View source for 45th Infantry Division (United States)

{{Short description|Formation of the United States Army (1920–1968)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=45th Infantry Division
|image=45th_Infantry_insignia_(thunderbird).svg
|image_size = 150
|caption= 45th ID Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
|dates=1923 – 1945<br />1946 – 1968 
|disbanded = 1968
|country={{flagu|United States}}
|branch={{army|United States}}
|type=[[Infantry]]
|role=
|size=[[Division (military)|Division]]
|command_structure={{Flagicon|Oklahoma|1941}} [[Oklahoma Army National Guard]]
|garrison=[[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]
|nickname= "Thunderbird"<ref name="Whitlock21"/>
|motto= ''Semper Anticus''<br/>([[Latin]]: "Always Forward")<ref name="TIOH"/>
|battles=[[World War II]]
* [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]]
* [[Allied invasion of Italy|Naples-Foggia]]
* [[Battle of Anzio|Anzio]]
* [[Rome]]-[[Arno]]
* [[Operation Dragoon|Southern France]]
* [[Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine|Rhineland]]
* [[Western Allied invasion of Germany|Central Europe]]
[[Korean War]]
* Second Korean Winter
* Korea, Summer–Fall 1952
* Third Korean Winter
* Korea, Summer 1953
|notable_commanders= [[Jimmy l. Vanmeter]]<br/>[[William S. Key]]<br/>[[Dwight E. Beach]]<br/>[[Philip De Witt Ginder]]
|identification_symbol=[[File:45thDivDUI.png|125px]]
|identification_symbol_label=Distinctive unit insignia (1920–46)
|identification_symbol_2=[[File:45thIBCTDUI.png|250px|The DUI of the 45th Division is one of only a few that are authorized a mirror image.]]
|identification_symbol_2_label=Distinctive unit insignia (1946–68)
}}
The '''45th Infantry Division''' was an [[infantry]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[United States Army]], most associated with the [[Oklahoma Army National Guard]], from 1920 to 1968. Headquartered for most of its history in [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]], the guardsmen fought in both [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]].  

The 45th Infantry Division guardsmen saw no major action until they became one of the first National Guard units activated in World War II in 1941. They took part in intense fighting during the [[Allied invasion of Sicily|invasion of Sicily]] and the [[Allied invasion of Italy#Salerno landings|attack on Salerno]] in the 1943 [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]. Slowly advancing through [[Italy]], they [[Battle of Anzio|fought at Anzio]] until the capture of Rome. After landing in [[France]] during [[Operation Dragoon]], they joined the 1945 [[Western Allied invasion of Germany|drive into Germany]] that ended the [[European theatre of World War II|War in Europe]].

After a brief inactivation and subsequent reorganization as a unit restricted to Oklahomans, the division returned to duty in 1951 for the Korean War. It joined the [[United Nations]] troops on the front lines during the [[Korean War#Stalemate (July 1951–July 1953)|stalemate]] of the second half of the war, with constant, low-level fighting and [[trench warfare]] against the [[People's Volunteer Army]] of [[China]] that produced little gain for either side. The division remained on the front lines in such engagements as [[Battle of Old Baldy Hill|Old Baldy Hill]] and [[Battle of Hill Eerie|Hill Eerie]] until the end of the war, returning to the U.S. in 1954.

The division remained a National Guard formation until its downsizing in 1968. Several units were activated to replace the division and carry on its lineage. Over the course of its history, the 45th Infantry Division sustained over 25,000 battle casualties, and its men were awarded ten [[Medal of Honor|Medals of Honor]], twelve [[campaign streamer]]s, the [[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|Croix de Guerre]] and the [[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation]].

==History==
With the [[American entry into World War I]], in April 1917, troops of the National Guard were formed into the units which exist today, with elements of the [[Colorado Army National Guard|Colorado National Guard]] forming the [[157th Field Artillery Regiment|157th Infantry Regiment]], the [[Arizona Army National Guard|Arizona National Guard]] forming the [[158th Infantry Regiment (United States)|158th Infantry Regiment]], and the [[New Mexico Army National Guard|New Mexico National Guard]] forming the [[120th Engineer Regiment]]. These units were assigned to the [[40th Infantry Division (United States)|40th Division]], and deployed to [[Western Front (World War I)|France]] where the division was used as a "depot" unit to process and provide replacements for front-line units. They returned home at the end of the war, which occurred on [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice with Germany]].<ref name="Whit17">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=17}}</ref> The [[Oklahoma Army National Guard|Oklahoma National Guard]] units that would later become the [[179th Infantry Regiment (United States)|179th Infantry Regiment]] and [[180th Cavalry Regiment|180th Infantry Regiment]] were assigned to the [[36th Infantry Division (United States)|36th  Division]] and would earn a combat participation credit during the [[Meuse–Argonne offensive]] in France as part of the [[142nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|142nd Infantry]].<ref>{{cite web|title=142nd Infantry Regiment|url=http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/142/ch001.htm|publisher=Texas Military Forces Museum|access-date=10 July 2012}}</ref>

{{Military unit sidebar|title=US Infantry Divisions|previous=[[44th Infantry Division (United States)|44th Infantry Division]]|next=[[46th Infantry Division (United States)|46th Infantry Division]]}}

===Inter-war years===
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:whitesmoke; color:black; width:20em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
| style="text-align: left;" |
{{Collapsible list|title=1939 "Square" Organization<ref>{{cite book|last=CLay|first=Steven E.|date=2010|title=U.S. Army Order of Battle 1919-1941, Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations|location=Fort Leavenworth|publisher=Combat Studies Institute Press|page=242}}</ref>|
* Headquarters (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
* Headquarters, Special Troops ([[Stillwater, Oklahoma]])
** Headquarters Company, 45th Division ([[Wetumka, Oklahoma]])
** 45th Military Police Company ([[Marlow, Oklahoma]])
** 45th Signal Company ([[Alva, Oklahoma]])
** 120th Ordnance Company (Medium) ([[Claremore, Oklahoma]])
** 45th Tank Company (Light) ([[Denver, Colorado]])
* 89th Infantry Brigade (Denver, Colorado)
** [[157th Infantry Regiment (United States)|157th Infantry Regiment]] (Denver, Colorado)
** [[158th Infantry Regiment (United States)|158th Infantry Regiment]] ([[Tucson, Arizona]])
* [[90th Infantry Brigade (United States)|90th Infantry Brigade]] (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
** [[179th Infantry Regiment (United States)|179th Infantry Regiment]] ([[Pawnee, Oklahoma]])
** [[180th Cavalry Squadron (United States)|180th Infantry Regiment]] ([[Muskogee, Oklahoma]])
* 70th Field Artillery Brigade (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
** 120th Ammunition Train (inactive; allotted to Oklahoma National Guard)
** [[158th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|158th Field Artillery Regiment]] ([[Anadarko, Oklahoma]])
** [[160th Field Artillery Regiment]] ([[Tulsa, Oklahoma]])
** [[189th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|189th Field Artillery Regiment]] ([[Enid, Oklahoma]])
* 120th Engineer Regiment ([[Las Cruces, New Mexico]])
* 120th Medical Regiment (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
* 120th Quartermaster Regiment (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
}}
|}

On 19 October 1920, units of the Oklahoma National Guard were organized as part of the 45th Infantry Division, also manned with troops from [[Arizona]], [[Colorado]], and [[New Mexico]].<ref name="McGrath234">{{harvnb|McGrath|2004|p=234}}</ref> The division headquarters was federally recognized on 3 August 1923 in [[Oklahoma City]], Oklahoma.<ref name="Wilson663">{{harvnb|Wilson|1999|p=663}}</ref> It was assigned the 89th Infantry Brigade of the Colorado and Arizona National Guards, and the 90th Infantry Brigade of the Oklahoma National Guard.<ref name="McGrath171">{{harvnb|McGrath|2004|p=171}}</ref> As a consequence of these militia roots, when the division was properly organized, many of its members were marksmen and outdoorsmen from the remote frontier regions of the Southwestern United States.<ref name="Whit11">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=11}}</ref> The division's first commander was [[Major General]] Baird H. Markham.<ref name="Whit18">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=18}}</ref>

