The Major had wanted to lead his men into St.Lô, and his men saw that his wish came true. Killed just outside the city while the 29th was battering at its suburbs, the Major had distinguished himself for gallantry in the fierce attack on that key spot. And when, on July 18, the “Blue and Gray” Division finally took St.Lô, its victorious columns included a lone ambulance-containing the flag-draped body of the Major of St.Lô.
The 29th was a veteran division by July 18. For that matter, it was a veteran division on D-plus-1. The day before, June 6, 1944, it had assaulted the German shore positions at Omaha Beach along with the 1st Infantry Division. It had pushed its way inland through minefields and pillboxes and every kind of fortification the Nazis could devise. Its men had loudly an-swered their own battle cry “29th, Let’s go!”
Organized for World War I of National Guardsmen from New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, the 29th had selected as its shoulder patch the blue and gray colors of the rival armies in the Civil War—symbolizing the unity of the formerly embattled states. The colors were combined in a monad, Korean symbol for eternal life. The Blue and Gray Division played a prominent part in World War I, suffering more than 6,000 casualties, and in this war it has more than lived up to that record.
By V-E Day its casualties numbered more than 20,000.
Omaha Beach led to Isigny, and Isigny to St.Lô, and St.Lô to Vire, and Vire to Brest. There'the 29th, with the 2nd and 8th Infantry Divisions, laid siege to the German garrison, which finally capitulated on September 18. Swinging east, the Blue and Gray men were ordered to move on the Roer River. They launched an attack northeast of Aachen in November, and, brushing aside enemy defense, had soon taken Siersdorf, Stetterich, Durboslar, and Bettendorf. The stiffest opposition was at the Jiilich Sportspalats and at Hasenfeld Gut, but the 29th took both objectives and, by early December, held the west bank of the Roer. Next objective was the Rhine. The battle-hardened Division set off in February, and in five days had captured 48 occupied places. It swept across the Cologne plain, and fought its way into Julich, Broich, Immerath, Otzenrath, and Titz.
But these were all smallish places. The 29th had its eye on something bigger. On March 1, it marched victoriously into München-Gladbach, textile center of Germany and up to then the largest German city taken by the Allies. Then the 116th Infantry Regiment, which had been cited for its D-day actions, was assigned to mopping up in the Ruhr area, and the 175th Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion of which had been cited at St.Lô, moved into the Klotze Forest. By the war’s end, the 29th Division had joined hands with the Russians at the Elbe and was deep in Germany. Later, it was revealed to be part of our Army of Occupation, with its headquarters at the port of Bremen.
From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.
"Blue and Gray Division"
The division insignia, as suggested by Major J. A. Ulio (later Major General, the Adjutant General), then Division Adjutant, is the monad, the Korean symbol of eternal life. It is half blue and half gray in matching teardrop design. The colors represent the tradition of the division, composed of men of both North and South, whose forefathers fought in the Union (blue) and Confederate (gray) Armies during the Civil War.
