93rd Infantry Division (United States)

Last updated

93rd Division
93rd Infantry Division (Colored)
US 93rd Infantry Division.png
93rd Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1917–1919
1942–1946
CountryFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type Infantry
Size Division
Nickname(s)The Blue Helmets
Engagements World War I

World War II

Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Charles P. Hall
Harry H. Johnson

The 93rd Infantry Division was a "colored" segregated unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. However, in World War I only its four infantry regiments, two brigade headquarters, and a provisional division headquarters were organized, and the divisional and brigade headquarters were demobilized in May 1918. [1] [2] Its regiments fought primarily under French command in that war and saw action during the Second Battle of the Marne. They acquired the nickname Blue Helmets (French : Casques Bleus) from the French, as these units were issued horizon blue French Adrian helmets. Consequently, its shoulder patch became a blue French helmet, to commemorate its service with the French Army during the German spring offensive. [3]

Contents

The division saw service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, but saw little fighting. The division was reactivated with the "colored" infantry designation on 15 May 1942 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and shipped to Guadalcanal in 1944. Most of its regiments were mainly used as construction units and in defensive operations in the South Pacific. In 1945, the 93rd Infantry Division was inactivated, it had suffered 12 killed in action throughout the war. The lineage of several of its units are carried on by units in the Illinois and Maryland Army National Guards.

World War I

The 93rd was known initially as the 93rd Division (Provisional). Only the infantry brigades were formed, which fought under French command. The 185th Infantry Brigade was initially commanded by Albert H. Blanding and the 186th by George Herbert Harries. [4] The unit became known as the 93rd Division and was composed of the following regiments:

185th Brigade (Infantry)

186th Brigade (Infantry)

The division was activated in December 1917 and sent to France; however, the troops never fought together as a division, and in fact, the provisional division headquarters was demobilized in May 1918. [1] Over the objections of the division's commander, Brig. Gen. Roy Hoffman (appointed 15 December 1917), its brigades were broken up and the regiments brigaded with French Army formations. They were issued French equipment and arms but wore US uniforms; the "blue hat" nickname is derived from the blue-painted Casque Adrian helmets they wore.

Each regiment was brigaded with French forces for three time periods: 1 to 21 July 1918; from 1 August 1918; and from 24 October 1918 to the armistice:

RegimentFrom 1 to 21 July 1918From 1 August to 23 October 1918from 24 October to 11 November 1918
369th Infantry Regiment:IV French Army161st French Division Fourth Army (France)
370th Infantry Regiment:II French Army26th French Division Tenth Army (France)
371st Infantry Regiment:XIII French Army 157th French Infantry Division Second Army (France)
372nd Infantry Regiment:XIII French Army157th French Infantry DivisionSecond Army (France)

The regiments that later formed the 93rd were originally sent to France to be converted into badly needed labor units. However, the outcry by African-American leaders including W. E. B. Du Bois and A. Philip Randolph forced the US to reconsider. The alternative would be the potential loss of needed African-American recruits for labor and service units.

Four independent regiments were chosen to assume the designations of the 93rd (Provisional) Infantry Division's regiments (369th, 370th, 371st, and 372nd Infantry). The problem was, where to place them?

The main American Expeditionary Force (AEF) refused to have African-American soldiers in combat. Ironically, the commander of the AEF, General John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing had earned his nickname and reputation as an officer in the 10th Cavalry Regiment, then still a black Buffalo Soldier regiment. While Pershing was an early supporter of having "colored" soldiers in the military, he seems to have bowed to political expediency in this case.[ citation needed ]

The British already had several American divisions under their command. This was due to a deal struck with the American armed forces, which had no transport fleet when they entered the war. The United Kingdom and their Commonwealth allies would transport six American divisions by sea to Europe. Then the American divisions would be folded into British Corps. The French had a similar deal where they exchanged the Americans' 3-inch guns for early-model French 75 mm cannon to simplify the supply of ammunition and Chauchat light machineguns to replace the Americans' scarce Lewis Guns. In return, they demanded that American troops be placed under their command to replace their early-war losses. [9]

Combat chronicle

The regiments fought in several battles alongside French troops, who were already used to colonial North and Sub-Saharan African "colored" soldiers (noirs). All regiments acquitted themselves well and received unit citations from the French. Numerous individual soldiers exhibited extraordinary heroism and were highly decorated by the French. One of these was Cpl. Freddie Stowers, who decades after his death would be awarded the American Medal of Honor. The division's shoulder patch, with its blue French Adrian helmet, commemorated this period.

