NAME:
Seventy-Eighth Infantry Division / 78th Division
NICKNAME:
"Lightning Division"
BATTLE HONORS:
World War I
St. Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne
Lorraine
World War II
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
ACTIVATED:
Aug 5, 1917
June 24, 1921
Aug 15, 1942
Nov 1, 1946
DEACTIVATED:
July 9, 1919
Feb 20, 1942
May 22, 1946
PATCH HISTORY:
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 78th Division on 27 May 1922. It was retained for the 78th Division (Training) on 11 Sep 1959. The insignia was redesignated on 1 Oct 1993 for the 78th Division (Exercise) and the description revised to provide metric measurements. The insignia was redesignated for the 78th Division (Training Support) on 17 Oct 1999.
LINEAGE:
Constituted 5 August 1917 in the National Army as Headquarters, 78th Division
Organized 23 August 1917 at Camp Dix, New Jersey
Demobilized 9 July 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey
Reconstituted 24 June 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Headquarters, 78th Division
Organized in November 1921 at Newark, New Jersey
Redesignated 20 February 1942 as Division Headquarters, 78th Division
Ordered into active military service 15 August 1942 and reorganized at Camp Butner, North Carolina; concurrently redesignated as Headquarters, 78th Infantry Division
Inactivated 22 May 1946 in Germany
Activated 1 November 1946 at Newark, New Jersey
(Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps; *Redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve)
Location changed 9 November 1955 to Kearny, New Jersey; on 6 December 1958 to Edison, New Jersey
Reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1959 as Headquarters, 78th Division (Training)
Reorganized and redesignated 1 October 1993 as Headquarters, 78th Division (Exercise)
Reorganized and redesignated 17 October 1999 as Headquarters, 78th Division (Training Support)
HISTORY:
World War I
Activated: 27 August 1917.
Overseas: May 1918.
Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel.
Roll of Honor: two Medal of Honor winners
Casualties: Total-7,144 (KIA-1,169; WIA-5,975).
Commanders: Maj. Gen. C. W. Kennedy (23 August 1917), Brig. Gen. J. S. Mallory (28 November 1917), Brig. Gen. James T. Dean (28 December 1917), Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott (2 January 1918), Brig. Gen. James T. Dean (16 March 1918), Maj. Gen. J. H. McRae (20 April 1918).
Inactivated: June 1919.
Known as the "Lightning Division." Insignia, crimson semi-cfrcle with lightning flash in white. Organized about Aug. 25, 1917, at Camp Dix, New Jersey. The majority of the officers were from New York State and were trained at Madison Barracks. Enlisted personnel from northern New York State, New Jersey and Delaware. About the middle of Oct., 1917, the division began the gradual transfer of over 13,000 enlisted men, more or less trained, to other camps. On May 8, 1918, the division began movement overseas. The artillery brigade landed in France and proceeded to Brittany for training. The infantry units landed in England on June 4th and 5th, and crossed to Calais, three or four days later. Thelast units of the division arrived in France June 11, 1918.
Infantry units began training June 17, 1918, behind the Hazebrouck front in the British area. On July 19th, the division moved to an area east of St. Pol and trained there until Aug., 19th, when the infantry units moved to the Bourbonne-les Bains area. On Aug. 31st, the division began moving to the St. Mihiel front, arriving Sept. l0th. It remained in 1st Corps Reserve until Sept. 15th and 16th, when it relieved the 2nd and 5th Divisions. The artillery brigade had meanwhile come up to this front and was supporting the 90th Division. The division occupied the Limey sector until Oct. 4th when it was relieved and rejoined by the artillery brigade, moved to the Argonne forest. The division relieved the 77th Division on Oct. 16th and continued in the line until Nov. 5th, advancing twenty-one kilometers. On Nov. 6th the division, less artillery brigade and ammunition train, moved back to the Argonne camps west of Varennes, then to Florent, Les Islettes and to the south of St. Menenhould. It entrained for the Semur training area-on Nov. 15th.
This division captured from the enemy, 9 officers, 392 men, several pieces of artillery, numerous machine guns and quantities of other military supplies. It made a total advance against resistance of twenty-one kilometers or about thirteen miles. Casualties, 813, of which 63 were prisoners of war. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 95.
