Hollywood director mel brooks served in this division in the second world war. Aug 5, 1917 june 24, 1921 aug 15, 1942 nov 1, 1946 deactivated. Wwi 78th division portrait photo wounded portraits of war. This is the official unit history for the 78th infantry division in world war ii. The 78th training division operations lightning is a unit of the united states army which served in world war i and world war. United states army 78th infantry division lightning city of grove. The battles of the 78th division were likened by the french to a bolt of lightning, leaving the field blood red. We have been unable to find his book since he died and i was glad to find a. World war ii was one of the most devastating points in history for the entire world. The battles of the 78th division were likened by the french to a bolt of lightning, leaving the field blood. In world war i, the french, likened the action of the. As world war ii living history reenactors of the 78th infantry division, we take pride in preserving the history of those who fought. One hundred years ago, the 78th training division joined our allies in world war 1.
A repository for info on the 311th regiment timberwolf regiment, 78th infantry division lightning division in. Demobilization took place after the war in june 1919. Full text of history of the seventyeighth division in. The 78th training division operations lightning is a unit of the united states army which served in world war i and world war ii as the 78th infantry division, and currently trains and evaluates units of the united states army reserve for deployment. This is one of the modern made fully embroidered shoulder patch and tabs sets for the us army 78th infantry division as described in the title above and shown below. Wwi78th division us army soldier studio photo wpatch. Lightning division 309th, 310th, 311th, 312th infantry inf. A nearly complete world war i uniform of private waldo davies of the 78th lightning division, including his tunic with engineers collars, lightning division patch, service and privates chevrons, excellent. In world war 11, the 78th division was reactivated at camp butner, north carolina on 15 august 1942. It was a bitter postscript to the divisions 12mile advance, and to make matters worse, it was the 78ths last day in battle. Rare usa ww1 wwi world war one medals patches insignia guide usmc usn army cmoh. Vintage 1945 combat journal 311 story of the timberwolf regiment of the 78th lightning divison in world war 2 during 19441945.
Ordered into active military service 15 august 1942 and reorganized at camp butner, north. Lightning, the history of the 78th infantry division divisional series kindle edition by, division historical committee. The 78th division of world war i left its offspring, the current lightning. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This vintage map chart the journey of the 78th infantry division throughout europe world war ii. Every other man in the patrol was killed, wounded, or captured. See more ideas about army patches, world war i and world war. Wwi us army 78th division lightning patch wool felt aef. Infantry 78th division for sale military collectibles. That night, the 42nd division replaced them and the lightning division marched out of the argonne. Lightning, the history of the 78th infantry division divisional series, comm. Gold lightning flash on red semi disc semicenter on 2.
Army 78th infantry lightning division the 78th training division lightning is a unit of the united states army which served in world war i. My father, edwin wilhelm, was one of the seven that crossed the ludendorff. A portion of pine swamp road in mineral county, west virginia was named wwii 78th lightning division road in honor of the division by the west virginia legislature. What was painted on the 9th infantry regiments helmets in. He was a technician 4th grade in the 311th infantry regiment, 78th infantry division of the u. Us army 78th infantry division lightning shoulder patch. The divisions designation as the lightning division was acquired during world war i.
Streamlined to triangular proportions, the new division. The 78th infantry division, lightning division was established on the 27th of august 1917 in. It was a bitter postscript to the divisions twelvemile advance and, to compound the irony, it was the 78ths last day in battle. Front includes american red cross insignia and addressed to. The 78th division of world war i left its offspring, the current lightning division, a proud heritage one which it has upheld.