The designated mobilization training center for the 45th Division was [[Fort Sill]], Oklahoma. From 1922 to 1936, the division’s subordinate units generally held separate summer camps at locations within their respective states: Fort Sill for Oklahoma units; [[Fort Tuthill]], near [[Flagstaff, Arizona|Flagstaff]], for Arizona units; Camp Maximilliano Luna in [[San Miguel County, New Mexico|San Miguel County]] for New Mexico units; and Camp George West near [[Golden, Colorado]], for Colorado units. For at least 3 years, in 1927, 1932, and 1933, the division’s subordinate units trained over 250 company-grade officers of the [[95th Infantry Division (United States)|95th]] and [[103rd Infantry Division (United States)|103rd Division]]s at the various state encampment locations. In 1936, the division and brigade staffs participated in the Third Army [[military exercise|command post exercise]] at [[Fort Sam Houston]] and [[Camp Bullis]], Texas, which was designed to prepare them for the large-scale army maneuvers to be held the summer of 1938. For participation in the Eighth Corps Area concentration of the Third Army Maneuvers in August 1938, the division was split between Camp Bullis (Oklahoma elements), Fort Bliss, Texas (New Mexico and Colorado elements), and [[Fort Huachuca]], Arizona (Arizona elements). During the maneuver at Fort Bliss, the 45th Division (-) operated as part of the provisional Brown Corps with the [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Division]] against the [[36th Infantry Division (United States)|36th Division]] and the 56th Cavalry Brigade of the Blue Corps.<ref>{{cite book|last=Clay|first=Steven E.|date=2010|title=U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919-41|location=Fort Leavenworth, KS|publisher=Combat Studies Institute Press|page=241}}{{source-attribution}}</ref> 

[[File:Patch of the 45th Infantry Division (1924-1939).svg|thumb|150px|left|Before 1939, the division's symbol was a red diamond with a yellow [[swastika]], a tribute to the large Native American population in the southwestern United States.|alt=A red diamond with a yellow swastika inside it]]The 45th Infantry Division engaged in regular drills but no major events in its first few years, though the division's Colorado elements were called in to help quell a large coal mining strike.<ref name="Whit19">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=19}}</ref> The onset of the [[Great Depression]] in the 1930s severely curtailed its funding for training and equipment. Major General Roy Hoffman took command in 1931, followed by Alexander M. Tuthill in 1933, Alexander E. McPherren in 1935, and [[William S. Key]] in 1936.<ref name="Whit18" /> In 1937, the division's troops were once again called up, this time to help manage a [[locust]] plague affecting Colorado.<ref name="Whit19" />

The division's [[Western use of the Swastika in the early 20th century|original]] [[shoulder sleeve insignia]], approved in August 1924,<ref name="Whit20">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=20}}</ref> featured a [[swastika]], a common Native American symbol, as a tribute to the Southwestern United States region which had a large population of Native Americans. However, with the rise of the [[Nazi Party]] in [[Nazi Germany|Germany]], with its infamous swastika symbol, the 45th Division stopped using the insignia.<ref name="SY18">{{harvnb|Stout|Yeide|2007|p=18}}</ref> After a long process of reviewing design submissions, a design by [[Woody Big Bow]], a [[Kiowa]] artist from [[Carnegie, Oklahoma]], was chosen for the new shoulder sleeve insignia.<ref>{{harvnb|Perry|2009|p=115}}</ref> The new insignia featured the [[Thunderbird (mythology)|Thunderbird]], another Native American symbol, and was approved in 1939.<ref name="Whitlock21">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=21}}</ref> In 1940, approximately 2,000 of the division's 9,500 troops were Native Americans, representing fifty tribes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Neil|first=Denise|date=November 27, 2020|title=Native Americans in the 45th Infantry Division |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/native-americans-45th-infantry-division|website=National World War II Museum|location=New Orleans, LA|publisher=National World War II Museum|access-date=November 14, 2025}}</ref> During the interwar period, several units were composed predominantly or entirely of Native American personnel at various points, including Companies D and F, 158th Infantry, and Company L, 180th Infantry.<ref>{{cite book|last=CLay|first=Steven E.|date=2010|title=U.S. Army Order of Battle 1919-1941, Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations|location=Fort Leavenworth|publisher=Combat Studies Institute Press|page=434-435, 444}}</ref>

In August 1940, the 45th Division again participated in the Third Army maneuvers, this time near the [[Kisatchie National Forest]] in [[Louisiana]] as part of the provisional VIII Corps. This was the first opportunity for all division elements to assemble and operate together since its organization.<ref>{{cite book|last=Clay|first=Steven E.|date=2010|title=U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919-41|location=Fort Leavenworth, KS|publisher=Combat Studies Institute Press|page=241}}{{source-attribution}}</ref>

===Mobilization===

On 16 September 1940, the 45th Infantry Division was [[federalization of the National Guard|federalized]] by President Roosevelt.<ref name="Wilson663"/> It was one of four National Guard divisions to be federalized that day, alongside the [[30th Infantry Division (United States)|30th]], the [[41st Infantry Division (United States)|41st]] and [[44th Infantry Division (United States)|44th Infantry Division]]s, originally for a one-year period.<ref name="Whit6">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=6}}</ref> Its men immediately began [[basic combat training]] at Fort Sill.<ref name="Whit10">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=10}}</ref> It was intended that the division remain at Fort Sill only temporarily, with a new site for the division being chosen near [[Abilene, Texas]], named [[Camp Barkeley]].<ref>{{cite news|date=December 7, 1940|title=Forty-Fifth Division of U.S. Army Will Complete Training at Camp in Texas|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=January 2, 1941|title=Removal of 45th Division Explained|work=Broken Bow News|location=Broken Bow, Oklahoma}}</ref> The division relocated to Camp Barkeley at the end of February 1941.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 28, 1941|title=Troops Up Before Dawn for Record Motor Trek|work=Tulsa Tribune|location=Tulsa, Oklahoma}}</ref>

In August 1941, the 45th Infantry Division took part in the [[Louisiana Maneuvers]], the largest peacetime exercises in U.S. military history.<ref name="Whit5" /> The division was assigned to [[VIII Corps (United States)|VIII Corps]] with the 2nd and 36th Infantry Divisions, camped near Pitkin, Louisiana.<ref name="Whit9">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=9}}</ref> Still operating with outmoded equipment from World War I, the division did not perform well during these exercises, and was criticized by officers who considered it "feeble."<ref name="Whit7">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=7}}</ref><ref name="Whit9" /> In spite of these deficiencies, less than one month later, the men's tour of duty was extended for another eighteen months, much to their chagrin, because of concerns of an impending American entry into [[World War II]].<ref name="Whit5">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=5}}</ref>

===World War II===
<gallery caption="Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division">
File:45th Infantry Division Sicily campaign.jpg|Sicily
File:45th Infantry Division campaign Naples.jpg|Naples-Foggia
File:45th Infantry Division Rome campaign.jpg|Rome-Arno
File:45th Infantry Division Southern France campaign.jpg|Southern France
File:45th Infantry Division Rhineland campaign.jpg|Rhineland
File:45th Infantry Division campaign Central Europe.jpg|Central Europe
</gallery>Throughout 1942, it continued training at Camp Barkeley<ref name="Whit2228">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|pp=22–28}}</ref> before moving to [[Fort Devens]], [[Massachusetts]], to undergo [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious assault]] training in preparation for an invasion of [[Italy]].<ref name="Blum"/> It then moved to [[Fort Drum|Pine Camp]], [[New York (state)|New York]] briefly for [[Arctic warfare|winter warfare]] training, but was hampered by continuously poor weather. In January 1943 it moved to [[Fort Pickett]], [[Virginia]], for its final training.<ref name="Whit29">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=29}}</ref> The division, now commanded by Major General [[Troy H. Middleton]], a [[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]] soldier and highly distinguished World War I veteran, moved to the [[Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation]]'s [[Camp Patrick Henry]] to await combat loading on the transports.<ref name="Bykofsky">{{harvnb|Bykofsky|Larson|1990|p=194}}</ref>

