World War I Activation and movement to France The
War Department ordered the formation of the 7th Division on 6 December 1917 at
Camp Wheeler, near
Macon,
Georgia. The nucleus of the division was formed by
Regular Army units stationed at Camp Wheeler (8th Field Artillery), Camp Greenleaf (22nd, 34th, 35th, and 36th Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals), and
Chickamauga Park (55th and 56th Infantry and 80th Field Artillery), Georgia,
Fort Bliss (34th and 64th Infantry), Camp Logan (79th Field Artillery), and
Fort Sam Houston (5th Engineer Regiment), Texas,
Fort Sill,
Oklahoma (8th Field Artillery), and Camp Vail,
Vermont (10th Field Signal Battalion). Regular Army officers and graduates of the First and Second Officers' Training Camps formed the commissioned personnel of the unit, and Brigadier General
Charles H. Barth assumed command on 1 January 1918. Systematic training began in the spring and was continued through the summer despite many transfers. In May and June 1918, 20,000 new men joined the division from Camp Wheeler, Camp Travis, Texas, and
Columbus Barracks,
Ohio, the majority hailing from
Illinois,
Iowa,
Michigan,
Missouri, and
Pennsylvania. On 18 July 1918, the division moved to ports of embarkation as it prepared to deploy to Europe as a part of the
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). The unit arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey and in New York, via Camp Merritt, where additional replacements joined the unit. The majority of the unit sailed to Brest, France. The 7th Supply Train and the 7th Train Headquarters and Military Police sailed for Bordeaux, France. The units began to arrive in France on 26 July with the last units arriving on 3 September 1918. Most of the division sailed to Europe aboard the
SS Leviathan.
Training in France From the period of 17 August to 9 October, the division conducted final training and preparation to enter the line in the Ancy-le-Franc Training Area. Some soldiers from the unit were sent to the
4th and
26th Divisions as replacements for losses. From the period of 2 September through the 14th the unit was under the administrative control of the
VI Corps. From the period of 10 October until the end of the war on 11 November, the division, minus their artillery occupied and conducted local engagements in the Puvenelle Sector (Lorraine). On 10 October 1918, the division relieved the
90th Division on the front with a front line from Sablière, Vandières (incl), Côte 327, north edge of Bois des Rappes, la Souleuvre Fme, 1½ km south of Rembercourt-sur-Mad. The
92nd Division was on the right and the
37th Division was on the left. On 16 October, the
28th Division moved in on the left of the 7th Division. Several days later, on 23 October, the 92nd Division (VI Corps) occupied the sector on the. Three days later on 26 October the sector was reduced by moving the east boundary to a line between Villers-sous-Prény and Prény (both incl). Elements of the 92nd Division relieved the 56th Infantry Regiment. On 29 October, the sector was extended west to a line from Xammes to Charey, with the 64th Infantry relieving elements of the 28th Division, on a front along the eastern edge of Bois de Blainchamp, northern edge of Bois de Hailbat, eastern edge of Bois du Rupt, northern edge of Bois de la Montagne. The following lists shows the order of battle, units that contributed personnel to form the nucleus of units, and the unit activation dates and locations.
World War II On 1 July 1940, the 7th Division was formally reactivated at
Camp Ord, California, under the command of Major General
Joseph W. Stilwell.
