9th Infantry Division (United States)

The 9th Infantry Division was among the first U.S. combat units to engage in offensive ground operations during World War II. (The others were the 32nd and the 41st in the Pacific on New Guinea, Carlson's Raiders on Makin Island, the 1st Marine, and the Americal on Guadalcanal, and, alongside the 9th in North Africa, were the 1st Infantry, 3rd Infantry, 34th Infantry and the 2nd Armored Divisions.) The 9th saw its first combat on 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers, Safi, and Port Lyautey, with the taking of Safi by the 3rd Battalion of the 47th Infantry Regiment standing as the first liberation of a city from Axis control in World War II.

With the collapse of French resistance on 11 November 1942, the division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border. The 9th returned to Tunisia in February and engaged in small defensive actions and patrol activity. On 28 March 1943 it launched an attack in southern Tunisia and fought its way north into Bizerte, 7 May. In August, the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily, and took part in the capture of Randazzo and Messina.

Sent to England for further training, the division landed on Utah Beach on 10 June 1944 (D-day plus 4), cut off the Cotentin Peninsula, drove on to Cherbourg Harbour and penetrated the port's heavy defenses.

GIs of C Company, 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division at Geich, Germany, 11 December 1944.

Following a brief rest in July, the division took part in the St. Lo break-through and in August helped close the Falaise Gap. Turning east, the 9th crossed the Marne, 28 August, swept through Saarlautern,[5] and in November and December held defensive positions from Monschau to Losheim.

Moving north to Bergrath, Germany, it launched an attack toward the Roer river, 10 December, taking Echtz and Schlich. From mid-December through January 1945, the division held defensive positions from Kalterherberg to Elsenborn. On 30 January the division jumped off from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to the Rhine, crossing at Remagen, 7 March.

After breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, the 9th assisted in the sealing and clearing of the Ruhr Pocket, then moved 150 miles (240 km) east to Nordhausen, where it assisted in the liberation of the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp, and attacked in the Harz Mountains, 14–20 April. On 21 April the Division relieved the 3d Armored Division along the Mulde River, near Dessau, and held that line until VE-day.

After the war, the Division moved south to Ingolstadt. The Division assumed control of the Dachau Concentration Camp in early July.

• previous: II Corps[6]
• May 1943: I Armored Corps

• 20 November 1943: First Army
• 25 November 1943: VII Corps
• 1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
• 26 October 1944: V Corps
• 6 December 1944: VII Corps
• 18 December 1944: V Corps
• 20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group
• 18 January 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
• 17 February 1945: III Corps
• 31 March 1945: VII Corps
• 4 April 1945: III Corps
• 14 April 1945: VII Corps

• Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division
• 39th Infantry Regiment
• 47th Infantry Regiment
• 60th Infantry Regiment
• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 9th Infantry Division Artillery
  • 26th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
  • 34th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm)
  • 60th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
  • 84th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
• 15th Engineer Combat Battalion
• 9th Medical Battalion
• 9th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
• Headquarters, Special Troops, 9th Infantry Division
  • Headquarters Company, 9th Infantry Division
  • 709th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
  • 9th Quartermaster Company
  • 9th Signal Company
  • Military Police Platoon
  • Band
• 9th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment
• 376th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion Detachment

• Activated 1 August 1940
• Arrived UK 27 November 1943
• Arrived Continent (D+4) 10 June 1944
• Entered Combat 14 June 1944 (First elements in combat in North Africa 8 November 1942; entire division entered combat 26 March 1943)
• Days in Combat 264

• Total battle casualties: 23,277[7]
• Killed in action: 3,856[7]
• Wounded in action: 17,416[7]
• Missing in action: 357[7]
• Prisoner of war: 1,648[7]

• Algeria-French Morocco (Arrowhead device)
• Tunisia
• Sicily
• Normandy
• Northern France
• Rhineland
• Ardennes-Alsace
• Central Europe

1. Medal of Honor: 4
2. Distinguished Service Cross: 86
3. Legion of Merit: 6
4. Silver Star: 1,789
5. Soldier's Medal: 55
6. Bronze Star: 5,518
7. Distinguished Flying Cross: 1
8. Air Medal: 124

Presidential Unit Citations:[8]

