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| US 2nd Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 2nd Infantry Division |
| Caption | Shoulder sleeve insignia |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Combined arms |
| Garrison | Camp Red Cloud |
| Nickname | "Second Division", "Indianhead" |
| Motto | "Second to None" |
| Notable commanders | Omar Bradley, John H. Michaelis |
US 2nd Infantry Division
The US 2nd Infantry Division is a United States Army formation with a long service record spanning World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and postwar deployments on the Korean Peninsula and worldwide. The division has been associated with major campaigns, multinational coalitions, and distinctive heraldry tied to its nickname "Indianhead" and to relationships with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, United Nations Command, and Eighth United States Army.
The division was activated during World War I and served in operations on the Western Front alongside the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), participating in the Battle of Belleau Wood, Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse‑Argonne Offensive. Between the wars it underwent reorganization under the United States Army Field Forces and interwar doctrine influenced by leaders such as Douglas MacArthur and John J. Pershing. Reactivated and restructured for World War II, the division took part in the Aleutian Islands campaign and operations in the Pacific Theater, later returning to garrison duties that anticipated Cold War commitments involving the United States Forces Korea and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. During the Korean War the division engaged in key battles including the Pusan Perimeter, the Inchon Landing supporting X Corps, and the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River against Chinese People's Volunteer forces. Post-1953 the division remained forward-deployed along the DMZ and participated in exercises with Republic of Korea Armed Forces units, while individual elements deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom during the Global War on Terror.
The division's organizational design evolved from a square division under pre‑World War II tables to the triangular and later modular brigade combat team constructs influenced by Army modularity and doctrine promulgated by TRADOC. Typical organization has included infantry brigades, anDivision Artillery (DIVARTY), a Combat Aviation Brigade, a Sustainment Brigade, and division-level intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and engineering assets coordinated with CFC structures and liaison to United Nations Command. Units historically assigned include storied regiments and brigades such as the 9th Infantry Regiment, 23rd Infantry Regiment, and armor and artillery battalions aligned under brigade combat teams for joint and combined operations with Republic of Korea Army divisions and United States Marine Corps elements when required.
Operational deployments span theaters and eras: in World War I the division fought in the Aisne-Marne campaign and Meuse-Argonne Offensive; in World War II it conducted operations in the Aleutian Islands and Pacific perimeter defense; in the Korean War it participated in defensive and counteroffensive operations at Pusan Perimeter, support of the Inchon Landing, and countering the Spring Offensive; during the late 20th and early 21st centuries elements deployed to Somalia in the 1990s, to Iraq War theaters in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The division has also engaged in multinational exercises such as Foal Eagle, Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, and Key Resolve in conjunction with Republic of Korea–United States military relations.
The division and subordinate units have been awarded campaign streamers and decorations by the Department of the Army, United Nations, and allied governments, including Presidential Unit Citations, Meritorious Unit Commendations, and foreign honors conferred by the Republic of Korea for service during the Korean War. Individual regiments and battalions have been recognized with unit citations for actions during World War I, World War II, and Korean War campaigns as recorded in official lineage and honors.
Commanders of the division have included prominent leaders who later influenced United States Army doctrine and joint operations, such as Omar Bradley who rose to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and SACEUR-era leaders; other notable commanders include John H. Michaelis and officers who served in Eighth United States Army and United States Forces Korea headquarters. Command relationships have often involved coordination with commanders of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command (Korea), and allied corps during multinational operations.
The division's shoulder sleeve insignia, nicknamed the "Indianhead", reflects heraldic choices codified by the Institute of Heraldry and draws on imagery associated with Native American iconography and unit esprit de corps. Traditions include unit ceremonies tied to anniversaries such as activation and battle commemorations recognized by Veterans Day and memorial observances on the Korean Peninsula. The division's distinctive unit insignia and colors are recorded in United States Army heraldry registers and displayed in museums and monuments honoring veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
Over its history the division has employed evolving equipment from M1903 Springfield rifles and M1917 Browning machine gun systems in World War I to M1 Abrams main battle tanks, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, HIMARS, and rotary-wing aircraft assigned to its Combat Aviation Brigade in modern configurations. Artillery support has transitioned from 75 mm field gun M1897 systems to towed and self-propelled howitzers such as the M777 howitzer and M109 Paladin, with integrated air defense, engineering, and logistics platforms maintained for combined-arms operations alongside Republic of Korea Armed Forces and United States Indo-Pacific Command partners.
Category:Infantry divisions of the United States Army