The division's two combat commands, the [[89th Infantry Brigade (United States)|89th]] and [[90th Infantry Brigade (United States)|90th Infantry Brigades]], were inactivated in 1942, as the Army favored smaller and more versatile regimental and battalion-level commands for the new conflict.<ref name="McGrath171"/> The 45th Infantry Division was then based around the [[157th Field Artillery Regiment|157th]], [[179th Infantry Regiment (United States)|179th]], and [[180th Cavalry Regiment|180th Infantry Regiment]]s.<ref name="Almanac592">{{harvnb|Young|1959|p=592}}</ref> Also assigned to the division were the [[158th Field Artillery Regiment|158th]], [[160th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|160th]], [[171st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|171st]], and [[189th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|189th Field Artillery Battalion]]s, the 45th Signal Company, the [[700th Support Battalion (United States)|700th Ordnance Company]], the 45th Quartermaster Company, the 45th Reconnaissance Troop, the 120th Engineer Combat Battalion, and the 120th Medical Battalion.<ref name="Almanac592"/>

====Sicily====
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| style="text-align: left;" |
{{Collapsible list|title=1942–1945 "Triangular" Organization<ref>{{harvnb|Stanton|1945|p=179}}</ref>|
* Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division
* [[157th Field Artillery Regiment|157th Infantry Regiment]]
* [[179th Infantry Regiment (United States)|179th Infantry Regiment]]
* [[180th Cavalry Regiment|180th Infantry Regiment]]
* Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 45th Infantry Division Artillery
** [[158th Field Artillery Regiment|158th Field Artillery Battalion]] (105&nbsp;mm)
** [[160th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|160th Field Artillery Battalion]] (105&nbsp;mm)
** [[171st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|171st Field Artillery Battalion]] (105&nbsp;mm)
** [[189th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|189th Field Artillery Battalion]] (155&nbsp;mm)
* 120th Engineer Combat Battalion
* 120th Medical Battalion
* 45th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
* Headquarters, Special Troops, 45th Infantry Division
** Headquarters Company, 45th Infantry Division
** [[700th Support Battalion (United States)|700th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company]]
** 45th Quartermaster Company
** 45th Signal Company
** Military Police Platoon
** Band
* 45th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment
}}
|}

[[File:45th Infantry Division en route to Sicily 1943.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Troops of the 45th Infantry Division in a transport bound for Sicily, June 1943]]

The 45th Division sailed from the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation for the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations|Mediterranean]] region on 8 June 1943, [[Combat loading|combat loaded]] aboard thirteen attack transports and five cargo attack vessels as convoy UGF-9 headed by the communications ship {{USS|Ancon|AGC-4|6}}.<ref name="Blum">{{harvnb|Blumenson|1999|p=33}}</ref><ref name="Bykofsky"/> By the time the 45th Division landed in North Africa on 22 June 1943, the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] had largely secured the [[North African Campaign|African theater]]. As a result, the division was not sent into combat upon arrival and instead commenced training at [[Arzew]], [[French protectorate in Morocco|French Morocco]],<ref name="Almanac544">{{harvnb|Young|1959|p=544}}</ref> in preparation for the [[Allied invasion of Sicily|invasion of Sicily]]. Allied intelligence estimated that the island was defended by approximately 230,000 troops, the majority of which were drawn mostly from weak Italian formations and two German divisions which had been reconstituted after being destroyed earlier. Against this, the Allies planned to land 180,000 troops,<ref>{{harvnb|Collier|2003|p=56}}</ref> including the 45th Infantry Division, which was assigned to [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Omar Bradley]]'s [[II Corps (United States)|II Corps]], part of the [[Seventh United States Army|U.S. Seventh Army]] under Lieutenant General [[George S. Patton]], for the operation.<ref>{{harvnb|Collier|2003|p=23}}</ref>

The division was subsequently assigned a lead role in the [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious assault]] on [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]], coming ashore on 10 July.<ref>{{harvnb|Muir|2001|p=182}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Axelrod|2006|p=104}}</ref> Landing near [[Scoglitti]], the southernmost U.S. objective on the island, the division advanced north on the U.S. force's eastern flank.<ref name="Collier22">{{harvnb|Collier|2003|p=22}}</ref> After initially encountering resistance from armor of the [[1st Fallschirm-Panzer Division Hermann Göring|Hermann Goering Division]], the division advanced, supported by [[paratrooper]]s of the [[505th Infantry Regiment (United States)|505th Parachute Regimental Combat Team]], part of the [[82nd Airborne Division]], who landed inland on 11 July.<ref name="Muir, p. 184">{{harvnb|Muir|2001|p=184}}</ref> The paratroopers, conducting their first combat jump of the war after six weeks of training in [[Tunisian campaign|Tunisia]], then set up to protect the 45th's flank against German counterattack, but without weapons to counter heavy armor, the paratroopers had to rely on support from the [[2nd Armored Division (United States)|2nd Armored Division]] to repulse the German [[Tiger I|Tiger I tank]]s.<ref name="Muir, p. 184"/> As the division advanced towards its main objective to capture the airfields at [[Acate|Biscari]], and [[Comiso]], German forces were pushed back.<ref>{{harvnb|Axelrod|2006|p=105}}</ref> For most of the first two weeks while the division moved slowly north, it encountered only light resistance from Italian forces fighting delaying actions.<ref>{{harvnb|Garland|Smyth|1965|p=206}}</ref> Italian and German forces resisted fiercely at Motta Hill on 26 July, however, and for four days the 45th Division was held up there.<ref>{{harvnb|Garland|Smyth|1965|p=127}}</ref> After this, the division was allocated to drive towards [[Messina]], being ordered by the Seventh Army commander to cover the distance as quickly as possible.<ref>{{harvnb|Axelrod|2006|p=107}}</ref> The 45th Division spent a few days in that city, but on 1 August, the division was withdrawn from the front line for rest and rear-guard patrol duty,<ref name="Almanac544"/> after which the division was assigned to Major General [[Ernest J. Dawley]]'s [[VI Corps (United States)|VI Corps]], part of the [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]], under Lieutenant General [[Mark W. Clark]], in preparation for the [[Allied invasion of Italy|invasion of mainland Italy]].<ref name="Pim140">{{harvnb|Pimlott|1995|p=140}}</ref>

====Salerno====
On 3 September 1943, [[Armistice of Cassibile|Italy surrendered to the Allied powers]]. Hoping to occupy as much of the country as possible before the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]] could react, the U.S. Fifth Army prepared to [[Allied invasion of Italy#Salerno landings|attack Salerno]].<ref>{{harvnb|Blumenson|1999|p=12}}</ref> On 10 September, elements of the division conducted its second landing at Agropoli and Paestum with the [[36th Infantry Division (United States)|36th Infantry Division]], on the southernmost beaches of the attack.<ref name="Pim140"/> Opposing them were elements of the German [[29th Infantry Division (Germany)|29th Panzergrenadier Division]] and [[XVI Panzer Corps]].<ref name="Pim140"/> Against stiff resistance, the 45th pushed to the [[Calore River]] after a week of [[Allied invasion of Italy#Salerno landings|heavy fighting]].<ref name="Almanac545">{{harvnb|Young|1959|p=545}}</ref> The Fifth Army was battered and pushed back by German forces until 20 September, when Allied forces were finally able to break out and establish a more secure [[beachhead]].<ref name="Pim140"/><ref>{{harvnb|Collier|2003|p=57}}</ref>