• Division Artillery Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, for 21–23 February 1943 (WD GO 115, 1946)
• Military Police Platoon, for 9–15 March 1943 (WD GO 84, 1945)
• Company B, 9th Medical Battalion, for 8–19 March 1945 (WD GO 65, 1946)
• 15th Engineer Combat Battalion, for 14 September-23 October 1944 (WD GO 67, 1946)
• Company B, 15th Engineer Combat Battalion, for 8–19 March 1945 (WD GO 65, 1946)
• 34th Field Artillery Battalion, for 21–23 February 1943 (WD GO 51, 1946)
• 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, for 18 June 1944 (WD GO 10, 1945)
• 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, for 11–12 July 1944 (WD GO 24, 1945)
• 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, for 6–9 August 1944 (WD GO 10, 1945)
• 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, for 21–26 June 1944 (WD GO 86, 1944)
• 1st Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment
• 47th Infantry Regiment, for 8–19 March 1945 (WD GO 65, 1946)
• 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, for 2–5 April 1945 (WD GO 98, 1945)
• 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, for 14–22 September 1944 (WD GO 139, 1946)
• 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, for 24–28 November 1944 (DA GO 25, 1948)
• 60th Field Artillery Battalion, for 21–23 February 1943 (WD GO 84, 1947)
• 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, for 23–24 April 1943 (WD GO 1, 1944)
• 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, for 16 June 1944 (WD GO 90, 1944)
• Cannon Company, 60th Infantry Regiment, for 21–23 February 1943 (WD GO 84, 1947)
• Medical Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, for 6 September 1944 (WD GO 12, 1945)
• Company B, 60th Infantry Regiment, for 12 December 1944 (WD GO 55, 1945)
• 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, for 9–10 February 1945 (WD GO 68, 1945)
• 60th Field Artillery Battalion, for 21–23 February 1943 (WD GO 84, 1947)
• 84th Field Artillery Battalion (WD GO 51, 1946)
• 84th Field Artillery Battalion (WD GO 65, 1946)

• Total: 130,000

• Maj. Gen. William W. Eagles (15 July 1947 – 26 April 1948)
• Maj. Gen. Arthur A. White (27 April 1948 – October 1949)
• Maj. Gen. John M. Devine (October 1949 - September 1950)
• Maj. Gen. William K. Harrison Jr. (September 1950 - February 1952)
• Maj. Gen. Roderick R. Allen (February 1952 - June 1952)
• Maj. Gen. Homer W. Kiefer (June 1952 - July 1953)
• Maj. Gen. Cornelius E. Ryan (July 1953 - May 1954)
• Maj. Gen. Donald P. Booth (May 1954 - November 1954)
• Maj. Gen. Halley G. Maddox (November 1954 - June 1956)
• Maj. Gen. Harry P. Storke (June 1956 - September 1957)
• Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Crawford (September 1957 - March 1958)
• Maj. Gen. Martin J. Morin (March 1958 - April 1959)
• Brig. Gen. Richard A. Risden (April 1959 - March 1960)
• Colonel Charles L. Heltman Jr. (March 1960 - May 1960) - acting
• Brig. Gen. Ashton H. Manhart (May 1960 - February 1962) - Division inactivated

Following the Vietnam War the division was stationed at Fort Lewis. The formal activation ceremony was held on 26 May 1972. Initially the division was organized under the army's Reorganization Objective Army Division system.

Parts of the division between 1972 - 1983 were organized as follows:

• • 9th Cavalry Brigade (Air Attack) (activated 18 December 1980)[18]
    • 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry[18]
    • 9th Aviation Battalion (activated 21 April 1972)[19]
    • 268th Attack Helicopter Battalion (activated 1 September 1981)[19]
    • Company A, 214th Aviation Battalion (activated 1 July 1981)[20]
  • Division Artillery (activated 21 June 1972)[21]
    • 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery (activated 21 October 1972)[22]
    • 1st Battalion, 11th Field Artillery (activated 21 July 1972)[21]
    • 3rd Battalion, 34th Field Artillery (activated 21 October 1972)[21]
    • 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery (activated 21 October 1972)[23]
    • Battery E, 333rd Field Artillery (activated 21 November 1977)[24]
  • Division Support Command
    • Division Material Management Center
    • 9th Medical Battalion
    • 9th Supply & Transportation Battalion
    • 709th Maintenance Battalion
    • 9th Adjutant General Company
    • 9th Finance Company
    • 9th Division Band
    • 100th Ordnance Detachment
  • 1st Battalion, 67th Air Defense Artillery (activated 13 September 1972 - 1 April 1979)[25]
  • 1st Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery (activated 1 April 1979)[25]
  • 9th Signal Battalion (activated 21 June 1972)[26]
  • 15th Engineer Battalion (activated 21 June 1972)[27]
  • 109th Military Intelligence Battalion (activated 1 October 1981)[28]
    • Company A (former 335th Army Security Agency Company (activated 21 December 1977 - reorganized 1 October 1981)
    • Company B (former 9th Military Intelligence Company (activated 21 December 1972 - reorganized 1 October 1981)
  • 9th Chemical Company (activated 1 September 1981)[29]
  • 9th Military Police Company

U.S. Navy SEALs operate Desert Patrol Vehicles (DPV), the successor to the Fast Attack Vehicle pioneered by the 9th ID (Motorized).

