NAME:
Thirty-Seventh Infantry Division / 37th Division

NICKNAME:
"Buckeye"

BATTLE HONORS:

World War I
Meuse-Argonne
Ypres-Lys

World War II
Northern Solomons
Luzon

ACTIVATED:
Aug 1917
Oct 15, 1940

DEACTIVATED:
1919
Dec 18, 1945


HISTORY:

World War I

Activated: August 1917 (National Guard Division from Ohio)

Overseas: June 1918

Major operations: Meuse-Argonne, Ypres-Lys

Casualties: Total - 5,387 (KIA-794; WIA-4,593)

Commanders: Brig. Gen. William R. Smith (26 August 1917), Maj. Gen. C. G. Trent (3 September 1917), Brig. Gen. William R. Smith (18 September 1917), Maj. Gen. C. G. Trent (5 December 1917), Brig. Gen. Joseph A. Gaston (25 April 1918), Maj. Gen. C. S. Farnsworth (8 May 1918), Brig Gen. William M. Fassett (5 December 1918), Maj. Gen. C. S. Farnsworth (10 Dec. 1918)


World War II

Activated: 15 October 1940 (National Guard Division from Ohio)

Overseas: 26 May 1942

Campaigns: Northern Solomons, Luzon

Distinguished Unit Citations: 9

Awards: MH-7 ; DSC-116 ; DSM-4 ; SS-1,008 ; LM-71; SM-101 ; BSM-6,807 ; AM-84

Commanders: Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler commanded the Division during its entire period of Federal service in World War II.

Returned to U.S.: November 1945

Inactivated: 18 December 1945 (See National Guard)

Combat Chronicle

The 37th Infantry Division arrived in the Fiji Islands in June 1942 to fortify the islands against possible invasion. The division continued its training on the islands. With the end of ground fighting on Guadalcanal, the division moved to that island in April 1943, continued training, and staged for the Munda campaign. Two battalions joined the Marines on New Georgia, 5 July 1943, while the remainder of the division landed, 22 July, and assisted the 43d Infantry Division in taking Munda airfield in heavy fighting. After mopping up on New Georgia, the division returned to Guadalcanal, 9 September 1943, for rest and rehabilitation.

The division's next assignment was Bougainville. Relieving Marine units, 8-19 November 1943, the 37th took over the perimeter defense of the area, constructed roads and bridges and engaged in extensive patrol activity. In March 1944, two Japanese divisions made eight major attacks, but division lines held. In April patrols cleared the Laruma Valley area of major enemy units. The division remained on Bougainville and trained for the Luzon campaign. Landing with the Sixth Army on the beaches of Lingayen Gulf, 9 January 1945, the 37th raced inland against slight resistance to Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg where fierce resistance delayed capture of those objectives until 31 January. The division continued to drive to Manila against small delaying forces, and entered the city's outskirts, 4 February. Upon crossing the Pasig River, it ran into bitter Japanese opposition, and it took heavy street fighting to clear the city by 3 March 1945.

After garrison duty in Manila, 5-26 March, the division shifted to the hills of Northwest Luzon, where heavy fighting culminated in the capture of Baguio, 26 April. Rest and rehabilitation during May were followed by action in June in the Cagayan Valley against deteriorating Japanese resistance. With the end of hostilities, 15 August, the division was concerned with the collection and processing of prisoners of war, leaving November 1945 for the States and demobilization.

Divisional history from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_37th_Infantry_Division

Institute of Heraldry drawing

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Insignia variations

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37th ID, white back.

37th ID, white back, ODB.

PRE WORLD WAR II VARIATIONS:

Wool sew-together
Machine embroidered on wool

EARLY WORLD WAR II VARIATIONS:

Embroidered on OD wool
Embroidered on khaki base material

WWII VARIATIONS:

Fully embroidered Buff Border "Buff Back"
Fully embroidered OD Border" "green back"

WWII VARIATIONS:

Fully embroidered Light OD Border "white back"
Fully embroidered Dark OD Border "white back"

WWII VARIATIONS:

Fully embroidered "White Border" (Large Border) "white back"
Fully embroidered "White Border" (Smaller Border) "white back"

Here is a member of the 148th Infantry Regiment of the 37th Infantry Division taken in 1941 when he was stationed at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The "Buckeye" patch and the DI of the 148th are clearly seen.


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Here's one that's a bit different.

Here's a few more. These are the 3 newest worn by the 37th Infantry Combat Brigade. These three came straight from Iraq where they are currently deployed.

Some more from my collection. These two came from a Captain in the 147th Infantry. They appear to be made at the same time in the same style. Interesting that the one appears to be SUBDUED?

Still more.

This has been called the Easter Egg

Back of above.

Worn by Major General Gilson D Light, 37th Division 1938.

Another of General GD Lights. This one is very unusual.

1st Army, 5th Corps, 37th Division.

Liberty Loan

Liberty Loan variation. Some call this an Aero Squadron patch, but according to a salesmans sample catalog this IS 37th Division

Fairly common 37th Division patch. I've heard this one called an Overcoat patch. Probably due to its size.

This one is red wool on white leather. On a tunic from a chaplain with the 147th Infantry.

Interesting that this one was never cut.

WW 2 officers winter and summer variations.

Nice spiral type weave.

German made?

Early 20's I think, Wool felt on felt sewn to cotton khaki background.

White area is sewn in towards center on this one. Kinda unusual.

From the front cover of a Post WW2 reunion booklet. Never used as an issue patch.

Unusual overseas cap patch. Only about the size of a quarter or 50 cent pc.

Red velvet on leather.

Nice photo of a 37th Division soldier with a triple marked patch

Sure would like to find this guys uniform and footlocker! What a patch.

My 112th Engineers Officers bullion patch.

Reunion patch embroidered directly to an overseas cap.

Here's another unusual 37th patch. Red painted on to white leather. Officer in the 134th MG Bn.

Another from the same captain, different tunic. This one is wool felt on leather.

These are the newest 37th (IBCT) patches. Theater made, just back from the desert.

#2

#3...ACU's, not a Black and White picture

Very rare and unusual- glass beads in a spiral design. On a WW1 tunic.

Heres one on a uniform I just picked up at the SOS.

WW2 variant next to a standard size patch. Variant is on left.

Here's a greenback without a green border on the front. Jon.

This one is great. It belongs to 148thsoldier but I snuck a few pics of it when he wasn't looking. He's got a great patch here, came with a bunch of old PCs and photos, from a WW1 artillery soldier so I'm sure it's authentic.

Way to go 148th!

The newest to be found. Bullion tape surrounding velvet center. Unusual.

Mark

Thats a looker.Im thinking occupation made in Germany.I have been running across WW1 items lately that have been using a lot of edging,tress,litzen(lack of proper terms)from german makers during the occuption.

Great piece.

RD