| | eel a “SECOND TO NONE” A Short History of the SECOND INFANTRY DIVISION 1918 - 1951} ' ; MAJOR UNITS COMPOSING THE 2D INFANTRY DIVISION 9th Infantry Regiment ©)” 23d Infantry Regiment w/attached French Volunteer Forces.in Korea (Bn) 38th Infantry Regiment w/attached Nether- lands Volunteer Battalion 15th Field Artillery Battalion 37th Field’ Artillery Battalion 38th Field Artillery Battalion 503d Field Artillery Battalion $2d AAA Battalion 72d Tank Battalion 2d Engineer (C) Battalion 2d Medical Battalion 2d Reconnaissance Company 2d Quartermaster Company 2d Signal Company 702d Ordnance Company 2d Military Police Company 2d Replacement Company 2d Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Division Artillery 2d Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment* * YOU CAN BE PROUD * * Welcome, soldier, to the finest division in the United States Army. “You are now a mem- ber of the team that, is-“Second to None.” i When you sew that Indianhead patch onto your jacket, you serve notice to the world that you belong to the combat outfit whose record hasn’t been equalled.» It is one of the two divisions which hayé won the Presidential Unit Citation in Korea’ and as long as you're a member of it; You're eligible to wear the ribbon which répresents that honor, For the rest of your _Sammy career, you will be entitled to wear the £© Indianhead Patch of this famous 2d Infantry Division, You will hear a lot, see a lot and learn a lot in the coming days. The purpose of this booklet is to give you a short history of the Division of which you are now a vital member. After you've read it we think you'll agree that your Division is truly “Second to None.” | + * THE SECOND DIVISION FORMED * * Let’s go back to 26 October 1917. World ‘War I was being fought. At that time the 2d Infantry Division was formed in France.It consisted of the 2d Infantry Brigade, 4th Marine Brigade, 2d Field Artillery Brigade, the 2d Engineer Regiment, the Division trains and special troops, Following the Division's activation, it earned an impressive combat record. It played a vital part in the famous battles of Chateau- Thierry, St. Mihiel, and Argonne Forest, and Soissons. From November, 1918, when the Armistice was signed, until July, 1919, your 2d Infantry Division served with the Army of Occupation in Germany. Then it returned to the United States and made its home at Fort Sam Hous- ton, Texas, where it remained for 23 years, During that time, several changes were made in the division organization following extensive field tests. The Marine Brigade was replaced by an Infantry Brigade. The 2d Signal Com- pany joined the Division in 1922.and the supply and sanitation trains became the 2d Quarter- master and 2d Medical Battalions, respectively. In 1940, further reorganization took place. ‘The infantry units were formed into three sep- arate regiments —the 9th, 28d, and 88th, com- pleting what is now known as the “triangular” pes organization, meaning a division built around three infantry regiments. * * WORLD WAR IL * * The United States. entered the Second World War in December 1941. Your Division began preparing to play a major role. Before sailing for Ireland in October, 1943, the Divi- sion had undergone airborne training at its home station, Fort Sam Houston; winter train- ing atCamp McCoy, Wisconsin; and army- wide maneuvers in Louisiana. In April, 1944, itmoved from Ireland to Wales and prepared for the invasion of Europe. ‘The Indianhead Division returned to France for the second time, landing on Normandy beach on 7 June 1944. It played a major part in winning the “Battle of the Hedgerows” and fought for weeks to capture Hill 192 on the road to St. Lo, Slamming through Normandy, secur- ing St. Jean des Baisants, Vire, and Tinchebray, the Second Infantry moved forward. Then be- gan a 300 mile westward journey to Brest, one of the German strongholds on the Atlantic coast. Brest, home port for raiding submarines, and one of the Nazi’s important naval bases, was ringed by conerete pillboxes and heavily =3efortified bunkers, Although Hitler ordered Brest held for three months, it was captured in 29 days, falling on 18 September 1944, ‘The Warrior Division played a major part in stopping and defeating the German Army when it broke through Allied lines in the “Bat- tle of the Bulge.” Calling on its cooks, clerks, orderlies, and military police to serve as infan- trymen in the lines, the Division held its ground in the snow-covered Elsenhorn area until the Nazi Sixth Panzer Army was beaten, “What the 2d Division has done,” said General Courtney Hodges, the Army com- mander, after the battle, “will live forever in the pages of history of the United States Army.” After that historie battle, the Division began its sweep into Germany and by the end of the war, the men of the Indianhead Division had reached the ancient Czechoslovakian city of Pilsen. In 820 days the 24\Division had advanced 750 miles, suffered 16,000 casualties, and cap- tured 70,000 prisoners in its fight for the libera- tion of Europe. * * HOME AGAIN + * The Division embarked for home from Le Havre, France, on 18 July 1945 and arrived in New York on the 20th of the same month, It immediately headed for Camp Swift, Texas. Less than a year later, the Division, minus the 88th Infantry, moved to Camp Stoneman, Cali- fornia, where