U.S. 96th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 96th Sustainment Brigade, formerly the 96th Infantry Division is a unit of the United States Army
that served in World War II
.
headquarters formed the core of the division's headquarters company. After initial training at Camp White
in southern Oregon
, the 96th Infantry Division participation in the Oregon Maneuver
combat exercise in the fall of 1943.
The division trained in Hawaiian Islands from July to September 1944 before entering combat
in an assault landing in Leyte Gulf
, Philippine
Islands, between Tanauan and Dulag, 20 October 1944. Enemy resistance in the beachhead area was quickly broken and the division had advanced to and secured the Tanauan-Dagami-Tabontabon sector by 9 November after heavy fighting. The division continued to wipe out resistance on the island, engaging in small unit actions, patrolling, probing, and wiping out pockets of Japanese. Chalk Ridge was taken 12 December 1944, and major organized resistance was at an end by Christmas Day. The next three months were spent in mopping up, security duty, training, and loading for the coming invasion of Okinawa.
The division left the Philippines 27 March 1945 for Okinawa, making an assault landing on the island on 1 April. The landing was unopposed and a beachhead was established, between 1 to 3 April 1945. Resistance stiffened considerably as the division advanced to Kakazu Ridge, where fighting was fierce, from 7 to 16 April 1945. The 96th assaulted and cracked the fanatically-defended enemy defense line, Tanabaru Nishibaru, 17–23 April, and after advancing slightly against extremely determined resistance, was relieved on 30 April by the 77th Infantry Division. The division trained and rested 1–9 May, while elements mopped up bypassed enemy pockets and then returned to the offensive, 10 May 1945, attacking and capturing Conical-Sugar Hill Ridge, 21 May, thus breaking the right flank of the Shuri defenses. Heavy rains the following week slowed down the advance. The offensive was resumed, 30 May, against weakening enemy resistance; Japanese north of Yonabaru-Shuri-Naha Road area were cleared out. Resistance stiffened again, 3 June, and Laura Hill was taken, 14 June 1945, only after a bloody fight; the last important Japanese defense position, the Yuza-Dake, Yaeju-Dake Hill mass, was secured by 17 June, and on 22 June all resistance was declared at an end.Many of the landmark names and other locations of the massive engagement have been changed by modern Japanese.
The division patrolled an area from Chan to Ogusuku until 30 June. After resting in July, the division left Okinawa for Mindoro
, in the Philippines, and engaged in a training program. The division left the Philippines, 17 January 1946, for the United States.
The 96th Sustainment Brigade deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. The brigade returned to the United States in May, 2010.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
that served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
World War II
- Activated: 15 August 1942.
- Overseas: 23 July 1944.
- Campaigns: LeyteLeyteLeyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, Southern PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Okinawa, Ryukyus - Presidential Unit Citation: 1.
- Awards: MH-5; DSC-12; DSM-1; SS-232; LM-4; SM-73; BSM-4,588; AM-84.
- Commanders: Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley commanded the division throughout its entire life in World War II.
- Returned to U.S.: 2 February 1946.
- Deactivated: 3 February 1946.
Division Composition
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- 381st Infantry Regiment
- 382nd Infantry Regiment382nd Infantry Regiment (United States)The 382nd Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the United States Army. The unit served as a reserve regiment until it was called to active duty during World War II, whereupon it saw action in the Pacific theater as part of the 96th Infantry Division...
- 383rd Infantry Regiment
- 361st Field Artillery Battalion
- 362nd Field Artillery Battalion
- 363rd Field Artillery Battalion
- 921st Field Artillery Battalion
- 763rd Tank Battalion
- 96th Signal Company
- 796th Ordnance Company
- 96th Quartermaster Company
- 786th Quartermaster Company
- 96th Recon Troop
- 321st Engineer Battalion321st Engineer Battalion (United States)The 321st Engineer Battalion is an Army Reserve battalion with active service in World War II and Operation Iraqi Freedom.- History :The 321st Engineer Battalion was constituted in the National Army on 5 September 1918 as the 321st Engineers, and assigned to the 96th Division. Four months later, on...
