Activation and movement to France

The 7th Infantry Division was activated on 6 December 1917, exactly eight months after the American entry into World War I, as the 7th Division of the Regular Army at Camp Wheeler, Georgia.^[6] On 18 July 1918, the division moved to ports of embarkation as it prepared to deploy to Europe as a part of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).^[6] The unit arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey and in New York, via Camp Merritt, where additional replacements joined the unit. The majority of the unit sailed to Brest, France. The 7th Support Trains and the 7th Training Headquarters along with the military police sailed for Bordeaux, France. The units began to arrive in France on 26 July with the last units arriving on 3 September 1918.^[7] Most of the division sailed to Europe aboard the SS Leviathan.^[8]

Training in France

From the period of 17 August to October 9, the division conducted final training and preparation to enter the line in the Ancy-le-Franc Training Area. Some soldiers from the unit were sent to the 4th and 26th Divisions as replacements for losses. From the period of 2 September through the 14th the unit was under the administrative control of the VI Corps.^[7]

World War I Combat

While on the Western Front, the 7th Division did not see action at full divisional strength, though its infantry and reconnaissance elements did engage German forces.^[8] On 11 October 1918, it first came under shell fire and later, at Saint-Mihiel, came under chemical attack.^[8] Elements of the 7th probed up toward Prény near the Moselle River, capturing positions and driving German forces out of the region.^[8] It was at this time that the division first received its shoulder sleeve insignia.^[10]

From the period of 10 October until the end of the war on 11 November, the division, minus their artillery occupied and conducted local engagements in the Puvenelle Sector (Lorraine). On 10 October 1918, the division relieved the 90th Division on the front with a front line from Sablière, Vandières (incl), Côte 327, north edge of Bois des Rappes, la Souleuvre Fme, 1½ km south of Rembercourt-sur-Mad. The 92nd Division was on the right and the 37th Division was on the left. On 16 October, the 28th Division moved in on the left of the 7th Division. Several days later, on 23 October, the 92nd Division (VI Corps) occupied the sector on the. Three days later on 26 October the sector was reduced by moving the east boundary to a line between Villers-sous-Prény and Prény (both incl). Elements of the 92nd Division relieved the 56th Infantry Regiment. On 29 October, the sector was extended west to a line from Xammes to Charey, with the 64th Infantry relieving elements of the 28th Division, on a front along the eastern edge of Bois de Blainchamp, northern edge of Bois de Hailbat, eastern edge of Bois du Rupt, northern edge of Bois de la Montagne.^[7]

Doughboys of the 64th Regiment, 14th Brigade, 7th Division, celebrate the news of the Armistice with Germany, November 11, 1918.

During this period in early November, the 7th Division began preparing for an assault on the Hindenburg Line as part of the Second Army.^[8] The division launched a reconnaissance in force on the Voëvre plain, but the main assault was never conducted as hostilities ended on 11 November 1918 with the signing of the Armistice with Germany.^[8]

On 1 November the division conducted local attacks and established outposts at Bois de Trou-de-la-Haie and Bois de Grand-Fontaine. From 9 November through 11th the division executes local attacks and makes gains along the front. On 9 November the division assumes temporary occupation of a hill west of Prény. On 10 November, Hill 323 (1 km southeast of Rembercourt) is occupied. On 11 November, the line is established from 310.2 to 287.1 in the Bois de Grand-Fontaine, the quarry near 278.7, west of Rembercourt, and the small woods ¼ km south of Mon Plaisir Fme.^[7]

During its 33 days on the front line, the 7th Division suffered 1,709 casualties,^[11] including 204 killed in action and 1,505 wounded in action^[12] and was awarded a campaign streamer for Lorraine.^[6] The division then served on occupation duties as it began preparations to return to the United States.^[6]

Order of battle

7th Division commanders during World War I included Brigadier General Charles H. Barth and Major General Edmund Wittenmyer.^[13] The following lists shows the order of battle, units that contributed personnel to form the nucleus of units, and the unit activation dates and locations.^[7]

