Before D-Day in Normandy, the initials T-O on the 90th Division’s shoulder patch stood for Texas and Oklahoma, home states of most of the outfit’s personnel in World War I. Not long after D-day, to the men who wore them, the initials stood for “Tough ’Ombres.”
The 90th didn’t land without difficulty. One of its troopships was sunk in the English Channel, and a battalion of Infantrymen, with a company of engineers, swam and waded ashore without weapons to enter the fight for the beachhead.
After the landings the Tough ’Ombres, previously untried in battle, fought for 53 straight days. Their first major task was to deepen the wedge driven into France by the aerial assault of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 90th saw heavy fighting at Pont-l’Abbé, Gourbesville, and Portbail. Then, early in July, the Tough ’Ombres went into the misty hell of Forêt de Mont Castre.
For three years the Germans had been using Mont Castre as a maneuver area, and knew the terrain there intimately. Fur-thermore, it was a heavily fortified sector—the strong point in a line of outposts before the defense line running eastward from Coutances. Facing the Tough ’Ombres were picked German paratroopers and SS men. The 90th struck at Mont Castre on July 3, and battled there for eight days. Camouflaged enemy paratroopers took advantage of the low visibility in the area to raise havoc with the Americans, and one unit of the 90th suf-fered so heavily that it was compelled to organize a company "J” from an old lot of cooks, clerks, and mechanics.
But the 90th took Mont Castre, and then set off on a new mission. Crossing the Selume River and seizing St. Hilaire-du- Harcouet, the Division began to close the Falaise pocket, and by August 22 the 90th had trapped 12,000 Germans in that sector. During that month, too, the 90th Division took Chambois.
As summer turned into fall, the Division headed east toward Metz, taking part in the attack on that fortified city. By early 1945, the 90th had driven into the Saar, by March it was racing down the east bank of the Rhine, had stormed the gates of Mainz, and had captured the walled city of Boppard.
The war was nearly over, but the 90th wasn’t through yet. April saw it fighting south of Eisenach and, after having by-passed armored units, in Barchfeld. It helped take Plauen, and cut Germany virtually in half late in the month by slashing through the rail center of Hof. Just before the final bell rang, the Tough ’Ombres crossed the Czechoslovakian border.
From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.
"Alamo Division"
"Tough Ombres"
The division insignia consists of a monogrammatic red "T" and "O" on a square olive drab background. It was adopted by the 90th Division during World War I because most of its original personnel were drafted from Texas and Oklahoma.
Commanding General
| 5 Apr 1944 | Brig Gen Jay W. McKelvie |
| 13 Jun 1944 | Maj Gen Eugene M Landrum |
| 30 Jul 1944 | Brig Gen Raymond S McLain |
| 22 Sep 1944 | Maj Gen Raymond S McLain |
| 15 Oct 1944 | Brig Gen James A Van Fleet |
| 15 Nov 1944 | Maj Gen James A Van Fleet |
| 22 Jan 1945 | Maj Gen Lowell W Rooks |
| 2 Mar 1945 | Brig Gen Herbert L Earnest |
| 2 Feb 1943 | Brig Gen Samuel P Williams |
| 31 Jul 1944 | Brig Gen William G Weaver |
| 27 Nov 1944 | Col Joseph M Tully |
| 1 May 1945 | Brig Gen Joseph M Tully |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Brig Gen John M Devine |
| 16 Sep 1944 | Col Ernest A Bixby |
| 11 Nov 1944 | Brig Gen Ernest A Bixby |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Col Gustave C Dittmar |
| 2 May 1944 | Col Philip D Ginder |
| 18 May 1944 | Col Robert L Bacon |
| 15 Jul 1944 | Col John C Whitcomb |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Lt Col Phillip M Marsh |
| 25 Jun 1944 | Lt Col Frank G Adams (actg) |
| 10 Sep 1944 | Lt Col Cyril E Williams |
| 22 Jan 1945 | Maj Richard F Lynch |
| 1 May 1945 | Lt Col Richard F Lynch |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Lt Col James O Boswell |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Lt Col Richard G Stilwell |
