Philadelphia. Shortly afterwords, the remainder of the division moved to Camp Claiborne, LA, where the 44th Division was reorganized and redesignated, the 44th Infantry Division on 16 February 1942.>

The division was then sent to Fort Lewis Washington, where it participated in defense of the West Coast for the remainder of 1942. In February 1943, the 44th Infantry Division, much reduced through the loss of personnel and units entered a period of rebuilding and training. After completing the "D-Series", division-level training, the 44th was sent to participate in the multi-division Fourth Army #6 Louisiana Maneuvers, 7 February-3 April 1944. The division then moved to Camp Phillips, KS for its final pre-deployment preparations. The division moved by railroad to Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts, arriving on 24–27 August 1944;

• Northern France (25 July – 14 September 44)(General Order (GO) #102, War Department (WD), 9 Nov 45).
• Rhineland (September 15, 1944 – March 21, 1945) (GO #118, WD, December 12, 1945).
• Central Europe (March 22, 1945 – May 11, 1945) (GO #116, WD, December 11, 45).
• Ardennes-Alsace (December 16, 1944 – January 25, 1945) (GO #63, Department of the Army, 20 September 1948).
• Days of combat: 190.
• Distinguished Unit Citations: 3.