42nd Infantry Division (United States)

42nd Infantry Division (United States)
Unit name	42nd Infantry Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia
Dates	1917–1919, 1943–1946, 1947–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Division
Command structure	New York Army National Guard
Garrison	Glenmore Road Armory, Troy, New York
Nickname	"Rainbow Division"
Motto	"Never Forget!"
Battles	World War I, World War II, War on Terror
Notable commanders	Douglas MacArthur, Charles T. Menoher, Harry J. Collins
Identification symbol label	Distinctive unit insignia

42nd Infantry Division (United States). The 42nd Infantry Division is a division of the United States Army National Guard. It was first constituted during World War I and famously nicknamed the "Rainbow Division" by then-Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur. The division has seen combat in both World War I and World War II, and more recently served in homeland security and Iraq War missions, maintaining its legacy as a versatile component of the Army National Guard.

History

The division was created in August 1917 by order of the War Department, drawing National Guard units from 26 states and the District of Columbia. This composition across the nation inspired its enduring "Rainbow" nickname. After World War I, it was inactivated in 1919, only to be reactivated for World War II in 1943. Post-war, it was reorganized as a part of the New York Army National Guard, where it remains a key formation, adapting to modern roles including Operation Noble Eagle and deployments to Iraq.

World War I

Activated at Camp Mills, New York in 1917, the division trained under the command of Major General William A. Mann before deploying to France in late 1918. It fought as part of the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front, participating in several major campaigns. The division saw intense combat in the Lunéville sector, the Champagne-Marne Offensive, and the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. Its soldiers also played a significant role in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the final major Allied offensive of the war. The division suffered over 14,000 casualties before returning to the United States and being inactivated in 1919.

World War II

Reactivated in July 1943 at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, the division was commanded by Major General Harry J. Collins. After training, it deployed to Europe in late 1944, entering the line in Alsace as part of the Seventh Army. It fought in the Battle of the Bulge, helping to reduce the Colmar Pocket. The division later advanced into Germany, crossing the Rhine River during Operation Undertone and capturing the cities of Würzburg and Schweinfurt. In late April 1945, units of the division liberated the Dachau concentration camp, a profoundly significant event. The division was inactivated in Europe in June 1946.

Post-World War II to present

Reconstituted in 1947 as part of the New York Army National Guard, the division served as a training formation during the Cold War. Following the September 11 attacks, its 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment provided security in New York City for Operation Noble Eagle. The division's headquarters deployed to Tikrit, Iraq in 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, commanding multinational forces in the Salah ad Din Governorate. More recently, elements have supported domestic response missions and continued training partnerships, such as with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Organization

The division's current structure is centered within the New York Army National Guard, with its headquarters at the Glenmore Road Armory in Troy, New York. Its major subordinate brigades include the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (New York), the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Vermont and Connecticut), and the 197th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (New Hampshire). The division also maintains support brigades like the 42nd Infantry Division Artillery and the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

Notable members

Many distinguished Americans have served in the division. Its first prominent commander was Douglas MacArthur, who served as its chief of staff in World War I. Other notable World War I personnel included Father Francis P. Duffy, the famous chaplain of the 69th Infantry Regiment, and Joyce Kilmer, the poet killed in action. World War II notable members included war correspondent Andy Rooney and Captain John J. O'Connell. More recently, Major General Joseph J. Taluto commanded the division during its deployment to Iraq.

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