The US 2nd Infantry Division reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

US 2nd Infantry Division

The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division is a formation of the US Army. Its primary mission is the defense of South Korea in the initial stages of an invasion from North Korea until other US Army units can arrive.

Table of contents

1 Strength 2 Nicknames 3 Command and Staff 4 Locations 5 Subunits 6 Equipment 7 Unit History 8 Insignia

Strength

There are approximately 15,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infanty Division.

The 2nd Division, unlike any other division in the Army, is made up partially of Korean soldiers, called KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation to US Army). This program began in 1950 by agreement with South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Some 27,000 KATUSAs served with the US forces at the end of the Korean War. Approximately 1,400 served in 2002

Nicknames

• "Indian Head" Division (so named after the unit patch)
• "Warrior Division" (official nickname)
• Motto: "Second to None"

Command and Staff

Division Commander: Major General John R. Wood Deputy Division Commander (Maneuver)

Division Command Sergeant Major: CSM James Lucerno Division KATUSA Sergeant Major: Park, Jung Gil

Locations

Camp Red Cloud

Camp Essayons

Camp Casey: 45 miles north of Seoul; 17 miles south of DMZ

Camp Castle

Camp Hovey

Camp Howze

Camp Stanley

Subunits

1st Brigade

1st Battalion, 72nd Armor, at Camp Casey

2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor, at Camp Casey

2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry, at Camp Casey

2nd Brigade

2nd Brigade Combat Team, at Camp Casey (tactical arrangement)

1st Battalion, 9th Infantry, at Camp Hovey

1st Battalion (Air Assault), 503rd Infantry, at Camp Hovey

1st Battalion (Air Assault), 506th Infantry, at Camp Casey

Long Range Surveillance Detachment, at Camp Hovey

Expert Infantry Badge Course, at Camp Casey

Division Artillery (DIVARTY)

DIVARTY Headquarters

1st Battalion, 15th Artillery; ("Guns Battalion"), 155 mm cannon

2nd Battalion, 17th Artillery; ("Steel Battalion") At Camp Hovey; supports 2nd Brigade Combat Team

3 Paladin batteries (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie)

Headquarters Battery

Service Battery

6th Battalion, 37th Artillery Regiment; Commander: Lt. Colonel David Thompson

Headquarters Battery (HHB)

2 ATACMS (Bat II) Multiple launch rocket systems batteries

Service Battery

1st Battaltion, 38th Artillery; ("Steel Behind the Rock"); General support for division; counter-fire on North Korean batteries

5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Regiment; Lieutenant Colonel Roberto L. Delgado, Commanding

Aviation Brigade

Aviation Brigade Headquarters

4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry

2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment

1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment

Eighth Army Support:

2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment

Engineering Brigade

2nd Engineer Battalion, located at Camp Castle

122nd Signal Battalion

Division Support Command (DISCOM)

Division Medical Operations Center (DMOC)

121st General Hospital, at Yongsam Garrison

127th Field Surgical Team

2nd Forward Support Battalion, at Camp Hovey; Tactically supports 1st Brigade Combat Team

302nd Forward Support Battalion ("Iron Horse"), at Camp Casey: Tactically supports 1st Brigade Combat Team

4th Chemical Company

602nd Aviation Support Battalion ("Warhorse Battalion"; motto "To Bend Broken Wings"); at Camp Stanley; Provides support for 2nd Aviation Brigade

702nd Main Support Battalion; second-level maintenance

Equipment

Unit History

After training in Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July. Exploiting the St. Lo break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15 August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26 September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March. The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Göttingen 8 April, established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved 200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the German-Czech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, reaching that city as the war in Europe ended.

Insignia