Wwii us army 78th infantry division aka lightning patch. Mihiel where patton would be seriously wounded later. Preparation for combat 1 the lightning division in world war i reactivation at camp butner training replacements carolina and tennessee maneuvers camp pickett overseas bournemouth france belgium up to the line. Or the second time in two generations, soldiers wearing the lightning patch looked. The 78th training division operations lightning is a unit of the united states army which served in world war i and world war ii. The 311th infantry regiment was attached to the 8th division in the hurtgen forest, 10 december. If interested in any other special operations airborne ranger special forces seal recon lrrp lrp lrs cct afsoc arsoc sts pj, infantry, air assault. Full text of history of the seventyeighth division in the world war, 19171819 see other formats. Krug was with 90th division from april 1943 at camp barkley, texas near abilene, texas until detached jan. Er firmiert heute als 78th training division operations. A red semicircle with a white bolt of lightning superimposed upon it. Lightning, thehistory of the 78th infantry division in world war ii description. With two medal of honor awardees, our unit earned the nickname audaciter.
It was designated as a replacement pool division on october 1, 1942, and remained in this assignment until march 1, 1943, when the 78th division was restored to field duty, and to its training regimen. Gold embossed blue cloth cover 144 pages including 2 foldout maps. Todays post comes from my growing collection of 78th division portrait photos. Lightning, the history of the 78th infantry division. Ww1 6th division 78th artillery regt uniform original w insignia. Our 78th division army patch is a regulation, full color, embroidered military patch.
The patch is semicircular and shows a diagonal lightning bolt against a field of red. Mihiel meuseargonne lorraine world war ii rhineland ardennesalsace central europe activated. In late 1999, the division was redesignated from 78th division exercise to 78th division training support to reflect the growing change. Lightning, the story of the 78th infantry division. Wwii memorial booklet private printing w letter 78th infantry division 310 reg. Us wwi, wwii and vietnam era uniforms and gear and bar. After the war, the 78th division was demobilized on 9 july 1919 at camp dix, new. Although we dont know his specific unit designation, we do have his name and company. This is a world war ii shoulder patch for the united states army 78th infantry division, also known as lightning. This 6 x 3 patch is 100% embroidered and made of the highest quality. Patton was dispatched early to help set up pershings command. Division, 78th lightning world war, 19141918 regimental histories. Khakibordered, red semicircle with white bolt of lightning.
The lightning shoulder patch originated in world war i. The 9th infantry regiments helmets had targets painted on the tops of them that. Lightning, the history of the 78th infantry division contents foreword vii acknowledgments ix chapter 1. The history of the 78th infantry division in world war ii, as in world war i, is a. The fight for the little farming village, about 15 miles southeast of aachen, germany, had started before daylight on wednesday, december, 1944. Wwi united states military shoulder patches sleeve insignias. Lightening the history of the 78th infantry division. Division insignia of the united states army wikipedia. Here is a 78th division grouping which includes an unpublished photograph of patton on the loading docks with some high rankers im working on identifying.
First edition, march 1947 published by infantry journal press 301 pages. Many helmets worn by soldiers in world war i had pictures painted on them like lightning bolts, dice, and targets. The 78th division participated in 3 major campaigns during world war i. It landed in france, 22 november, and moved to tongres, belgium, and to rotgen, germany, to prepare for combat. It is the same patch used by the united states armed forces and is of the highest quality. Seventyeighth infantry division 78th division nickname. Thus the insignia became a single streak of lightning across a red field.
Army and fought in the following campaigns during ww2. T he 78th division of world war ii was reactivated at camp butner, n. See more ideas about wwii, world war two and world war. Richard grasmick was born in lincoln, nebraska in may 1918. Taken in a french studio, alex lindell was posed in a manner which allows the viewer to see his maimed hand. This wonderful old piece has a great, early design, a beautiful image of a wwi us army soldier in uniform, with a 78th division lightning bolt shoulder insignia patch, was taken in gloversville, ny, comes in its original holder, measures approx. Seventyeighth, 78th division new york and new jersey national army source no. The 78th was in three major campaigns during world war 1 meuseargonne, st. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading lightning, the history of the 78th infantry division divisional series. The 78th infantry division lightning is a unit of the united states army which served in world war i and world war ii, and remains on the organized rolls. The 78th infantry division arrived in england, 26 october 1944, and.
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