History of the 80th Division
(80th Division History Synopsis)
WORLD WAR I
The 80th Division was first organized August 5, 1917 in the National Army and headquartered at Camp Lee (now known as Fort Lee), Virginia. The Division originally consisted of men mostly from Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia and was nicknamed the "Blue Ridge Division." The unit's distinctive insignia was adopted in 1918 and consists of three blue mountain peaks representing the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The Division also adopted the Latin Motto, "Vis Montium" or "Strength of the Mountains."
In World War I, the 80th Division reached full strength with 23,000 soldiers and sailed to France, landing on June 8, 1918. The 80th Division trained with the British Third Army and joined forces on the front lines near the Artois sector with heavy action in the Somme Offensive of 1918 and in the Meuse-Argonne. The 80th returned to the States in May 1919 and was inactivated at Camp Lee on June 26, 1919.
The Division of Unique Distinction - never failed to gain its objective. It was the only A.E.F. Division called upon three times in the great Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The 80th was ranked first of all National Army Divisions by the War Department. It always led and captured two Huns for every man wounded. The 80th accomplished these results of vast importance to the success of the general operations with a far smaller percentage of casualties than any other division engaged.
Major General Aldebert Cronkhite
MG Cronkhite, General Order No. 19, 11 November 1918.
General Order congratulating the soldiers of the 80th Infantry Division at the end of World War I.
80th Division Marching Song (Click for MP3)
Listen to an old recording of the original "The 80th Division Marching Song":
Twenty three years later, on July 15, 1942, the 80th Division was again ordered into active service. Major General Joseph Dorch Patch, the Division Commander, issued General Order No. 1 to reactivate the 80th Division. Initially, soldiers reported to Camp Forrest, Tennessee, named for General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a famous Confederate calvary commander in the Civil War. The Division later moved for training at Camp Phillips, near Salina, Kansas and in the California-Arizona Desert Training Center (known today as Fort Irwin).
The 80th Division set sail aboard the SS Queen Mary on July 4, 1944, landing a few days later on July 7 at Greenock, Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The arrival of the 80th Division in England brought the European Theater of Operations total of U.S. Divisions to 22: 14 infantry, 6 armored, and 2 airborne. By the end of the campaign, there would be a total of 46 Infantry Divisions and 15 Armored Divisions in Europe.
The Division proceeded south to Northwich, England via trains for additional training. Training included learning how to waterproof equipment for the upcoming channel crossing. The Division crossed the English Channel in LSTs and Liberty Ships landing in Normandy on Utah Beach shortly after noon on August 2, 1944, D-Day + 57 and assembled near St. Jores, France. A few days later on August 8, 1944, the 80th was initiated into battle when it took over the LeMans bridgehead in the XX Corps area.
By the end of the war, May 7, 1945, the 80th Division had seen 277 days of combat. It had captured 212,295 enemy soldiers. The 80th Division returned to the United States in January 1946, after spending time in Europe helping to restore and keep peace after the war. The 80th Division had been one of the stalwarts of Patton's Third Army, but it cost them dearly. During their 277 days of combat, the 80th Infantry Division had 17,087 casualties:
| Killed in Action: | 3,038 |
| Wounded: | 12,484 |
| Missing: | 488 |
| Captured: | 1,077 |
| Total Casualties: | 17,087 |
According to reports, the 80th Division's "bloodiest day" was 8 October 1944, where approximately 115 Men lost their lives. The "bloodiest month" was September, 1944.
