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9th DIVISION, REBORN
Rebirth of the 9th Division, inactive for more than
20 years after its demobilization in 1919, was on
1 August 1940 at Ft Bragg, NC. The division was
placed into amphibious warfare training in early
1942. They were re-designated the 9th Infantry
Division on 1 August 1942, which included the
39th, 47th, 60th Infantry Regiments, the 15th
Engineer Combat Battalion and the 9th Medical
Battalion.
The 39th Infantry Regiment was the first to ship
overseas, departing New York on 26 September
1942. The 39th went first to England to await the
North African invasion. The 47th and 60th
Infantry Regiments shipped out on 27 October
1942 directly for North Africa.
Rebirth of the 9th Division, inactive for more than
20 years after its demobilization in 1919, was on
1 August 1940 at Ft Bragg, NC. The division was
placed into amphibious warfare training in early
1942. They were re-designated the 9th Infantry
Division on 1 August 1942, which included the
39th, 47th, 60th Infantry Regiments, the 15th
Engineer Combat Battalion and the 9th Medical
Battalion.
The 39th Infantry Regiment was the first to ship
overseas, departing New York on 26 September
1942. The 39th went first to England to await the
North African invasion. The 47th and 60th
Infantry Regiments shipped out on 27 October
1942 directly for North Africa.
HISTORY OF THE FIGHTING FALCONS
NORTH AFRICA
The Division saw its first action on 8 November
1942, with the 39th Infantry Regiment landing east
of Algiers, the 47th at Safi, and the 60th at Mehdia.
The division's artillery commenced a 100-hour
forced march from Tlemcen, Algeria, to cover a
distance of 777 miles on slippery, winding roads to
the Kasserine Pass at the Tunisian front. Rommel’s
thrust was blunted, then stopped cold. The division
artillery was credited with halting the German
advance against American troops, earning the 9th
ID’s first of nineteen Distinguished Unit Citations.
The 9th entered combat as a division for the first
time on 28 Mar 1943 in southern Tunisia in the El
Guettar, where bitter battles were fought for Hills
290, 369 and 772. On 11 April the division moved
northward and attacked in the Sedjenane sector,
enveloping the Green-Bald Hill positions. Djebel
Dardys, Mrata and Cheniti were other triumphs on
the way to Bizerte. The 9th Infantry's African
Campaign climaxed when the division finally
entered that city on 8 May 1943.
The Division saw its first action on 8 November
1942, with the 39th Infantry Regiment landing east
of Algiers, the 47th at Safi, and the 60th at Mehdia.
The division's artillery commenced a 100-hour
forced march from Tlemcen, Algeria, to cover a
distance of 777 miles on slippery, winding roads to
the Kasserine Pass at the Tunisian front. Rommel’s
thrust was blunted, then stopped cold. The division
artillery was credited with halting the German
advance against American troops, earning the 9th
ID’s first of nineteen Distinguished Unit Citations.
The 9th entered combat as a division for the first
time on 28 Mar 1943 in southern Tunisia in the El
Guettar, where bitter battles were fought for Hills
290, 369 and 772. On 11 April the division moved
northward and attacked in the Sedjenane sector,
enveloping the Green-Bald Hill positions. Djebel
Dardys, Mrata and Cheniti were other triumphs on
the way to Bizerte. The 9th Infantry's African
Campaign climaxed when the division finally
entered that city on 8 May 1943.
The 9th Division was with the 9th Army in north central
Europe when V-E Day was announced. The division’s fifth
birthday, 1 August 1945, found just about all of the
veterans gone. They had participated in 8 campaigns,
spent 304 days in combat, and suffered over 22,000
casualties.
9th’s Division Octofoil must never be forgotten.
THE MEDITERRANEAN
Leaving North Africa, the 9th embarked
for the island of Sicily. Outside the
Palermo Harbor on 1 August 1943 (the
9th ID’s third birthday), the division
transports were under a two-hour aerial
attack, but the 9th suffered no losses.
The 39th Regiment led the assault on
Tronia, advancing east to occupy
Randazzo, key point in the enemy’s last
line before Massina. The Division stayed
until 20 August when it was announced,
officially, that Sicily was free of the enemy.
About this time, The Stars and Stripes
hailed the 9th ID for "the kind of
leadership and spirit that make a fighting
outfit". The 9th was withdrawn to
England, departing the Mediterranean
Theater on 25 November 1943 to begin
preparations for Normandy.