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
| 11 October 1942 |
Maj. Gen. Leonard T. Gerow |
| 22 July 1943 |
Maj. Gen. Charles H. Gerhardt |
Assistant Division Commander
| 11 October 1942 |
Brig. Gen. George Alexander |
| 13 October 1943 |
Brig. Gen. Norman D. Cota |
| 31 August 1944 |
Col. Leroy H. Watson |
| 7 December 1944 |
Brig. Gen. Leroy H. Watson |
Artillery Commander
| 11 October 1942 |
Brig. Gen. William H. Sands |
Chief of Staff
| 11 October 1942 |
Col. James H. Hagan |
| 10 January 1944 |
Lt. Col. Karl W. Curtis |
| 28 April 1944 |
Col. Godwin Ordway, Jr. |
| 13 June 1944 |
Lt. Col. William G. Purnell (Acting) |
| 15 June 1944 |
Col. Edward H. McDaniel |
| 5 October 1944 |
Lt. Col. Louis G. Smith |
| 26 November 1944 |
Col. Harry R. Warfield (Acting) |
| 13 December 1944 |
Lt. Col. Louis G. Smith |
| 10 January 1945 |
Col. Louis G. Smith |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
| 11 October 1942 |
Lt. Col. Cooper B. Rhodes |
| 26 November 1944 |
Maj. George P. Page (Acting) |
| 10 December 1944 |
Lt. Col. Cooper B. Rhodes |
| 28 March 1945 |
Maj. James L. Hayes (Acting) |
| 5 May 1945 |
Maj. James L. Hayes |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
| 11 October 1942 |
Lt. Col. Norman C. Atwood (Acting) |
| 5 December 1942 |
Lt. Col. Norman C. Atwood |
| 14 February 1944 |
Maj. Paul W. Krznarich |
| 15 July 1944 |
Lt. Col. Paul W. Krznarich |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
| 11 October 1942 |
Lt. Col. Carey Jarman |
| 17 December 1943 |
Maj. William J. Witte |
| 1 May 1944 |
Lt. Col. William J. Witte |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
| 11 October 1942 |
Lt. Col. Louis M. Gosorn |
| 10 April 1945 |
Maj. Stanley W. Phillips |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
| 23 February 1944 |
Capt. Asa B. Gardiner |
| 13 October 1944 |
Capt. Walter D. Buttner |
| 24 October 1944 |
Maj. Donovan P. Yeuell, Jr. |
| 16 December 1944 |
Lt. Col. Donovan P. Yeuell, Jr. |
| 1 January 1945 |
Maj. Robert E. Walker |
| 11 January 1945 |
Maj. J. P. Powhida (Acting) |
| 24 April 1945 |
Maj. Robert E. Walker (Acting) |
Adjutant General
| 11 October 1942 |
Maj. Robert H. Archer, Jr. |
| 1 November 1943 |
Lt. Col. Robert H. Archer, Jr. |
Commanding Officer, 115th Infantry
| 11 October 1942 |
Col. Eugene N. Slappey |
| 13 June 1944 |
Col. Godwin Ordway, Jr. |
| 18 July 1944 |
Col. Alfred V. Canie [spelling ?] |
| 11 August 1944 |
Lt. Col. Louis G. Smith |
| 5 October 1944 |
Col. Edward H. McDaniel |
| 19 October 1944 |
Lt. Col. Edley Craighill |
| 21 November 1944 |
Lt. Col. William O. Blandford |
| 13 march 1945 |
Col. William O. Blandford |
Commanding Officer, 116th Infantry
| 11 October 1942 |
Lt. Col. Morris A. Warner |
| 16 March 1943 |
Col. Charles D. W. Canham |
| 7 July 1944 |
Col. Philip R. Dwyer |
| 11 October 1944 |
Col. Philip R. Dwyer |
| 13 November 1944 |
Lt. Col. Harold A. Cassel |
| 3 December 1944 |
Lt. Col. Sidney V. Bingham, Jr. |
| 29 march 1945 |
Col. Sidney V. Bingham, Jr. |
Commanding Officer, 175th Infantry
| 11 October 1942 |
Col. Philip Wood |
| 1 May 1944 |
Col. Paul R. Goode |
| 11 June 1944 |
Lt. Col. Alexander George |
| 18 June 1944 |
Lt. Col. William C. Purnell |
| 23 June 1944 |
Col. Ollie W. Reed |
| 30 July 1944 |
Lt. Col. William C. Purnell |
| 1 October 1944 |
Col. William C. Purnell |
| 20 February 1945 |
Lt. Col. Arthur T. Sheppe |
| 21 February 1945 |
Col. Harry D. McHugh |
| 11 March 1945 |
Col. Edward H. McDaniel |
STATISTICS
Chronology
| Activated [ i.e., Inducted] |
3 February 1941 |
| Arrived ETO |
11 October 1942 |
| Arrived Continent (D Day) |
6 June 1944 |
| Entered Combat: First Elements |
6 June 1944 |
| Entered Combat: Entire Division |
7 June 1944 |
| Days in Combat |
242 |
Casualties (Tentative)
| Killed |
3,720 |
| Wounded |
15,403 |
| Missing |
462 |
| Captured |
526 |
| Battle Casualties |
20,111 |
| Non-Battle Casualties |
8,665 |