Headquarters, 7th Division

• 13th Brigade (formed 18 December 1917 at Chickamauga, Park)
  • 55th Infantry Regiment (formed from personnel of the 17th Infantry at Chickamauga Park in 1917)
  • 56th Infantry Regiment (formed from personnel of the 17th Infantry at Chickamauga Park in 1917)
  • 20th Machine Gun Battalion
• 14th Brigade (formed 20 December 1917 at Camp Bliss)
  • 34th Infantry Regiment (formed from personnel of the 7th, 20th, and 23rd Regiments of Infantry in 1916 at Camp Baker (near El Paso) Texas)
  • 64th Infantry Regiment (formed from personnel of the 34th Infantry in 1917 at Camp Baker (near El Paso), Texas)
  • 21st Machine Gun Battalion
• 7th Field Artillery Brigade (formed at Camp Wheeler on 8 January 1918)
  • 8th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm) (formed from personnel of the 5th and 6th Regiments of Artillery at Camp Wheeler and Fort Sill)
  • 79th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm) (formed at Camp Logan)
  • 80th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm) (formed at Chickamauga Park)
  • 7th Trench Mortar Battery
• 19th Machine Gun Battalion
• 5th Engineer Regiment
• 10th Field Signal Battalion
• Headquarters Troop, 7th Division
• 7th Train Headquarters and Military Police
  • 7th Ammunition Train
  • 7th Engineer Train
  • 7th Supply Train
  • 7th Sanitary Train
    • 22nd, 34th, 35th, 36th Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals

Aleutian Islands

7th Infantry Division troops negotiate snow and ice during the battle on Attu in May 1943.

Elements of the 7th Infantry Division first saw combat in the amphibious assault on Attu Island, the westernmost Japanese entrenchment in the Aleutian islands chain of Alaska.^[18] Elements landed on 11 May 1943,^[19] spearheaded by the 17th Infantry Regiment. The initial landings were unopposed,^[20] but Japanese forces mounted a counteroffensive the next day, and the 7th Infantry Division fought an intense battle over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance.^[12] The division was hampered by its inexperience, lack of winter clothing, and poor weather and terrain conditions, but was eventually able to coordinate an effective attack.^[21] The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor,^[22] when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island^[12] on 29 May, after a suicidal Japanese bayonet charge.^[23][24] During its first fight of the war, 549 soldiers of the division were killed, while killing 2,351 Japanese and taking 28 prisoners.^[23] After American forces secured the island chain, the 159th Infantry Regiment was ordered to stay, and the 184th Infantry Regiment took its place as the 7th Division's third infantry regiment. The 184th Infantry remained with the division until the end of the war. The 159th Infantry Regiment stayed on the island for some time longer until returning to the Lower 48. The 159th Infantry Regiment was then subsequently sent to Europe, in early 1945 and assigned to the 106th Infantry Division.

American forces then began preparing to move against nearby Kiska island, termed Operation Cottage, the final fight in the Aleutian Islands Campaign.^[23] In August 1943, elements of the 7th Infantry Division took part in an amphibious assault on Kiska with a brigade from the 6th Canadian Infantry Division, only to find the island deserted by the Japanese.^[12] It was later discovered that the Japanese had withdrawn their 5,000-soldier garrison during the night of 28 July, under cover of fog.^[23]

Marshall Islands

7th Infantry Division soldiers attack a blockhouse during the Battle of Kwajalein.

After the campaign, the division moved to Hawaii where it trained in new amphibious assault techniques on the island of Maui, before returning to Schofield Barracks on Oahu for brief leave. It was reassigned to V Amphibious Corps, a US Marine Corps command.^[25] The division left Pearl Harbor on 22 January 1944, for an offensive on Japanese territory.^[8] On 30 January 1944, the division landed on islands in the Kwajalein Atoll in conjunction with the 4th Marine Division, code named Operation Flintlock.^[26] The 7th Division landed on the namesake island while the 4th Marine Division forces struck the outlying islands of Roi and Namur.^[27] The division made landfall on the western beaches of the island at 09:30 on 1 February.^[28] It advanced halfway through the island by nightfall the next day, and reached the eastern shore at 1335 hours on 4 February, having wrested the island from the Japanese.^[28] The victory put V Amphibious Corps in control of all 47 islands in the atoll. The 7th Infantry Division suffered 176 killed and 767 wounded. On 7 February, the division departed the atoll and returned to Schofield Barracks.^[29]

Elements took part in the capture of Engebi in the Eniwetok Atoll on 18 February 1944, code named Operation Catchpole. Because of the speed and success of the attack on Kwajalein, the attack was undertaken several months ahead of schedule.^[26] After a week of fighting, the division secured the islands of the atoll.^[30] The division then returned to Hawaii to continue training. There, in June 1944, General Douglas MacArthur and President Franklin Roosevelt personally reviewed the division.^[29]

Leyte

Invasion of Leyte Map, October 1944.

