Division History, 1942 - 1944
| Index | | Jan 45 |

1942

Map:   North Camp Polk, LA.

  • 1 Apr 1942 - the Division was activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, with Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Camp as commanding officer.

  • 13 Apr 1942 - Brig. Gen. William M. Grimes replaces Gen. Camp as commanding officer.

  • Jun 1942 to Jan 1943 - the Division conducts training of 10,833 cadre personnel for the 9th to 14th Armored Divisions.

  • While stationed at Fort Knox, the Division was the official military guardian of the United States Gold Vault.

1943

  • Jan 1943 - moved from Fort Knox, KY to Camp Campbell, KY.

  • Jan 1943 - sent over 4,000 replacements to the 1st Armored Division after the Battle of Kasserine Pass in Tunisia.

  • Mar 1943 - moved to North Camp Polk, LA. Took over vehicles and equipment of the departing 7th Armored Division.

  • Mar 1943 - Sep 1943 - took part in the Mobilization Program designed to mold the Division into an effective combat organization.

  • Sep 1943 - completed reorganization from the old style triangular division to the new 'light' armored division.

  • Dec 1943 - participated in the 'D' Series training exercises preparing for full scale maneuvers.

1944

  • 7 Feb 1944 - began the Sixth Louisiana Maneuver period which consisted of seven phases.

  • 2 Mar 1944 - received 1,200 replacements from cancelled Army Specialized Training Programs (ASTP).

  • 3 Apr 1944 - completed the last phase of the Sixth Louisiana Maneuver period but the Division stayed in the field.

  • 19 Apr 1944 - most trained privates and PFC's were shipped out to other units.

  • 28 Apr 1944 - the Division ended almost six months of duty in the field as they moved to barracks at South Camp Polk.

  • May - Sep 1944 - participated in various training and classroom exercises and firing range activities.

  • 30 May 1944 - the Division assembled to pay tribute to the 32 men who had died in training since 4 Mar 1943.

  • 15 Jun 1944 - Infantry Day - the 3 infantry battalions made a 125 mile march to Shreveport to set up exhibits and participate in the parades and other activities.

  • 4 Jul 1944 - all-day sporting activities were conducted. The 58th AIB won first place and also broke the all-army wall scaling record during that event.

  • Sep 1944 - the Division was placed in top priority for overseas movement.

  • Sep 1944 - The 58th AIB topped the Division in four of seven combat firing tests and was far ahead of other infantry battalions in anti-tank platoon, rifle platoon and infantry platoon tests.

  • 5 Oct 1944 - Maj. Gen. Grimes was replaced by Brig. Gen John M. Devine who previously served as CG of CCB of the 7th Armored Division.

  • 9 Oct 1944 - infantry battalions participated in series of tests for the Expert Infantry Badge. The badge was worth $5 extra pay per month.

  • Oct 1944 - received the official alert for movement to the Port of Embarkation for overseas deployment.

  • 27 Oct 1944 - began boarding troop trains for movement to Camp Kilmer, NJ located near New Brunswick.

  • 7 Nov 1944 - sailed from New York on the HMT Samaria, USAT George W. Goethals, USAT Marine Devil and SS St. Cecelia.

  • 19 Nov 1944 - disembarked from troopships in Portsmouth and Southampton for movement to Tidworth Barracks, near Salisbury.
  • Nov - Dec - Received vehicles and began training exercises on the Salisbury Plain.

  • Dec 16 1944 - 'Battle of the Bulge' begins. Received orders shortly thereafter to prepare for deployment to the continent.