After seeing service in World War I as a depot division, it was reorganized as the National Guard division for California, Nevada, and Utah, before seeing service in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Later, the division served in Korea and some of its units were designated for Vietnam. The division was later reorganized redesigned as a National Guard unit completely within California. Later reorganizations included units from other states. The division was called up to quell civil disturbances and rioting that occurred during the Watts Riots in 1965, rioting during the Long, Hot Summer of 1967 and during the LA riots in 1992. Most recently, the division has been deployed overseas as part of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism, seeing service in Iraq and Afghanistan. As currently configured, the 40th Infantry Division has oversight and responsibility for the training and readiness of units in California, Oregon, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, Alaska, New Mexico, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, Mississippi, Utah, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
It was sent overseas on 3 August 1918 and redesignated as the 6th Depot Division; received, equipped, trained, and forwarded replacements. Major GeneralFrederick S. Strong was assigned as commander on 25 August 1917, but was replaced less than a month later by Brigadier GeneralG. H. Cameron on 18 September 1917.
The division then saw a rapid turnover of leaders – Brigadier General L. S. Lyon (19 November 1917), Brigadier GeneralG. H. Cameron (23 November 1917), Brigadier General L. S. Lyon (6 December 1917) and then Major General F. S. Strong again on 8 December 1917.
157th, 158th, 159th, and 160th Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals (former California Ambulance Companies No. 1 and 2 and Field Hospital Companies No. 1 and 2, and Utah Field Hospital No. 1)
When the division arrived in France in August 1918, the Imperial German Army had just completed a series of offensives that started on 21 March and ended on 15 July 1918. It was decided that the new divisions would be used as depot divisions, supplying fresh troops to the more experienced combat divisions.[3] By the time the war was over in November 1918, due to the Armistice with Germany, the 40th Division had provided over 27,000 replacements to the 26th, 28th, 32nd, 77th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, and 89th Divisions. Thus the division as a whole did not serve in combat, but many division personnel fought, notably CaptainNelson Miles Holderman, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Meuse–Argonne offensive while serving with the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division. The division returned to the United States on 30 June 1919 where it was deactivated.
Interwar period
The 40th Division headquarters arrived at the port of New York aboard the USS Artemis on 13 March 1919 after 6 months of overseas service and was demobilized on 20 April 1919 at Camp Kearny, California. In accordance with the National Defense Act of 1920, the division was allotted to the states of California, Utah, and Nevada, and assigned to the IX Corps. The division headquarters was reorganized and federally recognized on 18 June 1926 at Berkeley, California.[3] The division headquarters was relocated on 1 October 1937 to Los Angeles, California. The designated mobilization training center for the “Sunburst” Division was Camp San Luis Obispo, where much of the division’s training activities occurred between the wars. The units of the 40th Division were called up by their state governors for various state emergencies and duties. The largest of these was a virtually statewide strike in California in May and June 1934 by longshoremen and other labor unions. Most of the division was called up to perform strike duty and crowd control. The division staff, composed of personnel from all three states, came together to conduct joint training for several summers before World War II. The staff conducted their training at numerous locations over the period to include the Presidio of San Francisco, Camp San Luis Obispo, and at the Presidio of Monterey.
The division conducted summer camp every year at San Luis Obispo, 1923-1939, minus the Utah elements, which held their training at Camp W.G. Williams, Utah. Additionally, the division staff participated in the Fourth Army CPXs held at Fort Lewis, Washington, in 1935 and 1936, and at the Presidio of San Francisco in 1939. For the 1937 camp, the division participated in the Ninth Corps Area phase of the Fourth Army maneuvers at San Luis Obispo held 2–12 August. During that maneuver, the 40th Division operated against the 6th Infantry Brigade of the Regular Army's 3rd Division. In April 1940, the 40th Division commanding general and his staff participated in the 3rd Division’s maneuver in the vicinity of Fort Ord, California. For the final phase of the exercise, the division commander and staff assumed control of the simulated combat actions of the 3rd Division. In August 1940, the “Sunburst” Division again participated in the Fourth Army Maneuvers, this time at Fort Lewis as part of the provisional IX Corps. The division was relieved from the IX Corps on 30 December 1940 and assigned to the III Corps.[4] In early 1941, the personnel from Nevada’s 40th Military Police Company and 2nd Battalion, 115th Engineer Regiment were used to form the 121st Coast Artillery Battalion (Separate) (Antiaircraft), and the military police and engineer units were subsequently reorganized in California, removing Nevada from allocation to the division.
Division's commander, Major general Rapp Brush (right) with Commander, Sixth Army, lieutenant general Walter Krueger at the airport in the Philippines in early 1945.