Total casualties from all regiments were 3,167, with 523 killed in action and 2,644 wounded. The 93rd Division had two Medal of Honor recipients—Lt. George S. Robb and Cpl. Freddie Stowers—75 Distinguished Service Crosses and 527 Croix de Guerre medals.

The Red Hand Division

In May 1918, French General Mariano Goybet was ordered to command the French 157th Infantry Division, which had been devastated after the Third Battle of the Aisne. On 4 July 1918, it was reconstituted by putting together the 333rd Infantry Regiment (French) with two of the U.S. 93rd's regiments—the 371st and 372nd.

General Goybet took special notice of the fact this was the first 4 July to be celebrated by his now Franco-American Division.

It is striking demonstration of the long standing and blood-cemented friendship which binds together our two great nations. The sons of the soldiers of Lafayette greet the sons of the soldiers of George Washington who have come over to fight as in 1776, in a new and greater way of independence. The same success which followed the glorious fights for the cause of liberty is sure to crown our common effort now and bring about the final victory of right and justice over barbarity and oppression.

— General Goybet, 157th Infantry Division

The rebuilt 157th Division participated in the Second Battle of the Marne. With violent attacks, General Goybet broke the enemy front at Monthois, capturing many prisoners and a considerable amount of materiel in the process. Afterward, he occupied the Vosges, re-capturing Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

General Order No. 234 (8 October 1918):

I am proud to forward you herewith the thanks and congratulations of General Garnier-Duplessix and I want at the same time, dear friends of all ranks Americans and French, to tell you as your leader and as soldier, from the bottom of my heart how grateful, I am to you all for the glory you have acquired for our splendid 157th Division. In these nine hard days of battle you have pushed ahead for eight kilometers, fought powerful enemy organization, captured close to 600 prisoners, taken 15 guns light and heavy, 20 infantry Mortars and artillery ammunition and brought down by rifle 3 aeroplanes. The red hand of this division is now in truth a blood-reeking hand. I grappled the Boche at the throat and made him yell for mercy. Our glorious comrades who died are well avenged.

— General Goybet, commander of the 157th Division

Racism in the army

Despite African American troops being conscripted to fight in WWI this did not mean that they were on equal terms to their white American comrades. Early twentieth century American segregation followed these soldiers overseas and they were discriminated against in the same ways that their fellow African Americans were in the United States. For example, the army implemented segregated barbershops and bathrooms, whilst also giving African Americans their own living stations to limit the interactions they had with French locals.

Sergeant Ely Green is a prime example of one of these African American soldiers who experienced discrimination not only from his racist white superiors, but also from the army as a racist institution on the whole. Firstly Green was refused a transfer to the infantry and instead had to work as an officer directing labourers in the camps surrounding St. Nazaire. He and his fellow African American comrades worked as stevedores, pulling excessively long hours at the docks. Even Green, who went to France patriotic and ready to serve, felt that he and his men were being underappreciated for their work. One event in particular affected Green so profoundly and left him ‘‘cursing the day’’ [10] he had decided to go to fight in France. This event saw the savage attack of one of his men by a marine guard for daring to take a bit of food from a broken crate. Green’s men retaliated by attacking the guard, only to surrender once they were almost shot. Subsequently Green was arrested, and despite not actually being involved in the incident he was brutally beaten while in custody. This complete injustice as well as the lack of effective response by the legal system left Green and his men thoroughly disheartened and fearing for their lives. This is one of countless examples of clear racism and discrimination against African American troops, who no doubt constantly felt the threat of Jim Crow laws and the racist institution of the army pressing down on their necks. [11]

World War II

1 May 1944, members of the 93rd Division on the Numa-Numa Trail, Bougainville. 93rd division bougainville 1944.jpg
1 May 1944, members of the 93rd Division on the Numa-Numa Trail, Bougainville.

Commanders

In August 1944, Major General Harry H. Johnson, the former commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division, assumed command of the Division, relieving Major General Lehman, who had returned to the United States for medical reasons. He would lead the division through the remainder of the war, including the New Guinea-Philippines campaign.

