Original ww2 united states army 45th infantry division ssi shoulder sleeve insignia patch. The embroidered gold thunderbird design symbolizes the troops from the southwestern states of oklahoma, new mexico, colorado, and arizona, who formed the unit when it was established in 1942 as a national guard division. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the. The division was formed and federally recognized as a national guard unit on 3 august 1923 in oklahoma city, oklahoma. Dec 10, 2014 the patch is not a real prewar example of the 45th division swastika insignia. The 45th infantry division of the united states army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968. The 45th wisconsin infantry was organized at camp randall in madison on november 8, 1864. Thats why the new books that have come out try to use genuine period insignia to correct those early mistakes ie. Unlike the typical military museum, the 45th divisions museum was built for and by national guardsmen and other veterans of the unit. Prewwii us 45th infantry division felt patch this auction is for one patch as pictured. History from swastika to thunderbird for the first 15 years of its existence, members of the 45th infantry division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient american indian symbol of good luck, most commonly referred to as the swastika. The item contains a shoulder sleeve insignia encased in a beautiful dark walnut 11x14 frame. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the.
The photo was recently given to childers widow, yolanda, who presented it to the 45th division museum during a ceremony in the house chambers tuesday morning, april 10, 2007, in observance of 45th infantry division and national guard appreciation day. The contest was overseen by a board of officers who eventually determined the thunderbird would become the new insignia of the 45th infantry division. If the authors did not have real period pieces they used reproductions to fill a spot in their books. The image is a thunderbird, an american indian symbol common to the american southwest, where all of the 45th infantry divisions soldiers came from originally image courtesy of wikimedia commons. Most of the books out on shoulder insignia contain tons of fake insignia. It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that was withdrawn when it became closely associated with the nazi party. The story of the 45th infantry division is a small booklet covering the history of the 45th infantry division. The 45th infantry division association was formed in 1946, since that time they have remained in continuous operation. The contest was overseen by the adjutant general of each state who eventually determined the thunderbird would become the new insignia of the 45th infantry division. The 45th infantry brigade combat team thunderbird is a modular infantry brigade combat. It landed in sicily, 10 july, in its first major amphibious operation and moved inland under minor opposition. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the southwestern united states. Raised for service during world war i, the battalion served in the trenches on the western front in france and belgium from mid1916 until the end of hostilities in november 1918.
The organization provides support and information to those who have served in the 45th infantry division during world war ii, korea, and post korea, as well as those men and women who continue to serve in oklahomas national guard. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. The snowy mountain represents mount hood, and the green fir is in reference to the 91st infantry. The patch bears an axe in recognition of the pioneers who traveled to the willamette valley, the site of camp adair. This native american symbol became the divisions insignia in 1939. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians. I am looking for any information or friends of my grandfather, junior jirl west.
In march 1939, after the reemergence of germany as a significant military power and its occupation of czechoslovakia, the british army increased the number of divisions in the territorial army ta by duplicating existing units. Separate as part of a realignment of us forces in germany and the transformation of the 1st infantry division to the us armys modular force structure. Patch us army 45th inf div swastika w yellow bdr, pre. As companies were organized, they were ordered to nashville, tennessee, where, they fought in the battle of nashville and served on garrison and guard duty there until july 1865. The photo was recently given to childers widow, yolanda, who presented it to the 45th division museum during a ceremony in the house chambers tuesday morning, april 10, 2007, in observance of 45th infantry division and national guard appreciation day in the state of oklahoma. For most of us history militia units served as the largest part of the us army in times of war. The 45th infantry division association is creating a red brick path of remembrance, surrounding the paved walkway, and the flagpole, in the center of the parade ground, at the front of the museum. The unit was redesignated as the 180th infantry on october 14, 1921. They were the national guard for oklahoma, new mexico, colorado before wwii. In august 1941, the 45th infantry division took part in the louisiana maneuvers, the largest peacetime exercises in u. This is a great way to honor veterans, family members, friends, units, or military organizations. Sep 05, 2016 the use of the swastika symbol in the pre ww2 us army national guard, the 45th infantry division used a swastika as their shoulder patch and incidentally.