Commanding generals: Maj.-Gen. Chase W. Kennedy, Aug. 23 to Dec. 27, 1917; Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, Dec. 28, 1917 to March 15, 1918; Brig.-Gen. Jas. T. Dean, March 16 to April 20, 1918; Maj.-Gen. Jas H. McRae, April 20 to Nov.11, 1918.
The units composing the division were as follows: 115th, 156th Inf. Brigs., 309th, 3l0th, 311th, 312th Inf. Regts., 308th, 309th Machine Gun Bns., 153d Arty. Brig., 307th, 308th, 309th Arty. Regts., 303d Trench Mortar Battery, 307th Div. Machine Gun Bn., 303d Engr. Regt. And Train, 303d Fld. Sig. Bn., 303d Train Hqs and M.P., 303d Supply Train, 303d Amm. Train, 303d Sanitary Train (309th, 310th, 311th, 312th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).
World War II
Activated: 15 August 1942.
Overseas: 14 October 1944.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 125.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 4.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Edwin P Parker, Jr. (August 1942-November 1945), Maj. Gen. Ray W. Barker (January 1946 to inactivation).
Inactivated: 22 May 1946 in Europe.
The World War II Honor Roll lists: one Medal of Honor winner (Jonah Edward Kelley, of the 311th Infantry); nine Distinguished Service Crosses; 599 Silver Star medals; 3,909 Bronze Star medals and 5,454 Purple Hearts. 1,368 officers and enlisted men had perished.
Unit Casualty Tally
KIA: 1,427
WIA: 6,103
DOW: 198
Combat History:
In World War II, the 78th Division was reactivated at Camp Butner, North Carolina on August 15, 1942. It was designated as a Replacement Pool Division on October 1, 1942, and remained in this assignment until March 1, 1943, when the 78th Division was restored to field duty, and to its training regimen. 78th Division moved to the Carolina Maneuver Area on November 15, 1943 to test its training, and then returned to Camp Butner on December 7, 1943. The personnel then went on Christmas Leave, and deployed to the Tennessee Maneuver Area on January 25, 1944, where they participated in the 5th Second Army Tennessee Maneuvers. They then moved to Camp Pickett, Virginia, where they filled their TO&E, then deployed to the Staging Area at Camp Kilmer, NJ on October 4, 1944.
After two years as a Training Division, the 78th embarked for the European Theatre from the New York POE on October 14, 1944, whereupon they sailed for England. They arrived on October 26, 1944, and after further training crossed to France on November 22, 1944.
After landing in France, the division moved to Tongeren, Belgium on November 27, 1944, and to Rotgen, Germany on December 7, 1944, to prepare for combat. The 311th Infantry Regiment was attached to the 8th Armored Division in the Hurtgen Forest, 10 December. The 309th and 310th Infantry Regiments relieved elements of the 1st Division in the line in the vicinity of Entenpfuhl, 1-12 December. On the 13th these regiments smashed into Simmerath, Witzerath, and Bickerath and were fighting for Kesternich when Gerd von Rundstedt launched his counteroffensive in the Monschau area, on 18 December.
The 78th held the area it had taken from the Siegfried Line against the violent German attacks throughout the winter. The Division attacked, 30 January 1945, and took Kesternich, 2 February, the town of Schmidt on the 8th, and captured intact the vital Schwammanauel Dam the next day. In the advance, the Roer River was crossed, 28 February, and the Division joined the offensive of the First and Ninth Armies toward the Rhine. That river was crossed over the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, ** A History of the 311th Timberwolf Infantry Regiment: First Across the Rhine. n.p., 1945. 23 p. #603-311.1945/2. 8 March, by the 310th Regiment, the first troops to cross in the wake of the 9th Armored Division. That unit, attached to the 9th Armored and acting as a motorized unit had driven across Germany capturing Euskirchen, Rheinbach, and Bad Neuenahr. The 78th expanded the bridgehead, taking Honnef and cutting part of the Autobahn, 16 March. From 2 April to 8 May, the Division was active in the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket and at VE-day was stationed near Marburg. The Division remained on occupation duty in Germany until it was deactivated on May 22, 1946.
