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40th Infantry Division (United States)

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40th Infantry Division (Mechanized)
40th Infantry Division SSI
40th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active 1917–1954
1954–1967 (40th Armored Division)[1]
1974–present
Country United States
Branch

U.S. Army

Type Infantry
Size Division
Garrison/HQ Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, Orange County, California, U.S.
Nickname(s) Sunshine Division (Special Designation)[2]
Sunburst
Flaming Assholes[3]
Engagements

World War I
World War II

Korean War
War in Kosovo
Global War on Terrorism

Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation (3)
Commanders
Division Commanding General BG Keith D. Jones
Ceremonial chief Robert Whittle
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia 40 Inf Div DUI
 
40th Infantry Division (United States)

The 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) ("Sunshine Division"[2]) is a modular division of the United States Army. Following the army's modularization the division has become a four brigade combat team division with National Guardsmen from throughout the Pacific/Western United States and Oceania. Its Division Headquarters is located at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California.

After seeing service in World War I as a depot division, it was reorganised as the National Guard division for California, Nevada, and Utah, before seeing service in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Later, the division served in Korea and some of its units were designated for Vietnam. The division was redesignated the National Guard unit for California alone, and it continues to serve domestically as such, mostly in homeland security operations.

Service record[]

The 40th Infantry Division was organized at Camp Kearny, near San Diego, California, on 16 September 1917, originally designated as the 19th Division.[4] It was composed of National Guard units from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

World War I[]

The division was activated on 18 July 1917, as a National Guard division from the California, Nevada, and Utah Army National Guards. It was sent overseas on 3 August 1918 and redesignated the 6th Depot Division; received, equipped, trained, and forwarded replacements. Major General F. S. Strong was assigned as commander on 25 August 1917, but was replaced less than a month later by Brigadier General G. H. Cameron on 18 September 1917.

The division then saw a rapid turnover of leaders – Brigadier General L. S. Lyon (19 November 1917), Brigadier General G. H. Cameron (23 November 1917), Brigadier General L. S. Lyon (6 December 1917) and then Major General F. S. Strong again on 8 December 1917. Although the division deployed to France, by the time the division arrived the war was already over, and no combat was experienced by it.[5] The division returned to the U.S. on 30 June 1919.

World War II[]

Commanders[]

Combat chronicle[]

The 40th Infantry Division was activated for World War II on 3 March 1941. It was at the time a National Guard division from the California, Nevada Army National Guard, and Utah Army National Guards. In February 1942, the 40th Infantry Division was reorganized from a 'square', two-brigade, four-regiment division to a three-regiment division without any intermediate brigade headquarters.[4] Thus the 79th and 80th Infantry Brigade were inactivated.[6]

It departed for overseas service on 23 August 1942. The Division's first overseas assignment was the defense of the Hawaiian outer islands, where it arrived in September 1942.[4] Training continued as defensive positions were improved and maintained. In July 1943, the division was concentrated on Oahu, and relieved the 24th Infantry Division of the defense of the North Sector. Relieved of the North Sector in October 1943, the 40th entered upon a period of intensive amphibious and jungle training. On 20 December 1943, the first units left for Guadalcanal,[4] and by mid-January 1944, movement was completed, and the division prepared for its first combat assignment. On 24 April 1944, it left Guadalcanal for New Britain. The regiments of the division took positions at Talasea on the northern side of the island, at Arawe on the southern side, and at near the western end. Neutralization of the enemy was effected by patrols. No major battle was fought. Heavy rain and mud were constant problems.[4]

Japanese surrender to 40th

Japanese soldier surrenders in the Philippines

The 40th was relieved of missions on New Britain, 27 November, and began training for the Luzon landing. Sailing from Borgen Bay on 9 December 1944, the division made an assault landing at Lingayen, Luzon, under command of XIV Corps, on 9 January 1945. Seizing Lingayen airfield, the division occupied Bolinao Peninsula and San Miguel, and advanced toward Manila, running into heavy fighting in the Fort Stotsenburg area and the Bambam Hills.[4] Snake Hill and Storm King Mountain were taken in February and the 40th was relieved, 2 March. Leaving Luzon on 15 March 1945 to cut behind the Japanese, the division landed on Panay Island on the 18th and knocked out Japanese resistance within ten days, seizing airfields at Santa Barbara and Mandurriao. On 29 March, it landed at Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, advanced through Bacolod City toward Talisay, which it secured by 2 April 1945.[4] After mopping up on Negros Island, the division returned to Panay in June and July 1945. In September 1945, the division moved to Korea for occupation duty.[7][8][9]

The division returned to the U.S. on 7 April 1946 and was reportedly inactivated the same day. Its casualties during the war included 614 Killed in Action, 2,407 Wounded in Action, and 134 Died of Wounds.