On 3 November it crossed the [[Volturno Line|Volturno River]] and took [[Venafro]].<ref name="Almanac545"/> The division had great difficulty moving across the rivers and through the mountainous terrain, and the advance was slow. After linking up with the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]], which had advanced from the south, the combined force, under the [[15th Army Group]], commanded by British [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Sir Harold Alexander]], was stalled when it reached the [[Winter Line|Gustav Line]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pimlott|1995|p=141}}</ref> Until 9 January 1944, the division, now under Major General [[William W. Eagles]] (replacing Major General Middleton who struck down with [[arthritis]], was sent to [[England]] to command [[VIII Corps (United States)|VIII Corps]] in the [[Normandy landings|Normandy invasion]]), inched forward into the mountains reaching St. Elia, north of [[Monte Cassino]], before moving to a rest area.<ref name="Almanac545"/>

====Anzio====
[[File:Chaplain01.jpg|thumb|right|Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel William King leads troops of the 45th in Christmas Day services in Italy, 25 December 1943.]]

Allied forces conducted a frontal assault on the Gustav Line stronghold at [[Battle of Monte Cassino|Monte Cassino]], and VI Corps, under Major General [[John P. Lucas]] from 20 September, was assigned to [[Operation Shingle]], detached from the 15th Army Group to land behind enemy lines at [[Anzio]] on 22 January 1944.<ref name="Pim142">{{harvnb|Pimlott|1995|p=142}}</ref> For this mission, CCA ([[Combat command|Combat Command A]]) of the [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]] was attached to the 45th Infantry Division.<ref>{{harvnb|Clark|2007|p=78}}</ref> Landing on schedule, VI Corps surprised the Germans, but Major General Lucas's decision to consolidate the beachhead instead of attacking gave the Germans time to bring the [[LXXVI Panzer Corps]] forward to oppose the landings.<ref name="Pim142"/><ref>{{harvnb|Collier|2003|p=58}}</ref>

One regiment of the 45th (the [[179th Infantry Regiment (United States)|179th Infantry]]) went ashore with the landings. In company with the [[History of the British 1st Division during the World Wars|British 1st Infantry Division]], they advanced north along the Anzio-Albano road and captured the Aprilia "factory", but encountered ingrained resistance from German armored units a few miles further on. Lucas then ordered the rest of the division ashore. The 45th Division was deployed on the southeastern side of the beachhead, along [[Pontine Marshes#Bonifica integrale|the lower Mussolini Canal]].<ref name="CMH-Anzio">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/anzio/72-19.htm|title=Anzio1944|publisher=The U.S. Army Center of Military History|access-date=13 November 2015|archive-date=23 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523075358/http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/anzio/72-19.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 30 January 1944, when VI Corps advanced from the beaches, it encountered heavy resistance and took heavy casualties.<ref name="Pim142"/><ref>{{harvnb|Collier|2003|p=124}}</ref> VI Corps was stopped at the "Pimlott Line" (the perimeter of the beachhead), and the fight became a [[Attrition warfare|battle of attrition]].
[[File:45th Infantry Division plaque.jpg|left|thumb|A monument in [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]], [[Texas]], commemorating the 45th Infantry Division's time in Texas as it trained at [[Camp Barkeley]] in 1940]]
The first major German counterattack came in early February and was against the British 1st Division. Two regiments of the 45th (the 179th and [[157th Field Artillery Regiment|157th Infantry]]) were sent to the Aprilia sector to reinforce the British. The 179th Infantry and a tank battalion of CCA tried to recapture Aprilia but were repulsed. Lucas then moved the rest of the 45th Division to the left-center of the perimeter, at Aprilia and along the west branch of the Mussolini Canal.<ref name="CMH-Anzio"/> For the next few months the 45th Infantry Division was mostly stuck in place, holding its ground during repeated German counterattacks, and subjected to bombardment from aircraft and artillery.<ref name="Almanac545"/>

On 16 February, a major German attack struck the 45th and nearly broke through the 179th Infantry on 18 February. Lucas sent famed [[United States Army Rangers|U.S. Army Ranger]] leader [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] [[William Orlando Darby]] to assume command of the 157th Infantry, and the Germans were repulsed.<ref name="CMH-Anzio"/> The next three months were spent on the defensive, with the 45th engaged in [[trench warfare]], alike to that in [[World War I]].

On 23 May, VI Corps, now commanded by Major General [[Lucian Truscott]], went on the offensive, breaking out of the beachhead to the northeast, with the 45th Division forming the left half of the attack. By 31 May, the German defenses were shattered, and the 45th Division turned northwest, toward the Alban Hills and Rome.<ref name="CMH-ROME-ARNO">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/romar/72-20.htm|title=Rome–Arno 1944|publisher=The U.S. Army Center of Military History|access-date=13 November 2015|archive-date=20 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420065740/http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/romar/72-20.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 4 June the 45th Division crossed the [[Tiber|Tiber River]] below [[Rome]], and entered the city along with other VI Corps troops.<ref name="Collier60">{{harvnb|Collier|2003|p=60}}</ref> Men of the 45th Division were the first Allied troops to reach [[Vatican City|the Vatican]].

On 16 June, the 45th Division withdrew for rest in preparation for other operations.<ref name="Almanac545"/> At this time, VI Corps was attached to the [[Seventh United States Army|Seventh Army]], under Lieutenant General [[Alexander Patch]], itself part of the [[Sixth United States Army Group]] under Lieutenant General [[Jacob L. Devers]].<ref name="Order184">{{harvnb|Stanton|1945|p=184}}</ref> The 45th, 36th, and [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]]s were pulled from the line in Italy in preparation for [[Operation Dragoon]] (formerly ''Anvil''), the invasion of southern France. ''Dragoon'' was originally planned to coincide with the [[Normandy landings]] in the north, but was delayed until August because of a shortage of landing craft.<ref name="Pim166">{{harvnb|Pimlott|1995|p=166}}</ref>

====France and Germany====
[[File:Operation Dragoon - map.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Tactical map of Operation Dragoon|A map of southern France with the 45th Infantry Division landing at the center of a large invasion force]]

The 45th Infantry Division participated in its fourth amphibious assault landing during [[Operation Dragoon]] on 15 August 1944, at [[St. Maxime]], in [[Southern France]].<ref name="Almanac545"/> The 45th Infantry Division landed its 157th and 180th [[regimental combat team]]s and captured the heights of the [[Chaines de Mar]] before meeting with the [[First Special Service Force|1st Special Service Force]].<ref name="SY29">{{harvnb|Stout|Yeide|2007|p=29}}</ref> The [[German Army (1935–1945)|German Army]], reeling from the [[Operation Overlord|Battle of Normandy]], in which it had suffered a major defeat, pulled back after a short fight, part of an overall German withdrawal to the east following the landings.<ref>{{harvnb|Pimlott|1995|p=167}}</ref><ref name="SY30">{{harvnb|Stout|Yeide|2007|p=30}}</ref> Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division engaged the dispersed forces of German [[Army Group G]], suffering very few casualties.<ref name="Collier60"/> The U.S. Seventh Army, along with [[Free France|Free French]] forces, were able to advance north quickly. By 12 September, the Seventh Army linked up with Lieutenant General [[George S. Patton]]'s [[United States Army Central|U.S. Third Army]], advancing from [[Normandy]], joining the two forces at [[Dijon]].<ref name="Pim166"/> Against slight opposition, it spearheaded the drive for the [[Belfort Gap]]. The 45th Infantry Division took the strongly defended city of [[Épinal|Epinal]] on 24 September.<ref name="Almanac545"/> The division was then reassigned to [[V Corps (United States)|V Corps]], under the command of Major General [[Leonard T. Gerow]], for its next advance.<ref name="Order184"/> On 30 September the division crossed the [[Moselle|Moselle River]] and entered the western foothills of the [[Vosges]], taking [[Rambervillers]].<ref name="Almanac545"/> It would remain in the area for a month waiting for other units to catch up before crossing the [[Mortagne (river)|Mortagne River]] on 23 October.<ref name="Almanac545"/> The division remained on the line with the U.S. [[Sixth United States Army Group|6th Army Group]] the southernmost of three army groups advancing through France.<ref>{{harvnb|Pimlott|1995|p=189}}</ref>

