NAME:
Eighty-Ninth Infantry Division / 89th Division
NICKNAME:
"The Rolling 'W'" and "The Middle West Division"
NICKNAME HISTORY:
The 89th Infantry Division's nickname, the "Rolling W," is based on the division's insignia. Created during World War I, this insignia utilized a letter "M" inside a wheel. When the wheel turns, the "M" becomes a "W." The letters "MW" signify the Midwest origin of the troops who formed the 89th during World War I. The division was also known as the "Middle West" division, another variation on its origin.
From: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=...duleId=10006140
BATTLE HONORS:
World War I
St. Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne
World War II
Rhineland
Central Europe
ACTIVATED:
Aug 1917
July 15, 1942
DEACTIVATED:
May 1919
Dec 27, 1945
HISTORY:
World War I
Activated: August 1917.
Overseas: June 1918.
Major Operations: St. Mihiel, MeuseArgonne.
Casualties: Total-7,091 (KIA-980; WIA-6,111).
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood (27 August 1917), Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (26 November 1917), Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Hanson (24 December 1917), Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (29 December 1917), Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood (12 April 1918), Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (1 June 1918), Maj. Gen. William M. Wright (6 September 1918), Maj. Gen. Frank L. Winn (12 November 1918).
Inactivated: May 1919.
Combat Chronicle
Popularly known as the "Middle West Division." Insignia, a black "W" in a black circle. Different colors are placed in the lower part of the "W" according to the various branches of the service. Organized at Camp Funston, Kansas in Sept. 1917. The division was composed of National Army drafts mainly from Kansas, Missouri and Colorado. In May, 1918, the division moved to Camp Mills, L.I. On June 4th, division headquarters and the majority of the division embarked from New York and the last units arrived in France on July 10th. Upon arrival in France the division was ordered to the Reynel training area (Haute-Marne) except the divisional artillery which was ordered to the Camp Souge, near Bordeaux for training. The division remained in the Reynel area until Aug. 5th when it was moved by bus to the Toul front where it occupied the line between northeast corner of Bois de Bauchot to the middle of the Etang de Vorgevaux and was supported by the 55th Fld. Arty and 250th Regiment French Fld. Arty.
On Sept. 12th the division participated in the St. Mihiel offensive as the right division of the 4th American Corps and advanced to a depth of twenty-one kilometers including the captures of the towns of Beney, Essey, Boullionville, Pannes and Xammes. On Oct. 7th the division was relieved in the Pannes-Flirey-Limey sector by the 37th Division and was moved by bus to the Recicourt area and became part of the 1st Army Reserve. On Oct. 12th the division moved forward in rear of the 32d Division as part of the 5th American Corps in the Argonne offensive and on Oct. 20th the division went into the line along the Sommerance-Romagne road just north of the Kreimhilde defense positions. The division attacked on November 1st and continued in the assault until the armistive was signed when it had crossed the Meuse north of Stenay.
The division was placed under the 7th Corps of the 3rd Army and on Nov. 24th began its march into Germany. The division was assigned the area bounded by Kreise of Prum, Bitburg, Trier, and Saarburg with division headquarters at Kyllburg where it was joined by the divisional artillery which had been serving with the 28th Division. On May 19, 1919, the division sailed for the U.S. and debarked at New York. It was then sent to Camp Funston, Kansas, where it was demobilized shortly afterwards.
The division captured from the enemy the following, 5,061 prisoners, 127 pieces of artillery, 455 machine guns. The division advanced thirty-six pieces of artillery, 455 machine guns. The division advanced thirty-six kilometers against resistance. Battle deaths 1,419, wounded, 7,394; number taken prisoners 1 officer and 24 men. The following decorations were awarded to individuals of this division: Congressional Medal of Honor, 8; Distinguished Service Crosses, 119, Distinguished Service Medals, 2; Croix de Guerre, 55; Belgian Cross L'Ordre Leopold, 1; Belgian Croix de Guerre, 2.
Commanding generals: Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, Aug. 27, 1917 to Nov. 26, 1917; Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn, Nov. 26, 1917 to April 12, 1918; Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, April 12 to May 24, 1918; Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn, May 24, 1918 to Sept. 14, 1918; Maj. Gen. Wm. M. Wright, Sept. 14, 1918 to Oct. 24, 1918; Maj. Gen. Frank L. Winn. Oct. 24, 1918 to Nov. 11, 1918
The division was composed of the following organizations: 177th and 178th Inf. Brigs; 164th Arty. Brig. 353d, 354th, 355th and 356th Inf. Regts.; 340th, 341st 342d Machine Gun Bns; 340th, 341st, 342d Fld. Arty. Regts; 314th Trench Mortar Battery; 314th Engr. Regt. And Train; 314th Fld. Sig. Bn.; 314th Hqs. Train and M.P.; 314th Amm. Train; 314th Supply Train; 314th Sanitary Train (Field Hospital and Amb. Cos. Nos. 353, 354, 355, 356).
World War II
Activated: 15 July 1942.
Overseas: 10 January 1945.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 57.
Awards: DSM-1 ; SS-46; LM-5; SM-1 ; BSM-135 ; AM-17.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. William H. Gill (July 1942–February 1943), Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Finley (February 1943 to inactivation).
Returned to U.S.: 16 December 1945.
Inactivated: 27 December 1945.
Combat Chronicle
The 89th Infantry Division landed in France at Le Havre, 21 January 1945, and engaged in several weeks of precombat training before moving up to the Sauer River into jump-off positions east of Echternach, 11 March 1945. The next day, the offensive began, and the 89th plunged across the Sauer in a rapid advance to and across the Moselle, 17 March. The offensive rolled on, and the Division crossed the Rhine, 26 March, between the towns of Kestert and Kaub. In April, the 89th attacked toward Eisenach, taking that town, 6 April. The next objective was Friedrichroda, core of the vaunted National Redoubt in Thuringia. The city was secured by 8 April.
The Division continued to move eastward toward the Mulde River, capturing Zwickau by 17 April. The advance was halted, 23 April, and from then until VE-day, the Division saw only limited action, engaging in patrolling and general security. Three towns, Lossnitz, Aue, and Stollberg, were kept under constant pressure, but no attacks were launched.
Assignments in the European Theater of Operations
21 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
4 March 1945: XII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
23 March 1945: VIII Corps.
22 April 1945: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
Divisional history from:
http://ranger95.com/divisions/order_battle_89th_div_ww1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_89th_Infantry_Division
http://www.89infdivww2.org/