89th Division (United States)

89th Division (United States) was a unit of the United States Army that served in World War I and World War II. The division was formed in 1917 at Camp Funston, Kansas, and was composed of draftees from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico. The division was part of the American Expeditionary Forces and was trained by General John J. Pershing and General Hunter Liggett. The division saw action in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive alongside the 1st Division, 26th Division, and 77th Division.

● History

The 89th Division was activated on August 5, 1917, at Camp Funston, Kansas, as part of the National Army. The division was composed of the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 354th Infantry Regiment, 355th Infantry Regiment, and the 340th Machine Gun Battalion. The division was trained by General John L. Hines and General Charles P. Summerall before being deployed to France in June 1918. The division saw action in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive alongside the 5th Division, 32nd Division, and 42nd Division. After the war, the division was demobilized on May 15, 1919, at Camp Funston, Kansas. The division was reactivated on July 15, 1942, at Camp Carson, Colorado, and was composed of the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 354th Infantry Regiment, and the 355th Infantry Regiment. The division was trained by General Omar Bradley and General Courtney Hodges before being deployed to Europe in January 1945. The division saw action in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign alongside the 3rd Army, 1st Army, and 7th Army.

● Organization

The 89th Division was organized as a square division with two brigades, each composed of two regiments. The division was composed of the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 354th Infantry Regiment, 355th Infantry Regiment, and the 340th Machine Gun Battalion. The division also had a divisional artillery component, which included the 340th Field Artillery Regiment, 341st Field Artillery Regiment, and the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment. The division was supported by the 89th Division Train, which included the 353rd Ammunition Train, 354th Supply Train, and the 355th Engineer Regiment. The division was also supported by the 340th Field Hospital, which was part of the Medical Corps.

● Commanders

The 89th Division had several commanders during its history, including General Leonard Wood, General John L. Hines, and General Charles P. Summerall. The division was also commanded by General William Hood Simpson, who later commanded the Ninth United States Army. The division's most notable commander was General Alexander Patch, who commanded the division during the Ardennes-Alsace campaign. The division was also commanded by General Lucian K. Truscott, who later commanded the Fifth United States Army. Other notable commanders of the division included General Mark W. Clark, General Matthew Ridgway, and General Maxwell D. Taylor.

● Campaigns

The 89th Division saw action in several campaigns during World War I and World War II. During World War I, the division saw action in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which was part of the Hundred Days Offensive. The division also saw action in the Lorraine campaign, which was part of the Western Front. During World War II, the division saw action in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign, which was part of the Western Front. The division also saw action in the Rhine campaign, which was part of the Central Europe campaign. The division was supported by the Tactical Air Command, which provided air support during the campaigns. The division also worked with the Office of Strategic Services, which provided intelligence during the campaigns.

● Insignia

The 89th Division had a distinctive insignia, which included a shoulder sleeve insignia and a distinctive unit insignia. The division's shoulder sleeve insignia featured a cross pattee, which was a symbol of the Crusades. The division's distinctive unit insignia featured a fleur-de-lis, which was a symbol of France. The division's insignia was designed by the Institute of Heraldry, which is part of the United States Army Center of Military History. The division's insignia was also featured on the divisional flag, which was presented to the division by the Secretary of the Army. The division's insignia is now part of the National Museum of the United States Army, which is located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

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