NAME:
Ninety-First Infantry Division / 91st Division
NICKNAME:
"Wild West Division," "Powder River Division," and "Pine Tree Division"
BATTLE HONORS:
World War I
Lorraine
Meuse-Argonne
Ypres-Lys
World War II
Rome-Arno
North Apennines
Po Valley
ACTIVATED:
Aug 5, 1917
1921
Aug 15, 1942
Dec 1946
DEACTIVATED:
1919
Aug 4, 1942
Dec 1, 1945
HISTORY:
World War I
Insignia, a green fir tree, emblematic of the Far West. The division is known as the "Wild West Division." Organized Aug. 25, 1917, at Camp Lewis, Washington. The majority of the officers were from California, Washington and Oregon. The enlisted men from California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Alaska. The division began leaving June 19, 1918, for overseas, the move continuing until early in July and was through Camp Merritt, Camp Mills, England and France. First units sailed July 6, 1918, and the last units arrived in France July 26, 1918. All units of the division, artillery excepted, were trained in the eighth training area. The artillery was trained in the vicinity of Clermont-Ferrand.
The division left the eighth area, Sept. 6, 1918, and from Sept. 11th to 14th constituted a part of the reserves in the St. Mihiel offensive, moving thence to the northwest of Verdun, where it took part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Sept. 26th, advancing from west of Avocourt to north of Gesnes. Continued in the offensive until Oct. 6th, when it moved to the Nattancourt area. One bridge stayed in the line with the 1st Division until Oct. 16th. On Oct. 19th, the division passed to the command of the King of Belgium. From Oct. 31st to Nov. 4th, the division, under the direction of the French Army in Belgium, took part in the Lys-Scheldt offensive west of the Escaut (Scheldt) river in the vicinity of Audenarde. Nov. 10th and 11th, took part in the Lys-Scheldt offensive east of the Escaut (Scheldt) river in the vicinity of Audenarde. Nov. 22, 1918, detachment of division participated in the ceremony in connection with the entrance into the City of Brussels of the King and Queen of Belgium. In Dec. 1918 and Jan. 1919, the division moved to the LeMans area. In March and April, it embarked for the U.S.
Casualties 5,838, of which 23 were prisoners of war. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 19. German prisoners captured, 2,412.
Commanding general: Maj. Gen. Harry A. Greene, Aug. 25 to Nov. 24, 1917; Brig. Gen. Jas. A. Iron, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23, 1917; Brig. Gen. Frederick S. Foltz, Dec. 23, 1917 to March 2, 1918; Maj. Gen. Harry A. Green, March 2 to June 19, 1918; Brig. Gen. Frederick S. Foltz, June 19 to Aug. 31, 1918; Maj. Gen. Wm. H. Johnston, Aug. 31 to Nov. 11, 1918.
The units composing the division are as follows: 181st and 182d Inf. Brigs, 361st, 362d, 363d, 364th Inf. Regts. 347th, 348th Machine Guns Bns., 166th Arty. Brig., 346th, 347th, 348th Arty. Regts., 316th Trench Mortar Battery, 346th Div. Machine Gun Bn., 316th Engr. Regt and Train, 316th Fld. Sig. Bn., 316th Train Hqs and M.P., 316th Supply Train, 316th Amm. Train, Sanitary Train (361st, 362d, 363d, 364th Amb Cos. And Field Hospitals).
Post-World War I
In 1919, the 91st was deactivated at the Presidio of San Francisco. After being reconstituted in 1921 as part of the Organized Reserves, the division then served as an administrative control center for the next 21 years.
World War II
Activated: 15 August 1942.
Overseas: 3 April 1944.
Campaigns: Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 3. Awards: MH-2 ; DSC-2 ; DSM-1 ; SS-528; LM-33; SM-43 ; BSM-4,152.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Charles H. Gerhardt (August 1942-July 1943), Maj. Gen. William G. Livesay (July 1943 to inactivation).
Returned to U. S.: 10 September 1945.
Inactivated: 1 December 1945.
Combat Chronicle
The 91st Infantry Division arrived in North Africa, 18 April to 10 May 1944, and trained intensively at Arzew and Renan, French Morocco. Leaving by units, the entire Division was in Italy, 19 June 1944.
Meanwhile, the 361st RCT landed at Anzio, 1 June, and fought near Velletri south of Rome from 3 June. The 363d RCT entered combat near Riparbella, 4 July. On 12 July, the Division fought as a unit near Chianni, Italy, for the high ground dominating the Arno River. By the 19th it had reached the river. The 363d RCT participated in the capture of Livorno, 19 July, and in a quick thrust to the north, two units entered Pisa, 24 July. From 24 July to 12 September 1944, the 91st held their positions along the Arno while they underwent extensive training.
On the 13th, the Division attacked the Gothic Line, took Monticelli, 18 September, and advanced to the Santerno River through stubborn resistance, 23 September. Moving through rocky escarpments and other natural barriers as well as heavy opposition, the 91st occupied Livergnano, 13 October. The offensive was canceled, however, and the 91st assumed defensive positions below Pianoro, 31 October.
During November, the 91st remained on the defensive, sending out small patrols. After resting in December, the Division returned to the line and maintained a static defensive front until 20 March 1945, when the Division retired to Gagliano and Villanova to prepare for a new offensive. This final assault began on 15 April 1945.
The 91st entered Bologna, 21 April, and moved along Highway No. 64 against slight resistance. After crossing the Po River on the 23d, the Division swung to the northeast, crossing the Adige River, 26 April, and reaching. Treviso on the 29th. All enemy forces in Italy surrendered, 2 May, and the 91st was assigned occupational duties in the Province of Venezia-Giulia, including the Trieste area.
Post-World War II to 1990s
In December 1946, the 91st was reactivated at the Presidio of San Francisco as part of the U.S. Army Reserve.
In 1959, the division was reorganized and redesignated as the 91st Division (Training). In 1993 the division was again reorganized and redesignated as the 91st Division (Exercise) and again in 1999 as the 91st Division (Training Support).
The 91st Division Today
The 91st Division (Training Support) is organized and staffed to plan, conduct and evaluate training exercises (including small unit collective training) for the Army National Guard, Army Reserve Combat Support and Combat Service Support Units at the squad, platoon/section, and company/battery levels and above. Upon mobilization, the 91st Division will assist in the validation of Reserve and Army National Guard units in the preparation for deployment. The men and women of the Wild West Division stay prepared to carry out their mobilization mission through a variety of training activities preformed during monthly drills, annual training and many hours of personal time. Each element of the Division plays a vital role in the peace time activities of the command in its readiness to perform its mobilization mission.
Its current headquarters is at Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (RFTA), Dublin, California.
In its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations, the Department of Defense recommended relocating the 91st Division to Fort Hunter Liggett.
Divisional history from:
http://members.aol.com/ItalyWW2/Division91.htm
http://ranger95.com/divisions/order_battle_91st_div_ww1.html
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/091id.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_91st_Infantry_Division
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/91d.htm