it) stayed for about two weeks and took part in a vast Army Day parade in San Francisco. Then on to Fort Lewis, Wash- ington, which remained its home until the out- break of hostilities in Korea. From the autumn of 1946 until that fateful day in July when it was alerted for combat in Korea, the Division took part in a series of large-seale maneuvers which prepared it for the future, First there was a combined Army- Navy-Air Force amphibious assault on Aliso Canyon, California, In the spring of 1947, there was a month of combat operations at Yakima, Washington. In the winter of 1948, came “Operation Yukon” in which Division troops were indoctrinated in airborne training and aretie living in Alaska. ‘The final and most extensive maneuver was “Operation Miki” which took place in thefall of 1949, “Miki” was a unified effort of the Army and Navy in a mock invasion of the Hawaiian Island of Oabu. The operation took approximately three months. Returning from “Miki,” the Division began a period of training in air transportability. When the armies of North Korea rolled across the 88th parallel in June of 1950, the United Nations were faced with the problem of stopping the advance or surrendering Korea to the communists. Since surrender seemed certain to spell the end of the United Nations and thereby open the entire world to commu- nist aggression, the UN requested all its mem- bers to go to the aid of the South Korean Republic. The understrength divisions of the U.S. Army stationed in Japan, the Air Force, and Naval units of our Far Eastern defense’ were sent to Korea to halt the communist advanee. A lack of equipment andcsupplies hindered the troops in their efforts: although they fought valiantly against overwhelming odds. It became apparent that additional help must come from the United States. * * KOREA\BOUND * * On 8 July 1950, the 2d Infantry Division was alerted for duty in Korea. In eleven days, % in spite of tremendous handicaps, the first ele- ments of the Division put to sea. On 31 July, the 9th Regimental Combat Team landed at Pusan, Korea, becoming the first combat unit to arrive in Korea direétly from the United States. ‘The ships carrying the rest of the Division began docking daily and by 20 August the entire Division was ashore. It was a mira- cle of organization and transport, Like ‘all other units which arrived early in the Korean War, it was necessary that the 2d Division be committed piecemeal, early arri- vals going from the dock in Pusan to the front ines, while elements of the Division arriving later were still unloading. ‘The Division was committed as a unit on 24 August 1950 when it relieved the 24th Infan- try Division on the Naktong River line. Only a few days earlicr, the 9th RCT had teamed with the 24th Division and the ist Marines to drive the communists back across the river in this same area. Now, with the Third Bat- talion, 9th Infantry detached to hold Pohang Airfield on the east coast and the Third Bat- talion, 23d Infantry fighting near Taegu with the ist Cavalry Division, the Second, bolstored by some Republic of Korea (ROK) troops,moved into a “front” that was little more than a series of strongpoints. Seven battalions held a line 40 miles long. * * FIRST TEST * * __ The first few days of the Division's com- mitment were uneventful, but on the night of 81 August the communists struck in a desper- ate all-out attack. Elements of four rifle divi- sions and two armored divisions smashed into the 2d Division’s thinly-held line. ‘Their objec- tive was Yongsan and then Miryang where they could eut the vital Pusan-Taegu supply line. The Division’s line was overwhelmed in places. Four battalions, holding the southern end of the line, were scattered and ent off. A) five mile gap was opened by the enemy in. the enter. But the Division, after falling back around the towns of Yongsan and Changnyong, stopped and put up a “stand or die” defense. The clerks, the Division band, orderlies, supply and technical personnel took up rifles and joined in the fight as had’ their predecessors in World War II. Againthe 2d Engineer Com- bat Battalion was employed as infantry; and after three days and nights of savage fighting, the enemy was stopped. Both sides had suf- fered heavy losses in men and equipment. But on 4 September, the 2d Division, together with the Ist Provisional Marine Brigade, counter- attacked, threw the enemy ‘back from the vital Yongsan-Changnyong road, and set up a new defensive line east of the Naktong. With the Marines detached to prepare for their sub- sequent “end min” landing at Inchon, the Divi- sion regained its two detached battalions and employedethem in beating off local enemy at- tacks.and in seizing key terrain for its own fortheoming offensive. For 15 rainy days and moonless nights it had been a touch and go fight along the ridges, in the rice paddies, and down the valleys, Our artillery had fired point blank at the enemy without losing a gun; the 2d Reconnaissance Company had fought a magnificent defensive action on the extreme left flank, killing three times’ its own number in North Koreans. The 38th Infantry, escaping the full force of the enemy's main effort, lived up to its World War I motto “The Rock of the Marne” by hold- ing the right flank of the Division like a granite block. Even the little “cub” planes, flown by the