Combat chronicle

An advance party of the 93rd Infantry Division arrived at Guadalcanal on 29 January 1944. The rest of the division landed between 6 February and 5 March, one regiment disembarking at the Russell Islands on 7 February. The bulk of the division engaged in training, labor and security duties on Guadalcanal and the Treasury Islands from 7 June and both Hollandia Dutch New Guinea from 30 October. Component units performed similar duties on Finschhafen from 12 October 1944 to 31 March 1945, on Los Negros from 29 September 1944 to 16 March 1945, and on Biak from 10 October 1944 to 1 October 1945. The division's combat elements moved to Bougainville Island on 28 March 1944, and were attached to the Americal Division on the 30th. On that date they entered combat, assisting in attacks on the enemy perimeter. These elements, including the 25th RCT, reconnoitered across the Laruma River on 2 April, and in the Torokina River Valley from 7–12 April 1944. The 25th RCT operated against the Japanese along the Kuma and East-West Trails during May 1944. The combat team left for the Green Islands during May and June. The 93d Rcn. Troop, attached to the XIV Corps, remained to raid, patrol, and maintain perimeter positions. The troop began training 12 September 1944, and moved to Finschhafen on 1 November. Security patrols had scattered contacts with the enemy at Urapas from 3 to 15 January 1945, at Wardo on Biak from 6 November-22 December, and at Wari on Biak on 31 December. The security detachments at Wardo and Wari were withdrawn on 9–10 February 1945.

En route to Hill 165, members of 93rd Div. struggle through some clinging mud along the East-West trail on an island in the South Pacific. April 15, 1944. SC 196151 - En route to Hill 165, members of 93rd Div. struggle through some clinging mud along the East-West trail on an island in the South Pacific.jpg
En route to Hill 165, members of 93rd Div. struggle through some clinging mud along the East-West trail on an island in the South Pacific. April 15, 1944.

Almost all of the Division occupied Morotai, Dutch New Guinea, from 4 April to 21 October 1945. Scattered skirmishes occurred along the northwestern sector of the island. The 93rd continued its labor and security missions. It occupied Sansapor from 5 April to 10 July 1945, Middleburg Island from 5 April to 7 October 1945, and Noemfoor Island from 13 April to 7 June 1945. The Division then moved to Zamboanga, Philippine Islands, where it remained from 1 July 1945 to 7 January 1946. Patrols encountered light resistance until the end of hostilities, 15 August 1945. Palawan was occupied from 2 July to 5 December 1945, Jolo from 1 July to 2 October 1945, and Sanga-Sanga from 3 July 1945 to 6 January 1946. The Division arrived at Mindanao on 9 October 1945, moved to Tacloban, Leyte on 13 January 1946, and left for home on 17 January 1946.

Leonard E. Dowden

While on Jolo on 17 July 1945, a patrol from the 368th was ambushed by a Japanese force three times its size. When the firefight began, Staff Sergeant Leonard E. Dowden moved his squad to within 30 yards of the enemy. He then crawled forward alone to assault a machine-gun position with grenades, despite being gravely wounded. He would be killed by a burst of fire as he was about to throw a grenade. The patrol was able to fight off the enemy attack with only 18 casualties. For the extraordinary heroism that cost him his life, Staff Sergeant Dowden received the Distinguished Service Cross. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Staff Sergeant Dowden was the only member of the 93rd Infantry Division to earn the DSC during the war. [12]

Morotai

The Japanese commanding officers at Halmahera land at Morotai to surrender to the 93rd Infantry Division Japanese surrender party Morotai.jpg
The Japanese commanding officers at Halmahera land at Morotai to surrender to the 93rd Infantry Division

For the remainder of the war, the division would find itself fighting on Morotai. In April 1945, the division conducted intensive patrols with the aim of destroying the remaining Japanese forces on the island. At this time most of the Japanese on Morotai were located along the island's west coast, and generally stayed close to native gardens. The 93rd Division landed patrols along Morotai's west and north coasts from late April onwards, and these fought scattered skirmishes with small Japanese forces. One of the division's main goals was to capture Colonel Kisou Ouchi, commander of the 211th Regiment, 32nd Division, [13] and this was achieved by a patrol from the 25th Infantry Regiment on 2 August 1945. Ouchi was the highest ranking Japanese officer to be captured before the end of the war. [13]

End of the war

After the Japanese capitulation in August 1945, the division secured the surrender of 41,000 Japanese troops and civilians on Morotai and the nearby Halmahera islands of the Dutch East Indies. Included were 37,000 troops, of whom 5,000 were in a naval force and 4,000 were civilians. The surrender was accepted on Morotai by Major General Johnson. Lt. General Ishii, the commander of the IJA 32nd Division and the senior surviving officer in the area, surrendered the Japanese Army forces to the 93rd after he was brought to Morotai on a U.S. Navy PT boat. [14]

After the signing Ishii asked Maj. General Johnson if he and his officers would be allowed to retain their samurai swords. Johnson refused and afterwards commented: "Never again will the Japanese have the means, the Army or the inclination to be an aggressor nation. We cannot allow these people to keep any semblance of military might." [15]

Casualties

Order of battle

The 93rd infantry regiment appeared in the original Call of Duty game during the battle of Peleilu Forks.