The 40th Infantry Division was ordered into federal service on 3 March 1941. In February 1942, the 40th Infantry Division was reorganized from a 'square', two-brigade, four-regiment division to a three-regiment division without any intermediate brigade headquarters.[3] Thus, the 79th and 80th Infantry Brigades were inactivated.[3]
The division departed for overseas service on 23 August 1942. The division's first overseas assignment was the defense of the outer Hawaiian Islands, where it arrived in September 1942.[3] Training continued as defensive positions were improved and maintained. In July 1943, the division was concentrated on Oahu, and relieved the 24th Infantry Division of the defense of the North Sector. Relieved of the North Sector in October 1943, the 40th entered upon a period of intensive amphibious and jungle training. On 20 December 1943, the first units left for Guadalcanal,[3] and by mid-January 1944, movement was completed, and the division prepared for its first combat assignment. On 24 April 1944, it left Guadalcanal for New Britain. The regiments of the division took positions at Talasea on the northern side of the island, at Arawe on the southern side, and at near the western end. Neutralization of the enemy was effected by patrols. No major battle was fought. Heavy rain and mud were constant problems.[3]
Japanese soldier surrenders in the Philippines.
The 40th was relieved of missions on New Britain on 27 November 1944 by the Australian 5th Division, and began training for the Luzon landing. Sailing from Borgen Bay on 9 December 1944, the division made an assault landing at Lingayen, Luzon, under command of XIV Corps, on 9 January 1945. Seizing Lingayen airfield, the division occupied Bolinao Peninsula and San Miguel, and advanced toward Manila, include the Filipino regular and constable force of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary were recaptured areas around in Luzon at the mainland, running into heavy fighting in the Fort Stotsenburg area and the Bambam Hills.[3] Snake Hill and Storm King Mountain were taken in February and the 40th was relieved, 2 March. Leaving Luzon on 15 March 1945 to cut behind the Japanese, the division landed on Panay Island on the 18th and knocked out Japanese resistance within ten days, seizing airfields at Cabatuan[6] and Mandurriao. On 29 March, it landed at Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, advanced through Bacolod toward Talisay, which it secured by 2 April 1945.[3] After mopping up on Negros Island, the division returned to Panay in June and July 1945.
Lt. Col. Ryoichi Tozuka, the commander of the Imperial Japanese Army in Panay Island, signed the document of surrender at Cabatuan Airfield,[7] located in Cabatuan, Iloilo, Panay Island, Philippines, on September 2, 1945, the same day as the surrender signing in Japan aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. This was accepted by Col. Raymond G. Stanton, comdg the 160th U.S. Infantry regiment, and was attended by Rear Admiral Ralph O. Davis, comdg the U.S. Navy's 13th Amphibious Group, and by Brig. Gen. Donald J. Myers, comdg the 40th Infantry Division. The 13th Amphibious Group was tasked to transport the 40th U.S. Infantry Division to Korea.[7]
In September 1945, the division moved to Korea for occupation duty.[8][9][10] The division returned to the U.S. on 7 April 1946 and was reportedly inactivated the same day.
On 1 September 1950, the 40th Infantry Division was again called into active federal service for the Korean War. Shipping out of Oakland and San Francisco, California in late March 1951, the division deployed to Japan for training. For the next nine months, they participated in amphibious, air transportability, and live fire training from Mount Fuji to Sendai. On 23 December, the division received alert orders to move to Korea. The division moved to Korea in January 1952. After additional training, the division moved north in February 1952, where it relieved the 24th Infantry Division on the battle line. At the time the division consisted of the 160th, 223rd, and 224th Infantry Regiments,[3] and smaller non-regiment-sized units.[14]
Painting of the 40th Infantry Division in the Kumwha Valley
In Korea, the 40th Infantry Division participated in the battles of Sandbag Castle and Heartbreak Ridge. In these campaigns, the division suffered 1,180 casualties, including 311 who were killed in action, and 47 who later died from wounds received in action.[1] Total division casualties in Korea included 376 killed in action, 1,457 wounded in action, and 47 dead of wounds. After the division was sent back to Japan, its time in Korea was commemorated by the commissioning of a punchbowl created by a local silversmith, by some accounts made up of the melted down Combat Infantryman Badges of the divisions veterans, with the geography of Heartbreak Ridge etched inside the bowl.[15][16] It was used at ceremonial functions until it was stolen, and was subsequently bought at a garage sale by a married couple, who kept it for 18 years. It was then recovered and put on display at the division headquarters. It is now displayed at the California State Military Museum, and is registered in the National Archives.[17]
After its return from the Korean War, the division was reorganized on 1 July 1954 as the 40th Armored Division. It had three combat commands (A, B, and C) in 1956.[20]
Cold War
The 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment (1959–1967), 1st Battalion, 159th Infantry Regiment (1974–1976), 2–159th (1974–2000) and the 160th Infantry Regiment (1974–2000) were part of the division from 1959 until 2000.[21] In 1960, the Division combat units were reorganized under the Combat Arms Regimental Systems (CARS), and then in 1963, was reorganized under the Reorganization Objective Army Divisions (ROAD) concept which changed the combat commands to brigades.[1]
On 1 December 1967, a major reorganization of the National Guard reduced the Guard to eight combat divisions, the 40th Armored Division being one of the casualties. On 29 January 1968, the division was eliminated and the 40th Infantry Brigade and 40th Armored Brigade were organized.[1]
On 13 January 1974, the California Army National Guard was reorganized. The 40th and 49th Infantry and the 40th Armored Brigades were inactivated and the 40th Infantry Division was reformed.[1]
Like most reserve component units of the Army, the division sat out the Vietnam War, being left unmobilized, apart from its Aviation Company.[22] In January 1968 the company had been redesignated the 40th Aviation Company, having been previously designated the 29th Aviation Company, part of the 29th Infantry Brigade homebased in Hawaii. The 40th Aviation Company did one tour in South Vietnam. It was in active federal service from May 1968 to December 1969.