Units sent to Goffs, CA • 7TH Surg Hospital – 302 Officers & enlisted men • Co. B 206th QM BN (GS) - 119 • Co. F 58th AMR (HM) - 263 • Hq & HQ Det 2nd & Cos C&R 58th QMR (HM) - 493 • 59th Evac Hospital - 327 • 151st Med Bn (less Co. D) - 122 • 8th QM Tr (Pk) (Cld) - 73 • 107th Cavalry (Mescz) – 304 • 7th Division Elements – 5,383 • 7th Division Elements – 7,345 • 115th Ord Co. – 134
Units sent to Freda, CA • Co. A 99th QM Bn (Bkry) • 58th Signal Bn • Co. A 246th QM Bn (Serv) (Cld) • 151st Med Bn (less Co. D) • Co. C 69th QM Bn (LM) less 1st Pl • 601st Engr Bn (Cam) • Co. D 151st Med Bn • Hq & Hq Co VII AC (Rr Ech) • Hq & Hq Det 83rd QM Bn (LM) • 207th MP Co (Rr Ech) • Hq & Hq Det 7th Ord Bn • 1st Plat 28th Car Co • 4th Plat 21st Car Co. • Hq & Hq Co VII Army Corps (Fwd Ech) • ?07th MP Co (Fwd Ech) • ?8th Signal Bn with Co. A & Msg Cent Plat Hq Co. 99th Sig Bn attached • 5th FA Brig (Hq & Hq Btry) • 181st Fa (155mm How) • 191st Fa (155mm How) • 14th Fa (155mm How) • ? A 83rd QM Bn (LM) • 67th Engr Co (Topo) • 15th Cml Co (Maint) • Co. G 53rd QMR (HM) • 1st Bn 27th QMR (Trk) (Cld) (less Co.'s C & D) • 1st Plat Co C 69th QM Bn (LM)
Units sent to Java, CA • 107th Cavalry (Mecz) • Co. H 22nd QR (Trk) • 10th Ord Co. (MM) • 57th Med Bn • Co. K 55th QMR (HM) • Co. B 83rd QM Bn (LM)
Aleutian Islands Elements of the 7th Infantry Division first saw combat in the amphibious assault on
Attu Island, the westernmost Japanese entrenchment in the
Aleutian Islands chain of
Alaska. Elements landed on 11 May 1943, spearheaded by the 17th Infantry Regiment. The initial landings were unopposed, but Japanese forces mounted a counteroffensive the next day, and the 7th Infantry Division fought an
intense battle over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance. The division was hampered by its inexperience, lack of winter clothing, and poor weather and terrain conditions, but was eventually able to coordinate an effective attack. The fight for the island culminated in a battle at
Chichagof Harbor, when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island During its first fight of the war, 549 soldiers of the division were killed, while killing 2,351 Japanese and taking 28 prisoners. The division left
Pearl Harbor on 22 January 1944, for an offensive on Japanese territory. The 7th Division landed on the namesake island while the 4th Marine Division forces struck the outlying islands of
Roi and Namur. The division made landfall on the western beaches of the island at 09:30 on 1 February. It advanced halfway through the island by nightfall the next day, and reached the eastern shore at 1335 hours on 4 February, having wrested the island from the Japanese. Elements took part in the capture of Engebi in the
Eniwetok Atoll on 18 February 1944, code named
Operation Catchpole. Because of the speed and success of the attack on Kwajalein, the attack was undertaken several months ahead of schedule. The division then returned to Hawaii to continue training. There, in June 1944, General
Douglas MacArthur and President
Franklin Roosevelt personally reviewed the division. and included the Filipino troops of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army and
Philippine Constabulary. At this time it was under the command of
XXIV Corps of the
Sixth United States Army. On 20 October 1944, the division made an assault landing at
Dulag, Leyte, initially only encountering light resistance. Following a defeat at sea on 26 October, the Japanese launched a large, uncoordinated counteroffensive on the Sixth Army. After heavy fighting, the 184th Infantry secured airstrips at Dulag, while the 17th Infantry secured San Pablo, and the 32nd Infantry took Buri. As such, operations to secure Leyte continued until early February 1945.