- 321st Medical Battalion
- 96th CIC Detachment
- 314th Japanese-American Intell. (operated with 382nd IR)
Combat chronicle
As part of the reorganization of the U.S. Army divisions from "square" to "triangular," the two infantry brigade headquarters were converted to provide personnel for other units and the 380th Infantry Regiment was disbanded. The 192nd Infantry Brigade headquarters company was converted into the division's 96th Reconnaissance Troop, while the 191st Infantry Brigade191st Infantry Brigade (United States)
-Organization:The unit is composed of:*Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 191st Infantry Brigade*Several training battalionsThe 191st Infantry Brigade, was first formed as part of the United States Army Reserve's 96th Division.- Present :...
headquarters formed the core of the division's headquarters company. After initial training at Camp White
Camp White
Camp White was an Army training base in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, during World War II. It was also the site of a prisoner-of-war camp. The camp was named in honor of George A. White, who served as adjutant general for Oregon starting in 1915. The camp was dedicated September 15, 1942...
in southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, the 96th Infantry Division participation in the Oregon Maneuver
Oregon Maneuver
The Oregon Maneuver was a large scale military training exercise held in Central Oregon in 1943. The exercise was designed to test United States Army units prior to deployment in support of Allied combat operations in World War II. The maneuver included approximately 100,000 men...
combat exercise in the fall of 1943.
The division trained in Hawaiian Islands from July to September 1944 before entering combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
in an assault landing in Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
, Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Islands, between Tanauan and Dulag, 20 October 1944. Enemy resistance in the beachhead area was quickly broken and the division had advanced to and secured the Tanauan-Dagami-Tabontabon sector by 9 November after heavy fighting. The division continued to wipe out resistance on the island, engaging in small unit actions, patrolling, probing, and wiping out pockets of Japanese. Chalk Ridge was taken 12 December 1944, and major organized resistance was at an end by Christmas Day. The next three months were spent in mopping up, security duty, training, and loading for the coming invasion of Okinawa.
The division left the Philippines 27 March 1945 for Okinawa, making an assault landing on the island on 1 April. The landing was unopposed and a beachhead was established, between 1 to 3 April 1945. Resistance stiffened considerably as the division advanced to Kakazu Ridge, where fighting was fierce, from 7 to 16 April 1945. The 96th assaulted and cracked the fanatically-defended enemy defense line, Tanabaru Nishibaru, 17–23 April, and after advancing slightly against extremely determined resistance, was relieved on 30 April by the 77th Infantry Division. The division trained and rested 1–9 May, while elements mopped up bypassed enemy pockets and then returned to the offensive, 10 May 1945, attacking and capturing Conical-Sugar Hill Ridge, 21 May, thus breaking the right flank of the Shuri defenses. Heavy rains the following week slowed down the advance. The offensive was resumed, 30 May, against weakening enemy resistance; Japanese north of Yonabaru-Shuri-Naha Road area were cleared out. Resistance stiffened again, 3 June, and Laura Hill was taken, 14 June 1945, only after a bloody fight; the last important Japanese defense position, the Yuza-Dake, Yaeju-Dake Hill mass, was secured by 17 June, and on 22 June all resistance was declared at an end.Many of the landmark names and other locations of the massive engagement have been changed by modern Japanese.
The division patrolled an area from Chan to Ogusuku until 30 June. After resting in July, the division left Okinawa for Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, in the Philippines, and engaged in a training program. The division left the Philippines, 17 January 1946, for the United States.
Current Assignment
Effective 17 September 2008, the division is now known as the 96th Sustainment Brigade.- The 96 SB's headquarters is located on Ft. Douglas, (Salt Lake City), UT.
Current Missions
Subordinate units of the 96th RRC have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Djibouti in support of the current Global War on Terror. Units have also been deployed to Bosnia & Herzegovina in support of Peacekeeping Operations in the Balkans.The 96th Sustainment Brigade deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. The brigade returned to the United States in May, 2010.
General
- Nickname: "Deadeye" Division, due to their training as sharpshooters.
- Shoulder patch: A white diamond and a blue diamond which overlap, both superimposed on a hexagonal patch with khaki background.
External links
- 96th Infantry Division Deadeye Association Association for veterans, families, and supporters of the 96th Infantry Division, 96th Regional Readiness Command, and 96th Sustainment Brigade
- 96th Regional Readiness Command Official U.S. Army page