Division liaison pilots in driving rains, S03succeeded in serving as the eyes of the artil- lery, as ambulances, couriers, and supply car- riers. Countless examples of bravery, can be cited as typieal of the teamwork which enabled the Division to hold and win. * * BREAKOUT * * On 15 September the 1st Marine Division accompanied by the 7th U.S. Division sueceeded in an amphibious landing at Inchon. On 16 September, the 2¢ Division, together with other units of the Eighth Army, launched a terrific attack which broke through the “Pusan Perim- eter.” After crushing the enemy’s initial heavy resistance, the Division rolled northward, sweeping the scattered remains of the once- powerful North Korean army before it. At one time during the drive, the 88h RCT steam- rollered 73 miles in less than 10 hours., Organized resistance in South Korea had ceased by the end of September ‘except for guerrilla-type actions. Tens of thousands of casualties had been suffered by the invaders. Tons of supplics and equipment were left strewn in the path of their retreat. ‘The 24 Division became the first United Nations force to enter the North Korean capitol sabes @ of Pyongyang. A speeial “Task Force Indian- head” (built around Company K, 88th Infantry Regiment; task forees from the 72d Tank Bat- talion, 2d Reconnaissance Company, and at- tached engineer and supporting units) spear- headed a drive to the former communist strong- hold to secure the airfields and guard vital installations. During October, the Division rested, reor- ganizing, ré-equipping and training. Mean- while, plans were being made to carry the United Nations advance to the borders of North ‘orea. However, huge elements of the Chinese “Communist Forces (CCF) were already cross- ing the Yalu River from Manchuria into Korea, ‘The presence of Chinese troops was first re- ported in the Division's Periodic Intelligence Report of 81 October but little was known of their strength or intentions. * * CHINA ENTERS THE WAR * * ‘The UN advance moved swiftly against light resistance in late October and early Nov- ember, driving deep into North Korea. The 2d Division in the vicinity of the Chongchon River was to play an important role in the near future. euaiesOn 24 November, the attack which was to end the war jumped off. Initially the going was good. Then, on the night of 26-27 Nov- ember, the Chinese Communist Armies launched a massive attack against the entire Eighth Army Front, devoting their maximum effort to the right flank of the front. The vastly outnumbered UN forces were stopped in their tracks and turned back. When the I ROK Corps on the right was penetrated and the Eighth Army flank exposed, a withdrawal was required. But the swiftness and power of the Chinese attack succeeded in cutting off the 2d Division at Kunuri from the rest of the Highth Army. The Division fell back, with the 28d Infantry and Company A, 72d Tank Bat- talion as rear guard fighting fiercely on all sides, meeting the enemy wherever it struck. ‘The extreme cold added to their miseries asthe temperature dropped into the minus 20’s, The Chinese had established a long, gun-studded yoad block between the Divisionand friendly lines. There was nothing to\do but fight it out. So, throwing every man’ and weapon into the battle, the men ofthe Warrior Division fought their way through the fiery corridor. Even the Division commander, Major General Laurence B. Keiser, whose unprotected, two- apo starred jeep was in the column, was firing his rifle at the Chinese on the hills as the Division van the gauntlet. Artillery pieces and tanks fired point blank into the swarming enemy on both sides of the road. The Air Foreé'struck the mass of Chi- nese with a new fury, inflicting staggering casualties and hindering his efforts to press the attack. - Finally the 2d Infantry broke through, It rejoined the withdrawing Bighth Army and commenced pulling its units back for‘ reorganization, * * THE WONJU STAND * * ‘The CGF advance slowed in late December, but broke out anew in carly January as the enemy initiated another general offensive with 18 full divisions. On 4 January the Chinese entered the Capital city of Seoul and, following that, forced the UN onto a line extending from Pyongtaek, well below Seoul on the west coast, northeast to Wonju. It was at Wonju, the right flank of the bulk of the UN forces, that the 2d Division took a stand that was to amaze the world. With the Netherlands and French Battalions attached, the 2d Division stopped the Chinese for the first time since they had Sigeentered Korea from Manchuria. The CCF launched a vicious attack on 14 February. From then until the 17th, wave after wave of frenzied, determined troops flung themselves against the 2d Division line from Wonju to Chipyong-ni. Heavy infiltration forced our regiments to withdraw at some places along the line but, after fighting through strong road- blocks established by night infiltrators, they consolidated and continued to hold. Then the Division took the offensive and struck at the enemy, surprising him and killing hundreds before withdrawing to prepared positions. The enemy attempted to smash the Division by striking from both sides but heroic ground action supported by tremendous artillery bar- rages and strong air strikes denied him his goal. His defeated armies withdrew. v This was the