| 14 Feb 1945 | Lt Col Robert P Booth |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Maj Thomas M Andrews |
| 1 Oct 1944 | Lt Col Thomas M Andrews |
| 3 May 1945 | Maj William A Russell (actg) |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Lt Col Ray C Scott |
| 5 Nov 1944 | Maj Leslie V Dix |
| 16 Feb 1945 | Lt Col Leslie V Dix |
| 15 May 1944 | Col Philip H Ginder |
| 13 Jun 1944 | Col John W Sheehy |
| 15 Jun 1944 | Lt Col Charles M Schwab |
| 17 Jun 1944 | Col George H Barth |
| 30 Oct 1944 | Col Julian H George |
| 15 Feb 1945 | Lt Col John H Mason |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Col James V Thompson |
| 16 Jun 1944 | Col Richard C Partridge |
| 3 Aug 1944 | Col Christian H Clark Jr |
| 28 Nov 1944 | Lt Col F H Loomis |
| 10 Dec 1944 | Col J W Bealke |
| 5 Apr 1944 | Col Clarke K Fales |
| 6 Jul 1944 | Col Robert L Bacon |
| 3 Nov 1944 | Lt Col D G Gorton (actg) |
| 5 Nov 1944 | Col Raymond E Bell |
| Activated |
25 Mar 42
|
| Arrived ETO |
5 Apr 44
|
| Arrived Continent (D/2) |
8 Jun 44
|
| Entered Combat: | |
| First Elements |
6 Jun 44
|
| Entire Division |
10 Jun 44
|
| Days in Combat |
308
|
| Killed |
2,963
|
| Wounded |
14,009
|
| Missing |
1,052
|
| Captured |
442
|
| Battle Casualties |
18,460
|
| Non-Battle Casualties |
9,157
|
| Total Casualties |
27,617
|
| Percent of T/O Strength |
196.0
|
| DSC |
72
|
| Legion of Merit |
14
|
| Silver Star |
1,459
|
| Soldiers Medal |
50
|
| Bronze Star |
5,705
|
| Air Medal |
120
|
| DFC |
4
|
PW's Taken 83,437
| 537th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 16 Jun 44-7 Jul 44 |
| 1 btry 537th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 7 Jul 44-15 Jul 44 |
| 537th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 15 Jul 44-26 May 44 |
| Btry B 217th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) | 5 Feb 45-6 Feb 45 |
| 746th Tk Bn | 12 Jun 44-15 Jun 44 |
| 712th Tk Bn | 28 Jun 44-7 Jul 44 |
| Co A 712th Tk Bn | 7 Jul 44-15 Jul 44 |
| 712th Tk Bn | 15 Jul 44-_Sep 44 |
| 1 CC Fr 2d Armd Div | 18 Aug 44-22 Aug 44 |
| 17th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) | 9 Sep 44-14 Sep 44 |
| Tr B 4th Cav Rcn Sq | 20 Jun 44-29 Jun 44 |
| Tr B 43d Cav Rcn Sq | 7 Sep 44-11 Sep 44 |
| Fr Gp Tactique Lorraine | 12 Oct 44-13 Oct 44 |
| Task Force Polk (3d Cav Gp) | 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44 |
| Hq & Hq Tr 3d Cav Gp | 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 3d Cav Rcn Sq | 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 43d Cav Rcn Sq | 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 807th TD Bn (SP) (-1 Co) | 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 135th Engr C Bn | 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 3d Cav Gp (Reinf) | 20 Dec 44-6 Jan 45 |
| 2d Cav Gp | 17 Mar 45-24 Mar 45 |
| Co A 86th Cml Mort Bn | 28 Jun 44-29 Jul 44 |
| Co C 86th Cml Mort Bn | 1 Jul 44-1 Jul 44 |
| Co D 86th Cml Mort Bn | 4 Jul 44-6 Jul 44 |
| Cos C & D 81st Cml Mort Bn | 20 Aug 44-22 Aug 44 |
| Co C 81st Cml Mort Bn | 13 Nov 44-6 Jan 45 |
| Co B 81st Cml Mort Bn | 11 Dec 44-6 Jan 45 |
| Co C 3d Cml Mort Bn | 11 Jan 45-18 Jan 45 |
| Co D 3d Cml Mort Bn | 13 Jan 45-25 Jan 45 |
| 161st Cml SG Co | 6 Mar 45-10 Mar 45 |
| Co C 91st Cml Mort Bn | 11 Mar 45-14 Apr 45 |
| 2 secs 84th Cml SG Co | 11 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
| 161st Cml SG Co | 22 Mar 45-26 Mar 45 |
| Co A 97th Cml Mort Bn | 14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
| 148th Engr C Bn | 21 Jun 44-22 Jun 44 |
| 135th Engr C Bn | 9 Nov 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 44th Engr C Bn | 4 Mar 45-6 Mar 45 |
| 35th Engr C Bn | 4 Mar 45-10 Mar 45 |
| 980th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 13 Jun 44-15 Jun 44 |
| 4th Div Arty | 28 Jun 44-6 Jul 44 |
| 693d FA Bn (105 How) | 31 Jul 44-17 Aug 44 |
| 400th Armd FA Bn | 3 Aug 44-5 Aug 44 |
| 202d FA Bn (155 How) | 3 Aug 44-5 Aug 44 |