The thunderbird division adopted this native american symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol. This abbreviated history of the 70th infantry division is. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the british army, formed just prior to the start of the second world war. The 45th infantry division traces its roots to the 1800s. This icon was on the left arm shoulder patch of every soldiers uniform in the 45th infantry division. On 19 october 1920, the oklahoma state militia was organized as the 45th infantry division of the oklahoma army national guard, and manned with troops from arizona, colorado, new mexico, and oklahoma. The first national guard units were the colonial militias used to defend the original thirteen colonies. On this the battle of dogger bank was a naval engagement on 24 january 1915, near the dogger bank in the north sea, during the first world war, between.
The 45th infantry division was deactivated on 7 december, 1945, reverting to a national guard division, but serving only oklahoma. The germans lost 974 men and the british lost 15 men. Dec 05, 2017 and thats that the 45th infantry division, nicknamed the thunderbird division because they had a shoulder patch, a beautiful soft felt thunderbird patch on their shoulders. Many of the items on display were obtained from former thunderbirds. Every unit in the us army has a shoulder patch to identify it. For the first 15 years, members of the 45th infantry division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient american indian symbol of good luck, commonly referred to as the swastika.
A thunderbird is an american indian symbol for power and strength. Pay attention before you ignorant peeps go flying off the handle and claiming that this is a nazi emblem, it is not. The history of the 45th infantry brigade signaleer. The 4th infantry division returned from vietnam in december 1970 and settled at fort carson, colorado where it reorganized as a mechanized infantry division and remained at carson for 25 years. Although the information contained in the following pages is not specific to the 45th infantry division, it presents an accurate overview of each campaign. That militia was mobilized in 1898 during the spanishamerican war but never deployed. The states, rather than the federal government, trained and. Click on a datetime to view the file as it appeared at that time. The spanish colors, red and gold, indicate that the four states colorado, oklahoma, new mexico, and arizona represented by national guard units in the division were settled by. The 45th infantry was originally a national guard unit drawn from colorado, arizona, oklahoma, and new mexico.
The 45th infantry division was recognized as a liberating unit by the us armys center of military history and the united states holocaust memorial museum in 1985. The 45th battalion was an infantry battalion of the australian army. Swastika to thunderbirds history of the 45th infantry division. The patch is not a real prewar example of the 45th division swastika insignia. Headquartered mostly in oklahoma city, the guardsmen fought in both world war ii and the korean war.
Distinctive unit insignia, the dui of the 45th ibct is one of only a few that are authorized a. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder patch footggett. Jun 25, 2014 45th infantry division patches posted in army and usaaf. The division was assigned to viii corps with the 2nd infantry division and the 36th infantry division, camped near pitkin, louisiana. He was a medic in the army, 45th infantry, from 1952 to 1954. Apr 08, 2015 the 45th infantry division held a contest to pick a new patch and many designs were submitted. Michigan historical center, state archives of michigan. Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch. The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. The division adopted the thunderbird shoulder patch in 1939 after the rise of the nazi party in germany which used the swastika, a symbol that bore a resemblance to the original divisional patch. His oral history was of serving in a rifle company.
After advancing up the italian peninsula, the 45th landed at anzio in. The 45th infantry division museum in oklahoma city. Historical insignia for the usa 45th infantry division. Units of the regiment were called into state service many times since its organization. Gis holding the insignia of the 45th thunderbird division line the rail of the. It was during the divisions time at fort carson that it had the unofficial nickname of the ironhorse division. The yellow swastika on a square background of red symbolized the spanish heritage of the 4 southwestern states that made up the membership of the 45thoklahoma, new mexico, colorado, and arizona. I dont have much hope for the 4 swastica style but the other one looks good to me. With displays from 1541 through desert storm, the museum includes the countrys third largest collection of historic u.
