34th Infantry Division (United States)

34th Infantry Division (United States)
Unit name	34th Infantry Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 34th Infantry Division
Dates	1917–1919, 1924–1963, 1991–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Command structure	Minnesota National Guard, Iowa National Guard
Garrison	Rosemount, Minnesota
Nickname	"Red Bull"
Motto	Attack, Attack, Attack!
Battles	World War I, World War II, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Notable commanders	Charles W. Ryder, Charles L. Bolte
Identification symbol label	Distinctive unit insignia

34th Infantry Division (United States) is a division of the United States Army, part of the Army National Guard. It was originally activated from National Guard troops of Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakota Territory, and Nebraska in 1917. Nicknamed the "Red Bull" for its distinctive shoulder sleeve insignia, the division holds the distinction of having accumulated more combat days during World War II than any other U.S. Army division.

History

The division was constituted from National Guard units in August 1917, following the American entry into World War I. It trained at Camp Cody near Deming, New Mexico, before deploying to France in October 1918. The division saw limited frontline service in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive before the Armistice of 11 November 1918. It was demobilized in 1919, then reconstituted in the interwar years as a National Guard formation for Minnesota and Iowa.

Organization

The division's core infantry regiments historically included the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 135th Infantry Regiment, and 168th Infantry Regiment. Its artillery component was the 185th Field Artillery Regiment. Following post-World War II reorganizations under the Pentomic and ROAD structures, it was later reorganized as a brigade combat team. Today, the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division headquarters oversees multiple brigade combat teams within the Minnesota National Guard and Iowa National Guard.

World War II

Activated in February 1941, the division trained at Camp Claiborne in Louisiana. It was the first U.S. division deployed to the European Theater in 1942, landing in Northern Ireland. Under the command of Major General Charles W. Ryder, it first saw combat in the Tunisian Campaign at the Battle of Kasserine Pass and later at Hill 609. The division participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily and the grueling Italian Campaign, fighting in the Battle of Monte Cassino, the Anzio breakout, and the Gothic Line. It ended the war in Italy, having spent 517 days in combat.

Post-World War II to present

Inactivated in 1945, the division was reconstituted in the Minnesota National Guard in 1946. It was reorganized as a Pentomic division in the 1950s and inactivated in 1963. The division was reborn in 1991 as a division headquarters for training and deploying National Guard brigades. Elements of the division have since deployed extensively, including the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division to Iraq during the Iraq War and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Notable members

Several individuals of prominence served in the division. Bob Dole, later a U.S. Senator and Republican presidential nominee, was a lieutenant in the 10th Mountain Division but served with the 34th Division's 85th Infantry during the Italian Campaign. Charles L. Bolte, who commanded the division in 1945, later became Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Walter Krueger, who commanded the 133rd Infantry Regiment in World War I, rose to command the Sixth United States Army in the Pacific War.

Honors and awards

The division received numerous campaign streamers for both World War I and World War II. Its soldiers earned many individual decorations, including the Medal of Honor, awarded to Technical Sergeant John R. Crews for heroism at the Battle of the Colmar Pocket. The division itself was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Afghanistan. The distinctive Red Bull patch was famously authorized for wear by all soldiers who served under its command in World War II, a rare honor.

Category:Infantry divisions of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations in Minnesota Category:Military units and formations in Iowa