General

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Rinaldi, p. 54
  2. ↑ Rinaldi, p. 72
  3. ↑ "military infantry division patch10".
  4. ↑ Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War: American Expeditionary Forces; Divisions. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, United States Army. 1988. p. 436 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Scott, Emmett J. (1919). The American Negro in the World War. Chicago: Homewood Press. pp. Chapter XV. LCCN   19011646.
  6. ↑ "372nd Infantry Regiment".[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ "OHS – Fight for the Colors: Online Relic Room: Flags by Heroes Borne". Ohiohistory.org. Archived from the original on 27 June 2001. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  8. ↑ 229th Main Support Battalion
  9. ↑ Torrence, Gerald. "Men of Bronze: African American Soldiers valor and sacrifice made history on the battlefields of World War I", Armchair General Magazine, Vol. VIII, Issue 2 (May 2011), p. 42.
  10. ↑ Bullock, Henry Allen; Green, Ely; Chitty, Elizabeth N.; Chitty, Arthur Ben (November 1970). "Ely: Too Black, Too White". The Journal of Southern History. 36 (4): 623. doi:10.2307/2206341. ISSN   0022-4642.
  11. ↑ Lentz-Smith, Adriane Danette (31 December 2009). Freedom Struggles. Harvard University Press. ISBN   978-0-674-03592-8.
  12. ↑ Converse (1997), pp. 170–172.
  13. 1 2 Lee (1966), pp. 525–527
  14. ↑ Bulkley (2003), p. 442.
  15. ↑ "93rd Infantry Division Newspaper Article - General - Family History & Genealogy Message Board - Ancestry.com". Boards.ancestry.com. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)
  17. ↑ "Ninety Third Infantry Division". Coax.net. Archived from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2014.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">36th Infantry Division (United States)</span> US Army National Guard formation

The 36th Infantry Division ("Arrowhead") also known as the "Panther Division", the "Lone Star Division", "The Texas Army", and the "T-patchers", is an infantry division of the U.S. Army and part of the Texas Army National Guard. The 36th Infantry Division was first organized during World War I (1914–1918) from units of the Texas and Oklahoma National Guards. After the war, the division was reformed as an all-Texas unit, and was called to service for World War II (1937–1945) on 25 November 1940, was deployed to the European Theater of Operations in April 1943, and returned to the Texas National Guard in December 1945.

<i>Croix de Guerre</i> Military decoration of France

The Croix de Guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts; the croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures was established in 1921 for these. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">369th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> United States African-American regiment

The 369th Infantry Regiment, originally formed as the 15th New York National Guard Regiment before it was re-organized as the 369th upon its federalization and commonly referred to as the Harlem Hellfighters, was an infantry regiment of the New York Army National Guard during World War I and World War II. The regiment mainly consisted of African Americans, but it also included men from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guyana, Liberia, Portugal, Canada, the West Indies, as well as white American officers. With the 370th Infantry Regiment, it was known for being one of the first African-American regiments to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">92nd Infantry Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 92nd Infantry Division was an African American, later mixed, infantry division of the United States Army that served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. The military was racially segregated during the World Wars. The division was organized in October 1917, after the U.S. entry into World War I, at Camp Funston, Kansas, with African American soldiers from all states. In 1918, before leaving for France, the American buffalo was selected as the divisional insignia due to the "Buffalo Soldiers" nickname, given to African American cavalrymen in the 19th century. The divisional nickname, "Buffalo Soldiers Division", was inherited from the 366th Infantry, one of the first units organized in the division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">44th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 44th Infantry Division was a division of the United States Army National Guard from October 1920 to November 1945, when it was inactivated after Federal Service during World War II. A second 44th Infantry Division existed in the Illinois Army National Guard from 1946 until October 1954, when that division was disbanded after federal service during the Korean War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">34th Infantry Division (United States)</span> US Army National Guard formation