Okinawa . The division was reassigned to
XXIV Corps,
Tenth United States Army, a newly formed command, and began preparations for the assault on
Okinawa. The
Battle of Okinawa began on 1 April 1945,
L-Day, when the 7th Infantry Division participated in an assault landing south of
Hagushi,
Okinawa alongside the
96th Infantry Division, and the
1st, and
6th Marine Divisions. of
III Amphibious Corps. These divisions spearheaded an assault that would eventually land 250,000 men ashore. The 7th Division quickly moved to
Kadena, taking its airfield, and drove from the west to the east coast of the island on the first day. The division then moved south, encountering stiff resistance from fortifications at
Shuri a few days later. Eventually, XXIV Corps destroyed the defenses after a 51-day battle in the hills of southern Okinawa, Japanese also fought using irregular warfare techniques, relying on hidden cave systems,
snipers, and small-unit ambushes to delay the advancing 7th Infantry Division. After the fight, the division began capturing large numbers of Japanese
prisoners for the first time in the war, due to low morale, high casualties, and poor equipment. It fought for five continuous days to secure areas around the
Nakagusuku Wan and Skyline Ridge. The division also secured Hill 178 in the fighting. It then moved to Kochi Ridge, securing it after a two-week battle. After 39 days of continuous fighting, the 7th Infantry Division was sent into reserve, having suffered heavy casualties. After the
96th Infantry Division secured Conical Hill, the 7th Infantry Division returned to the line. It pushed into positions on the southern Ozato Mura hills, where Japanese resistance was heaviest. It was placed on the extreme left flank of the Tenth Army, taking the Ghinen peninsula, Sashiki, and Hanagusuku, fending off a series of Japanese
counterattacks. Despite heavy Japanese resistance and prolonged bad weather, the division continued its advance until 21 June 1945, when the battle ended, having seen 82 days of combat. The island and surrendering troops were secured by the next day. during 208 days of combat. During World War II, soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division were awarded three
Medals of Honor, 26
Distinguished Service Crosses, one
Distinguished Service Medal, 982
Silver Star Medals, 33
Legion of Merit Medals, 50
Soldier's Medals, 3,853
Bronze Star Medals, and 178
Air Medals. and
Joe P. Martinez.
Occupation of Japan A few days after
V-J Day, the division moved to
Korea to accept the surrender of the Japanese Army in South Korea. The 7th Infantry Division remained on occupation duty in Korea patrolling the
38th parallel until 1948, when it was reassigned to occupation duty in Japan, in charge of northern
Honshū and all of
Hokkaido. During this time, the US Army underwent a drastic reduction in size. At the end of World War II, it contained 89 divisions, but by 1950, the 7th Infantry Division was one of only 10 active divisions in the force. It was one of four understrength divisions on occupation duty in Japan alongside the
1st Cavalry Division,
24th Infantry Division, and
25th Infantry Division, all under control of the
Eighth United States Army.
Korean War At the outbreak of the
Korean War in June 1950, the 7th Infantry Division commander, Major General
David G. Barr, assembled the division at
Camp Fuji near
Mount Fuji. The division was already depleted due to post-war shortages of men and equipment The division was reduced to 9,000 men, half of its wartime strength. To replenish the ranks of the understrength division, the
Republic of Korea Army (ROK) assigned over 8,600
Korean soldiers to the division. The
Colombian Battalion was at times attached to the division. With the addition of priority reinforcements from the US, the division strength was eventually increased to 25,000 when it entered combat. Also fighting with the 7th Infantry Division for much of the war were members of the three successive
Kagnew Battalions sent by Emperor
Haile Selassie I of
Ethiopia as part of the UN forces. The division paired with the
1st Marine Division under US
X Corps to participate in the
Inchon Landing, The two divisions would be supported by the US
3rd Infantry Division in reserve. X Corps began landing at Inchon on 15 September 1950, catching the
Korean People's Army (KPA) by surprise. The 7th Infantry Division began landing on 18 September, after the 1st Marine Division, securing its right flank. X Corps quickly
advanced to Seoul and the 1st Marine Division attacked the 20,000 defenders of the city from the north and southwest, while the 7th Infantry Division's 32nd Infantry Regiment attacked from the southeast. The 31st Infantry followed behind. Seoul fell to X Corps after suffering moderate casualties, particularly for the Marines. The division then began advancing south to cut off KPA supply routes. The 32nd Infantry crossed the
Han River on 25 September to create a
bridgehead, and the next day, the division advanced to
