49th Infantry Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 49th Infantry Division


caption= 49th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1947 - 1968
country= USA
branch= Army National Guard
type= Infantry
role=
size= Division
command_structure=
garrison= Based in California
motto=
nickname= 49'ers, Argonauts
battles=
notable_commanders= US Infantry
previous=47th Infantry Division
next=51st Infantry Division

The 49th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army formed from the 52nd Infantry Division.

The 52nd Infantry Division was activated on 15 August 1946, and was allocated to the State of California as a National Guard division during the post World War II demobilization. The division was to be headquartered in the area of "49'ers" of the California Gold Rush. To mark the upcoming centenary of the 1849 gold rush, the State of California requested that the 52d Infantry Division change its designation to the 49th Infantry Division.

The change was approved by a National Guard Bureau Letter, CSNGB, dated 24 October 1947, Subject: "Change in Designation of 52d Infantry Division" and an Adjutant General Letter, AGAO-I 325 dated 20 October 1947, Subject: "Allotment of National Guard Units (California)." The change was made retroactive to 5 August 1946, the formation of the original 52nd division. The new division was known as the "Argonaut Division," and its shoulder sleeve insignia depicted a 49'er panning for gold. The nickname refers to the 49'ers, who were also known as Argonauts. The 49th Infantry Division was deactivated on 29 January 1968.

General

*Nickname: Argonauts
*Shoulder Patch: A crouched gold miner in blue on a red and gold shield.

References

* [http://www.militarymuseum.org/49thID.html California State Military Museum]

*Wilson, John B. (1997). Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades. Washington, DC: Center of Military History.