The 34th Infantry Division is an infantry division of the United States Army, part of the National Guard, that participated in World War I, World War II and multiple current conflicts. It was the first American division deployed to Europe in World War II, where it fought with great distinction in the Italian Campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders</span> Line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 2006

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) is a light infantry company (designated as Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland) and was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1881 until amalgamation into the Royal Regiment of Scotland on 28 March 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">371st Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> United States Army unit

The 371st Infantry Regiment was a segregated African American regiment, nominally a part of the 93rd Division, that served in World War I under French Army command, and also in World War II in the Italian Campaign as part of the 92nd Infantry Division (Colored).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of African Americans</span> Aspect of African American history

The military history of African Americans spans African-American history, the history of the United States and the military history of the United States from the arrival of the first enslaved Africans during the colonial history of the United States to the present day. African Americans have participated in every war which has been fought either by or within the United States, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the Civil War, the Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.

The 805th Pioneer Infantry was an all-African American infantry regiment of the United States Army during World War I. The 805th contained black soldiers from the state of Mississippi. The regiment landed in France in July 1918 and served in Europe until July 1919; the regiment saw 39 days of action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Morotai</span> Extended WWII battle of the Pacific War

The Battle of Morotai, part of the Pacific War, began on 15 September 1944, and continued until the end of the war in August 1945. The fighting started when United States and Australian forces landed on the southwest corner of Morotai, a small island in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), which the Allies needed as a base to support the liberation of the Philippines later that year. The invading forces greatly outnumbered the island's Japanese defenders and secured their objectives in two weeks. Japanese reinforcements landed on the island between September and November, but lacked the supplies needed to effectively attack the Allied defensive perimeter. Intermittent fighting continued until the end of the war, with the Japanese troops suffering heavy loss of life from disease and starvation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariano Goybet</span> French Army general

Mariano Francisco Julio Goybet was a French Army general, who held several commands in World War I.

The Imperial Japanese Army's 32nd Division was an infantry division during World War II. Its call sign was the Maple Division. The division was raised 7 February 1939 in Tokyo, simultaneously with 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th and 37th divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">42nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade</span> Military unit

The 42nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade is a United States Army sustainment brigade of the 42nd Infantry Division of the New York Army National Guard headquartered out of the 369th Regiment Armory in Harlem, New York. This unit is descended from the 369th Infantry Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">372nd Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 372nd Infantry Regiment was a segregated African American regiment, nominally a part of the 93rd Division, that served in World War I under French Army command, and also in World War II. In World War II the regiment was not attached to a division, and served in the continental United States (CONUS) and Hawaii. In both wars the unit had primarily African American enlisted men and white officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">369th (Croatian) Infantry Division</span> Military unit

The 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division was a legionary division of the German Army (Wehrmacht) during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">373rd (Croatian) Infantry Division</span> German army infantry division

The 373rd (Croatian) Infantry Division was a division of the German Army during World War II. It was formed in June 1943 using a brigade from the Home Guard of the Independent State of Croatia with the addition of a German cadre. The division was commanded by Germans down to battalion and even company level in nearly all cases, and was commonly referred to as a "legionnaire division". Originally formed with the intention of service on the Eastern Front, it was used instead for anti-Partisan operations in the territory of the NDH until the end of the war. It fought mainly in the western areas of the NDH, and was involved in the attempt to kill or capture the leader of the Partisans, Josip Broz Tito, in May 1944. Severely depleted by desertion, the division withdrew towards the Reich border in the early months of 1945, eventually surrendering to the Partisans on 10 May 1945 near Brežice in modern-day Slovenia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">157th Infantry Division (France)</span>

157th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army during the First World War. One source says it was known as the Red Hand Division from a device on its color. Two segregated African American regiments, integrated the division in WWI under the command of Général Mariano Goybet and received the French Croix de Guerre. Freddie Stowers of the 371st Infantry Regiment was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The 372nd Infantry Regiment was composed of segregated National Guard units as well as draftees. Corporal Clarence Van Allen won the Médaille militaire.

371st may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Wadsworth</span> U.S. Army WWI military post

Camp Wadsworth was a World War I-era training facility for the United States Army. Located near Spartanburg, South Carolina, the post was in operation from its opening in July 1917 until it was inactivated in March 1919, following the Armistice that ended the war.

References

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.