34th Infantry Division (United States)

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The red bull in the shoulder badge of the 34th Infantry Division.

The 34th Infantry Division ( German  34th US Infantry Division , nickname: Red Bull Division ) is a major unit of the Army National Guard of the United States with headquarters in Rosemount , Minnesota . It consists largely of units from the Minnesota and Iowa National Guards . The division last fought in the " war on terror " in the Iraq war and in Afghanistan .

history

First World War

The 34th Division was formed in October 1917 from units of the National Guard from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota. Between September 16 and October 24, 1918, the troops were transferred to Europe. Because of the premature end of the war, the division under Major General Beaumont B. Buck no longer had any combat missions on the Western Front.

Second World War

Major General Charles Wolcott Ryder

The association was the first US division to be relocated to Europe in May 1942 during World War II . After training in Northern Ireland, she was used on November 8, 1942 as part of Operation Torch at Operation Terminal (landing in Algiers). After the advance on the north coast of Africa, serious fighting broke out at the Tebourba Pass in May 1943. In September 1943 parts of the division landed as part of the 5th US Army near Salerno on the Italian mainland. On January 17, 1944, the first battle of Monte Cassino began . In the main area of ​​attack, Lieutenant General Clark deployed the II. US Corps under Major General Geoffrey Keyes : on the left the 36th US Division had to force access to the Lirital, on the right the 34th Division under Major General Charles W. Ryder crossed to the northern enclosure of the Cassinoberg the Monte Castellone and the Monte Maiola are added. On January 25, the 34th US Division tried to break through in a new attack on Rocca Janula. On January 28, the German 44th Grenadier Division had to be replaced by the vacated 90th Panzer Grenadier Division at Garigliano , which took over the defense from Cassino to the Secco Valley. The Americans withdrew after their long-lasting offensive and were replaced on February 12th by the Second New Zealand Corps.

The 1st Ranger Battalion was formed from the ranks of the Red Bulls during World War II . She spent most days in combat among all US Army divisions in Europe. The division's motto is Attack, Attack, Attack!

Commanders

  • Major General AP Blocksom (August 25 - September 18, 1917)
  • Brigade General FG Mauldin (September 18 - December 10, 1917)
  • Major General AP Blocksom (December 10, 1917 - May 7, 1918)
  • Brigade General FG Mauldin (May 8 - July 4, 1918)
  • Brigade General John A. Johnston (July 4 - September 28, 1918)
  • Major General William. R. Smith (September 28 - October 10, 1918)
  • Major General Beaumont B. Buck (October 17, 1917 - November 7, 1918)
  • Brigade General John A. Johnson (November 7-11, 1918)
  • Major General Ellard A. Walsh (February – August 1941)
  • Major General Russell P. Hartle (August 1941 - May 1942)
  • Major General Charles W. Ryder (May 1942 - July 1944)
  • Major General Charles L. Bolte (July 1944 - May 1945)
  • Last in command is Major General David Elicerio

Awards

Web links