On 30 September 1986, the division's Aviation Brigade was organized and federally recognized at Fresno.[24] In 1987 the division's aviation units were reorganized, and the 140th Aviation Regiment was established.
The 40th Infantry Division was not deployed in the Persian Gulf War.
40th Infantry Division Agribusiness Development Team in Afghanistan
On 29 April 1992, GovernorPete Wilson ordered elements of the 40th Infantry Division to duty to put down the so-called "Rodney King" riots. The 40th ID responded quickly by calling up some 2,000 soldiers, but could not get them to the city until nearly twenty-four hours had passed, due to a lack of proper equipment, training, and available ammunition, which had to be picked up from Camp Roberts, California (near Paso Robles). Initially, they only secured areas previously cleared of rioters by police. Later, they actively ran patrols, maintained checkpoints, and provided firepower for law enforcement. By 1 May, the call-up had increased to 4,000 soldiers continuing to move into the city in Humvees, who were later federalized under Title 10 USC by President George H. W. Bush.[25]
On 17 January 1994, Governor Pete Wilson activated the 40th Infantry Division (M) to respond to the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake, and emergency services were up and running within five hours of the quake.[28]
In November 1997, Battery F (TA), 144th Field Artillery Regiment, represented the state of California in Bosnia. During this deployment, Battery F conducted Firefinder counter-battery radar operations, convoys and base security all with little to no armor, with a high threat of mine strikes and ambushes. Most drivers exceeded 21,000 kilometres (13,000 miles) during the seven months in country.[29]
In November 2000, Battery F was again called to duty for its expertise in the Kosovo region.[29]
Until Battery F's arrival in Afghanistan, radar operations were virtually unknown and uncared for. Nevertheless, the unit quickly became a very important resource and a leading factor in base defense operations.[29]
Operation Freedom's Sentinel
The 40th ID deployed to Afghanistan in September 2017 in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Members of the 40th ID form the headquarters staff of Train, Advise, and Assist Command South which was commanded by Brig. Gen. John W. Lathrop. This is the unit's "first combat deployment since the Korean War."[30] In June 2018, authority of the command was transferred to Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smiley who took command with a new group of 40th ID Soldiers;[31] in October 2018, Smiley was injured during an insider attack, which resulted in the death of the police chief of Kandahar.[32]
Organization
Structure 40th Infantry Division
The 40th Infantry Division exercises training and readiness oversight of a division headquarters battalion, three infantry brigade combat Teams, a division artillery, a combat aviation brigade, and a sustainment brigade.
Shoulder patch: A dark blue diamond on which, in yellow, is the sun with 12 rays; the patch is worn diagonally.
Association: 40th Infantry Division Association
The semi-sunburst was suggested as the unit's shoulder sleeve insignia, and represents the division's home of Southern California. The demi fleur-de-lis symbolizes service in France during World War I. The outer rim of the sun rays refers to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation award. The red arrowhead alludes to firepower of the division and represents their assault landing at Luzon in World War II. The Torri gate, a symbol of the Far East, refers to the award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
The unofficial nickname came from the Korean War era when the unit was training in Japan. It was a combined result of disparaging remarks made by Army regulars about the National Guard division and the appearance of the unit shoulder sleeve insignia. The California Guardsmen took to their new nickname with a soldier's sense of humor, and turned it into a rallying symbol.[35]
Heritage
During the Korean War, members of the 40th Infantry Division raised funds for and built the School at Gapyeong County in 1952.
Originally named the Kenneth Kaiser Middle School (in honor of Kenneth Kaiser, Jr., a Los Angeles sergeant who was the division’s first soldier killed in action in the Korean War), the school’s name was changed to Gapyeong Middle School and Gapyeong High School in 1972.[36]
In addition to the schools, the 40th Infantry Division built hospitals and other public facilities at Kwanin Township in an area called "Sunburst Village."[38]
After the Korean War, former commander Joseph P. Cleland and other veterans of the 40th Infantry Division continued to support the schools through donations, have returned to attend graduations and present scholarships, and attended the opening of the Kaiser Hall Museum in 2008[39][40]
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↑ Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919-1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p.236-237. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
↑ [These combat chronicles, current as of October 1948, are reproduced from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510–592.]
↑ "Marilyn Eaton Wed to Franklin Moulton". The Los Angeles Times. 14 July 1955. pp.1, 4. Sentimental touch at the reception in the church patio was use of a handsome silver punch bowl created in Japan and presented by the officers of California's 40th Division to the men they were replacing in Korea
The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at CMHArchived 21 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine
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