NAME:
Ninety-Second Infantry Division / 92nd Division
NICKNAME:
"The Buffaloes"
BATTLE HONORS:
World War I
Meuse-Argonne
World War II
North Apennines
Po Valley
ACTIVATED:
Oct 1917
Oct 15, 1942
DEACTIVATED:
Feb 1919
Nov 28, 1945
HISTORY:
World War I
Activated: October 1917.
Overseas: 18 July 1918.
Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne (less FA).
Casualties: Total-1,647 (KIA-120; WIA-1,527).
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Charles C. Ballou (29 October 1917), Maj. Gen. Charles H. Martin (19 November 1918), Brig. Gen. James B. Erwin (16 December 1918).
Returned to U. S. and inactivated: February 1919.
Combat Chronicle
Popularly known as the "Buffaloes." Insignia, a buffalo in a black circle on khaki patch. Organized Oct. 29th at Camps Funston, Grant, Dodge, Upton, Meade and Dix. The officers and enlisted men coming from all parts of the United States.
On June 2, 1918, the division was assembled at Camp Upton for embarkation. From June 10th to 27, 1918, the division embarked at Hoboken. On June 19, 1918, the division headquarters arrived at Brest, France. On Aug. 29, 1918, after a period of training the division entered the line at St. Die in the quiet Vosges sector. Relived on Sept. 20th. From Sept. 25th to 30th, the division was in the reserve of the 1st Army Corps in the Argonne-Meuse sector. From Sept. 24th to 30th, the 368th Infantry was brigaded with the 11th Curassiers under command of the 38th Army Corps (French), forming the liasion detachment between the French and American armies. Oct. 9th, it was in line in the Marbach sector astride the Moselle river from Oct. 9th to Nov. 15th. The artillery brigade joined the division Oct. 23, 1918.
Battle deaths 185, wounded 1,495, prisoners, 17. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 21.
Commanding generals: Brig. Gen. Chas. C. Ballou, Oct. 30 to Nov. 20, 1917; Brig. Gen. John E. McMahon, Nov. 23 to Dec. 3, 1917; Maj. Gen. Chas. C. Ballou, Dec. 3, 1917 to Jan. 12, 1918; Brig. Gen. Jas. B. Erwin, Jan 12 to March 12, 1918; Maj. Gen. Chas. C. Ballou, March 12 to Nov. 11, 1918.
The units composing the division were as follows: 183d and 184th Inf. Brigs., 365th, 366th, 367th, 368th Inf. Regts., 350th, 351st Machine Gun Bns., 167th Arty. Brig., 349th, 350th, and 351st Arty. Regts., 317th Trench Mortar Battery, 349th Div. Machine Gun Bn., 317th Engr. Regt. And Train, 325th Fld. Sig. Bn., 317th Train Hqs. And M.P., 317th Supply Train, 317th Amm. Train, 317th Sanitary Train (365th, 366th, 367th and 368th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).
World War II
Activated: 15 October 1942.
Overseas: 22 September 1944.
Campaigns: North Apennines, Po Valley.
Awards: MOH-2; DSC-2; DSM-1; SS-208; LM-8; SM-10; BSM-1,166.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond (October 1942-August 1945), Brig. Gen. John E. Wood (August 1945 to inactivation).
Returned to U. S.: 26 November 1945.
Inactivated: 28 November 1945.
Combat Chronicle
The 370th Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 1st Armored Division, arrived in Naples, Italy, 1 August 1944 and entered combat on the 24th. It participated in the crossing of the Arno River, the occupation of Lucca and the penetration of the Gothic Line. Enemy resistance was negligible in its area. As Task Force 92, elements of the 92nd attacked on the Ligurian coastal flank toward Massa, 5 October. By the 12th, the slight gains achieved were lost to counterattacks. On 13 October, the remainder of the Division concentrated for patrol activities.
Elements of the 92nd moved to the Serchio sector, 3 November 1944, and advanced in the Serchio River Valley against light resistance, but the attempt to capture Castelnuovo did not succeed. Patrol activities continued until 26 December when the enemy attacked, forcing units of the 92nd to withdraw. The attack ended on 28 December: attacking forces was mainly Italian of Alpine Division "Monte Rosa" (4 battalions) whit the support of 3 German battalions. Aside from patrols and reconnaissance, units of the 92d attacked in the Serchio sector, 5-8 February 1945, against Italian Bersaglieri Division "Italia", but enemy counterattacks nullified Division advances. On 1 April, the 370th RCT and the attached 442nd RCT (Nisei) attacked in the Ligurian coastal sector and drove rapidly north against light opposition of German 148th Infantry Division supported by Italian coastal units.
The 370th took over the Serchio sector and pursued a retreating enemy from 18 April until the collapse of enemy forces, 29 April 1945. Elements of the 92nd Division entered La Spezia and Genoa on the 27th and took over selected towns along the Ligurian coast until the enemy surrendered, 2 May 1945.
Medal of Honor recipients
John R. Fox, 1st Lt, Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division, nr. Sommocolonia, Italy, December 26, 1944.
Vernon J. Baker, 1st Lt, 92nd Infantry Division, nr. Viareggio, Italy, April 5-6, 1945.
Units during World War II
365 Infantry Regiment
366 Infantry Regiment
370 Infantry Regiment
371 Infantry Regiment
597 Field Artillery Battalion
598 Field Artillery Battalion
599 Field Artillery Battalion
600 Field Artillery Battalion
317 Engineer Combat Battalion
317 Medical Battalion
92nd Military Police Platoon
92nd Quartermater Company
92nd Signal Company
792nd Ordinance (LM) Company
92nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop
Divisional history from:
http://ranger95.com/divisions/order_battle_92nd_div_ww1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_92nd_Infantry_Division