31st Infantry Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=U.S. 31st Infantry Division


caption= 31st Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
country=United States
allegiance=
type=Division
branch=Regular Army
dates=October, 1917 - December 21, 1945
specialization= Infantry
command_structure=
size=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname= Dixie Division
motto= "It shall be done"
colors=Red and White
march=
mascot=
battles= World War I
World War II
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=US Infantry
previous=30th Infantry Division
next=32nd Infantry Division

The 31st Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. It was originally activated as the 10th Division, a National Guard formation established in early 1917 consisting of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. By the end of that same year, the 10th Division became the 31st Division.

World War I

*Activated: October 1917 (National Guard Division from Alabama, Florida and Georgia).
*Overseas: September 1918. Upon arrival in France the 31st was designated as a replacement division. The personnel of most of the units were withdrawn and sent to other organizations.
*Commanders: Maj. Gen. F. J. Kernan (25 August 1917), Brig. Gen. J. L. Hayden (18 September 1917), Maj. Gen. F. H. French (15 March 1918), Brig. Gen. W. A. Harris (28 September 1918).
*Returned to U.S.: December 1918.

World War II

*Activated: 25 November 1940 (National Guard Division from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi).
*Overseas: 12 March 1944.
*Campaigns: New Guinea, Southern Philippines.
*Distinguished Unit Citations: 1.
*Awards: MH-1; DSC-7; DSM-3; SS-178; LM-11; DFC-1; SM-73; BS-948; AM-77.
*Commanders: Maj. Gen. John C. Persons (25 November 1940-September 1944), Maj. Gen. Clarence A. Martin (September 1944 to inactivation).
*Returned to U.S.: 12 December 1945.
*Inactivated: 21 December 1945. (See National Guard.)

Combat chronicle

The 31st Infantry Division arrived in Oro Bay, New Guinea, 24 April 1944, and engaged in amphibious training prior to entering combat.

The 156th Infantry Regiment (Louisiana National Guard) was separated from the 31st Division on 14 July, 1942. The unit was sent to England and then to Oran, Algiers where they were redesignated the 202nd Inf. Battalion and assigned Military Police duties due to the large number of French speaking members in the unit. Portions of the unit participated in the D-Day landings with the entire unit being reunited on 24 June, 1944. The unit was later used to guard the Allied Expeditionary HQ's. The unit returned to the US on 11 March, 1946.

Alerted on 25 June 1944 for movement to Aitape, New Guinea, the 124th RCT left Oro Bay and landed at Aitape 3-6 July 1944. The combat team moved up to advanced positions and took part in the general offensive launched 13 July, including the bloody Battle of Driniumor River.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the division relieved the 6th Infantry Division in the Sarmi-Wakde island area, 18 July 1944, built bridges, roads, and docks, patrolled the area, and engaged small units of the enemy, trying not to provoke a large scale counterattack by the enemy. Over 1,000 Japanese were killed in these actions. In mid-August the division began to stage for a landing on Morotai, leaving Aitape and Maffin Bay, 11 September 1944. The Division made an assault landing on Morotai, 15 September 1944, meeting only light opposition. During the occupation of Morotai, elements of the division, primarily the 167th Infantry Regiment, seized Mapia, 15 November -17 November, and waded ashore on the Asia Islands, 19 November -20 November, only to find the Japanese had already evacuated.

Other elements reverted to Sansapor, where they maintained and operated the base. On 22 April 1945, the division landed on Mindanao to take part in the liberation of the Philippines. Moving up the Sayre Highway and driving down the Kibawe-Talomo trail, fighting in knee-deep mud and through torrential rains, the 31st forced the enemy to withdraw into the interior and blocked off other Japanese in the Davao area. With the end of hostilities on 15 August 1945, the 31st accomplished the surrender of all Japanese forces remaining in Mindanao.

General

*Nickname: Dixie Division.
*Slogan: It shall be done.
*Shoulder patch: A white disk on which is a red circle, within which are two red D's, back to back.

References

*"The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States" U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/cc.htm CMH] .

*After-Action Report and G-3 Journal, 31st Infantry Division, NARA.