| Total Casualties |
28,776 |
| Percent of T/O Strength |
204.2 |
Campaigns
- Normandy
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Central Europe
Individual Awards
| Distinguished Service Cross |
40 |
| Legion of Merit |
11 |
| Silver Star |
856 |
| Soldiers Medal |
25 |
| Bronze Star |
5,954 |
| Air Medal |
176 |
Prisoners of War Taken 38,912
COMPOSITION
- 115th Infantry
- 116th Infantry
- 175th Infantry
- 29th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 121st Engineer Combat Battalion
- 104th Medical Battalion
- 29th Division Artillery
- 110th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 111th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 224th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 227th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 729th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 29th Quartermaster Company
- 29th Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
| 1 det, Hq & Hq Btry, 49th AAA Brig |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 18th AAA Gp |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 110th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 457th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 1 det, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 1 det, 320th AAA Bln Bn VLA |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 459th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
9 Jun 44-17 Aug 44 |
| 1 Br RAF Det (Radar) |
2 Sep 44 |
| 459th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
28 Sep 44-29 Oct 44 |
| 554th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
6 Nov 44-15 Aug 45 |
| 18th AAA Gp |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
| 141st AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
| 379th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
| 571st AAA AW Bn (SP) |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
Armored
| 743d Tk Bn |
17 May 44-14 Jun 44 |
| 747th Tk Bn |
17 May 44-17 Aug 44 |
| Co A, 709th Tk Bn |
23 Aug 44-21 Sep 44 |
| 1 sq, Br 141st Royal Armd Regt (Br 79th Armed Div) |
12 Sep 44-18 Sep 44 |
| 747th Tk Bn |
28 Sep 44-8 Mar 45 |
| 744th Tk Bn (- Co A) |
30 Sep 44-3 Nov 44 |
| 1 plat, Hq, 739th Tk Bn |
9 Feb 45-26 Feb 45 |
| 747th Tk Bn |
29 Mar 45-23 Jul 45 |
Cavalry
| Hq & Hq Tr, 102d Cav Gp |
17 May 44-10 Jun 44 |
| 102d Cav Rcn Sq |
17 May 44-10 Jun 44 |
| 113th Cav Gp |
18 Jul 44-20 Jul 44 |
| 102d Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr A) |
14 Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| 102d Cav Gp (- 102d Cav Rcn Sq) |
16 Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| Trs A & E, 86th Cav Rcn Sq (6th Armd Div) |
23 Aug 44-10 Sep 44 |
| 113th Cav Gp |
30 Sep 44-3 Nov 44 |
| 17th Cav Rcn Sq |
17 Dec 44-24 Dec 44 |
| 113th Cav Gp |
5 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
| 125th Cav Rcn Sq |
5 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
| 113th Cav Rcn Sq |
5 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
| 15th Cav Gp |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
| 15th Cav Rcn Sq |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
| 175th Cav Rcn Sq |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
Chemical
| Cos B & D, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
8 Jun 44-1 Jul 44 |
| 92d Cml Mort Bn |
6 Jul 44-13 Jul 44 |
| Cos A & D, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
12 Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| 81st Cml Mort Bn (- Cos A & D) |
16 Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| Co A, 86th Cml Mort Bn |
23 Aug 44-16 Sep 44 |
| Co B, 86th Cml Mort Bn |
11 Sep 44-18 Sep 44 |
| Hq & Cos A & B, 92d Cml Mort Bn |
6 Nov 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 83d Cml Mort Bn |
20 Dec 44-12 Jan 45 |
| 1st Plat, Co C, 92d Cml Mort Bn |
11 Jan 45-15 Jan 45 |
| 83d Cml SG Co |
6 Feb 45-23 Feb 45 |
| 92d Cml Mort Bn |
8 Feb 45-28 Feb 45 |