Leaving North Africa, the 9th embarked
for the island of Sicily. Outside the
Palermo Harbor on 1 August 1943 (the
9th ID’s third birthday), the division
transports were under a two-hour aerial
attack, but the 9th suffered no losses.
The 39th Regiment led the assault on
Tronia, advancing east to occupy
Randazzo, key point in the enemy’s last
line before Massina. The Division stayed
until 20 August when it was announced,
officially, that Sicily was free of the enemy.
About this time, The Stars and Stripes
hailed the 9th ID for "the kind of
leadership and spirit that make a fighting
outfit". The 9th was withdrawn to
England, departing the Mediterranean
Theater on 25 November 1943 to begin
preparations for Normandy.
FRANCE AND BEYOND
The 9th Infantry Division entered the Normandy
campaign across Utah beach on 10 June 1944 (D+4),
with the 39th being temporally attached to the 4th ID.
During this period, the 39th cleared the beaches from
Taret de Ravenoville to the Montebourg-Quineville
ridge line, which had been used by the Germans to
shell the Utah beach area. The Division was first
committed to action on 14 June, in an attack toward
St. Colombe. On 16 June, the 9th ID, reinforced with
1 regiment from the 90th Infantry Division, attacked to
establish a bridgehead across the Douve. Along with
elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 9th
secured jump-off points along Douve. Reaching the
West Coast of Cotentin peninsula on the 17th and
18th of June, the 9th cut off all German retreat to the
south. The 9th then began its drive to Cherborg,
attacking the main fortification belt. On 26 June, the
47th and 60th regiments broke off to clean up Cap de
la Hague, securing it quickly and ending the fight to
seal the peninsula.
The 9th Infantry Division entered the Normandy
campaign across Utah beach on 10 June 1944 (D+4),
with the 39th being temporally attached to the 4th ID.
During this period, the 39th cleared the beaches from
Taret de Ravenoville to the Montebourg-Quineville
ridge line, which had been used by the Germans to
shell the Utah beach area. The Division was first
committed to action on 14 June, in an attack toward
St. Colombe. On 16 June, the 9th ID, reinforced with
1 regiment from the 90th Infantry Division, attacked to
establish a bridgehead across the Douve. Along with
elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 9th
secured jump-off points along Douve. Reaching the
West Coast of Cotentin peninsula on the 17th and
18th of June, the 9th cut off all German retreat to the
south. The 9th then began its drive to Cherborg,
attacking the main fortification belt. On 26 June, the
47th and 60th regiments broke off to clean up Cap de
la Hague, securing it quickly and ending the fight to
seal the peninsula.
COLONEL HARRY A. "PADDY" FLINT
Probably no story of the 39th Combat Team - or, for that matter,
the Ninth Division - could be written properly without including the
saga of Colonel Harry A "Paddy" Flint. Legends and events often
become entangled regarding this famous soldier. Facts alone
present as interesting a picture as ever recorded about any fighting
soldier.
Colonel Flint was an old-time calvalryman turned infantryman to
take command of the 39th Infantry. Although past the age when
most officers lead fighting outfits, Paddy was as good and as brave
as any man that stood on two feet. He was short, had the wit of an
Irishman, and could swear like nobody's business - when he
wanted to - and was seldom seen without his famous black scarf.
When he became the commanding officer of the 39th, it was an
ordinary regiment - sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Soon
a change came over the organization, from the top ranking officer
to the lowliest private. Paddy had said, "From now on, we're all
one gang. We're going to work and stick together as a gang and
help each other."
Probably no story of the 39th Combat Team - or, for that matter,
the Ninth Division - could be written properly without including the
saga of Colonel Harry A "Paddy" Flint. Legends and events often
become entangled regarding this famous soldier. Facts alone
present as interesting a picture as ever recorded about any fighting
soldier.
Colonel Flint was an old-time calvalryman turned infantryman to
take command of the 39th Infantry. Although past the age when
most officers lead fighting outfits, Paddy was as good and as brave
as any man that stood on two feet. He was short, had the wit of an
Irishman, and could swear like nobody's business - when he
wanted to - and was seldom seen without his famous black scarf.
When he became the commanding officer of the 39th, it was an
ordinary regiment - sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Soon
a change came over the organization, from the top ranking officer
to the lowliest private. Paddy had said, "From now on, we're all
one gang. We're going to work and stick together as a gang and
help each other."