World War II honors for the division included three Distinguished Unit Citations. Awards to its men included 1 Medal of Honor, 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1 Distinguished Service Medal, 245 Silver Stars, 21 Legions of Merit, 30 Soldier's Medals, 1,036 Bronze Stars, and 57 Air Medals.

Korean War[]

Sunshine Division in Korea Kumwha Valley, Republic of Korea Spring 1952

Painting of the 40th Infantry Division in the Kumwha Valley

On 1 September 1950, the 40th Infantry Division was again called into active federal service for the Korean War. Shipping out of Oakland & San Francisco, California in late March 1951, the division deployed to Japan for training. For the next nine months, they participated in amphibious, air transportability, and live fire training from Mount Fuji to Sendai. On 23 December, the division received alert orders to move to Korea. The division moved to Korea in January 1952. After additional training, the division moved north in February 1952, where it relieved the 24th Infantry Division on the battle line. At the time the Division consisted of the 160th, 223rd, 224th Infantry Regiments,[10] and smaller non-regiment sized units.[11]

In Korea, the 40th Infantry Division participated in the battles of Sandbag Castle and Heartbreak Ridge. In these campaigns, the division suffered 1,180 casualties, including 311 who were killed in action, and 47 who later died from wounds received in action.[1] Total division casualties in Korea included 376 Killed in Action, 1,457 Wounded in Action, and 47 Died of Wounds. After the division was sent back to Japan, its time in Korea was commemorated by the commissioning of a punchbowl created by a local silversmith, by some accounts made up of the melted down Combat Infantryman Badges of the divisions veterans, with the geography of Heartbreak Ridge etched inside the bowl.[12][13] It was used at ceremonial functions until it was stolen, and was subsequently bought at a garage sale by a married couple, who kept it for 18 years. It was then recovered and put on display at the division headquarters. It is now displayed at the California State Military Museum, and is registered in the National Archives.[14]

Three members of the division's 223rd Infantry Regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Korean War: David B. Bleak, Gilbert G. Collier and Clifton T. Speicher. David Hackworth did a combat tour as a rifle platoon leader in Korea with the Division, when it was under the command of Major General Joseph P. Cleland.[15]

After its return from the Korean War, the division was reorganised on 1 July 1954 as the 40th Armored Division. It had three combat commands (A, B, and C) in 1956.[16]

Cold War[]

The following infantry regimental units comprised elements of the Division from 1959 until 2000: 1-158th (1959-1967), 1-159th (1974-1976), 2-159th (1974-2000) 160th (1974-2000).[17] In 1960, the Division combat units were reorganized under the Combat Arms Regimental Systems (CARS), and then in 1963, was reorganized under the Reorganization Objective Army Divisions (ROAD) concept which changed the combat commands to brigades.[1]

On 13 August 1965, Lieutenant Governor Glenn M. Anderson called out elements of the Division to put down the Watts Riots, at the request of Los Angeles Police Chief William H. Parker. The absence of Governor Pat Brown vested gubernatorial authority in Anderson.

Like most reserve component units of the Army, the Division sat out the Vietnam War, being left unmobilized, apart from its Aviation Company.[1]

In January, 1974 Major General Charles A. Ott, Jr. was appointed Commander of the division, and he served until accepting appointment as Director of the Army National Guard at the National Guard Bureau later that year.[18]

From 1986 until 1995, the division's CAPSTONE wartime organisational structure included the 140th Military Intelligence Battalion (CEWI) (HD). Allocated to the United States Army Reserve in peacetime, the mission of the battalion was to provide the division commander and G-2 with electronic warfare intelligence and analysis, as well limited counterintelligence/interrogation support and long range surveillance. Ironically, the battalion's long-range surveillance detachment was stripped from the battalion in peacetime and allocated to the California Army National Guard.

