The 106th Infantry Division was a division of the United States Army, formed for service during World War II.

History

The division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company was constituted on paper on 5 May 1942 in the Army of the United States. It was actually activated on 15 March 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina with a cadre from the 80th Infantry Division. Following Basic and Advanced Infantry Training, the Division moved on 28 March 1944 to Tennessee to participate in the Second Army #5 Maneuvers.

• The 106th Infantry Division relieved the 2nd Infantry Division in the Schnee Eifel on 11 December 1944, with the 424th Infantry Regiment identified as being at Winterspelt. The Ardennes-Alsace Campaign attack was thrown in force at the 106th on 16 December 1944.

• The 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off from the remainder of the Division by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schonberg. They regrouped for a counterattack but were blocked by the enemy and lost to the Division, 18 December 1944. The two Regiments surrendered to the Germans on 19 December 1944.
• The rest of the Division, reinforced by the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division, withdrew over the Our River, and joined other units at Saint Vith on the 20th. They all pulled back from St. Vith on the 21st, under constant enemy fire, and pulled back over the Saint River at Vielsalm, 23 December 1944. On the 24th, the 424th Regiment, attached to the 7th Armored Division, fought a delaying action at Manhay until ordered to an assembly area. From 25 December 1944 to 9 January 1945, the Division received reinforcements and supplies at Anthisnes, Belgium, and returned to the struggle, securing objectives along the Ennal-Logbierme line on the 15th after heavy fighting. After being pinched out by advancing divisions, the 106th assembled at Stavelot on the 18th for rehabilitation and training. It moved to the vicinity of Hunningen, 7 February 1945, for defensive patrols and training. In March, the 424th advanced along the high ground between Berk and the Simmer River and was again pinched out at Olds on 7 March 1945. A period of training and security patrolling along the Rhine River followed, until 15 March 1945 when the Division moved to St. Quentin for rehabilitation and the reconstruction of lost units.

• The division was reconstituted on 16 March 1945 when the 3rd Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard) and the 159th Infantry Regiment were attached to replace the two lost regiments. The division then moved back to Germany on 25 April 1945, where, for the remainder of its stay in Europe, the 106th handled POW enclosures and engaged in occupational duties.

• In the meantime, the 422nd Infantry Regiment and the 423rd Infantry Regiment were reconstituted from replacements in France on 15 April 1945, were attached to the 66th Infantry Division in training status, and were still in this status when the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945.

At the end of the war the division had seen 63 days of combat. It had suffered 417 Killed In Action, 1,278 Wounded In Action, and 53 Died Of Wounds. It lost 6,697 personnel taken prisoner. Of that total, 6,500 POWs were eventually returned to American military control after being captured in Ardennes-Alsace Campaign. The remainder were listed Missing In Action.

Lineage

• Moved to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, on 28 March 1944.
• Staged at Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts on 10 October 1944.
• Departed Boston Port of Embarkation on 10 November 1944.
• Arrived in England, 17 November 1944, and trained for 19 Days.
• Assigned 29 November 1944 to VIII Corps, First United States Army, 12th Army Group.
• Moved to France, 6 December 1944, where the Division entered the on-going Rhineland Campaign
• 106th Infantry Division crossed into Belgium on 10 December 1944
• Relieved from assignment to Rhineland Campaign on 16 December 1944, and Assigned to Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.
• Relieved from assignment to VIII Corps, and Assigned 20 December 1944 to XVIII Airborne Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group, with attachment to the 21st Army Group.
• Relieved from attachment to 21st Army Group on 18 January 1945, and returned to XVIII Airborne Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
• Ardennes-Alsace Campaign terminated 25 January 1945. Division resumed assignment to Rhineland Campaign.
• On 6 February 1945, the 106th Infantry Division relieved from assignment to XVIII Airborne Corps, and assigned to V Corps.
• On 10 March 1945, 106th Division relieved from assignment to V Corps, and assigned to Fifteenth United States Army, 12th Army Group.
• 106th Infantry Division returned to France on 16 March 1945
• Rhineland Campaign terminated on 21 March 1945.
• Central Europe Campaign started on 22 March 1945.
• On 15 April 1945, 106th Infantry Division was attached to the Advanced Section, Communications Zone. Fifteenth Army directed the establishment of the Frontier Command segment of the Occupation of Germany.
• On 23 April 1945, the Frontier Command segment of the German Occupation started.
• 106th Infantry Division entered Germany on 25 April 1945.
• On 8 May 1945, Germany signed its surrender.
• With the termination of the Central Europe Campaign, German hostilities ceased on 11 May 1945.
• 106th Infantry Division was located at Bad Ems, Germany on 14 August 1945.
• 106th Infantry Division returned to New York Port of Embarkation on 1 October 1945.
• Inactivated 2 October 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York.
• Headquarters Company allotted 25 March 1948 to the Organized Reserve Corps
• Activated 1 May 1948 at San Juan, Puerto Rico;
• Inactivated 12 October 1950 at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Order Of Battle

Assigned Units

1942 ("Triangular") Organization HHC, 106th Infantry Division 422nd Infantry Regiment. 423rd Infantry Regiment. 424th Infantry Regiment HHB, 106th Division Artillery 589th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 590th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 591st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 592nd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) 106th Mechanized Reconnaissance Troop Hqs, Special Troops, 106th Infantry Division Military Police Platoon, 106th Infantry Division 81st Engineer Battalion (Combat) 331st Medical Battalion 106th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment 806th Ordnance Company (Light Maintenance) 106th Quartermaster Company 106th Signal Company

Stanton, Order of Battle, U. S. Army World War II

Attached Units

• 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion (Self-Propelled)(M-18): 8 December 1944—4 January 1945.
• 444th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Auto Weapons): 17 December 1944—25 December 1944.
• 563rd Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Auto Weapons): 9 December 1944—18 December 1944.
• 634th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Auto Weapons): 8 December 1944—18 December 1944.

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

• World War II

1. Rhineland Campaign
2. Ardennes-Alsace Campaign
3. Central Europe Campaign

Decorations

Unit

1. Distinguished Unit Citations: 1.

Personal

• Awards:

1. Distinguished Service Cross-6;
2. Distinguished Service Medals-1;
3. Silver Stars-77;
4. Legion of Merit -9;
5. Soldiers Medals -26;
6. Bronze Star Medals -352;
7. Air Medals -10.

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

• Description. On a blue disc within a white edge, a gold lion's face all within a red border.
• Symbolism:

1. The blue is for infantry, while the red represents artillery support.
2. The lion's face represents strength and power.

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• The US Army Center of Military History: Combat Chronicles
• The 106th: The Story of the 106th Infantry Division
• 106th at Camp Atterbury, Indiana
• Diaries and POW Accounts of 106th members
• Re-constructed Roster of 106th members
• The 106th Division Association Website
• An interesting webpage on the 106th featuring WWII artifacts