The 7th Infantry Division left Hawaii on 11 October, heading for Leyte^[31] and include the Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary were aided against the Japanese. At this time it was under the command of XXIV Corps of the Sixth United States Army.^[32][33] On 20 October 1944, the division made an assault landing at Dulag, Leyte,^[34] initially only encountering light resistance.^[35] Following a defeat at sea on 26 October, the Japanese launched a large, uncoordinated counteroffensive on the Sixth Army.^[36] After heavy fighting, the 184th Infantry secured airstrips at Dulag, while the 17th Infantry secured San Pablo, and the 32nd Infantry took Buri.^[30] The 17th Infantry troops moved north to take Dagami on 29 October, in intense jungle warfare that produced high casualties.^[30] The division then shifted to the west coast of Leyte on 25 November and attacked north toward Ormoc, securing Valencia on 25 December.^[30] An amphibious landing by the 77th Infantry Division effected the capture of Ormoc on 31 December 1944.^[30] The 7th Infantry Division joined in the occupation of the city, and engaged the 26th Japanese Infantry Division, which had been holding up the advance of the 11th Airborne Division. The 7th Division's attack was successful in allowing the 11th Airborne Division to move through,^[29] however, Japanese forces proved difficult to drive out of the area.^[37] As such, operations to secure Leyte continued until early February 1945.^[30] Afterward, the division began training for an invasion of the Ryukyu island chain throughout March 1945.^[37] It was relieved from the Sixth Army and the Philippine Commonwealth military, which went on to attack Luzon.^[38]

Okinawa

Soldiers from the 184th Infantry advance on a machine gun nest during the Battle of Leyte.

The division was reassigned to XXIV Corps, Tenth United States Army, a newly formed command, and began preparations for the assault on Okinawa.^[37][39] The Battle of Okinawa began on 1 April 1945, L-Day, when the 7th Infantry Division participated in an assault landing south of Hagushi, Okinawa alongside the 96th Infantry Division, and the 1st, and 6th Marine Divisions.^[40][41] of III Amphibious Corps.^[42] These divisions spearheaded an assault that would eventually land 250,000 men ashore.^[43] The 7th Division quickly moved to Kadena, taking its airfield, and drove from the west to the east coast of the island on the first day.^[44] The division then moved south, encountering stiff resistance from fortifications at Shuri a few days later.^[42] The Japanese had moved 90 tanks, much of their artillery, and heavy weapons away from the beaches and into this region.^[45] Eventually, XXIV Corps destroyed the defenses after a 51-day battle in the hills of southern Okinawa,^[30] which was complicated by harsh weather and terrain.^[42] During the operation, the division was bombarded with tens of thousands of rounds of field artillery fire, encountering Japanese armed with spears as it continued its fight across the island.^[46] Japanese also fought using irregular warfare techniques, relying on hidden cave systems, snipers, and small-unit ambushes to delay the advancing 7th Infantry Division.^[47] After the fight, the division began capturing large numbers of Japanese prisoners for the first time in the war, due to low morale, high casualties, and poor equipment.^[48] It fought for five continuous days to secure areas around the Nakagusuku Wan and Skyline Ridge. The division also secured Hill 178 in the fighting.^[49] It then moved to Kochi Ridge, securing it after a two-week battle. After 39 days of continuous fighting, the 7th Infantry Division was sent into reserve, having suffered heavy casualties.^[50]

Men of Co. B, 184th Inf. Regt., inspect a Japanese 75-mm gun they captured on Okinawa. 29 May 1945.

Map of the Okinawa invasion.

After the 96th Infantry Division secured Conical Hill, the 7th Infantry Division returned to the line. It pushed into positions on the southern Ozato Mura hills, where Japanese resistance was heaviest.^[51] It was placed on the extreme left flank of the Tenth Army, taking the Ghinen peninsula, Sashiki, and Hanagusuku, fending off a series of Japanese counterattacks.^[52] Despite heavy Japanese resistance and prolonged bad weather, the division continued its advance until 21 June 1945, when the battle ended, having seen 82 days of combat.^[53] The island and surrendering troops were secured by the next day.^[43] During the Battle of Okinawa, the soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division killed between 25,000 and 28,000 Japanese soldiers and took 4,584 prisoners.^[8] Balanced against this, the 7th Division suffered 2,340 killed and 6,872 wounded for a total of 9,212 battle casualties^{[11][n 1]} during 208 days of combat.^[12] The division was slated to participate in Operation Downfall as a part of XXIV Corps under the First United States Army, but these plans were scrapped after the Japanese surrendered following the use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.^[54]