Many officers and enlisted men of the 80th Infantry Division received battle honors, including 4 who received the Medal of Honor:
Other honors awarded offices and enlisted men of the 80th Infantry Division include:
| Distinguished Unit Citations: | 6 |
| Distinguished Service Crosses: | 48 |
| Silver Stars: | 671 |
| Bronze Stars: | 3,357 |
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding GeneralATTACHMENTS
| Attachments | Dates | Notes |
| 633d AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 9 AUG 44 - 13 MAY 45 | Anti-aircraft Artillery |
| 702d Tk Bn (Co D) | 8 AUG 44 - 27 FEB 45 | Armored |
| Co D, 702d Tk Bn | 8 AUG 44 - 1 MAR 45 | Armored |
| CC B (4th Armored Div) | 29 JAN 45 - 4 FEB 45 | Armored |
| CC B (4th Armored Div) | 21 FEB 45 - 24 FEB 45 | Armored |
| 702d Tk Bn | 11 MAR 45 - 7 JUL 45 | Armored |
| 42nd Recon Sq (2d Cav Group) | 23 NOV 44 - 6 DEC 44 | Cavalry |
| 2d Cavalry Recon Sq (2d Cav Group) | 1 DEC 44 - 6 DEC 44 | Cavalry |
| 16th Cavalry Group | 27 MAR 45 - 31 MAR 45 | Cavalry |
| Co A, 91st Chemical Mort Bn | 5 JAN 45 - 12 JAN 45 | Chemical |
| Co B, 91st Chemical Mort Bn | 5 JAN 45 - 28 JAN 45 | Chemical |
| Co A, 91st Chemical Mort Bn | 28 JAN 45 - 10 MAR 45 | Chemical |
| Co A, 81st Chemical Mort Bn | 11 MAR 45 - 18 APR 45 | Chemical |
| Co B, 81st Chemical Mort Bn | 27 MAR 45 - 12 APR 45 | Chemical |
| Co A, 94th Chemical Mort Bn | 29 APR 45 - 1 MAY 45 | Chemical |
| 94th Chemical Mort Bn (Co A) | 29 APR 45 - 11 MAY 45 | Chemical |
| 328th Infantry (26th Division) | 4 OCT 44 - 14 OCT 44 | Infantry |
| 53d Armored Infantry Bn (4th Armored Division) | 4 FEB 45 - 9 FEB 45 | Infantry |
| 51st Armored Infantry Bn (4th Armored Division) | 4 FEB 45 - 18 FEB 45 | Infantry |
| 53d Armored Infantry Bn (4th Armored Division) | 20 FEB 45 - 21 FEB 45 | Infantry |
| 610th TD Bn (SP) | 9 AUG 44 - 25 SEP 44 | Tank Destroyer |
| 691st TD Bn (T) | 16 SEP 44 - 18 SEP 44 | Tank Destroyer |
| 808th TD Bn (SP) | 25 SEP 44 - 21 DEC 44 | Tank Destroyer |
| Co C, 602d TD Bn (SP) | 4 OCT 44 - 14 OCT 44 | Tank Destroyer |
| 610th TD Bn (SP) | 23 NOV 44 - 6 DEC 44 | Tank Destroyer |
| 610th TD Bn (SP) | 21 DEC 44 - 28 JAN 45 | Tank Destroyer |
| Co A, 631st TD Bn (T) | 7 JAN 45 - 20 JAN 45 | Tank Destroyer |
| 802d TD Bn (T) | 28 JAN 45 - 4 FEB 45 | Tank Destroyer |
| 811th TD Bn (SP) | 3 FEB 45 - 4 JUL 45 | Tank Destroyer |
| Co B, 603d TD Bn (SP) | 4 APR 45 - 9 APR 45 | Tank Destroyer |
DETACHMENTS
| Detachments | Dates | Notes |
| 319th Infantry | 10 AUG 44 - 15 AUG 44 | XX Corps |
| 319th Infantry | 16 AUG 44 - 21 AUG 44 | VIII Corps |
| 319th Infantry | 22 AUG 44 - 27 AUG 44 | XII Corps |
| 319th Infantry | 11 SEP 44 - 15 SEP 44 | 4th Armored Division |
| 1st Bn, 318th Infantry | 12 SEP 44 - 15 SEP 44 | 4th Armored Division |
| 1st Bn, 2nd Bn, 318th Infantry | 24 DEC 44 - 28 DEC 44 | 4th Armored Division |
| 319th Infantry | 26 JAN 45 - 28 JAN 45 | 4th Division |
| 3d Bn, 317th Infantry | 26 JAN 45 - 25 FEB 45 | 4th Division |
| 2d Bn, 3d Bn, 318th Infantry | 26 JAN 45 - 25 FEB 45 | 4th Division |
| 319th Infantry | 29 JAN 45 - 4 FEB 45 | 4th Armored Division |
| 318th Infantry | 1 MAR 45 - 3 MAR 45 | 76th Division |
| 319th Infantry | 8 MAR 45 - 9 MAR 45 | 46th Division |
| 318th Infantry | 16 MAR 45 - 18 MAR 45 | 10th Armored Division |
| 1st Bn, 3d Bn, 318th Infantry | 19 MAR 45 - 22 MAR 45 | 10th Armored Division |
| 318th Infantry | 30 MAR 45 - 1 APR 45 | 6th Armored Division |
WWII COMMAND POSTS
| DATE | TOWN | REGION | COUNTRY |
