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86th Infantry Division

"Blackhawk Division"

The division insignia consists of a small red shield with the initials "B" and "H" in black superimposed upon a design of a blackhawk which, in turn, is superimposed upon a red shield. The personnel of the division was originally drawn from the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, formerly the territory inhabited by Chief Black Hawk and his tribe. The insignia is a tribute to the pioneers of this sector, and in recognition of their prowess in battles with the Indians. The bird symbolizes keenness, cunning, and tenacity.

[page 310]

COMMAND AND STAFF

Commanding General

3 March 1945 Maj. Gen. Harris M. Melasky

Assistant Division Commander

3 March 1945 Brig. Gen. George V. W. Pope

Artillery Commander

3 March 1945 Brig. Gen. Einar B. Gjelsteen

Chief of Staff

3 March 1945 Col. Charles P. Jones

Assistant Chief of Staff G-1

3 March 1945 Lt. Col. James R. Williams, Jr.

Assistant Chief of Staff G-2

3 March 1945 Lt. Col. William K. Weaver, Jr.

Assistant Chief of Staff G-3

3 March 1945 Lt. Col. Robert Outsen
22 April 1945 Maj. Stanley M. Gotikov

Assistant Chief of Staff G-4

3 March 1945 Maj. George V. Nunn

Assistant Chief of Staff G-5

1 May 1945 Capt. Kalford K. Miazza (Acting)

Adjutant General

3 March 1945 Lt. Col. Charles J. Perry

Commanding Officer, 341st Infantry

3 March 1945 Col. Henry J. Hunt, Jr.

Commanding Officer, 342d Infantry

3 March 1945 Col. Christian Hildebrande
1 April 1945 Col. Pete T. Heffner, Jr.

Commanding Officer, 343d Infantry

3 March 1945 Col. Leo F. Kengla
22 March 1945 Col. George F. Bloomquist

[page 311]

STATISTICS

Chronology

Activated 15 December 1942
Arrived ETO 3 March 1945
Arrived Continent (D+270) 3 March 1945
Entered Combat 29 March 1945
Days in Combat 34

Casualties (Tentative)

Killed 84
Wounded 653
Missing 21
Captured 2
Battle Casualties 760
Non-Battle Casualties 473
Total Casualties 1,233
Percent of T/O Strength 8.8

Campaigns

Central Europe

Individual Awards

Distinguished Service Cross 1
Silver Star 8
Soldiers Medal 1
Bronze Star 45

Prisoners of War Taken 53,354

COMPOSITION

[page 312]

ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery

446th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 1 Apr 45-4 Apr 45
839th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 8 Apr 45-10 May 45

Armored

Cos A & B, 740th Tk Bn 8 Apr 45-18 Apr 45
27th Tk Bn (20th Armd Div) 21 Apr 45-23 Apr 45
787th Tk Bn 2 May 45-10 May 45

Cavalry

Tr C, 33d Cav Rcn Sq 21 Apr 45-23 Apr 45
23d Cav Rcn Sq (16th Armd Div) 1 May 45-2 May 45

Chemical

Co A, 95th Cml Mort Bn 8 Apr 45-18 Apr 45
Co A, 90th Cml Mort Bn 21 Apr 45-23 Apr 45
95th Cml Mort Bn 22 Apr 45-2 May 45

Field Artillery

746th FA Bn (8" How) 28 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
417th FA Gp 31 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
805th FA Bn (155mm How) 31 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
672d FA Bn (155mm How) 31 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
Btry B, 724th FA Obsn Bn 1 Apr 45-4 Apr 45
18th FA Bn (105mm How) 9 Apr 45-13 Apr 45
172d FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 9 Apr 45-13 Apr 45
205th FA Gp 9 Apr 45-16 Apr 45
190th FA Bn (155mm Gun) 9 Apr 45-16 Apr 45
670th FA Bn (155mm How) 14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45
281st FA Bn (105mm How)  20 Apr 45-2 May 45
254th FA Bn (155mm How)  1 May 45-2 May 45

Tank Destroyer

Co A, 644th TD Bn (SP) 8 Apr 45-18 Apr 45
648th TD Bn (T) 15 Apr 45-18 Apr 45
807th TD Bn (SP) 21 Apr 45-10 May 45

[page 313]

DETACHMENTS

(Attached to)

Engineer

1 plat, Co A, 311th Engr C Bn 97th Div 5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45

Field Artillery

331st FA Bn 97th Div 5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45

Infantry

341st Inf 82d Abn Div 5 Apr 45
341st Inf 97th Div 5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45
1st Bn, 343d Inf 8th Div 6 Apr 45-7 Apr 45

[pages 313-314]

ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS

DATE CORPS ARMY ARMY GROUP
Assigned Attached Assigned Attached
20 Jan 45       ETOUSA  
30 Jan 45   Fifteenth   12th  
4 Mar 45   Fifteenth Normandy Base 12th  
10 Mar 45   Fifteenth (-) 12th  
22 Mar 45 VII First   12th  
30 Mar 45 XXII Fifteenth   12th  
5 Apr 45 XVIII Abn First   12th  
19 Apr 45 (-) Third   12th  
22 Apr 45 III Third   12th  
2 May 45 XV Seventh   6th  

(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.

[page 315]

COMMAND POSTS

DATE TOWN REGION COUNTRY
3 Mar 45 Yvetot Seine-Inferieure France
27 Mar 45 Weiden (vic Cologne) Rhineland Germany
5 Apr 45 Eibelshausen Hessen-Nassau Germany
9 Apr 45 Erndtebruck Hessen-Nassau Germany
10 Apr 45 Einsburg Hessen-Nassau Germany
11 Apr 45 Bilstein Hessen-Nassau Germany
12 Apr 45 Attendorn Westphalia Germany
14 Apr 45 Ludenscheid Westphalia Germany
19 Apr 45 Windsheim Bavaria Germany
21 Apr 45 Ansbach Bavaria Germany
24 Apr 45 Ellingen Bavaria Germany
25 Apr 45 Eichstatt (5 mi N) Bavaria Germany
26 Apr 45 Eitensheim Bavaria Germany
27 Apr 45 Ingolstadt Bavaria Germany
29 Apr 45 Wolnzach Bavaria Germany
30 Apr 45 Freising Bavaria Germany
1 May 45 Erding Bavaria Germany
4 May 45 Purten (vic Aschau) Bavaria Germany
5 May 45 Neu Oberndorf Ober Oesterreich Austria
8 May 45 Burghausen Bavaria Germany

[page 316]

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