battle which was later de- seribed by the commanding General of the Divi- sion, Major General Clark L, Ruffner, as the most critical fought by any of the UN forces during the Korean War. Tite Chinese had been stopped! eC Following the “devisive victory at Wonju in early February, the 2d Division, in eonjune- tion with other units of the Highth Army, ae began a slow, methodical advance whose objec- tive was not real estate but communists. As it ground northward against stubborn enemy resistance, the infantry, artillery, tanks, and air took a heavy toll of. the’ invading Chinese and North Korean armies. While the friendly advance slowly crept up the Korean peninsula, cutting down every- thing in its path, the Chinese main forces were beginning:to gather their strength for a new offensive. Even as UN troops cleared most of South’ Korea of the communists, the buildup went on behind a screen of North Korean forces. Finally, on 23 April, the Chinese launched another of their massive offensives, but the major thrust was not felt in the 2d Division zone although heavy fighting broke out all along the front. Other UN units gave up ground voluntarily in order to maintain the line which had been broken in two places. Seoul, the red objective, was held by the UN troops. By the end of April the attack had slowed down some- what, the friendly line was intact, but the enemy still maintained a strong potential. ih“ * THE MAY MASSACRE * * ‘The defending forces waited for the next blow to strike, Tt came on 16 May, striking the center of the Indianhead Division sector. For six days the enemy exerted his maximum effort to break the Division. It was his stated purpose to destroy it. Surrounded battalions of all the regiments fought and held. Every artillery piece in the Division was firing at its highest rate, littering the battlefield with Chi- nese dead. Still the enemy pressed the attack. Until 22 May the Chinese commanders threw their troops against a stone wall of resistance and then, whipped and demoralized, they began to withdraw. ‘A counter attack was ordered in the X Corps zone with the 2d Division turning from an heroic defense to a lashing offense along the Soyang River. ‘The enemy was caught off-balance. His stunned and battered armies found themselves recling before the onslaught. A disorderly retreat was carried out but not before thou- sands of prisoners had been taken, tens of thousands of trainéd troops wiped out, and irreplaceable equipment lost, It was the worst defeat ever suffered by the Chinese enemy. ie More than 100,000 casualties were inflicted across his entire front. He had lost 12,000 prisoners and by 28 May he found himself well north of the line from which he had launched his attack. His offensive eapabilities had been shattered. Major General Ruffner said, fol- lowing the victory,\that it would be at least three months (before the communists could launch another major offensive. And, for its superior action in smashing the overwhelming Communist offensive, the 2d Infantry Division was»awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, highest decoration the United States can be- ‘stow upon a unit. This action will always be remembered as the “May Massacre.” * * NORTHWARD ONCE AGAIN * * The anniversary of the 2d Division’s arri- val in Korea, 31 July, revealed it once again stabbing at enemy strongpoints well north of the 88th parallel, To the east, in the vicinity of the ancient Korean city of Kaesong, repre- sentatives of the United Nations and of the communist forces were meeting to discuss the possibility of a truce. But while they talked, the 2d Division advanced. North of Yanggu, where the communist forces had established a geline after their May retreat, the Division Taunched yet another attack to secure com- manding terrain from which enemy move- ‘ments could be observed. For three weeks the enemy clung stubbornly to “Bloody Ridge,” while tens of thousands of rounds of artillery, tons of bombs and a rain of small arms fire blanketed his positions. It was the only action on the entire Army front, and it gave pointed evidence to the communist forces that the 2d Division, as well as the other UN forces, re- tained immense capabilities. This demonstra- tion strengthened the hands of the U.N. truce negotiators at Kaesong. On 5 September “Bloody Ridge” fell to the troops of the 2d Division, additional proof that the Indianhead Division was ready for Th ever the future might hold. No single short history can adequately tell the story of the glory and sacrifice. that have made your “Indianhead Division’\great. There have been untold acts of heroism and individual gallantry in three wars. Behind the infantry- men, tankers, and artillerymen have been the medies and linesmen, engineers, and ordnance, cooks and clerks, military police and bandsmen, all playing their vital supporting roles. More pipe. than once those men whose job is service, shouldered weapons when the going got tough. It is the comradeship and teamwork of all men wearing the proud.Indianhead patch that has made the 2d Infantry Division “SECOND TO NONE,” and the Warrior team stands ready to live up to its‘motto, anywhere and anytime, Welcome, soldier, to the greatest outfit in Korea! 7and Historical Section Second Infantry Division 18013-FEC P&PC—9/51—40Minternational Boune™ MAP OF KOREA