U.S. 1st Infantry Division

U.S. 1st Infantry Division
Unit name	1st Infantry Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia
Dates	1917–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Division
Role	Combined arms
Size	Division
Command structure	III Armored Corps
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
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation (4), Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation
Current commander	Major General John S. Kolasheski
Notable commanders	Clarence R. Huebner, Omar Bradley, Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr., Paul L. Freeman Jr.

U.S. 1st Infantry Division. The 1st Infantry Division is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army, first activated in 1917 for service in World War I. Known as "The Big Red One" for its distinctive shoulder sleeve insignia, the division has played a pivotal role in nearly every major American conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries. Its storied history includes spearheading the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach and leading the Invasion of Normandy, as well as significant combat in Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

History

The division was constituted in May 1917 at Fort Jay on Governors Island in New York Harbor, drawing initial personnel from units of the American Expeditionary Forces. It entered combat in World War I as part of the American Expeditionary Forces under General John J. Pershing, fighting in major offensives like the Battle of Cantigny, the Battle of Soissons, and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Reactivated at Fort Benning in 1940, it became a key formation in World War II, participating in Operation Torch in North Africa, the Allied invasion of Sicily, and the Normandy landings under commanders like General Omar Bradley. Throughout the Cold War, the division was stationed in West Germany as part of VII Corps before deploying to Southeast Asia for the Vietnam War, where it was headquartered at Lai Khê and engaged in operations such as Operation Junction City and the Battle of Ong Thanh.

Organization

The division is currently organized as a combined arms division, with its headquarters at Fort Riley, Kansas, under the operational control of III Armored Corps. Its major subordinate brigades include the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team "Devil Brigade," the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team "Dagger Brigade," and the Combat Aviation Brigade "Demon Brigade." The division also maintains a sustainment brigade and a division artillery headquarters, integrating units like the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment and the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. This structure supports the United States Army Central and NATO missions across Europe and the Middle East.

Campaigns and honors

The division's battle honors span over a century of conflict, beginning with the World War I campaigns of Montdidier-Noyon, Aisne-Marne, and St. Mihiel. In World War II, it earned campaign participation credit for Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes-Alsace during the Battle of the Bulge, and Central Europe. During the Vietnam War, it fought in eleven designated campaigns, including the Tet Offensive and Counteroffensive, Phase VII. More recently, it participated in the Liberation of Kuwait during the Gulf War, and the campaigns of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The division has been awarded four Presidential Unit Citations, a Valorous Unit Award, and the French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with palm.

Insignia and traditions

The division's iconic shoulder sleeve insignia, a large red numeral "1" on an olive drab shield, was approved in 1918 and is the origin of the nickname "The Big Red One." Its official motto, "No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great. Duty First!", was adopted after World War I. The division song is "The Big Red One Song," and its official march is "The Big Red One March." A key tradition is the passing of the "Duty First" torch to new members, symbolizing the unit's enduring legacy. The division museum is located at Fort Riley, and its history is commemorated at sites like the Cantigny First Division Park in Wheaton, Illinois.

Notable members

Many distinguished soldiers have served with the division, including General of the Army Omar Bradley, who commanded it during the Invasion of Normandy. Other notable commanders include Major General Clarence R. Huebner and Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr., who led it in World War II. Renowned journalist Ernest Pyle chronicled the division's actions during the North African campaign. Recipients of the Medal of Honor from the division include Samuel I. Parker from World War I and John W. Minick from World War II. Fictional portrayals often reference real leaders like Lieutenant General George S. Patton, who served with its 1st Brigade early in his career.

In popular culture

The division has been prominently featured in numerous films, books, and other media, most famously in the 1980 film The Big Red One, directed by Samuel Fuller and starring Lee Marvin. It is a central setting in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and appears in video games such as the Call of Duty and Company of Heroes franchises. Historical accounts like The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan detail its D-Day actions, while the division is also referenced in Stephen E. Ambrose's works on World War II. Its insignia and legacy are frequently invoked in military-themed literature and documentaries.

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