91st Infantry Division (United States)

91st Infantry Division (United States)
Unit name	91st Infantry Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia
Dates	1917–1946, 1947–1968
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Garrison	Camp Lewis, Camp Shelby
Nickname	“Wild West Division”
Battles	Meuse-Argonne, Po Valley, North Apennines, Gothic Line
Notable commanders	William H. Johnston, William G. Livesay, Raymond S. McLain

91st Infantry Division (United States) was a formation of the United States Army organized for service in World War I and reactivated for World War II, later serving in the Army Reserve and through postwar reorganizations. The division trained at Camp Lewis and Camp Shelby, fought on the Western Front and in the Italian Campaign, and underwent multiple redesignations during Cold War force restructuring. Its soldiers included personnel drawn from western states such as Washington (state), Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

History

Raised under the National Defense Act of 1916 mobilization, the division assembled units from the Northwest Department and underwent initial training influenced by doctrines from John J. Pershing, Hunter Liggett, and instructors from Fort Lewis. After demobilization following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the division was reconstituted in the interwar Organized Reserve and later federalized in 1942 under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 for service in World War II under commanders drawn from formations like the 1st Infantry Division and 45th Infantry Division.

World War I

Constituted in 1917, the division deployed to the Western Front where it participated in operations associated with the Meuse-Argonne Offensive alongside formations such as the 1st Division (United States), 2nd Division (United States), and elements of the American Expeditionary Forces. Under the strategic command of John J. Pershing, the division operated in coordination with the French Army sectors and faced entrenched positions established during the Spring Offensive (German) of 1918 and the defensive works of the Hindenburg Line. Elements of the division supported logistics linking to the Ports of Embarkation (United States) and returned to the United States for demobilization during the post-Armistice drawdown coordinated with the War Department.

World War II

Federalized in 1942, the division trained at Camp Swift, Fort George G. Meade, and Camp Patrick Henry before embarking to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations to join the Fifth United States Army under Mark W. Clark. In Italy the division fought in the North Apennines Campaign, the Gothic Line, and the final Po Valley Campaign, engaging German formations including units of the Wehrmacht and confronting terrain challenges in the Apennine Mountains and river crossings on the Po River. The division conducted combined-arms operations with attachments from the II Corps (United States), received artillery support from Field Artillery Battalions, and coordinated air support with units of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Its operations contributed to the collapse of German defenses in northern Italy and the Allied advance toward Trieste and Ljubljana.

Organization and Insignia

The division's World War II TOE included infantry regiments, field artillery battalions, engineer combat battalions, medical units, and reconnaissance elements drawn from the Infantry Branch (United States), Field Artillery Branch (United States), and Corps of Engineers (United States Army). Subordinate formations included infantry regiments that traced lineage to the division's Organized Reserve structure and carried unit citations issued by the War Department and later the Department of the Army. The distinctive shoulder sleeve insignia—a geometric emblem worn on the left sleeve—reflected regional identity tied to the Pacific Northwest and became a symbol recognized in unit histories and veteran associations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Postwar Activities and Reassignments

After inactivation in 1946, the division was reconstituted in the Organized Reserve Corps and later redesignated during National Army reorganizations; it underwent assignments that placed its elements under commands like Fourth United States Army and reserve training centers such as Camp Parks. Cold War force management initiatives, including the Pentomic reorganization and later the ROAD (Reorganization Objective Army Divisions), affected divisional structure, leading to conversion of units into separate brigades and reassignment to United States Army Reserve Command roles until eventual inactivation and reassignment of lineage to other formations.

Notable Commanders and Personnel

Leaders and personnel associated with the division included generals and officers who served in multiple theaters and commands linked to the division's deployments, such as commanders who later held commands in European Theater of Operations (United States Army), the China-Burma-India Theater, and stateside posts like Fort Benning and Fort Leavenworth. Prominent figures connected by service, training, or command exchanges included officers recognized by awards such as the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart for actions in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the Italian Campaign.

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