| 40th FA Gp | 4 Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| 173d FA Gp | 4 Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| Btry B 3d FA Obsn Bn | 4 Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| 999th FA Bn (8" How) | 9Aug 44-17 Aug 44 |
| 284th FA Bn (105 How) | 27 Aug 44-30 Aug 44 |
| 282d FA Bn (105 How) | 5 Sep 44-17 Sep 44 |
| 282d FA Bn (105 How) | 23 Sep 44-2 Oct 44 |
| 241st FA Bn (105 How) | 8 Nov 44-14 Nov 44 |
| Btry C 558th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 11 Nov 44-16 Nov 44 |
| Btry C 558th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 4 Dec 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 241st FA Bn (105 How) | 4 Dec 44-6 Jan 45 |
| 282d FA Bn (105 How) | 30 Dec 44-1 Jan 45 |
| 949th FA Bn (155 How) | 11 Jan 45-11 Feb 45 |
| 274th Armd FA Bn | 27 Jan 45-24 Feb 45 |
| Btry A 174th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 29 Jan 45-24 Feb 45 |
| 771st FA Bn (4.5" Gun) | 15 Feb 45-21 Feb 45 |
| Co B 899th TD Bn (SP) | 17 Jun 44-19 Jun 44 |
| 607th TD Bn (T) (-Co A) | 20 Jun 44-2 Nov 44 |
| 803d TD Bn (SP) | 4 Jul 44-15 Jul 44 |
| Co A 607th TD Bn (T) | 7 Jul 44-2 Nov 44 |
| 773d TD Bn (SP) | 2 Nov 44-9 May 45 |
| 607th TD Bn (T) | 20 Nov 44-27 Nov 44 |
| 807th TD Bn (ST) | 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44 |
| 774th TD Bn (T) | 31 Dec 44-6 Jan 45 |
There are 81 soldiers of the 90th Infantry Division World War II still listed as missing in action.
| Technician Fifth Grade Walter A. Andrasik 358th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1945 |
| Private First Class James H. Biggs 357th Infantry Regiment 12/09/1944 |
| Private First Class James F. Black 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Sergeant Bernard A. Block 359th Infantry Regiment 06/26/1944 |
| Private First Class Lee O. Brunson 357th Infantry Regiment 12/08/1944 |
| Private William E. Bullard 357th Infantry Regiment 01/14/1946 |
| Private William J. Bundrock 357th Infantry Regiment 10/10/1944 |
| Private Lawrence P. Burkett 357th Infantry Regiment 12/11/1944 |
| Private First Class Archie J. Butler 358th Infantry Regiment 07/23/1944 |
| Private First Class Yaro J. Cerny 357th Infantry Regiment 10/14/1944 |
| Private First Class Roger E. Charpentier 357th Infantry Regiment 12/08/1944 |
| Corporal Thomas R. Cody 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944 |
| Technician Fifth Grade William A. Corey 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944 |
| Private First Class Charles R. De Graw 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944 |
| Private Rodolphe Desrochers 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944 |
| John Eaton 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion 07/03/1944 |
| Private John P. Eaton 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion 07/03/1944 |
| Private First Class Paul E. Fields 357th Infantry Regiment 12/15/1944 |
| Sergeant Willard C. Fisher 359th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1944 |
| First Lieutenant Gilman E. Gambs 358th Infantry Regiment 01/16/1945 |
| Private First Class Candeloro B. Garcia 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Wilfred E. Garcia 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Private Donald R. Girardot 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/07/1945 |
| Technician Fifth Grade Dale R. Hartley 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/15/1944 |
| Technician Fifth Grade Weldon J. Hickey 357th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Private First Class James T. Hoke 359th Infantry Regiment 06/07/1945 |
| Private David L. Hughes 358th Infantry Regiment 11/23/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Paul A. Huzarewicz 359th Infantry Regiment 12/11/1944 |
| Private Charles J. Jacobson 358th Infantry Regiment 11/25/1944 |
| Private First Class Ervin N. Johnson 357th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Orville E. Johnson 359th Infantry Regiment 06/29/1944 |
| Private First Class Elmer O. Jones 359th Infantry Regiment 12/13/1945 |
