3rd Division (United States)

3rd Division (United States)
Unit name	3rd Division (United States)
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia
Dates	1917–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry, later Mechanized and Armored
Role	Combined arms operations
Garrison	Fort Stewart
Nickname	"Marne Division", "Rock of the Marne"
Motto	"Nous Resterons"
Notable commanders	Joseph Dickman, John L. Hines, Ulysses G. McAlexander, George S. Patton Jr., Christopher G. Cavoli

3rd Division (United States) is a principal formation of the United States Army with service dating to World War I and continuous activity through World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism. The division earned the sobriquet "Rock of the Marne" after actions in the Second Battle of the Marne and evolved from a square infantry organization into a modular, mechanized combined-arms formation based at Fort Stewart and engaged across Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Its lineage connects to major commands and campaigns including the American Expeditionary Forces, Army Service Forces, Eighth Army (United States), and III Corps.

History

Organized in 1917 for the American Expeditionary Forces under the National Army (United States), the division deployed to France and fought in the Second Battle of the Marne, the Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive under commanders such as Joseph Dickman and John L. Hines. Between wars the division was part of peacetime formations influenced by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army initiatives and later reactivated for World War II where it served in the North African campaign, the Sicily campaign, the Italian campaign, and the European Theater of Operations under leaders including George S. Patton Jr. allies and adversaries such as Erwin Rommel and Bernard Montgomery. In the Korean War elements participated in United Nations Command operations and in the Vietnam War the division provided units and personnel supporting III Corps Tactical Zone operations. During the Gulf War the division fought as part of VII Corps and later conducted multiple deployments for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom cooperating with partners such as NATO, Multinational Force (Iraq), and regional commands.

Organization and Structure

Originally a "square" organization with infantry brigades and machine gun units, the division reorganized into a "triangular" format between the world wars influenced by Adna R. Chaffee Jr. concepts and later mechanized reforms under Hugh A. Drum and Omar Bradley. Current modular design includes maneuver brigades, a division artillery element, a combat aviation brigade, a sustainment brigade, and reconnaissance assets aligned with III Armored Corps doctrines and integration with U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command modernization. Subordinate units have included storied regiments and brigades such as the 7th Infantry Regiment (United States), 15th Infantry Regiment (United States), 30th Infantry Regiment (United States), and brigade combat teams that trained with partners including 1st Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Combat Operations

In World War I the division held critical sectors against Imperial German Army offensives and conducted counterattacks during the Second Battle of the Marne alongside formations like the French Fourth Army and units from the British Expeditionary Force. In World War II operations in Operation Torch, the Sicilian Campaign, and the Italian Campaign brought engagements against Axis forces including the German Afrika Korps and elements of the Italian Social Republic. In Korea and Vietnam, the division's elements participated in set-piece battles, counteroffensives, and stability operations associated with United Nations Command and Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. In the Persian Gulf War the division advanced during the 100-hour ground campaign as part of coalition operations with United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. In the 21st century the division conducted counterinsurgency, security force assistance, and partnered operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, coordinating with commands including U.S. Central Command and multilaterals such as ISAF.

Honors and Decorations

The division and its subordinate units received campaign credits and unit citations for service in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Southwest Asia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Honors include multiple Distinguished Unit Citation awards, Presidential Unit Citation streamers, French Croix de Guerre individual and unit recognitions, foreign awards from Belgium, Luxembourg, and Republic of Korea, and decorations tied to campaigns such as the Aisne-Marne Campaign and Meuse-Argonne. Regimental colors and unit streamers commemorate engagements alongside allies including France, United Kingdom, and Canada.

Notable Commanders and Personnel

Prominent commanders and figures associated with the division include Joseph Dickman, John L. Hines, Ulysses G. McAlexander, George S. Patton Jr., Christopher G. Cavoli, and senior staff who later served in joint billets with NATO and United States European Command. Distinguished soldiers and leaders from the division have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), and the Silver Star while serving in campaigns that involved coordination with commanders such as Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mark W. Clark, and contemporary leaders in CENTCOM and Allied Command Operations.

Equipment and Insignia

Equipment evolved from M1917 Enfield rifles, M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, and horse-drawn logistics to mechanized platforms including M4 Sherman, M48 Patton, M1 Abrams, M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and aviation assets such as the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk. The division's insignia includes the distinctive shoulder sleeve emblem and the Marne Croix device reflecting the Second Battle of the Marne legacy; unit colors display streamers for campaigns and citations issued by authorities including the President of the United States and allied governments like France and Belgium.

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