2nd Infantry Division (United States)

2nd Infantry Division (United States)
US Army · Public domain · source
Unit name	2nd Infantry Division
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry

2nd Infantry Division (United States) is a formation of the United States Army and has a long and distinguished history, with its origins dating back to World War I. The division was first organized on October 26, 1917, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and was composed of units from the 1st Infantry Division and the 26th Infantry Division. The division saw action in France during World War I, participating in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of Belleau Wood, alongside the Marine Corps and the French Army. The division was also supported by the United States Navy and the Royal Air Force.

● History

The 2nd Infantry Division was first deployed to France in 1918, where it saw action in several battles, including the Battle of Château-Thierry and the Battle of Soissons, alongside the 5th Infantry Division and the 3rd Infantry Division. After the war, the division was inactivated and reactivated several times, with its most notable service being during the Korean War, where it fought in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir and the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge, alongside the 1st Marine Division and the United States Air Force. The division also saw action in the Vietnam War, participating in the Battle of Firebase Ripcord and the Battle of Hamburger Hill, alongside the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Cavalry Division. The division has also been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the War on Terror, working alongside the United States Special Operations Command and the International Security Assistance Force.

● Organization

The 2nd Infantry Division is currently composed of several brigades, including the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as well as several support units, such as the 2nd Engineer Brigade and the 2nd Signal Brigade. The division is also supported by the United States Army Reserve and the United States National Guard, including the 28th Infantry Division and the 29th Infantry Division. The division's headquarters is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and it is part of the I Corps (United States), alongside the 7th Infantry Division and the 25th Infantry Division.

● Commanders

The 2nd Infantry Division has had several notable commanders throughout its history, including John L. Hines, who commanded the division during World War I, and Lawton Collins, who commanded the division during the Korean War, and later became the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Other notable commanders include Carter B. Magruder, who commanded the division during the Vietnam War, and John W. Vessey Jr., who later became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and worked closely with the United States Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council.

● Operations

The 2nd Infantry Division has participated in several operations throughout its history, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, working alongside the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy SEALs. The division has also been involved in several humanitarian missions, including disaster relief efforts in Haiti and Japan, alongside the United States Agency for International Development and the American Red Cross. The division has also worked with the United Nations and the European Union on several peacekeeping missions, including the United Nations Command and the European Union Force.

● Insignia

The 2nd Infantry Division's insignia features a white Indian War bonnet on a black background, with the motto "Second to None" written below, and is often displayed alongside the United States flag and the Flag of the United States Army. The division's shoulder sleeve insignia is a white five-pointed star on a black background, and is worn by all members of the division, including those from the United States Army Reserve and the United States National Guard. The division's distinctive unit insignia is a silver Indian War bonnet on a black background, and is worn by members of the division's headquarters battalion, alongside the Presidential Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award.

● Notable_members

The 2nd Infantry Division has had several notable members throughout its history, including Medal of Honor recipients Mitchell Paige and Hiroshi Miyamura, who served in the division during World War II and the Korean War, respectively, and were recognized by the Congress of the United States and the President of the United States. Other notable members include General of the Army Omar Bradley, who commanded the division during World War II, and later became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and worked closely with the United States Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council, as well as General Creighton Abrams, who commanded the division during the Vietnam War, and later became the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and was recognized by the United States Army and the United States Congress. The division has also been supported by several notable units, including the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Cavalry Division, and has worked alongside several notable organizations, including the United States Special Operations Command and the International Security Assistance Force.

Category:Military units and formations of the United States