They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the southwestern united states throughout the late 1800s. The 45th infantry division gained its nickname, thunderbird division, from the gold thunderbird. The 45th infantry division museum in oklahoma city warfare. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with a. Seventh armys 45th infantry division liberates dachau, the first concentration camp established by germanys nazi regime. The image is a thunderbird, an american indian symbol. Abmc headquarters 2300 clarendon blvd, suite 500 arlington, va 22201 phone. The 180th infantry regiment was organized as the third oklahoma infantry during may, 1918, and was federally recognized as a national guard unit on september 3, 1918. This was the shoulder patch of the us armys 45th infantry division before 1938. The 180th infantry regiment was organized as the third oklahoma infantry during may, 1918, and was federally recognized as a national gaurd unit on september 3, 1918.
The first national guard consisted of infantry companies, cavalry troops and artillery batteries. The oklahoma army national guard is the army national guard component of the oklahoma national guard. The 45th infantry museum is the nations largest state operated military history museum depicting the military history of oklahoma and the 45th infantry division. The 45th participated in its fourth assault landing, 15 august 1944, at st. Its total strength in peacetime was limited to 500 men.
The current division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. They were the national guard for oklahoma, new mexico, colorado. Jun 16, 2016 located in northeastern oklahoma city, oklahoma, the 45th infantry division museum is a short drive west on n. The commander in chief of the oklahoma national guard is the governor of oklahoma, who appoints the state adjutant general tag, a major general from either army or air. Shoulder sleeve insignia of the united states army 45th infantry division, nicknamed the thunderbird division.
The 45th infantry division in world war ii the national guard. The army national guard is older than the united states of america. He had what may have been a regimental history that has been lost. Permission reusing this file publicdomain source other versions. The 45th landed at anzio, 22 january 1944, and for 4 months stood its ground against violent assaults.
Sep 25, 2015 the history of the 45th infantry brigade the oklahoma territorial militia was loosely organized in 1890, and was officially reorganized as the oklahoma territorial national guard on march 8, 1895. The 45th infantry division held a contest to assist in selection of the new insignia and many designs were submitted. The history of the 45th infantry brigade the oklahoma territorial militia was loosely organized in 1890, and was officially reorganized as the oklahoma territorial national guard on march 8, 1895. Center of military history and the united states holocaust memorial museum in 1985. It went over to the attack, 23 may, crossed the tiber river, 4 june, outflanking rome and withdrew for rest and training on the 16th. So i think, a sole combat division is around 14,000, 15,000 guys, round about 7000, 8000 will actually see combat. The 45th infantry division held a contest to pick a new patch and many designs were submitted. The shoulder patch stands for the 45th infantry, but each of its parts stand for something as well. In 1916 the first oklahoma infantry regiment deployed for border security duty during the mexican border conflict. This unit was redesignated as the 180th infantry on october 14, 1921.
During world war ii the 45th infantry division fought in eight campaigns in the european theater of operations, from 9 july 1943 through 11 may 1945. The following month, the division landed in sicily, where it engaged axis troops in combat. Full machine embroidered, size is 3 14 x 3 14 inches. Felix sparks and wwiis forgotten 45th infantry division. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the oklahoma army national guard, from 1920 to 1968. The 45th division landed in north africa, 22 june 1943, and trained at arzew, french morocco. Combat load of the average infantry soldier winterline, italy november 1943 to january 1944 battle of reipertswiller january 1945.
Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. The 45th was activated as a national guard division in 1924 in arizona, colorado, new mexico and oklahoma. The 45th infantry division had its own symbol as well, on its shoulder patch. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with. History from swastika to thunderbird 45th infantry museum. This vintage map chart the journey of the 45th infantry division throughout world war ii.
Mitnick, a 27 yearold jewish american, served as a captain in the 65th infantry division, european theater and in the chemical warfare service, 91st chemical mortar battalion, 45th infantry division. In 1940, the thunderbird division was reactivated and deployed in late june 1943 to north africa. Located in northeastern oklahoma city, oklahoma, the 45th infantry division museum is a short drive west on n. The 45th infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. The insignia served as recognition of the great number of native americans proudly serving in the 45th infantry division. That division had more native americans among its ranks.
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