NAME:
Eighty-Third Infantry Division / 83rd Division
NICKNAME:
"Thunderbolt Division" and "Ohio Division"
NICKNAME HISTORY:
The 83rd Infantry Division received its nickname, the "Thunderbolt" division, after a division-wide contest for a new nickname held in early 1945. The earlier nickname, "Ohio," was based on the division's insignia (which includes the name "Ohio," where the division was raised during World War I). A new nickname was desired to represent the nationwide origins of the division's personnel during World War II.
From: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=...duleId=10006145
BATTLE HONORS:
World War II
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
ACTIVATED:
Sept 1917
Aug 15, 1942
DEACTIVATED:
Oct 1919
April 5, 1946
PATCH HISTORY:
The 83rd Division insignia consists of a monogrammatic design in gold spelling out the word "O-H-I-O" on a black triangular background. The insignia was selected during World War I because the division contained mostly Ohio draftees. Even though the division changed from an Ohio outfit to one representing the 48 States, the insignia still remains; however, a new nickname "Thunderbolt", was selected while the division was holding on the Rhine opposite Dusseldorf.
From: http://www.army.mil/CMH/documents/ETO-OB/83ID-ETO.htm
HISTORY:
World War I:
Activated: September 1917
Overseas: June 1918
Major Operations: Designated a depot division; supplied over 195,000 officers and enlisted men as replacements in France. Certain division units saw action
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Edwin F. Glenn (25 August 1917), Brig. Gen. Frederick Perkins (13 January 1918), Brig. Gen. Willard A. Holbrook (23 March 1918), Maj. Gen. Edwin F. Glenn (3 April 1918)
Inactivated: October 1919
Organized at Camp Sherman, Ohio, in Sept. 1917. The division was composed of drafted men from Ohio and West Virginia. First units embarked for overseas on June 4th and the last units arrived in France on June 21st.
Upon arrival in France the division was designated as a depot division and was ordered to the LeMans area. Here the division was broken up and the artillery brigade and special units, such as engineer and signal troops were sent forward as corps and army troops.
The other organizations of the division were held in the area and trained as replacements for the combat divisions at the front. Returned to U.S. Jan. 1919.
Maj. Gen. Edwin F. Glenn commanded this division from the time of its organization until it was demobilized.
The division was composed of the following organizations: 165th and 166th Inf. Brigs., 158th Arty. Brig., 329th, 330th, 331st, 332d Inf. Regts., 322d, 323d, 324th Machine Gun Bns., 32ssd, 323, 324th Fld. Arty Regts., 308th Trench Mortar Battery, 308th Engr. Regt. And Train, 308th Supply Train, 308th Sanitary Train (329th, 330th, 331st, 332d Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).
World War II
Activated: 15 August 1942
Overseas: 6 April 1944
Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe
Days of combat: 244
Distinguished Unit Citations: 7
Awards: MH-1 ; DSC-7 ; DSM-1 ; SS-710; LM-11; SM-25 ; BSM-6,294 ; AM-110
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Frank W. Milburn (August 1942-December 1943), Maj. Gen. Robert C. Macon (January 1944-31 January 1946)
Returned to U.S.: 26 March 1946
Inactivated: 5 April 1946
Combat Chronicle
The 83d Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944. After training in Wales, the division landed at Omaha Beach, 18 June 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carentan, 27 June. Taking the offensive, the 83d reached the St. Lo-Periers Road, 25 July, and advanced 8 miles against strong opposition as the Normandy campaign ended.
After a period of training, elements of the division took Chateauneuf, 5 August, and Dinard, 7 August, and approached the heavily fortified area protecting St. Malo. Intense fighting reduced enemy strong points and a combined attack against the Citadel Fortress of St. Servan caused its surrender, 17 August. While elements moved south to protect the north bank of the Loire River, the main body of the division concentrated south of Rennes for patrolling and reconnaissance activities. Elements reduced the garrison at Ile de Cezembre, which surrendered, 2 September. The movement into Luxembourg was completed on 25 September. Taking Remich on the 28th and patrolling defensively along the Moselle, the 83d resisted counterattacks and advanced to the Siegfried Line defenses across the Sauer after capturing Grevenmacher and Echternach, 7 October. As the initial movement in operation "Unicorn," the division took Le Stromberg Hill in the vicinity of Basse Konz against strong opposition, 5 November, and beat off counterattacks.
Moving to the Hurtgen Forest, the 83d thrust forward from Gressenich to the west bank of the Roer. It entered the Battle of the Bulge, 27 December, striking at Rochefort and reducing the enemy salient in a bitter struggle. The division moved back to Belgium and the Netherlands for rehabilitation and training, 22 January 1945. On 1 March, the 83d advanced toward the Rhine in Operation Grenade, and captured Neuss. The west bank of the Rhine from north of Oberkassel to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positions established by 2 March and the division renewed its training. The 83d crossed the Rhine south of Wesel, 29 March, and advanced across the Munster Plain to the Weser, crossing it at Bodenwerder. As opposition disintegrated, Halle fell on 6 April. The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby. That city was taken on the 13th. The 83d established a bridgehead over the river but evacuated the area to the Russians on 6 May 1945.
Assignments in the ETO
8 April 1944: VIII Corps, Third Army
25 June 1944: Third Army, but attached to the VIII Corps of First Army
1 July 1944: VII Corps
15 July 1944: VIII Corps
1 August 1944: XV Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group
3 August 1944: VIII Corps
5 September 1944: VIII Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group
10 September 1944: Ninth Army, 12th Army Group
21 September 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group
11 October 1944: VIII Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group
22 October 1944: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
8 November 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group
11 November 1944: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
7 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)
26 December 1944: VII Corps, First Army (attached to British 21st Army Group), 12th Army Group
16 February 1945: XIX Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group
8 May 1945: XIII Corps
Divisional history from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_83rd_Infantry_Division
http://ranger95.com/divisions/order_battle_83rd_div_ww1.html