| Private Bernard R. Kadlec 357th Infantry Regiment 12/12/1944 |
| Private Eugene P. Kane 358th Infantry Regiment 07/16/1945 |
| Private First Class Thomas F. Keeley 359th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1944 |
| Private First Class John F. Kotroba 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Private Michael W. La Pore 359th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944 |
| Private First Class William L. Langston 359th Infantry Regiment 06/07/1945 |
| Private First Class Kenneth I. Larson 357th Infantry Regiment 06/20/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Thomas J. Lauridson 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944 |
| Private First Class Frank B. Lawson 357th Infantry Regiment 12/13/1944 |
| Private First Class John A. Lehane 359th Infantry Regiment 07/12/1945 |
| Sergeant Arthur M. Lermusiaux 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944 |
| Private First Class Colon A. Lockerman 358th Infantry Regiment 06/30/1944 |
| Private First Class Albert H. Marks 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944 |
| Private First Class Calvin B. Martin 357th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Harold R. McCray 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Corporal Thorn O. McGee 344th Field Artillery Battalion 12/16/1944 |
| Private Homer J. Mitchell 359th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Kenneth W. Moore 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944 |
| Private First Class Robert C. O'Donnell 359th Infantry Regiment 07/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Frank W. Parkhurst 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944 |
| Private First Class William D. Peele 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Private Edward R. Poglitsch 359th Infantry Regiment 11/15/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Dayton Polvado 359th Infantry Regiment 12/13/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Francis L. Raub 357th Infantry Regiment 09/15/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Johnie W. Robbins 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944 |
| Private First Class Refugio R. Rodriguez 357th Infantry Regiment 12/08/1944 |
| Private Domenic T. Rosa 359th Infantry Regiment 09/26/1944 |
| Private Adolf Rosenzweig 359th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Raymond C. Sanders 359th Infantry Regiment 06/07/1945 |
| Private First Class Stanley Schachne 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Harold A. Schafer 357th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Charles R. Schmidt 358th Infantry Regiment 09/24/1944 |
| Private First Class Eugene A. Schwarz 357th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Private First Class Roy J. Searle 357th Infantry Regiment 12/09/1944 |
| Sergeant Paul D. Sharpe 358th Infantry Regiment 01/16/1945 |
| Private Leonard F. Sisselman 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Private First Class Johnnie E. Smith 358th Infantry Regiment 11/23/1944 |
| Private Alvin M. Stephens 359th Infantry Regiment 01/13/1946 |
| Sergeant Edward A. Swank 357th Infantry Regiment 12/11/1944 |
| Private First Class Edmund C. Szczepaniak 357th Infantry Regiment 02/11/1945 |
| Private John J. Tafoya 358th Infantry Regiment 11/23/1944 |
| Private Charles R. Tew 359th Infantry Regiment 11/12/1944 |
| Private First Class Trumon Tice 357th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944 |
| Private Anthony Tronotti 359th Infantry Regiment 12/18/1944 |
| Private First Class Manuel M. Vasquez 358th Infantry Regiment 11/25/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Donald E. Watson 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944 |
| Private Peter M. Waugaman 358th Infantry Regiment 07/23/1944 |
| Captain Paul White 357th Infantry Regiment 08/07/1945 |
| Technician Fifth Grade Sigmund J. Wisniewski 358th Infantry Regiment 01/16/1945 |
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