That is just what happened. It was this little colonel who thought up the regiment's famed motto -
"AAA-O (Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, Bar Nothing). He painted it on the side of his helmet, and
so many soldiers followed suit that it became part of the 39th's official uniform.
"AAA-O (Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, Bar Nothing). He painted it on the side of his helmet, and
so many soldiers followed suit that it became part of the 39th's official uniform.
| Click on the DI to the right to explore the equipment of the Fighting Falcons. |
The 9th arrived in the Taute sector, south of Caretan, on 9 July 1944. On 11 July the German Panzer
Lehr Division, in the Le Desert sector hit the 9th. Advancing slowly against determined resistance, the
Division reached the Periers-St Lo road on 18 July, after sustaining very high casualties.
Lehr Division, in the Le Desert sector hit the 9th. Advancing slowly against determined resistance, the
Division reached the Periers-St Lo road on 18 July, after sustaining very high casualties.
At one point the 82nd Airborne was
too spent to exploit an attack. The
9th moved into the positions and
pushed 13 miles in two days, to be
the first Allied force to liberate the
Belgian town of Momignies.
too spent to exploit an attack. The
9th moved into the positions and
pushed 13 miles in two days, to be
the first Allied force to liberate the
Belgian town of Momignies.
The 9th began its attack on Hitler’s
Deutschland on 14 September 1944.
The 47th was the first Allied unit to
completely breach the Siegfried Line.
The 39th and the 60th, in the
meantime, drove into the Hurtgen
Forest. The Americans troops came
to refer to the Hurtgen as the "Death
Factory" continuing for three long
months. On 6 October, the 39th and
the 60th Infantry Regiments began
their first attacks on Schmidt. By 16
October the advance was halted at
Germeter, with a gain of but 3,000
yards, at a total cost of 4,500 men.
Deutschland on 14 September 1944.
The 47th was the first Allied unit to
completely breach the Siegfried Line.
The 39th and the 60th, in the
meantime, drove into the Hurtgen
Forest. The Americans troops came
to refer to the Hurtgen as the "Death
Factory" continuing for three long
months. On 6 October, the 39th and
the 60th Infantry Regiments began
their first attacks on Schmidt. By 16
October the advance was halted at
Germeter, with a gain of but 3,000
yards, at a total cost of 4,500 men.
When Hitler's counter attack struck on
16 December 1944, the battle was a
bitter one for the 9th ID. The Division
first repulsed a German attack in this
area aimed at expanding the base of
the "Bulge". It held a defensive sector
from Kalterherberg in the Hurtgen to
Elsenborn in the Ardennes throughout
January 1945.
After house to house fighting through
several small towns, the 47th seized
Wollselfen.
16 December 1944, the battle was a
bitter one for the 9th ID. The Division
first repulsed a German attack in this
area aimed at expanding the base of
the "Bulge". It held a defensive sector
from Kalterherberg in the Hurtgen to
Elsenborn in the Ardennes throughout
January 1945.
After house to house fighting through
several small towns, the 47th seized
Wollselfen.
THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN
The 9th Infantry Division was the first to establish a bridgehead east of the Rhine after crossing the
Remagen. In helping close the Ruhr pocket, the 9th withstood a savage attempt to break out, then
moved in to mop up.
The 9th Infantry Division was the first to establish a bridgehead east of the Rhine after crossing the
Remagen. In helping close the Ruhr pocket, the 9th withstood a savage attempt to break out, then
moved in to mop up.
The Remagen Bridge- the last standing
on the Rhine—was captured by soldiers
of the US 9th Armored Division on 7
March 1945, during Operation
Lumberjack. Although German engineers
had mined the bridge before the American
approach, the fuses had been cut by two
Polish engineers forcibly conscripted to
the Wehrmacht.
Ultimately, only a limited number of troops
were able to cross the Rhine before the
bridge's collapse. However, the
psychological advantage of having
crossed the Rhine in force and in pursuit
of the retreating Wehrmacht improved
Allied morale while communicating
disaster to the retreating Germans.
on the Rhine—was captured by soldiers
of the US 9th Armored Division on 7
March 1945, during Operation
Lumberjack. Although German engineers
had mined the bridge before the American
approach, the fuses had been cut by two
Polish engineers forcibly conscripted to
the Wehrmacht.
Ultimately, only a limited number of troops
were able to cross the Rhine before the
bridge's collapse. However, the
psychological advantage of having
crossed the Rhine in force and in pursuit
of the retreating Wehrmacht improved
Allied morale while communicating
disaster to the retreating Germans.