During World War II, soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division were awarded three Medals of Honor, 26 Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, 982 Silver Star Medals, 33 Legion of Merit Medals, 50 Soldier's Medals, 3,853 Bronze Star Medals, and 178 Air Medals.^[12] The division received four campaign streamers and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation during the war.^[12] The three Medals of Honor were awarded to Leonard C. Brostrom, John F. Thorson,^[56] and Joe P. Martinez.^[11]

Occupation of Japan

A few days after V-J Day, the division moved to Korea to accept the surrender of the Japanese Army in South Korea.^[30] After the war, the division served as an occupation force in Korea and Japan. Seven thousand, five hundred members of the unit returned to the United States, and the 184th Infantry Regiment was reassigned to the California Army National Guard, cutting the division to half its combat strength. To replace it, the 31st Infantry Regiment was assigned to the division.^[57] The 7th Infantry Division remained on occupation duty in Korea patrolling the 38th parallel until 1948, when it was reassigned to occupation duty in Japan, in charge of northern Honshū and all of Hokkaido.^[58] During this time, the US Army underwent a drastic reduction in size. At the end of World War II, it contained 89 divisions, but by 1950, the 7th Infantry Division was one of only 10 active divisions in the force.^[59] It was one of four understrength divisions on occupation duty in Japan alongside the 1st Cavalry Division, 24th Infantry Division, and 25th Infantry Division, all under control of the Eighth United States Army.^[60][61]

Chinese intervention

Lieutenant Colonel Don C. Faith Jr., leader of Task Force Faith

The UN forces renewed their offensive on 24 November before being stopped by the PVA Second Phase Offensive starting on 25 November with attacks on Eighth Army's IX Corps and ROK II Corps in the west and X Corps in the east.^[95] X Corps found itself under attack from the PVA 20th, 26th and 27th Field Armies, commanding a total of 12 divisions.^[98] During the furious action that followed, the 7th Infantry Division's spread out regiments were unable to resist the overwhelming PVA forces.^[99] Three of the division's infantry battalions were attacked from all sides the next day.^[100] 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry (nicknamed Task Force Faith) was trapped with two other battalions^[101] by the PVA 80th and 81st Divisions from the 27th Field Army. In the subsequent Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the three battalions were destroyed by overwhelming PVA forces^[98] suffering over 2,000 casualties.^[102] The 31st Infantry suffered heavy casualties trying to fight back the PVA forces further north, but the 17th Infantry was spared of heavy attack,^[103] retreating along the Korean coastline, out of range of the offensive.^[104] By the time X Corps ordered a retreat, most of the 7th Infantry Division, save the 17th Infantry Regiment, had suffered 40 percent casualties.^[105] The scattered elements of the division saw repeated attacks as they attempted to withdrawal to the port of Hungnam in December 1950.^[106] These attacks cost the division another 100 killed before it was evacuated on 21 December.^[107] The division suffered 2,657 killed and 354 wounded during the retreat. Most of the dead were members of Task Force Faith.^[92]

The division returned to the front lines in early 1951, spearheaded by the 17th Infantry, which had suffered the fewest casualties from the PVA offensive. Division elements advanced through Tangyang in South Korea, and blocking PVA offensives from the northwest.^[108] The division reached full strength and saw action around Chechon, Chungju, and Pyeongchang as part of an effort to push the KPA and PVA forces back above the 38th Parallel and away from Seoul.^[109] The 7th Infantry Division engaged in a series of successful "limited objective" attacks in the early weeks of February, a series of small unit attacks and ambushes between the two sides.^[110] It would continue slowly advancing and clearing enemy hilltop positions through April.^[111] By April the entire Eighth Army was advancing north as one line stretching across the peninsula, reaching the 38th Parallel by May.^[112] The division, now assigned to IX Corps, then assaulted and fought a fierce three-day battle culminating with the recapture of the terrain that had been lost near the Hwachon Reservoir just over the 38th Parallel in North Korea. In capturing the town bordering on the reservoir it cut off thousands of PVA/KPA troops.^[113] The division fought on the front lines until June 1951 when it was assigned to the reserve for a brief rest and refitting.^[8]

Stalemate

When the division returned to the lines in October, after another assignment in reserve, it moved to the Heartbreak Ridge sector recently vacated by the 2nd Infantry Division, where it was supported by the 3rd Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Division. During this new deployment the division fought in the Battle for Heartbreak Ridge, to take an area of staging grounds for the PVA/KPA armies.^[114] It remained static in the region until 23 February 1952 when it was sent into reserve and relieved by the 25th Infantry Division.^[115] The next year saw the 7th Division engaged in an extended campaign for nearby land, the Battle of Old Baldy.^[116] The 7th Division continued to defend "Line Missouri" through September 1952, though it became known as the "Static Line" as UN forces made few meaningful gains in the time.^[117]

Corpsmen assist wounded from the 31st Regiment during the Battle of Triangle Hill.