After the crossing was complete, the division was relieved from V Corps and assigned to Major General [[Wade H. Haislip]]'s [[XV Corps (United States)|XV Corps]].<ref name="Order184"/> The division was allowed a one-month rest, resuming its advance on 25 November, attacking the forts north of [[Mutzig]]. These forts had been designed by [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]] in 1893 to block access to the plain of [[Alsace]]. The 45th Division next crossed the Zintzel River before pushing through the [[Maginot Line]] defenses.<ref name="Almanac545"/> During this time much of the division's artillery assets were attached to the [[44th Infantry Division (United States)|44th Infantry Division]] to provide additional support.<ref name="Order183">{{harvnb|Stanton|1945|p=183}}</ref> The 45th Infantry Division, now commanded by Major General [[Robert T. Frederick]], who had previously commanded the 1st Special Service Force, was reassigned to VI Corps on [[New Year's Day]].<ref name="Order184"/> From 2 January 1945, the division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the [[Moder (river)|Moder River]].<ref name="Almanac545"/> It sent half of its artillery to support the [[70th Infantry Division (United States)|70th Infantry Division]].<ref name="Order183"/> On 17 February the division was pulled off the line for rest and training. Once this rest period was complete, the division was assigned to XV Corps for the final push into German territory.<ref name="Order184"/> The 45th moved north to the [[Sarreguemines]] area and smashed through the [[Siegfried Line]], on 17 March taking Homburg on the 21st and crossing the [[Rhine]] between Worms and Hamm on the 26th.<ref name="Almanac545"/> The advance continued, with [[Aschaffenburg]] falling on 3 April, and [[Nuremberg]] on the 20th.<ref name="Almanac545"/> The division crossed the [[Danube|Danube River]] on 27 April, and liberated 32,000 captives of the [[Dachau concentration camp]] on 29 April 1945.<ref name="Almanac545"/> The division captured [[Munich]] during the next two days, occupying the city until [[Victory in Europe Day|V-E Day]] and the surrender of Germany.<ref>{{harvnb|Kennedy|2003|p=426}}</ref> During the next month, the division remained in Munich and set up collection points and camps for the massive numbers of surrendering troops of the German armies. The number of POWs taken by the 45th Division during its almost two years of fighting totalled 124,840 men.<ref name="Almanac545"/> The division was then slated to move to the [[Pacific War|Pacific theater of operations]] to participate in the [[Operation Downfall|invasion of mainland Japan]] on the island of [[Honshu]], but these plans were scrubbed before the division could depart after the [[surrender of Japan]], on [[Victory over Japan Day|V-J Day]].<ref>{{harvnb|Kennedy|2003|p=427}}</ref>

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'''World War II Casualties'''
*'''Total battle casualties:''' 20,993<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953">Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)</ref>
*'''Killed in action:''' 3,547<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953"/>
*'''Wounded in action:''' 14,441<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953"/>
*'''Missing in action:''' 478<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953"/>
*'''Prisoner of war:''' 2,527<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953"/>
|}

====Allegations of war crimes====
{{see also|Biscari massacre|Dachau liberation reprisals}}
During and after the war, [[Court-martial|courts-martial]] were convened to investigate possible [[War crime|war crimes]] by members of the division. In the first two cases, dubbed the [[Biscari massacre]], occurred on 14 July 1943, American troops from C Company, 180th Infantry Regiment, were alleged to have shot 74 Italian and two German prisoners in [[Acate]] following the capture of an airfield in the area. [[George S. Patton|George Patton]], the [[Seventh United States Army|Seventh Army]] commanding general, asked [[Omar Bradley]], [[II Corps (United States)|II Corps]] commanding general, to get the cases dismissed to prevent bad press, but Bradley refused. A non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Horace T. West, 33 years old, later confessed to the crimes in the first incident and was found guilty. On the second incident, Captain John T. Compton ordered Italian soldiers to be lined up and shot; the officer claimed he had only been following orders and was acquitted.<ref>{{harvnb|Atkinson|2007|p=119}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Botting|Sayer|1989|pp=354–359}}</ref><ref name="Whit389">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=389}}</ref>

[[File:Killed SS Cammo Dachau.jpg|thumb|left|Dead German troops at [[Dachau Concentration Camp]], allegedly killed in the [[Dachau massacre]] in 1945]]

In a third incident, the Army considered court-martialling several officers of the 157th Infantry Regiment under [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Felix L. Sparks]] after servicemen were accused of massacring German soldiers who were surrendering at the Dachau [[concentration camp]] in 1945. Some of the German troops were camp guards; the others were sick and wounded troops from a nearby hospital. The soldiers of the 45th Division who liberated the camp were outraged at the malnourishment and maltreatment of the 32,000 prisoners they liberated, some barely alive, and all victims of the [[Holocaust]]. After entering the camp, the soldiers found boxcars filled with dead bodies of prisoners who had succumbed to starvation or last-minute executions, and in rooms adjacent to [[gas chambers]] they found naked bodies piled from the floor to the ceiling.<ref name="Whit360–364">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|pp=360–364}}</ref> The cremation ovens, which were still in operation when the soldiers arrived, contained bodies and skeletons as well. Some of the victims apparently had died only hours before the 45th Division entered the camp, while many others lay where they had died in states of decomposition that overwhelmed the soldiers' senses.<ref name="Whit359">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=359}}</ref> Accounts conflict over what happened and over how many German troops were killed. After investigating the incident, the Army considered court-martialling several officers involved, but Patton successfully intervened. The Seventh Army was being disbanded and Patton had been appointed Military Governor of Bavaria, placing the matter in his hands.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sparks|first1=Felix|title=Liberation of Dachau|url=http://www.45thinfantrydivision.com/index14.htm|website=Albert R. Panebianco's World War II Website|access-date=25 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928231321/http://www.45thinfantrydivision.com/index14.htm|archive-date=28 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some veterans of the 45th Infantry Division have said that only 30 to 50 German soldiers were killed and that very few were killed trying to surrender, while others have admitted to killing or refusing to treat wounded German guards.<ref name="Whit365">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|pp=365–366}}</ref>

Confessed murderer [[Frank Sheeran]] later recalled his war service with the 45th as the time when he first developed a callousness to the taking of human life. Sheeran claimed to have participated in numerous massacres and [[summary execution]]s of German POWs, acts which violated the [[Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907]] and the [[Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War (1929)|1929 Geneva Convention on POWs]]. In later interviews with [[Charles Brandt]], he divided such massacres into four categories:

* Revenge killings in the heat of battle. Sheeran told Brandt that, when a German soldier had just killed his close friends and then tried to surrender, he would often "send him to hell, too". He described often witnessing similar behavior by fellow [[GI (military)|GIs]].<ref name="Brandt 2004, page 50">Brandt (2004), p. 50.</ref>
* Orders from unit commanders during a mission. When describing his first murder for organized crime, Sheeran recalled: "It was just like when an officer would tell you to take a couple of German prisoners back behind the line and for you to 'hurry back'. You did what you had to do."<ref>Brandt (2004), p. 84.</ref>
* The Dachau massacre and other reprisal killings of concentration camp guards and trustee inmates.<ref name="Brandt 2004, page 52">Brandt (2004), p. 52.</ref>
* Calculated attempts to dehumanize and degrade German POWs. While Sheeran's unit was climbing the Harz Mountains, they came upon a Wehrmacht mule train carrying food and drink up the mountainside. The female cooks were first allowed to leave unmolested, then Sheeran and his fellow GIs "ate what we wanted and soiled the rest with our waste". Then the Wehrmacht mule drivers were given shovels and ordered to "dig their own shallow graves". Sheeran later joked that they did so without complaint, likely hoping that he and his buddies would change their minds. But the mule drivers were shot and buried in the holes they had dug. Sheeran explained that by then, he "had no hesitation in doing what I had to do."<ref name="Brandt 2004, page 51">Brandt (2004), p. 51.</ref>

===After the war===
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{{Collapsible list|title=Callsigns of the 45th Division<ref>{{cite web|title=Lt. Kleindienst's Forward Observer's Notebook|url=http://www.45thdivision.org/CampaignsBattles/Anzio/Anzio/Anzio_notebook.htm|access-date=16 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Codes Used in the Daily Journals of the Command Reports|url=http://koreanwar-educator.org/memoirs/mcgill_frank/index.htm#Codes|access-date=16 March 2014}}</ref>|
*45TH DIV..............POWER
*45TH DIV ARTY...PARASOL
*189TH FA BN.......PARK
*160TH FA BN.......PATIENCE
*158TH FA BN.......POLISH
*171ST FA BN.......POST
*157TH INF RGT...POISON (WWII)
*179TH INF RGT...PAGAN
*180TH INF RGT...PASSPORT
*279TH INF RGT...POISON (KOREA)
Battalions of the Infantry Regiments
* 1st INF BN............RED
* 2nd INF BN...........WHITE
* 3rd INF BN............BLUE
Regimental Tanks and Mortars
* TANK CO.............GREEN
* MORTAR CO........BROWN
}}
|}
During World War II, the 45th Division fought in 511 days of combat.<ref name="Almanac544"/> Nine soldiers were awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] during their service with the 45th Infantry Division: [[Van T. Barfoot]],<ref name="Whit292">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=292}}</ref> [[Ernest Childers]],<ref name="Whit103">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=103}}</ref> [[Almond E. Fisher]],<ref name="Whit323">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=323}}</ref> [[William J. Johnston]],<ref name="Whit229">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=229}}</ref> [[Salvador J. Lara]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Santschi|first=Darrell R.|title=Riverside men to get top honor: Jesus S. Duran and Salvador J. Lara will be awarded the Medal of Honor|newspaper=[[The Press-Enterprise]]|date=23 February 2014}}</ref> [[Jack C. Montgomery]],<ref name="Whit245">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=245}}</ref> [[James D. Slaton]],<ref name="Whit103"/> [[Jack Treadwell]],<ref name="Whit343">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=343}}</ref> and [[Edward G. Wilkin]].<ref name="Whit345">{{harvnb|Whitlock|2005|p=345}}</ref> Soldiers of the division also received 61 [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]es, three [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]]s, 1,848 [[Silver Star Medal]]s, 38 [[Legion of Merit]] medals, 59 [[Soldier's Medal]]s, 5,744 [[Bronze Star Medal]]s, and 52 [[Air Medal]]s. The division received seven [[distinguished unit citations]] and eight [[campaign streamer]]s during the conflict.<ref name="Almanac544"/>

Most of the division returned to New York in September 1945, and from there went to [[Camp Bowie, Texas|Camp Bowie]], Texas. On 7 December 1945, the division was inactivated from the active duty force and its members reassigned to other Army units. The following year, on 10 September 1946, the 45th Infantry Division was reconstituted as a National Guard unit.<ref name="Wilson665">{{harvnb|Wilson|1999|p=665}}</ref> Instead of comprising units from several states, the post-war 45th was an all-Oklahoma organization.<ref name="Don25">{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=25}}</ref> During this time the division was also reorganized and as a part of this process the 157th Infantry was removed from the division's order of battle and replaced with the [[279th Infantry Regiment (United States)|279th Infantry Regiment]].<ref name="Don230">{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=230}}</ref>

During this time, the U.S. Army underwent a drastic reduction in size. At the end of World War II, it contained 89 divisions, but by 1950, there were just 10 active divisions in the force, along with a few reserve divisions such as the 45th Infantry Division which were combat-ineffective.<ref>{{harvnb|Stewart|2005|p=211}}</ref> The division retained many of its best officers as senior commanders as the force downsized, and it enjoyed a good relationship with its community. The 45th in this time was regarded as one of the better-trained National Guard divisions.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=91}}</ref> Regardless, by mid-1950 the division had only 8,413 troops, less than 45 percent<ref group="n">As of 1 August 1950, the division consisted of 698 [[commissioned officer]]s, 64 [[warrant officer]]s, and 7,651 [[enlisted men]]. Army doctrine dictated a fully manned infantry division of 910 officers, 132 warrant officers, and 17,460 enlisted men. The National Guard at the time was operating at a reduced authorization of 851 officers, 130 enlisted men, and 12,777 enlisted men. See {{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=92}}.</ref> of its full-strength authorization.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=92}}</ref> Only 10 percent of the division's officers and five percent of its enlisted men had combat experience with the division from World War II.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=90}}</ref>

===Korean War===
At the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in June 1950, the U.S. Army looked to expand its force again to prepare for major conflict.  After the [[North Korean People's Army]] invaded the [[Republic of Korea]], four understrength U.S. divisions on occupation duty in Japan were rushed to South Korea to stand alongside the [[Republic of Korea Army]]. These were the [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]], the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]], the [[24th Infantry Division (United States)|24th Infantry Division]], and the [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]], which were all under the control of the [[Eighth United States Army]]. Due to drastic reductions in U.S. military spending following the end of World War II, these divisions were equipped with worn-out or obsolete weaponry and suffered from a shortage of anti-armor weapons capable of penetrating the hulls of the [[North Korea]]n [[T-34]] tanks.<ref name=Stewart222>{{harvnb|Stewart|2005|p=222}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Catchpole|2001|p=41}}</ref>

On 1 September 1950,{{sfn|Wilson|1999|page=664}} the 45th Infantry Division was ordered into federal service. It would eventually become the first National Guard division to be deployed to the Far East since World War II.<ref name="Var101">{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=101}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=98}}</ref>

==== Reinforcement pool ====
Initially, the division was used to provide a pool of reinforcements for the divisions fighting in Korea; in January 1951 it provided 650 enlisted fillers for overseas service. Later that month, 4,006 new recruits were assigned to its three infantry regiments and artillery assets, with each unit creating a 14-week training program to prepare the new soldiers for combat.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=61}}</ref> Because of heavy casualties and slow reinforcement rates, the Army looked to the National Guard to provide additional units to relieve the beleaguered Eighth Army. At the time, the 45th Infantry Division was comprised overwhelmingly of [[high school]] students or recent graduates, and only about 60 percent of its troops had conducted training and drills with the division for a year or more. Additionally, only about 20 percent of its personnel had prior experience of military service from World War II.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=27}}</ref> Nevertheless, the division was one of four National Guard divisions identified as being among the most prepared for combat based on the effectiveness of its equipment, training, and leadership.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=26}}</ref> As a result, in February 1951, the 45th Infantry Division was alerted that it would sail for Japan.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=62}}</ref>

In preparation for the deployment, the division was sent to [[Fort Polk]], [[Louisiana]], to begin training and to fill its ranks.<ref name="Var101"/> After its basic training was complete, the division was sent to Japan in April 1951 for advanced training and to act as a reserve force for the Eighth United States Army, then fighting in Korea.<ref name="Var102">{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=102}}</ref> The involvement of the National Guard in the fighting in Korea was further expanded when the [[40th Infantry Division (United States)|40th Infantry Division]] of the [[California Army National Guard]] received warning orders for deployment as well.<ref>{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=100}}</ref>

==== Initial struggles ====
[[File:120th Engineer Battalion soldier in Korea, 1952.jpg|thumb|alt=A man in military uniform constructs a net in a hilly outdoor environment |A soldier of the 120th Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Division sets up camouflage net near the front lines in Korea in 1952.]]

