24th Infantry Division (United States)

24th Infantry Division (United States) was a major United States Army Infantry division with a long and distinguished service history. First constituted in 1921, it saw extensive combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was among the first United States units to respond at the outbreak of the Korean War. The division was inactivated in 2006 after multiple reactivations, including service during Operation Desert Storm.

History

The division was constituted in the Regular Army in 1921, tracing its lineage to the Hawaiian Division. It was activated on 1 March 1921 at Schofield Barracks in the Territory of Hawaii. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 24th Infantry Division remained in Hawaii on defensive duties before deploying for combat. After the Korean War, the division was inactivated in 1970, only to be reactivated at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in 1975. It was inactivated again in 1996, briefly reactivated as a division headquarters from 1999 to 2006.

Organization

Throughout its history, the division's structure evolved. During World War II, its core Infantry regiments were the 19th Infantry Regiment, 21st Infantry Regiment, and 299th Infantry Regiment. In the Korean War, it was organized under a Pentomic structure. By the Gulf War, the division was a heavy force, comprising 1st and 2nd Brigades from Fort Stewart and the 197th Infantry Brigade from Fort Benning, equipped with M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley fighting vehicles.

Campaigns and battles

The division's first major combat was in World War II, participating in the New Guinea campaign, the Battle of Leyte, and the Battle of Mindanao. In the Korean War, it earned fame for its initial, desperate delaying actions after the Battle of Osan, including the Battle of Taejon where its commander, Major General William F. Dean, was captured. The division later fought in the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter, the UN offensive into North Korea, and endured the Chinese Communist Forces intervention. In 1991, the 24th Infantry Division executed a massive "Left Hook" armored assault during Operation Desert Storm, engaging elements of the Iraqi Republican Guard in the Battle of Medina Ridge.

Commanders

Notable commanders include Major General Frederick A. Irving, who led the division during the Philippines campaign. At the start of the Korean War, Major General John H. Church commanded the division, followed by William F. Dean, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Taejon. During the Gulf War, the division was commanded by Major General Barry McCaffrey. Other commanders included Henry C. Newton and James B. Vaught.

Insignia and nicknames

The division's shoulder sleeve insignia is a green taro leaf outlined in yellow, reflecting its origins in Hawaii. Its official nickname was the "Victory Division," though early in its history it was also known informally as the "Hawaiian Division." The taro leaf insignia was designed by Benjamin F. Castle and approved in 1921. The division's motto was "First to Fight."

Legacy and honors

The 24th Infantry Division received numerous campaign streamers for World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. Its actions at the outset of the Korean War are a noted case study in military delaying tactics. The division's lineage and honors were perpetuated by the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division until its inactivation. Several unit awards, including the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, were bestowed upon its subordinate elements for service in Korea.