4th Infantry Division (United States)

4th Infantry Division (United States)
source
Unit name	4th Infantry Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia
Dates	1917–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Combined arms
Size	Division
Command structure	III Armored Corps
Garrison	Fort Carson, Colorado
Nickname	"Ivy Division", "Iron Horse"
Motto	"Steadfast and Loyal"
Battles	World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Notable commanders	Raymond O. Barton, George H. A. Smith, John W. Vessey Jr., David H. Petraeus
Identification symbol label	Distinctive unit insignia

4th Infantry Division (United States). The 4th Infantry Division is a United States Army division with a distinguished history dating to its activation for World War I. Known as the "Ivy Division," its insignia symbolizes the Roman numeral IV and its steadfastness. The division has fought in every major U.S. conflict from the Meuse-Argonne Offensive to the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), earning a reputation as a premier combined arms force.

History

The division was constituted in late 1917 at Camp Greene, North Carolina, and deployed to the Western Front under the American Expeditionary Forces. It saw intense combat in 1918, including the Aisne-Marne Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Reactivated for World War II at Fort Benning, it trained under Major General Raymond O. Barton and landed on Utah Beach during the Normandy landings. The division fought through the Battle of the Bulge and into Germany, capturing the city of Schwarzenfeld. After the war, it was stationed at Fort Lewis before deploying to the Vietnam War, operating in the Central Highlands and Cambodia. In the 21st century, it participated in the Iraq War, notably in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Sunni Triangle, and later in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021).

Organization

The division is currently organized as a Combined arms division under the III Armored Corps. Its primary garrison is Fort Carson, Colorado. Major subordinate brigades include the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team. The division also includes the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade. This modular structure allows it to integrate various units like Field Artillery battalions and Engineer units for deployed operations.

Campaigns and battles

The division's campaign participation credits span multiple wars. In World War I, it fought in the Aisne-Marne Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During World War II, key engagements included the Normandy landings, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. In the Vietnam War, it was involved in operations such as Operation MacArthur and the Battle of Dak To. During the Iraq War, the division led major operations in Baghdad and Tikrit during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and later during the Surge. In Afghanistan, it operated in regions like Paktika Province and Khost Province.

Insignia and nicknames

The shoulder sleeve insignia features four green ivy leaves on a khaki background, a pun on the Roman numeral IV (IVY), leading to the primary nickname "Ivy Division." The ivy symbolizes tenacity and fidelity. A secondary nickname, "Iron Horse," was adopted for its rapid mobility, particularly during the Vietnam War. The division's motto is "Steadfast and Loyal." Its distinctive unit insignia, worn on the Army Service Uniform, also incorporates the ivy leaf motif.

Notable members

Many distinguished soldiers have served with the division. Notable commanders include Major General Raymond O. Barton (World War II), General John W. Vessey Jr. (later Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and General David H. Petraeus. Renowned journalist and author Ernest Hemingway served as a driver with the division in World War I. Other notable members include Medal of Honor recipients such as Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Howard. Former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell was once a battalion commander in the division.

Current status

Headquartered at Fort Carson, the division remains a key component of the United States Army's operational forces. It regularly rotates brigades through deployments to support global operations and exercises with allies like the Polish Armed Forces. The division is equipped with modern platforms including the Stryker armored vehicle and the M1 Abrams tank. It continues to train for large-scale combat operations as part of the III Armored Corps, focusing on readiness for potential conflicts in theaters such as Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

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