From 1983 the division served as the High-Technology Test-Bed (HTTB) for the army. This led the division to develop the concept of "motorized infantry" from 1983. The motorized infantry division was to be equipped with enhanced technology to give it deployability and fire power and fill the gap between light and heavy divisions. The idea was to create a lighter version of the armored and mechanized divisions, which could be deployed easily by aircraft, while providing more firepower than a light infantry division.[30]

Initially the vision was to create three motorized brigades with three new types of infantry battalion:[31][32]

• Light Attack Battalion
• Combined Arms Battalion Light
• Combined Arms Battalion Heavy

The light attack battalions utilized the Fast Attack Vehicles (FAV - later re-designated the Desert Patrol Vehicle), essentially a Volkswagen-engined dune buggy with either a 40mm Mk 19 grenade launcher or .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun. The FAV was designed to provide highly mobile firepower that could attack the flanks of heavier mechanized units. Some variants also mounted TOW missiles. All of these weapons systems were attached to the FAV by a mount designed to break away if the vehicle rolled over, which they were prone to do. The FAVs were problematic at best and were eventually replaced by various versions of the Humvee/HMMWV light truck.[33][31][32]

The combined arms battalions were organized as a mix of assault gun companies and light motorized infantry companies, with the heavy battalions fielding two assault gun companies and one light motorized infantry company, while the ratio was reversed in the light battalions. The assault gun companies were to be equipped with the Armored Gun System (AGS), but because of delays in the AGS program they were initially equipped with M901 ITVs Improved Tow Vehicles, then M551 Sheridan light tanks and later with Humvees with TOW missiles or Mk 19 grenade launchers. Light motorized infantry companies were equipped with Humvees mounting a Mk 19 grenade launcher. Each combined arms battalion also fielded a combat support company equipped with mortars, scouts, and an anti-armor platoon slated to be equipped with Humvees mounting a ground version of the Hellfire missile. As this Hellfire version never entered service, the platoons were later also equipped with Humvees with TOW missiles.[30][31][32]

The division's first and third brigade were to field one of each of the three new battalions, while the second brigade would field three combined arms battalions heavy. The third brigade was to field one light and one heavy combined arms battalion and the 9th Cavalry Brigade two attack helicopter battalions, one combat support aviation battalion, and one cavalry reconnaissance squadron. The division artillery would consist of three battalions equipped with M198 155mm towed howitzers, one light artillery rocket battalion with M102 105mm towed howitzers and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, and one target acquisition battery. The division support command would field three forward support, one cavalry support and one main support battalion. However, because of the delay of the Armored Gun System the division did only activate four of the envisioned five combined arms battalions heavy and retained the 2nd Battalion, 77th Armor instead.

Parts of the division were organized at the end of the 1980s as follows:

• • 9th Cavalry Brigade (Air Attack)[18]
    • 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry[18]
    • 9th Aviation Battalion[19]
    • 268th Attack Helicopter Battalion[19]
    • Company A, 214th Aviation Battalion[20]
  • Division Artillery[21]
    • 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery[22]
    • 1st Battalion, 11th Field Artillery[21]
    • 3rd Battalion, 34th Field Artillery[21]
    • 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery[23]
    • Battery E, 333rd Field Artillery[24]
  • Division Support Command
    • 1st Support Battalion (Forward)
    • 2nd Support Battalion (Forward)
    • 3rd Support Battalion (Forward)
    • 4th Support Battalion (Aviation)
    • 5th Support Battalion (Main)
  • 1st Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery[25]
  • 9th Signal Battalion[26]
  • 15th Engineer Battalion[27]
  • 109th Military Intelligence Battalion[28]
  • 9th Chemical Company[29]
  • 9th Military Police Company
  • 9th Division Band

In case of war with Warsaw Pact forces the division would have reinforced the Allied Forces Baltic Approaches Command defending Denmark. By 1984 the 9th Cavalry Brigade (Air Attack) was testing motorcycles for reconnaissance work in its reconnaissance squadron, the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment.[34] And the 9th Infantry Division (MTZ) tested motorized infantry doctrine at the Yakima Firing Center in Eastern Washington, at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin California and in Korea during the annual Team Spirit exercise. While the motorized units performed well, they were vulnerable to heavier mechanized forces, particularly if forced to stand and fight. They were also extremely vulnerable to indirect artillery fire.