The division did not actually deploy to Korea until December 1951, when its advanced training was complete.<ref name="Var102"/><ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=102}}</ref> By the time it arrived in Korea, only half the division's manpower were National Guard troops. Though the 45th remained ''de facto'' [[Segregation in the United States military|segregated]] as an all-white unit in 1950, individual unit commanders went to great lengths to integrate reinforcements from different areas and ethnicities into their units.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=49-50}}</ref> By 1952, it was fully integrated.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=121}}</ref> Following its arrival, the division moved to the front line to replace the 1st Cavalry Division, which was then delegated to the Far East reserve, having suffered over 16,000 casualties in less than 18 months of fighting.<ref>{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=93}}</ref>

Additionally, in an effort to reduce the burden on the National Guard,<ref group="n">Fearing political ramifications, Army leaders sought to prevent large numbers of casualties from any one state; the 45th Infantry Division still having many troops from Oklahoma as an example. See: {{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=122}}</ref> the term of service for National Guardsmen in Korea was initially set at 21, and later 24 months; over 4,500 Guardsmen left between May and July 1952, continually replaced by more active-duty troops and draftees, including an increasing number of African Americans.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=120}}</ref> In August 1952, Congress approved a law authorizing the organization of "National Guard of the United States" (NGUS) units in states whose National Guard units were in federal service, which would bear the same designations as those on active duty. Before the establishment of the 45th Infantry Division (NGUS) on 15 September 1952, the returning Oklahoma Guardsmen were either separated from the service if their Guard enlistments had expired, or remained in inactive reserve status. As a result of this effort, two 45th Infantry Division units existed between 1952 and 1954; the National Guard 45th Infantry Division in Korea, and the 45th Infantry Division (NGUS) in Oklahoma.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=121-122}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Stubbs|first1=Mary Lee|last2=Conner|first2=Stanley Russell|date=1969|title=Army Lineage Series: Armor-Cavalry, Part 1: Regular Army and Army Reserve|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History, U.S. Army|page=77-79}}</ref>

By the time the division was in place, the battle lines on both sides had [[Korean War#Stalemate (July 1951–July 1953)|largely solidified]], leaving the 45th Infantry Division in a stationary position as it conducted attacks and counterattacks for the same ground.<ref name="Var24"/> The division was put under the command of the Eighth Army's [[I Corps (United States)|I Corps]] for most of the conflict.<ref>{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=86}}</ref> It was deployed around [[Chorwon]] and assigned to protect the key routes from that area into [[Seoul]]. The terrain was difficult and the weather was poor in the region.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=105}}</ref> The division suffered its first casualty on 11 December 1951.<ref>{{harvnb|Ecker|2004|p=130}}</ref>

Initially, the division did not fare well, though it improved quickly.<ref name="Var102"/> Its anti-aircraft and armor assets were used as mobile artillery, which continuously pounded Chinese positions. The 45th, in turn, was under constant artillery and mortar attack.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=160}}</ref> It also conducted constant small-unit patrols along the border seeking to engage Chinese outposts or patrols. These small-unit actions made up the majority of the division's combat in Korea.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=107}}</ref> Chinese troops were well dug-in and better trained than the troops of the inexperienced 45th, and it suffered casualties and frequently had to disengage when it was attacked.<ref>{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=108}}</ref>

In the division's first few months on the line, Chinese forces conducted three raids in its sector. In retaliation, the 245th Tank Battalion sent nine tanks to raid Agok.<ref name="Var24">{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=24}}</ref> Two [[company (military)|companies]] of Chinese forces ambushed and devastated a patrol from the 179th Infantry a short time later.<ref name="Var24"/> In the spring, the division launched Operation Counter, which was an effort to establish 11 patrol bases around [[Old Baldy Hill]]. The division then defended the hill against a series of Chinese assaults from the [[38th Army (People's Republic of China)|Chinese 38th Army]].<ref name="Var24"/>

==== Final engagements and the end of the war ====
[[File:Old Baldy Area.gif|thumb|left|Map of the area surrounding Old Baldy Hill, which the division defended for much of its tour in Korea|alt=A topographic map showing a series of hills surrounded by defensive perimeters.]]
The 45th Infantry Division, along with the 7th Infantry Division, fought off repeated Chinese attacks all along the front line throughout 1952, and Chinese forces frequently attacked Old Baldy Hill into the fall of that year.<ref name="Var25">{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=25}}</ref> Around that time, the 45th Infantry Division relinquished command of Old Baldy Hill to the [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]]. Almost immediately the Chinese launched a concentrated attack on the hill, overrunning the U.S. forces.<ref>{{harvnb|Catchpole|2001|p=168}}</ref> Heavy rainstorms prevented the divisions from retaking the hill for around a month, and when it was finally retaken it was heavily fortified to prevent further attacks.<ref>{{harvnb|Catchpole|2001|p=169}}</ref> The 245th Tank Battalion was sent to assault Chinese positions throughout late 1952, but most of the division held a stationary defensive line against the Chinese.<ref name="Var25"/>

In early 1953, North Korean forces launched a large-scale attack against Hill 812, which was then under the control of K Company, 3rd Battalion, 179th Infantry.<ref name="Var28">{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=28}}</ref> The ensuing [[Battle of Hill Eerie]] was one of a series of larger attacks by Chinese and North Korean forces which produced heavier fighting than the previous year had seen. These offensives were conducted largely in order to secure a better position during the ongoing truce negotiations.<ref name="Var28"/> Chinese forces continued to mount concentrated attacks on the lines of the UN forces, including the 45th Infantry Division, but the division managed to hold most of its ground, remaining stationary until the end of the war in the summer of 1953.<ref>{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=30}}</ref>

During the Korean War, the 45th Infantry Division suffered 4,004 casualties, consisting of 834 killed in action and 3,170 wounded in action.<ref name="Var102"/> The division was awarded four campaign streamers and one Presidential Unit Citation.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilson|1999|p=666}}</ref> One soldier from the division, [[Charles George]], was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving in Korea.<ref>{{harvnb|Ecker|2004|p=160}}</ref>

===After Korea===
[[File:45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team farewell ceremony Feb 2011.jpg|thumb|alt=A stadium full of soldiers sits behind a podium of commanders in military uniform|Soldiers of the [[45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team]], the successor organization to the 45th Infantry Division, hold a ceremony ahead of a deployment to [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in February 2011.]]
The division briefly patrolled the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]] following the signing of the armistice ending the war, but most of its men returned home and reverted to National Guard status on 30 April 1954.<ref name="Wilson665"/> Its colors were returned to Oklahoma on 25 September of that year, formally ending the division's presence in Korea.<ref name="Don122">{{harvnb|Donnelly|2001|p=122}}</ref>