| 13 JUN 44 | Liverpool (Adv) | Lancashire | England |
| 14 JUN 44 | Sadiway (H mi SW; Pettypool Hall) (Adv) | Cheshire | England |
| 7 JUL 44 | Sandiway (H mi SW; Pettypool Hall) (Main Body) (Entire division arrived in ETO 7 JUL 44) |
Cheshire | England |
| 31 JUL 44 | Salisbury (marshalling area V-1) | Wiltshire | England |
| 3 AUG 44 | St-Jores (3 mi NE) | Manche | France |
| 9 AUG 44 | Montsuer | Montsuer | France |
| 11 AUG 44 | Amne (vc SW) | Sarthe | France |
| 13 AUG 44 | St-Mars | Sarthe | France |
| 15 AUG 44 | Jublains | Mayenne | France |
| 17 AUG 44 | Alencon | Orne | France |
| 26 AUG 44 | Valetien (3 mi NE) | Aube | France |
| 27 AUG 44 | St-Flavy (2 mi E) | Aube | France |
| 28 AUG 44 | Villeseneux (11 mi NE) | Meuse | France |
| 30 AUG 44 | La Veuve (1 mi E) | Meuse | France |
| 1 SEP 44 | Vignot (2 mi E) | Meuse | France |
| 3 SEP 44 | Girauvoisin (1 mi E) | Meuse | France |
| 4 SEP 44 | Limey (1 mi SW) | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 12 SEP 44 | Mamey (2 mi E) | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 18 SEP 44 | Dieulouard (1 mi N) | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 19 SEP 44 | Dieulouard (6 mi S) | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 25 SEP 44 | Dieulouard (2 mi S) | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 27 SEP 44 | Dieulouard (2 mi N) | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 29 SEP 44 | Belleville | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 13 OCT 44 | Ville-au-Val | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 10 NOV 44 | Mailly | Moselle | France |
| 11 NOV 44 | Liocourt | Moselle | France |
| 13 NOV 44 | St-Epvre | Moselle | France |
| 16 NOV 44 | Lesse | Moselle | France |
| 24 NOV 44 | Charbonnages | Moselle | France |
| 28 NOV 44 | St-Avold | Moselle | France |
| 18 DEC 44 | Bining | Moselle | France |
| 20 DEC 44 | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | |
| 21 DEC 44 | Dommeldange | Luxembourg | |
| 22 DEC 44 | Reckange les Mersch | Luxembourg | |
| 6 JAN 45 | Oberfeulen | Luxembourg | |
| 24 JAN 45 | Wiltz | Luxembourg | |
| 28 JAN 45 | Fels | Luxembourg | |
| 18 FEB 45 | Bettendorf | Luxembourg | |
| 26 FEB 45 | Mettendorf | Rhineland | Germany |
| 6 MAR 45 | Rittersdorf | Rhineland | Germany |
| 11 MAR 45 | Mondorf | Rhineland | Germany |
| 13 MAR 45 | Beurig | Rhineland | Germany |
| 17 MAR 45 | Losheim | Rhineland | Germany |
| 19 MAR 45 | St Wendel | Rhineland | Germany |
| 20 MAR 45 | Glen-Munchweiler | Pfalz | Germany |
| 21 MAR 45 | Kaiserslautern | Pfalz | Germany |
| 21 MAR 45 | Bad Durkheim | Pfalz | Germany |
| 24 MAR 45 | Rockenhausen | Pfalz | Germany |
| 27 MAR 45 | Mainz | Hessen-Nassau | Germany |
| 29 MAR 45 | Wiesbaden | Hessen | Germany |
| 30 MAR 45 | Lich | Oberhessen | Germany |
| 31 MAR 45 | Neukirchen | Hessen-Nassau | Germany |
| 1 APR 45 | Homburg | Hessen-Nassau | Germany |
| 4 APR 45 | Oberzwehren | Hessen-Nassau | Germany |
| 7 APR 45 | Gotha | Thuringia | Germany |
| 12 APR 45 | Dietendorf | Thuringia | Germany |
| 13 APR 45 | Weimar | Thuringia | Germany |
| 14 APR 45 | Gera | Thuringia | Germany |
| 16 APR 45 | Limbach | Saxony | Germany |
| 19 APR 45 | Schesslitz | Bavaria | Germany |
| 22 APR 45 | Nurnberg | Bavaria | Germany |
| 29 APR 45 | Ziegelsdorf | Bavaria | Germany |
| 30 APR 45 | Ergoldsbach | Bavaria | Germany |
| 2 MAY 45 | Frontenhausen | Bavaria | Germany |
| 3 MAY 45 | Simbach | Bavaria | Germany |
| 5 MAY 45 | Vocklabruck | Ober Oesterreich | Austria |