1st Infantry Division (United States)

1st Infantry Division (United States)
Unit name	1st Infantry Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia of the division
Dates	Established 1917–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Combined arms maneuver
Size	Division
Garrison	Fort Riley
Nickname	"The Big Red One"
Motto	"Duty First"

1st Infantry Division (United States) The 1st Infantry Division, nicknamed "The Big Red One", is a division of the United States Army constituted in 1917 and continuously active in major World War I, World War II, Cold War and post-Cold War operations, including the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq War, and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). The division has served in the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, landed on Omaha Beach in the Normandy landings, and led combined-arms operations during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge. Its long service record links the division to numerous decorations issued by the Department of the Army and allied governments such as the French Croix de Guerre.

History

Organized for service in the American entry into World War I as part of the American Expeditionary Forces, the division first saw major combat during the Second Battle of the Marne, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse–Argonne Offensive. Between wars the division participated in peacetime maneuvers and was briefly reorganized under the Organized Reserves and the National Defense Act of 1920. Reactivated and modernized before World War II, the division fought in the North African campaign redeployment to Operation Torch preparations before transferring to the European Theater of Operations (World War II) and executing amphibious assaults in the Normandy campaign and Operation Cobra. During the Cold War the division rotated to Germany as part of USAREUR deterrence posture, carrying out training at Grafenwoehr Training Area, responding to crises like the Berlin Crisis of 1961, and later deploying brigades to the Vietnam War for counterinsurgency operations. Elements returned stateside to Fort Riley and deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield and combat in Operation Desert Storm. In the early 21st century the division conducted major combat operations in Iraq War (2003–2011) including the initial invasion and subsequent stability operations, and later rotated brigades to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO missions.

Organization and Structure

The division is organized as a combined-arms formation composed of multiple brigade combat teams and supporting elements, historically including infantry, armor, artillery, aviation, engineer, signal, and sustainment units such as the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and a Sustainment Brigade. Command and control has been exercised by a division headquarters and headquarters battalion, with attached units like the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment performing reconnaissance and security. The division's structure has evolved under the Army modularity reforms into brigade-centric combat teams equipped for rapid deployment, integrating assets from the 82nd Airborne Division and coordinating with and for joint and coalition operations such as exercises with NATO partners and Multinational Force and Observers-style peacekeeping missions.

Combat Operations and Campaigns

In World War I the division earned campaign streamers for Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Saint-Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne; in World War II it fought in campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. In Vietnam, units participated in operations across the I Corps (South Vietnam), counterinsurgency campaigns, and large-unit maneuvers in provinces such as Binh Dinh, while sustaining contacts with forces associated with the People's Army of Vietnam. During Operation Desert Storm the division executed armored thrusts and maneuver operations in coordination with the VII Corps and coalition partners including the British Army and French Army. In the 2003 invasion of Iraq the division spearheaded advances to Baghdad, conducted urban operations, and later carried out counterinsurgency and stabilization tasks in Mosul and Tikrit. In Afghanistan, brigades operated in provinces including Kunar and Paktika, conducting partnered operations with Afghan National Army units and NATO forces.

Equipment and Insignia

The division has employed successive generations of U.S. Army equipment, fielding M1917 Enfield-era small arms in World War I, M1 Garand rifles and M4 Sherman tanks in World War II, M60 Patton and M1 Abrams main battle tanks during the Cold War and Gulf War, and modern systems such as the M2 Bradley, M109 Paladin, AH-64 Apache, and Stryker platforms under modular transformation. Its shoulder sleeve insignia, the distinctive diagonal red stripe with a large numeral "1", became a widely recognized symbol worn on uniforms and on vehicles; the division's distinctive unit insignia and unit crest incorporate the "Big Red One" motif and have been authorized by the Institute of Heraldry. The division's campaign streamers and unit decorations include awards such as the Presidential Unit Citation and foreign honors like the Belgian Fourragère.

Notable Commanders and Personnel

Commanders and personnel linked to the division include senior leaders and decorated soldiers such as John J. Pershing-era contemporaries, World War II leaders who served with or influenced operations involving the division, and later generals who commanded during the Vietnam War and post-Cold War era. Distinguished division veterans include Medal of Honor recipients and senior officers promoted to four-star rank who later held positions within Department of Defense joint staffs and commands. The division's alumni network encompasses veterans active in organizations like the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, authors and historians who have documented campaigns, and Reservists and National Guardsmen who trained alongside regular Army units.

Heritage and Traditions

Heritage practices emphasize the division's centennial lineage, regimental histories, annual reunions, and ceremonies commemorating actions at sites such as St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Normandy American cemeteries. Traditions include wearing the original shoulder patch, preserving battle colors, and maintaining museums and archives that collaborate with institutions like the U.S. Army Center of Military History and regional historical societies. The division's public history appears in memoirs, unit histories, and popular culture portrayals tied to events such as the Normandy landings and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, reinforcing the "Big Red One" identity among service members, allied veterans, and the public.

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