1st Infantry Division

1st Infantry Division
Unit name	1st Infantry Division
Caption	The division's distinctive shoulder sleeve insignia.
Dates	1917–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Combined arms maneuver
Size	Division
Garrison	Fort Riley, Kansas
Nickname	"The Big Red One"
Motto	"No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great. Duty First!"
Battles	* World War I * World War II * Vietnam War * Gulf War * War in Afghanistan * Iraq War
Notable commanders	Omar Bradley, Clarence R. Huebner, John W. Vessey Jr., Thomas G. Rhame

1st Infantry Division. The 1st Infantry Division is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army, having been first constituted in 1917 during World War I. Known as "The Big Red One" for its distinctive red numeral shoulder patch, the division has played a pivotal role in every major American conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries. Its storied history includes campaigns from the Western Front to Normandy, Vietnam, and the Middle East.

History

The division was activated at Fort Jay on Governors Island in New York Harbor under the command of William L. Sibert. It deployed to France as the first American division to see combat in World War I, fighting in major offensives like the Battle of Cantigny and the Meuse–Argonne offensive. Reactivated for World War II, it spearheaded the Allied invasion at Omaha Beach and fought across Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. The division later saw extensive combat in the Vietnam War, operating from bases like Lai Khê and engaging in operations such as Operation Attleboro and the Battle of Ong Thanh.

Organization

The division is currently headquartered at Fort Riley and falls under the III Armored Corps. Its major subordinate brigades include the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade. This structure supports the Army's Modular Force concept, allowing for flexible deployment of combined arms teams. The division also maintains a sustainment brigade and a division artillery headquarters to coordinate fires and logistics across its area of operations.

Insignia and traditions

The division's shoulder sleeve insignia, a large red numeral "1" on an olive drab shield, was approved by the War Department in 1918. Its motto, "No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great. Duty First!", was adopted after World War I. The division song, "The Big Red One Song," is a key part of its heritage. Ceremonies often include the passing of the colors, and the division museum at Fort Riley preserves artifacts from its long history, including items from the Battle of Normandy.

Notable commanders

Among its most distinguished leaders is General of the Army Omar Bradley, who commanded during the critical Tunisian Campaign and later led the 12th Army Group. Clarence R. Huebner took command during the tough fighting after D-Day and led the division through the Hürtgen Forest. John W. Vessey Jr. later rose to become the tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. More recent commanders include Thomas G. Rhame, who led the division during Operation Desert Storm and its famous assault through the Saudi Arabia-Iraq border.

Campaigns and battles

The division's battle honors span multiple wars. In World War I, it fought at Soissons and Saint-Mihiel. During World War II, key engagements included the Battle of Aachen, the Battle of the Bulge, and the capture of the Remagen bridge. In Vietnam, it was involved in the Iron Triangle and Cambodian campaign. During the Gulf War, it executed a decisive breach of the Saddam Line. More recently, it deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, operating in areas like Tikrit and Baghdad, and to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Equipment and training

The division's armored brigade combat teams are equipped with the M1 Abrams main battle tank and the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Its aviation brigade operates the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the UH-60 Black Hawk. Soldiers train extensively at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson. The division also conducts regular exercises with NATO allies in Europe and participates in the Army Warfighting Assessment to test new technologies and tactics.

Legacy and honors

The division has been awarded numerous honors, including the Presidential Unit Citation for actions at Omaha Beach and the Valorous Unit Award for service in Vietnam. It holds over 20 campaign streamers for World War II alone. The division is memorialized in films like *The Big Red One* and literature such as *If You Survive* by George Wilson. Its legacy of "Duty First" continues to influence the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and the development of modern infantry doctrine.

Category:Infantry divisions of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1917