On 1 December 1967, a major reorganization of the National Guard reduced the Guard to eight combat divisions, the 40th Armored Division being one of the casualties. On 29 January 1968, the Division was eliminated and the 40th Infantry Brigade and 40th Armored Brigade were organized.[1]

On 13 January 1974, the California Army National Guard was reorganized. The 40th and 49th Infantry and the 40th Armored Brigades were inactivated and the 40th Infantry Division was reformed.[1]

Gulf War[]

Post Gulf War[]

Flickr - The U.S

40th Infantry Division Agribusiness Development Team in Afghanistan

On 29 April 1992, Governor Pete Wilson ordered elements of the 40th Infantry Division to duty to put down the so-called "Rodney King" riots. The 40th ID responded quickly by calling up some 2,000 soldiers, but could not get them to the city until nearly twenty-four hours had passed, due to a lack of proper equipment, training, and available ammunition, which had to be picked up from Camp Roberts, California (near Paso Robles). Initially, they only secured areas previously cleared of rioters by police. Later, they actively ran patrols, maintained checkpoints, and provided firepower for law enforcement. By 1 May, the call-up had increased to 4,000 soldiers continuing to move into the city in Humvees, who were later federalized under Title 10 USC by President George H.W. Bush.[19]

In 1994, the division was made of 3 brigades, an aviation brigade, an engineer brigade, a division artillery brigade, and other associated units. Associated regiments included the 160th Infantry, 185th Armor, 221st Armor (Nevada), 159th Infantry, 184th Infantry, 149th Armor, 18th Cavalry, 140th Aviation, 143d Field Artillery, and 144th Field Artillery.[20][21]

In November 1997, Battery F (TA), 144th Field Artillery Regiment, represented the state of California in Bosnia. During this deployment, Battery F conducted Firefinder counter-battery radar operations, convoys and base security all with little to no armor, with a high threat of mine strikes and ambushes. Most drivers exceeded 21,000 kilometres (13,000 miles) during the seven months in country.[22]

In November 2000, Battery F was again called to duty for its expertise in the Kosovo region.[22]

Until Battery F's arrival in Afghanistan, radar operations were virtually unknown and uncared for. Nevertheless, the unit quickly became a very important resource and a leading factor in base defense operations.[22]

Structure as of 2009[]

40th US Infantry Division

Structure 40th Infantry Division

40th Infantry Division SSI The 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) is commanded by Brigadier General Keith D. Jones, with Command Sergeant Major Robert Whittle serving as his Senior Enlisted Advisor.[23] The 40th Infantry Division exercises Training and Readiness Oversight of the following elements, they cannot be considered organic:[24]

In July 2006, as part of the Army National Guard's modularization process, the 40th Infantry Division reorganized into four brigade combat teams and one aviation brigade. National Guard units from California, Oregon, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, Alaska, New Mexico, Indiana, Nebraska, Utah and Guam are today part of the 40th Infantry Division.

Attached units[]

Symbols[]

  • Nickname: Sunshine/Sunburst Division(Official); Flaming Assholes[3] (Un-Official).
  • Shoulder patch: A dark blue diamond on which, in yellow, is the sun with 12 rays; the patch is worn diagonally.
  • Association: 40th Infantry Division Association

The semi-sunburst was suggested as the unit's shoulder sleeve insignia, and represents the division's home of Southern California. The demi fleur-de-lis symbolizes service in France during World War I. The outer rim of the sun rays refers to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation award. The red arrowhead alludes to firepower of the division and represents their assault landing at Luzon in World War II. The Torri gate, a symbol of the Far East, refers to the award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