The division remained as a unit of the Oklahoma National Guard and participated in no major actions throughout the rest of the 1950s save regular weekend and summer training exercises. In 1963, the formation was reorganized in accordance with the [[Reorganization Objective Army Divisions]] plan, which saw the establishment of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigade within the division. These brigades would see no major deployments or events and were inactivated five years later in 1968.<ref>{{harvnb|McGrath|2004|p=202}}</ref> That same year, due to the perceived lack of need for so many large formations in the Army National Guard, the 45th Infantry Division was inactivated, as part of a larger move to reduce the number of Army National Guard divisions from 15 to eight, while increasing the number of separate brigades from seven to 18.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilson|2001|p=338}}</ref> In its place, the independent [[45th Infantry Brigade (United States)|45th Infantry Brigade (Separate)]] was established.<ref name="Wilson665"/><ref>{{harvnb|Wilson|2001|p=240}}</ref> The 45th Infantry Brigade received all of the 45th Division's lineage and heraldry, including its shoulder sleeve insignia.<ref name="TIOH">{{citation |url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=3671 |title=The Institute of Heraldry: 45th Infantry Brigade |publisher=[[The Institute of Heraldry]] |access-date=12 June 2012 |location=[[Fort Belvoir, Virginia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930184209/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=3671 |archive-date=30 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Also activated from division assets were the [[45th Fires Brigade (United States)|45th Field Artillery Group]], later redesignated the 45th Fires Brigade, and the [[90th Troop Command]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Talley |first=Tim |title=Legislature Honors 45th Infantry Brigade |url=http://www.durantdemocrat.com/view/full_story/1162202/article-Legislature-honors-45th-Infantry-Brigade |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102142218/http://www.durantdemocrat.com/view/full_story/1162202/article-Legislature-honors-45th-Infantry-Brigade |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2013 |access-date=9 July 2012 |newspaper=Durant Democrat }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Home at Last – National Guardsmen Return Home|url=http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=5899|access-date=9 July 2012|newspaper=Tulsa Beacon|date=12 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811212319/http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=5899|archive-date=11 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Honors==
The 45th Infantry Division was awarded eight campaign streamers and one foreign unit award in World War II and four campaign streamers and one foreign unit award in the Korean War, for a total of twelve campaign streamers and two foreign unit decorations in its operational history.<ref name="Wilson663"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:center;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Streamer
! Conflict
! Inscription
! Year(s)
|-
||[[File:Streamer FCDG WWII.png|200px|alt=A red ribbon with four vertical dark green stripes in the center.]]
||[[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|French Croix de Guerre]], World War II (With Palm)
||Embroidered "[[Acquafondata]]"
||1944
|-
|rowspan="7"| [[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png|200px]]
|rowspan="7"| [[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal|European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Streamer]]
|| [[Sicily]] (with [[Arrowhead (device)|Arrowhead]])
|| 1943
|-
|| [[Naples]]–[[Foggia]] (with Arrowhead)
|| 1943
|-
|| [[Anzio]] (with Arrowhead)
|| 1943
|-
|| Rome–[[Arno]]
|| 1944
|-
|| [[France|Southern France]] (with Arrowhead)
|| 1944
|-
|| [[Rhineland]]
|| 1944–45
|-
|| Central Europe
|| 1945
|-
||[[File:Streamer KPUC.PNG|200px|alt=A white ribbon with vertical green and red stripes on its edges and a red and blue circle in the middle]]
||[[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation]]
||For service in Korea
||1952–53
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[File:Korean Service Medal - Streamer.png|200px]]
|rowspan="4"|[[Korean Service Medal|Korean Service Campaign Streamer]]
|| Second Korean Winter
|| 1951–52
|-
|| Korea, Summer–Fall 1952
|| 1952
|-
|| Third Korean Winter
|| 1952–53
|-
|| Korea, Summer 1953
|| 1953
|}

==Museum==
The Oklahoma National Guard Museum, located in Oklahoma City, is the nation’s largest state-operated military history museum depicting the military history of Oklahoma and the 45th Infantry Division. With displays from 1941 through Desert Storm, the museum includes the country’s third-largest collection of historic U.S. military firearms and the world’s largest collection of items once owned by Adolf Hitler. Also includes a substantial collection of cartoons by World War II cartoonist [[Bill Mauldin]], who served with it during the war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://45thdivisionmuseum.com/Mauldin|title=Bill Mauldin Cartoon Collection|website=45thdivisionmuseum.com|publisher=45th Infantry Division Museum|language=en|access-date=2018-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918210644/http://45thdivisionmuseum.com/Mauldin|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Commanding Generals==
{| class=wikitable
|-! Rank !! Name !! In office !! Left office
|-
|MG
|Baird H. Markham (Oklahoma)
|15 Feb 1923
|6 Apr 1931
|-
|MG
|Roy V. Hoffman (Oklahoma)
|13 Jun 1931
|13 Jun 1933
|-
|MG
|Alexander M. Tuthill (Arizona)
|14 Jun 1933
|21 Oct 1935
|-
|MG
|Charles E. McPherren (Oklahoma)
|25 Nov 1935
|29 Jul 1936
|-
|MG
|[[William S. Key]] (Oklahoma)
|29 Jul 1936
|13 Oct 1942
|-
|MG
|[[Troy H. Middleton]] (R.A.)
|14 Oct 1942
|21 Nov 1943
|-
|MG
|[[William W. Eagles]] (R.A.)
|22 Nov 1943
|2 Dec 1944
|-
|MG
|[[Robert T. Frederick]] (R.A.)
|3 Dec 1944
|20 Sep 1945
|-
|BG
|[[Paul D. Adams]] (R.A.)
|21 Sep 1945
|25 Oct 1945
|-
|BG
|Henry J.D. Meyer (R.A.)
|26 Oct 1945
|7 Dec 1945
|-
|MG
|James C. Styron (Oklahoma)
|5 Sep 1946
|20 May 1952
|-
|MG
|David L. Ruffner (R.A.)
|21 May 1952
|15 Mar 1953
|-
|MG
|[[Philip De Witt Ginder]] (R.A.)
|16 Mar 1953
|30 Nov 1953
|-
|MG
|[[Paul D. Harkins]] (R.A.)
|1 Dec 1953
|15 Mar 1954
|-
|BG
|Harvey H. Fischer (R.A.)
|18 Mar 1954
|27 Apr 1954
|-
|MG
|Hal L. Muldrow, Jr (Oklahoma)
|10 Sep 1952
|31 Aug 1960
|-
|MG
|[[Frederick Alvin Daugherty|Frederick A. Daugherty]] (Oklahoma)
|1 Sep 1960
|20 Nov 1964
|-
|MG
|Jasper N. Baker (Oklahoma)
|21 Nov 1964
|31 Jan 1968
|-
|}

Note: The similarity of dates of command for General Muldrow and commanders beginning with General Ruffner is because the 45th Infantry Division was retained in federal service as a unit during the Korean War while a duplicate unit, the 45th Infantry Division (NGUS), was authorized to be activated in Oklahoma during its absence.<ref name=Wood>{{cite book|last=Nelson|first=Guy|title=Thunderbird: A History of the 45th Infantry Division|year=1970|publisher=45th Infantry Division Association|location=Oklahoma City, OK|pages=130–131}}</ref>

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{reflist|group="n"}}

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|31em}}

=== Sources ===
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{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071027111716/http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/ 45th Infantry Division Museum]
*[http://www.45thdivision.org/ 45th Infantry Division History and Reenactments]
*[http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/45thinfantry/index.html The 45th: The Story of the 45th Infantry Division]
<!-- Broken link did not work *[http://www.ng.mil/ngbgomo/library/bio/grizzle_jw.html Dr. Gen. Jerry W. Grizzle bio] -->
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100719065946/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/F/FO050.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Forty-fifth Infantry Division (OKANG)]

{{Army Divisions (United States)}}
{{Portal bar|United States}}
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{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:045}}
[[Category:1968 disestablishments in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Divisions of the United States Army National Guard]]
[[Category:Infantry divisions of the United States Army in World War II|045th Infantry Division, U.S.]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1924]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1968]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:United States Army units and formations in the Korean War|USInfDiv0045]]
[[Category:Divisions of the United States in Korean War|Infantry]]