U.S. 77th Infantry Division

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Image:77th Infantry Division.patch.jpg

The 77th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II.

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World War I

  • Activated: 18 August 1917.
  • Overseas: March 1918.
  • Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Oise-Aisne. Casualties: Total-10,194 (KIA-1,486; WIA-8,708).
  • Commanders: Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell (18 August 1917), Brig. Gen. E. M. Johnson (4 December 1917), Maj. Gen. G. B. Duncan (8 May 1918), Brig. Gen. E. M. Johnson (20 July 1918), Brig. Gen. E. M. Johnson (19 August 1918), Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander (27 August 1918).
  • Returned to U. S.: April 1919.
  • Inactivated: April 1919.

The 77th Infantry Division was from New York City and trained at Camp Upton in Yaphank, NY on the eastern end of Long Island. Their nickname was the Statue of Liberty Division. The 305th, 306th, 307th, 308th was Infantry; 304th, 305th, 306th was Artillery; 304th, 305th, 306th was Machine Gun; and the 302nd was Engineers.

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Combat Chronicle

The 77th Infantry Division was the first United States Army division to arrive in France in World War I. They prevented the German Army from capturing Paris during the famed Battle of Château-Thierry on July 18th, 1918.


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World War II

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Combat Chronicle

The 77th Infantry Division landed in Hawaii, 31 March 1944, and continued training in amphibious landings and jungle warfare. Elements began to leave Hawaii, 1 July 1944, for the amphibious assault on Guam. Attached to III Amphibious Force, the 77th made an assault landing on Guam, 21 July 1944. After taking over defense of the beachhead, the Division drove north to seize Mount Tenjo and effected junction with the 3d Marine Division, linking the northern and southern bridgeheads, 23-29 July. It continued to drive north, and dislodged the enemy from positions at Barrigada town and mountain, 4 August, resistance ending on the 8th. With Guam recaptured, the 77th sailed for New Caledonia, but plans were changed en route and it was directed to proceed to Leyte. The Division landed on the east coast of Leyte, 23 November 1944, and was attached to XXIV Corps, Sixth Army. After a short period of training and combat patrolling in the Corps' rear, 23 November-6 December, it landed at Ipil and fought up the east coast of Ormoc Bay to seize Ormoc, 10 December. Attacking north, astride Highway No. 2, the Division secured Valencia and the Libungao-Palompon road junction. Mopping up operations continued through January 1945 to 5 February 1945.

The next combat assignment was Okinawa. In late March (26-29), the Division made 15 landings, securing Kerama Retto and Keise Shima for the assault on Okinawa. Riding at sea, 1-15 April 1945, it suffered casualties from enemy suicide attacks, - and prepared for the assault landing on Ie Shima. On 16 April 1945, the 77th landed on le Shims, captured the airfield, and engaged in a bitter fight for "Government House Hill" and "Bloody Ridge." It was in this operation that Ernie Pyle was killed. On 25 April, it left le Shims for Okinawa, relieving the 96th Division, 28 April 1945. Fighting its way slowly against extremely heavy Japanese resistance, the Division, drove to Shuri in conjunction with the 1st Marine Division, occupying it 29-31 May. In June the Division covered the right flank of XXIV Corps and "sealed" Japanese cave positions. In July the Division moved to Cebu, Philippine Islands, and prepared for. the invasion (later occupation) of Japan. The Division landed in Japan in October 1945 for occupation duty, and was inactivated a few months later, 15 March 1946.

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General

  • Nickname: Statue of Liberty Division.
  • Shoulder patch: Statue of Liberty in gold on a blue truncated triangle.

The "Lost Battalion" of World War I fame was composed of six companies of the 77th's 308th Infantry Regiment and one from the 307th Infantry Regiment.

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Fictional Portrayal

The 77th Division is featured in the World War I novella Doughboys by Christopher Levy.

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References

  • The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S.

Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/cc.htm. [1]

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