The unofficial nickname came from the Korean War era when the unit was training in Japan. It was a combined result of disparaging remarks made by Army regulars about the National Guard division and the appearance of the unit shoulder sleeve insignia. The California Guardsmen took to their new nickname with a soldier's sense of humor, and turned it into a rallying symbol.[3]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "40th Infantry Division (Mechanized)". Military. GlobalSecurity.org. 17 July 2006. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090904071229/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/40id.htm. Retrieved 9 September 2009. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Special Designation Listing". United States Army Center of Military History. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100609010028/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/spdes-123-arng.html. Retrieved 14 July 2010. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "California Military History: The 40th Infantry Division's March to the Korean War". Militarymuseum.org. http://www.militarymuseum.org/40Korea.html. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Sebby, Dan. "CALIFORNIA'S OWN: THE HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA'S 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION". www.militarymuseum.org. http://www.militarymuseum.org/division.html. Retrieved 20 May 2013. 
  5. ↑ Burton Anderson (October 2004). "A History of the Salinas National Guard Company 1895-1995". News. Monterey County Historical Society. http://www.mchsmuseum.com/news/0410.pdf. Retrieved 12 June 2013. "The company trained until August 1918 when they were shipped to France with the 40th Division. The war was over before the 40th saw any action and it was returned to the U.S. in March 1919." 
  6. ↑ "California's Own: The History of the 40th Infantry Division". Militarymuseum.org. http://www.militarymuseum.org/division.html. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  7. ↑ [Nota Bene: These combat chronicles, current as of October 1948, are reproduced from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510–592.]
  8. ↑ "40th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Divisions of World War II". Military Prints. HistoryShots, LLC.. http://www.historyshots.com/usarmy/Division.cfm?did=40. Retrieved 9 September 2009. 
  9. ↑ "40th Infantry Division". Division History. LoneSentry.com. http://www.lonesentry.com/usdivisions/history/infantry/division/pacific/40th_infantry_division.html. Retrieved 9 September 2009. 
  10. ↑ Dan Sebby. "CALIFORNIA'S OWN: THE HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA'S 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION". California State Military Museum. California State Military Department. http://militarymuseum.org/division.html. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  11. ↑ Lynnita Jean Brown. "40th Infantry Division - Order of Battle". Army:Accounts of the Korean War. Korean War Educator Foundation. http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/branch_accounts/army/p_40th_division.htm. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  12. ↑ Jonathan (Jay) Koester, NCO Journal, For Nearly 100 years, the Sunshine Division has Protected California and the Nation, January 29, 2013
  13. ↑ Los Angeles Times, Marilyn Eaton Wed to Franklin Moulton, July 14, 1955
  14. ↑ Facebook page, California State Military Museum, Photo caption, 224th Reunion, July 2, 2013
  15. ↑ Hackworth, David H. (1990). About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior. New York: Simon and Schuster. pp. 225ff. ISBN 978-0671695347. http://books.google.com/books?id=H2ofpCdu4boC. Retrieved December 27, 2012. 
  16. ↑ "40th Armored Division Order of Battle, 1956". Militarymuseum.org. http://www.militarymuseum.org/40thORBAT56.html. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  17. ↑ Aumiller, Timothy S.. US Army Infantry, Armor/Cavalry, & Artillery Battalions 1957-2011. General Data LLC. pp. 34. ISBN 978-0977607235. http://books.google.com/books?id=MY1bF20vJVUC. Retrieved December 27, 2012. 
  18. ↑ National Guard Association of the United States, The Guardsman, Volume 32, Issues 7-10, 1978, page 68
  19. ↑ "George Bush: Executive Order 12804 - Providing for the Restoration of Law and Order in the City and County of Los Angeles, and Other Districts of California". Presidency.ucsb.edu. 1992-05-01. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=23739. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  20. ↑ "40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Order of Battle, 1994". California Military Museum. California State Military Museum. http://www.militarymuseum.org/40thORBAT94.html. Retrieved 17 September 2012. 
  21. ↑ Pope, Jeffrey Lynn; Kondratiuk, Leonid E., eds (1995). Armor-Cavalry Regiments: Army National Guard Lineage. DIANA Publishing. p. 59. ISBN 9780788182068. http://books.google.com/books?id=SeqLBwskpZIC&lpg=PA59&ots=_8KX3EAoEu&dq=221st%20Armor%20Regiment&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q=221st%20Armor%20Regiment&f=false. Retrieved 17 September 2012. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "History". California National Guard. State of California. http://www.calguard.ca.gov/40div/Pages/History.aspx. Retrieved 17 September 2012. 
  23. ↑ 40th Infantry Division Command Group
  24. ↑ "AUSA, Torchbearer Special Report, 7 November 2005". Ausa.org. http://www.ausa.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/ILW%20Web-ExclusivePubs/Torchbearer/TBearComp1v12.pdf. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  25. ↑ "TIOH - Heraldry - Special Troops Battalion, 40 Infantry Division". Tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=4420. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  26. ↑ "TIOH - Heraldry - Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team". Tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil. 2008-03-17. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=4412. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  27. ↑ "TIOH - Heraldry - Special Troops Battalion, 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team". Tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil. 2008-02-01. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=4421. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  28. ↑ "79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT)". California National Guard. State of California. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20091119232720/http://www.calguard.ca.gov/79ibct/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
  29. ↑ "TIOH - Heraldry - Special Troops Battalion, 79 Infantry Brigade Combat Team". Tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=4428. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 
  30. ↑ "TIOH - Heraldry - Special Troops Battalion, 81 Armored Brigade Combat Team". Tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil. 2007-02-27. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=4429. Retrieved 2012-08-20. 

See also[]

Further reading[]

  • The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at CMH
  • PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army.

External links[]

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