World War II Troop List
Maneuver Regiments
---309th Infantry Regiment
---310th Infantry Regiment
---311th Infantry Regiment
Division Artillery
---307th Field Artillery Battalion [105 mm]
---308th Field Artillery Battalion [105 mm]
---309th Field Artillery Battalion [155 mm]
---903rd Field Artillery Battalion [105 mm]
Additional Assigned Units
---78th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop [Mech]
---78th CIC Detachment
---78th Signal Company
---78th Quartermaster Company
---78th Military Police Platoon
---303rd Engineer Battalion [CBT]
---303rd Medical Battalion
---778th Ordnance Company [LM]
---HQ Co, 78th Infantry Division
---HQ 78th ID Special Troops
---HHB, 78th ID Artillery
Attachments
---552nd Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion [AW] [12/20/1944 - after VE day]
---628th Tank Destroyer Battalion [12/19/1944 - 12/23/1944]
---709th Tank Battalion [12/10/1944 - 01/25/1945]
---736th Tank Battalion [01/25/1945 - 02/01/1945]
---774th Tank Battalion [02/03/1945 - 02/24/1945]
---817th Tank Destroyer Battalion [12/01/1944 - 12/06/1944]
---893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion [12/11/1944 - after VE day]
Assignments in the European Theater of Operations
9 November 1944: Ninth Army, 12th Army Group.
28 November 1944: XIX Corps.
5 December 1944: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
18 December 1944: VII Corps.
20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group.
22 December 1944: XIX Corps, Ninth Army (attached to the British 21st Army Group), 12th Army Group.
2 February 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
3 February 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps.
12 February 1945: III Corps.
16 March 1945: VII Corps.
3 April 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps.
19 April 1945: First Army, 12th Army Group.
22 May 1946: Deactivated
Post-World War II
The 78th Division (TS) provides training assistance and support to Reserve Component (RC) units IAW established priorities, provides command and staff training exercises through the simulations brigade, and discharges other missions as directed by the First Army to enhance the combat readiness of RC soldiers and units. On order, coordinate and synchronize mobilization assistance and support to RC units within AOR. All soldiers trained by this Division will be fully prepared to accomplish any mission. All of our deployed units will meet theater commander's requirements.
The 78th Division provides training support to its client units and soldiers by providing the latest tactics, techniques, procedures, and doctrine by utilizing mobile training teams, computer simulations, and lanes exercises. Through a wide range of focused professional services, we work with the responsible commanders to maximize the combat power of the US Army, by ensuring that these units are fully trained and ready to deploy.
The 78th is the famous Lightning Division. The shoulder insignia mirrors the nickname - a red semicircle with a white lightning bolt streaking through it. There are two stories concerning the origin of the sobriquet. The first holds that, in World War I, the French compared the action of the 78th to a bolt of lightning that seared the field through which it raced. The other is attributed to the fact that the Division was first formed in Burlington County. It was called "Lightning Division" to honor the famous Jersey Applejack whiskey produced in that county.
The 78th Infantry Division was activated on 23 August 1917 at Camp Dix, New Jersey. It consisted of four infantry regiments- the 309th, 310th, 311th and 312th, and three Artillery regiments- the 307th, 308th and 309th. Twenty thousand soldiers made up the original Division.
In France, during the summer and fall of 1918, it was the " point of the wedge" of the final offensive, which knocked out Germany. The 78th was in three major campaigns during World War I- Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel and Lorraine. Demobilization took place after the war in June 1919.
In World War II, the 78th Division was reactivated at Camp Butner, North Carolina on 15 August 1942. After two years as a Training Division, the 78th embarked for the European Theatre. There, in combat in Belgium, France and Germany, our men brought even more honor to an already proud name. The Siegfried Line, the Roer and the Rhine rivers, the Cologne plain, the Remagen bridgehead, the Rhur pocket- all lay along the road to Berlin, where after six months of occupation duty, the Division was officially deactivated in May of 1946.