On 1 April 1984, Echo Company of the 15th Engineer Battalion reorganized to form the 73rd Engineer Company (Assault Ribbon Bridge), which was assigned to I Corps, which in turn attached it as separate company to the 15th Engineer Battalion. With the switch from Combat Arms Regimental System to the United States Army Regimental System the division saw a few of its units reflagged or inactivated:

• 15 September 1986: Company A, 214th Aviation Battalion inactivated[20]
• 2 October 1986: 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery[22] to 3rd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery[21]
• 2 October 1986: 3rd Battalion, 34th Field Artillery[21] to 6th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery[21]
• 16 March 1987: 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry[35] to 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry[36]
• 16 April 1987: 2nd Battalion, 77th Armor to 1st Battalion, 33rd Armor[37]
• 1987: 9th Aviation Battalion to 1st Battalion, 9th Aviation
• 1987: 268th Attack Helicopter Battalion to 2nd Battalion, 9th Aviation
• 16 March 1988: 1st Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery to 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery[38]
• unknown date:
  • 1st Support Battalion (Forward) to 99th Support Battalion
  • 2nd Support Battalion (Forward) to 109th Support Battalion
  • 3rd Support Battalion (Forward) to 209th Support Battalion
  • 4th Support Battalion (Aviation) to 3rd Battalion, 9th Aviation[39]
  • 5th Support Battalion (Main) to 709th Support Battalion (Main)

During fiscal year 1987 the army decided to inactivate the division's 2nd brigade, which would be replaced by the 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) of the Washington Army National Guard. The 2nd brigade was inactivated on 15 August 1988 along with the following units:

• 2nd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 47th Infantry[40]
• 3rd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 60th Infantry[41]
• 6th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery (inactivated 15 September 1988)[21]
• 209th Support Battalion

On the same date the 1st Battalion, 33rd Armor, which until then had been attached to the division, was assigned to the division. With the inactivation of the 2nd brigade the remaining units were reassigned among the remaining brigades: 1st brigade now consisted of 2nd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 2nd Infantry, 1st Battalion, 33rd Armor, and 4th Combined Arms Battalion Light, 23rd Infantry. 3rd brigade consisted of 2nd Light Attack Battalion, 1st Infantry, 3rd Combined Arms Battalion Light, 47th Infantry, and 2nd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 60th Infantry. The 2nd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 23rd Infantry was assigned to the 9th Cavalry Brigade.[30]

McGrath writes that the 9th Infantry Division was organized as follows in 1988:[42]

• 9th Infantry Division (Motorized), Fort Lewis, WA
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 1st Brigade
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 1st Battalion, 33rd Armor
    • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 2nd Infantry
    • 4th Combined Arms Battalion Light, 23rd Infantry
  • 3rd Brigade
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 2nd Light Attack Battalion, 1st Infantry
    • 3rd Combined Arms Battalion Light, 47th Infantry
    • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 60th Infantry
  • 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), (Washington Army National Guard), Seattle, WA
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 1st Battalion, 303rd Armor
    • 1st Battalion, 803rd Armor
    • 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry (Mechanized)
    • 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry (Mechanized)
    • 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery (M109 155mm self-propelled howitzers)
    • 181st Support Battalion
    • Troop E, 303rd Cavalry
    • 898th Engineer Company
    • Battery D, 216th Air Defense Artillery (Minnesota Army National Guard) - did not exist after 1993
  • 9th Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat)[43]
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Troop
    • 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry (8 × AH-1F Cobra, 12 × OH-58C Kiowa, 2 × UH-60A Black Hawk)[44][36]
    • 2nd Battalion, 9th Aviation (30 × UH-60A Black Hawk & 16 × CH-47D Chinook)
    • 1st Battalion, 9th Aviation (21 × AH-1F Cobra & 13 × OH-58C Kiowa, a second attack helicopter battalion was scheduled to be activated)
    • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion Heavy, 47th Infantry
  • Division Artillery[45][46]
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
    • 1st Battalion, 11th Field Artillery (18 × M198 155mm towed howitzers)
    • 3rd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery (18 × M198 155mm towed howitzer)
    • 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery (12 × M102 105mm towed howitzer & 9 × M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems)
    • Battery E, 333rd Field Artillery (Target Acquisition, AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder & AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radars)
  • Division Support Command[45]
    • 3rd Battalion, 9th Aviation
    • 99th Support Battalion (Forward) (supports 3rd Brigade)
    • 109th Support Battalion (Forward) (supports 1st Brigade)
    • 709th Support Battalion (Main)
  • 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery
  • 15th Engineer Battalion
  • 9th Signal Battalion
  • 109th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 9th Chemical Company
  • 9th Military Police Company
  • 73rd Engineer Company (Assault Ribbon Bridge)
  • 9th Division Band

In fiscal year 1989 Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Carl E. Vuono approved the conversion of the division's two combined arms battalions light to standard mechanized infantry battalions.[47]