The 7th Infantry Division's Operation Showdown launched in the early morning hours of 14 October 1952, with the 31st Infantry and 32nd Infantry at the head of the attack. The target of the assault was the Triangle Hill complex northeast of Kumhwa.^[118] The 7th Infantry Division remained in the Triangle Hill area until the end of October, when it was relieved by the 25th Infantry Division. The 7th Infantry Division was highly praised by commanders for its tenacity through the fight.^[116]

The division continued patrol activity around Old Baldy and Pork Chop Hill into 1953, digging tunnels and building a network of outposts and bunkers on and around the hill.^[119] In April, the KPA began stepping up offensive operations against UN forces. During the Battle of Porkchop Hill, the PVA 67th and 141st Divisions overran Pork Chop Hill using massed infantry and artillery fire.^[120] The hill had been under the control of the 31st Infantry.^[121] The 31st counterattacked with reinforcements from the 17th Infantry and recaptured the area the next day. On 6 July the PVA/KPA launched a determined attack against Pork Chop resulting in five days of fierce fighting with few meaningful results.^[122] By the end of July, five infantry battalions from the 31st and 17th were defending the hill, while a PVA division was in position to attack it.^[123] During this standoff, the UN ordered the 7th Infantry Division to retreat from the hill in preparation for an armistice, which would end major hostilities.^[124]

During the Korean War, the division saw a total of 850 days of combat, suffering 15,126 casualties, including 3,905 killed in action and 10,858 wounded.^{[125][n 2]} For the next few years, the division remained on defensive duty along the 38th parallel, under the command of the Eighth Army.^[125] Thirteen members of the division received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Korean War: Charles H. Barker,^[126] Raymond Harvey,^[127] Einar H. Ingman Jr.,^[128] William F. Lyell,^[129] Joseph C. Rodriguez,^[130] Richard Thomas Shea, Daniel D. Schoonover,^[131] Jack G. Hanson,^[132] Ralph E. Pomeroy,^[133] Edward R. Schowalter Jr.,^[134] Benjamin F. Wilson,^[135] Don C. Faith Jr.,^[136] and Anthony T. Kahoʻohanohano.^[137]

Organization 1989

7th Infantry Division (Light) 1989 (click to enlarge)

At the end of the Cold War the division was organized as follows:

• 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 1st Brigade
    • 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry
    • 2d Battalion, 9th Infantry
    • 3d Battalion, 9th Infantry
  • 2d Brigade
    • 5th Battalion, 21st Infantry
    • 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry
    • 3d Battalion, 27th Infantry
  • 3d Brigade
    • 3d Battalion, 17th Infantry
    • 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry
    • 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry
  • Aviation Brigade
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 2d Squadron, 9th Cavalry (Reconnaissance)
    • 1st Battalion, 123d Aviation (Attack)^[143]
    • 3d Battalion, 123d Aviation (Combat Support)^[144]
  • Division Artillery^{[145][146][147][148]}
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
    • 2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery (18 × M119 105mm towed howitzer)^{[149][146][147][148][145]}
    • 6th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery (18 × M119 105mm towed howitzer)^{[146][147][148][145]}
    • 5th Battalion, 15th Field Artillery (18 x M198 155mm towed howitzer, attached I Corps Artillery unit)^{[146][147][148][145]}
    • 7th Battalion, 15th Field Artillery (18 × M119 105mm towed howitzer)^{[146][147][148][145]}
    • Battery B, 15th Field Artillery (8 × M198 155mm towed howitzer)^{[150][146][147][148][145]}
  • Division Support Command
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 7th Medical Battalion^[151]
    • 7th Supply & Transportation Battalion^[151]
    • 707th Maintenance Battalion^[151][152]
    • Company D, 123d Aviation (Maintenance, redesignated Company E, 123d Aviation on 16 October 1988)
  • 2d Battalion, 62d Air Defense Artillery
  • 13th Engineer Battalion
  • 127th Signal Battalion^[153]
  • 107th Military Intelligence Battalion^[154]
  • 7th Military Police Company
  • 761st Chemical Company
  • 7th Division Band