In November 1946, the 78th Infantry Division was reactivated at Newark, New Jersey and in May 1959 it was reorganized as a Training Division. The 78th Division again responded to the nation's call in 1990 and 1991 during Desert Storm/ Desert Shield when the Lightning's 920th Transportation Company( Medium, Petroleum) was deployed to Southwest Asia and provided vital fuel for the thunder of Desert Storm's troops and machines in their victorious campaign. The 1018th Reception Battalion, the 2nd Brigade OSUT Headquarters, and the 1st and 3rd Battalion of the 310th Regiment as well as the 1st Brigade's 3rd Battalion, 309th Regiment, with a composite detachment from the 78th Training Support Brigade, provided assistance in necessary Training Base Expansion at Ft. Dix. The 348th MP Detachment conducted protective service missions for key national leaders throughout the world during the mobilization period. Coupled with the 78th's many individual fillers and volunteers for other mobilized units, the 78th Division's proud tradition of service was once again illustrated.
In 1992, the Division transformed into an Exercise Division under the Army's "Bold Shift" initiative. The new mission was to conduct small unit collective training (LANES) and computerized battle simulation exercises for clients in the First Army East area.
The 78th Division was one of five Exercise Divisions in the United States, headquartered in Edison, New Jersey with subordinate units located in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.
The Army Reserve conducted its first combat service support (CSS) training simulation system (CSSTSS) simulation exercise (SIMEX) in an inactive-duty-for-training (IDT) status in September 1997. The participating group commanders found that the SIMEX effectively stressed their staffs and provided more effective CSS training than that offered in other simulations used by the Army Reserve. The 78th Division (Exercise) (DIVEX), Edison, New Jersey, was tasked by the Army Reserve Command to conduct a pilot test using CSSTSS to determine its viability for training CSS battalion and group staffs during a weekend drill.
Using a modified Prairie Warrior data base, five CSS groups operated at 5 locations in 4 states in the SIMEX: the 475th Quartermaster Group, Farrell, Pennsylvania; the 300th Transportation Group, Butler, Pennsylvania; the 38th Ordnance Group, Charleston, West Virginia; the 390th Personnel Group, Richmond, Virginia; and the 300th Area Support Group, Fort Lee, Virginia. The 310th Theater Army Area Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, provided a small group to function as a theater support command at the 78th Division's battle projection center in Fort Dix, New Jersey.
The SIMEX ran from 1800 hours on 11 September 1997 until 0800 hours on 14 September 1997. The opposing forces (OPFOR) cell fought a series of "battles" with the battle driver subsystem. The battles created corps sustainment requirements that were fed into the CSSTSS emulated Standard Army Management Information System (STAMIS) to reflect the generated logistics work load. Daily roll-ups were used to monitor unit progress and check the accuracy of data posted by the groups on the status boards.
Due to the success of the SIMEX, a proposal was developed to conduct a single SIMEX from a mainframe and transmitted to all five DIVEX's. This way, CSS units all over the country can simultaneously participate in one SIMEX through their host DIVEX's. This will increase training opportunities and eliminate the cost of conducting multiple exercises. In Fiscal Year 1998, two DIVEX's, the 78th and the 87th, conducted an exercise in this manner. The 375th Transportation Group, Mobile, Alabama, joined the 475th Quartermaster Group, the 300th Transportation Group, and the 390th Personnel Group for a SIMEX in August.
In October 1999, the 78th was re-designated as the 78th Division (Training Support). The 78th Division is a tri-component structure for training support, assistance and evaluation as directed by First United States Army for designated priority Reserve and National Guard units during pre and post mobilization. The missions of mobilization training teams, mobilization,, and providing military support to civil authorities are new additional duties. Units are headquartered in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina.
In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, the DoD recommended to close Camp Kilmer, NJ and relocate the HQ 78th Division at Fort Dix, NJ. The relocation of the HQ 78th Division to Fort Dix and establishment of one of the new Army Reserve Sustainment Units of Action would establish a new capability for the Army Reserve while increasing the support capabilities of the Army Reserve to the Active Army.
Divisional history from:
http://ranger95.com/divisions/order_battle_78th_div_ww1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_78th_Infantry_Division
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/78d.htm