| 89th Cml Mort Bn |
20 Apr 45-30 Apr 45 |
| Co C, 3d Cml Mort Bn |
30 Apr 45-3 May 45 |
Engineer
| 992d Engr Treadway Br Co |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 503d Engr Light Pon Co |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 5th Engr SP Brig |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 6th Engr SP Brig |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| Hq & Hq Co, 1171st Engr C Gp |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 1340th Engr C Bn |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 502d Engr Light Pon Co |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 1 det, 996th Engr Treadway Br Co |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 234th Engr C Bn |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| Hq & Hq Co, 1121st Engr C Gp |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 254th Engr C Bn |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 610th Engr Light Equip Co |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 246th Engr C Bn |
30 Sep 44-1 Oct 44 |
| Co B, 82d Engr C Bn |
30 Sep 44-2 Oct 44 |
| Co B, 234th Engr C Bn |
30 Sep 44-4 Oct 44 |
| Co C, 234th Engr C Bn |
6 Oct 44-7 Oct 44 |
| Co C, 234th Engr C Bn |
11 Oct 44-2 Nov 44 |
| 1 det, 234th Engr C Bn |
22 Feb 45-23 Feb 45 |
Field Artillery
| Hq & Hq Btry, V Corps Arty |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 1 det, 17th FA Obsn Bn |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 190th FA Gp |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 190th FA Bn (155mm Gun) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 186th FA Bn (155mm How) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 200th FA Bn (155mm Gun) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 187th FA Bn (155mm How) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 58th Armd FA Bn |
17 May 44-14 Jun 44 |
| 230th FA Bn (30th Div) (105mm How) |
11 Jun 44-14 Jun 44 |
| 1 btry, 200th FA Bn (155mm Gun) |
11 Jun 44-14 Jun 44 |
| 967th FA Bn (155mm How) |
10 Jul 44-27 Jul 44 |
| 283d FA Bn (105mm How) |
11 Oct 44-2 Nov 44 |
| 283d FA Bn (105mm How) |
6 Nov 44-26 Jan 45 |
| 967th FA Bn (155mm How) |
8 Nov 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 70th FA Bn (105mm How) |
17 Dec 44-2 Mar 45 |
| 692d FA Bn (105mm How) |
27 Jan 45-30 Jan 45 |
| 83d Div Arty |
8 Feb 45-26 Feb 45 |
| 323d FA Bn (83d Div) (105mm How) |
8 Feb 45-28 Feb 45 |
Infantry
| 26th CT (1st Div) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 33d FA Bn (1st Div) (105mm How) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 1 det, Hq & Hq Btry, 1st Div Arty |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| Co C, 1st Engr Bn (1st Div) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 2d Ranger Inf Bn |
7 Jun 44-10 Jun 44 |
| 5th Ranger Inf Bn |
7 Jun 44-10 Jun 44 |
| 1st Bn, 110th Inf (28th Div) |
31 Jul 44 |
| Cos D, E & F, 2d Ranger Inf Bn |
23 Aug 44-11 Sep 44 |
| 2d Ranger Inf Bn (- Cos D, E & F) |
26 Aug 44-18 Sep 44 |
| 5th Ranger Inf Bn (- Cos A, C & E) |
31 Aug 44-18 Sep 44 |
| Cos A, C & E, 5th Ranger Inf Bn |
4 Sep 44-18 Sep 44 |
| Neth. Cos 2, 3, & 4, Royal Stoot Troepen |
8 Oct 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 407th Inf (102d Div) |
28 Oct 44-3 Nov 44 |
| 330th Inf (83d Div) |
23 Feb 45-28 Feb 45 |
Tank Destroyer
| 635th TD Bn (T) |
17 May 44-7 Jun 44 |
| 823d TD Bn (SP) |
26 Jun 44-3 Jul 44 |
| 821st TD Bn (SP) |
28 Jun 44-13 Jul 44 |
| 803d TD Bn (SP) |
30 Jun 44-1 Jul 44 |
| Co B, 803d TD Bn (SP) |
17 Jul 44-20 Jul 44 |
| 803d TD Bn (SP) (- Co C) |
28 Jul 44-30 Jul 44 |
| Co C, 803d TD Bn (SP) |
28 Jul 44-3 Aug 44 |
| Co A, 803d TD Bn (SP) |
2 Aug 44-3 Aug 44 |
| Co A, 644th TD Bn (SP) |
23 Aug 44-21 Sep 44 |
29th Infantry Division World War II Missing in Action
There are 73 soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division World War II still listed as missing in action.
