The division was en route to New Jersey on 7 December 1941, returning to Fort Dix when news was heard of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A regimental combat team, based on the 113th Infantry, was immediately detached from the division and attached to the
Eastern Defense Command to provide ground forces for the defense of the East Coast from New York to Philadelphia. Shortly afterwards, the remainder of the division moved to
Camp Claiborne,
Louisiana, where the 44th Division was reorganized and redesignated the 44th Infantry Division on 16 February 1942. The division was then sent to
Fort Lewis, Washington, where it participated in defense of the West Coast under the
Western Defense Command for the remainder of 1942. In February 1943, the 44th Infantry Division, much reduced through the loss of personnel and units entered a period of rebuilding and training. After completing the "D-Series", division-level training, the 44th was sent to participate in the multi-division Fourth Army #6 Louisiana Maneuvers, 7 February-3 April 1944. The division moved by railroad to
Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, arriving on 24–27 August 1944; departing the United States via the Boston Port of Embarkation on 5 September 1944. The division's 71st and 324th Infantry Regiments assaulted Fort Simserhof and nearby Hottviller. Pursuing the disintegrating enemy through
Fern Pass and into the
Inn River valley, the 44th set up its CP at Imst on 4 May. After a short period of occupation duty, the division returned to the United States in July 1945 for retraining prior to redeployment, but the end of the Pacific war resulted in inactivation in November 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
Casualties •
Total battle casualties: 5,655 •
Killed in action: 1,038 • Northern France (25 July – 14 September 44)(General Order (GO) #102, War Department (WD), 9 Nov 45) •
Rhineland (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 (GO #118, WD, 12 December 1945) • Ardennes-Alsace (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 (GO #63, Department of the Army, 20 September 1948) • Central Europe (22 March 1945 – 11 May 1945 (GO #116, WD, 11 December, 45) • Days of combat: 190 • Distinguished Unit Citations: 3
Awards •
Medal of Honor –
1. •
DSC – 38. •
Distinguished Service Medal (United States) – 2. •
Silver Star – 464. •
Legion of Merit – 8. •
Soldiers Medal – 6. •
Bronze Star – 2,647. •
Air Medal – 110. •
Legion of Honour – 1.
Commanders • Maj. Gen.
Clifford R. Powell (September 1940 – August 1941). • Maj. Gen. James I. Muir (August 1941 – August 1944). • Maj. Gen.
Robert L. Spragins (August 1944 – December 1944). • Maj. Gen.
William F. Dean (January 1945 – September 1945). • Brig. Gen.
William A. Beiderlinden (1 – 14 November 1945). • Brig. Gen. Robert L. Dulaney (November 1945 – inactivation). • Returned to U.S.: 21 July 1945. • Inactivated: 30 November 1945. == Postwar ==