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THE INFORMATION SECTION
Analysis Branch
HEADQUARTERS ARMY GROUND FORCES
Washington 25, D. C.
1 March 1947
FACT SHEET ON THE 31st INFANTRY DIVISION
SHOULDER PATCH: The patch is a white disc on which is a red circle. Within the circle are two red D's, back to back. The D's stand for Dixie Division, the 31st having drawn its strength in World
War I from National Guard units of Fla., and Ga. and in this war from La.,
Miss., Ala., and Fla.
TYPE OF DIVISION: National Guard
NICKNAME: "Dixie Division".
SLOGAN: It Shall Be Done.
HISTORY: The division was organized in Oct. 1917 at Camp -Wheeler, Ga.,
end went overseas during Sept., Oct., and Nov 1918. Upon arrival in France it was designated as a replacement division. The
personnel of most of the units were withdrawn and sent to other organizations. 41 somewhat skeletonized division remained at Brest
returning to the U. S. in Dec. 1918, and was demobilized early in 1919. The 31st was reorganized in 1923 as a National Guard division
with its several component units coming from La., Miss and Fla. The 124th Infantry
Regiment was organized from companies which date back to June, 1921, A cross of red on the shield is from the
flag of the State of Florida. The 155th Infantry Regiment dates back to 1798 when it was organized as the Adams County,
Miss., Militia. It fought in the War of 1812, the Creek Indian War, the Mexican War and then, as the First Mississippi Volunteers, it
participated in the War Between the States. When World War I broke out it was stationed on the Mexican border and later saw
service overseas with the 39th Infantry Division. Its regimental
motto is "Stand Fast." The 167th Infantry Regiment comes from Alabama and originated on 15 July 1911. During World War I it
was part of the 42d Infantry Division.
INDUCTION DATE: 26 November 1940
INACTIVATION DATE: 21 December 1945 at Camp Stoneman, California.
TRAINING UNDER ARMY GROUND FORCES: The 31st was assigned to Camp Blanding,
Fla., on its induction. It took part in the Third Army maneuvers held in Louisiana in Sept. 1941 and in Nov. 1941 participated
in the maneuvers held in the Carolinas under GHQ and the IV Corps. Early in 1942 it moved to Camp Bowie, Texas, and on 9 March 1942
came under the Army Ground Forces. From Aug. to Sept. 1942 the Dixie Division played an important part in Third Army maneuvers
in Louisiana and at the completion of maneuvers moved to Camp
Shelby, Miss. During July and Aug. 1943 the division was part of the Third Army which maneuvered in Louisiana. Upon completion of
maneuvers the 31st moved to Camp Pickett, Va.
OVERSEAS TRAINING: Trained briefly at Oro Bay, British New Guinea, prior
to entering combat.
DEPARTED U. S. FOR FOREIGN DUTY: 12 March 1944
RETURNED TO U. S.: 12 December 1945 (HQ)
BATTLE CREDITS (Division) New Guinea and Southern PhilippinesDATE ENTERED
COMBAT: DIVISION 16 July 1944 FIRST ELEMENTS 13 July 1944
SUCCESSIVE COMMANDING GENERALS: Maj. Gen. John C. Persons from. 1940 to Sept. 19/14; Maj. Gen. Clarence A. Martin from Sept. 1944 to inactivation.
COMPONENT UNITS: 154, 155 and 167th Inf. Regt. 31 Cav Ron Tp (Mecz) 106 Med. Bn; 106 Engr C Bn; Div. Arty: 116, 117 and 149th
F.A. Bns (105 how) and 114 FA Bn (155 how) . SD Tps: 31 QM Co, 31 Sig Co, 731 Ord Co (LM) Hq Co. MP Plat and Band.
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS: Cpl Harry R. Harr, Company D, 124th Infantry Regiment, for 5 June 1945 action at Maglamin, Mindanao,
P.I.
DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION 106th Engr C Bn fo r 22 Apr 30 June 45 action at Midanao, PI.
COMBAT HIGHLIGHTS: Once having reached the Southwest Pacific the 31st wasted little time moving into combat. In March 1944, the 124th Infantry Regiment went to Aitape and caught a heavy assignment for its first action. In the bloody fighting along the Druinimor River the regiment killed more than 3000 of the enemy and played a major part in breaking the back of the by-passed Japanese Eighteenth Army Or, 22 March 1944, General MacArthur was able to announce that 30,000 Japs were trapped between Aitape and Hollandia. Later the 155th and 167th Infantry Regiments fought in the Wakde-Sarmi area of
New Guinea. Fighting was much lighter here and by 18 May the capture of
Wakdo was announced. These two regiments accounted for more than 1000 Japs while on the Maffin Bay perimeter which guarded the Fifth Air Force's airstrip. In Sept. 1944, the Dixie Division sailed from Maffin 'Bay for the
re-conquest of Morotai and on 15 Sept. hit the beaches of this Dutch island less than 350 miles from the Philippines. The 31st quickly secured a beachhead and by noon of D-Day had seized Piton Airdrome. The capture of Morotai gave our forces control of the Halmahera Sea and cut off 20,000 Jap troops on the island of Halmahera. On 15 Nov. 1944, a battalion combat team from the 167th Infantry Regiment backtracked several hundred miles to the tiny Mapia Island to knock out a Jap spotter station. This battalion killed 167 bitterly resisting well-entrenched Japanese in two days with the loss of only 12 American lives. In the nearby Asia Island group a reinforced company of the 124th Infantry Regiment landed to find no Japs. For months the West maintained the perimeter defense on Morotai for the 13th Air Force and carried out patrol missions into Morotai's rugged interior. The 31st
was sent to Mindanao, P.I., in April 1945. The divisions first assignment was to push north from Kabacan." It had not gone five miles, however, before it successfully engaged in a six hour battle with Japs who had been advancing to attack to attack Kabacan. Their defeat at this point prevented the Japs from erecting defenses in the gorge country farther north which might have proved costly in men
and time. Working through central Mindanao and fighting a fanatical enemy who used every advantage of terrain and cover, the 31st by 18
April 1945, had pushed 17 miles in a period of three days to recapture the former American air base at Valencia.
Five days Inter the 31st paced a nine-division assault to clean out the last major Japanese resistance in the Philippines and captured the provincial capital of Malaybalay, the last big enemy-held city on Mindanao. It also wrested the airfield near the city from the Japs. In June 1945 the 31st was reported mopping up scattered resistance on the island. Units of the division sailed for home in Nov. and the division was inactivated on the west coast in Dec.
COMMENDATIONS: Lt. Gen.. Robert Eichelberger, commanding general of the Eighth
Army, commended the 31st for its execution of operations which resulted in splitting all Jap forces in Mindanao.
DIVISION ASSOCIATION: 31st Infantry Division Association
C/O Adjutant General
Military Department
State of Florida
Tallahassee, Florida |