Osan south of Seoul and linked up with the 1st Cavalry Division of
Eighth United States Army which had
broken out from the Pusan perimeter starting on 16 September and then
began a general offensive northward against crumbling KPA opposition. Seoul was liberated one day later with the help of air assets from the 1st Cavalry Division. The combined forces of the Eighth Army cut off and captured retreating KPA forces. X Corps was kept separate from the rest of the Eighth Army to avoid placing a burden on the logistical system. As part of the
UN offensive into North Korea 7th Division
withdrew to Pusan to conduct another amphibious assault on the east coast of North Korea. The entire battle for Inchon and Seoul cost the division 106 killed, 411 wounded and 57 missing American soldiers, and 43 killed, 102 wounded South Korean soldiers. The Chinese
People's Volunteer Army (PVA) entered the war on the side of North Korea, making their
first attacks in late October. The 7th Infantry Division
began landing at Wonsan on 26 October, and
Iwon on 29 October. The division advanced to
Hyesanjin, on the
China–North Korea border by the
Yalu River, one of the northernmost advances for UN soldiers of the war. Much of X Corps followed behind. The advance went quickly for the 7th Infantry Division and ROK troops while the Marines were not able to advance as quickly. The division halted its advance until 24 November while other units of the Eighth Army's
IX Corps and ROK
II Corps caught up and supply lines were established. During this time, the 7th Division's regiments were spread out on the front line. The 31st Infantry Regiment remained at the
Chosin Reservoir with the 1st Marine Division while the 32nd and 17th Infantry Regiments were much further to the northeast, closer to ROK
I Corps. It was during this time that the division was served by a new type of unit, the 1st
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M.A.S.H.).
Chinese intervention Don C. Faith Jr., leader of
Task Force Faith The UN forces renewed their offensive on 24 November before being stopped by the PVA
Second Phase Offensive starting on 25 November with attacks on Eighth Army's IX Corps and ROK II Corps in the west and X Corps in the east. During the furious action that followed, the 7th Infantry Division's spread out regiments were unable to resist the overwhelming PVA forces. Three of the division's infantry battalions were attacked from all sides the next day. 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry (nicknamed
Task Force Faith) was trapped with two other battalions by the PVA
80th and
81st Divisions from the 27th Field Army. In the subsequent
Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the three battalions were destroyed by overwhelming PVA forces The 31st Infantry suffered heavy casualties trying to fight back the PVA forces further north, but the 17th Infantry was spared of heavy attack, retreating along the Korean coastline, out of range of the offensive. By the time X Corps ordered a retreat, most of the 7th Infantry Division, save the 17th Infantry Regiment, had suffered 40 percent casualties. The scattered elements of the division saw repeated attacks as they attempted to withdrawal to the port of
Hungnam in December 1950. These attacks cost the division another 100 killed before it was
evacuated on 21 December. The division suffered 2,657 killed and 354 wounded during the retreat. Most of the dead were members of Task Force Faith. The division reached full strength and saw action around Chechon,
Chungju, and
Pyeongchang as part of an effort to push the KPA and PVA forces back above the
38th Parallel and away from Seoul. The 7th Infantry Division engaged in a series of successful "limited objective" attacks in the early weeks of February, a series of small unit attacks and ambushes between the two sides. It would continue slowly advancing and clearing enemy hilltop positions through April. By April the entire Eighth Army was advancing north as one line stretching across the peninsula, reaching the 38th Parallel by May. The division, now assigned to
IX Corps, then assaulted and fought a fierce three-day battle culminating with the recapture of the terrain that had been lost near the Hwachon Reservoir just over the 38th Parallel in North Korea. In capturing the town bordering on the reservoir it cut off thousands of PVA/KPA troops. The division fought on the front lines until June 1951 when it was assigned to the reserve for a brief rest and refitting. It remained static in the region until 23 February 1952 when it was sent into reserve and relieved by the 25th Infantry Division. The next year saw the 7th Division engaged in an extended campaign for nearby land, the
Battle of Old Baldy. The 7th Division continued to defend "Line Missouri" through September 1952, though it became known as the "Static Line" as UN forces made few meaningful gains in the time. . The 7th Infantry Division's
Operation Showdown launched in the early morning hours of 14 October 1952, with the 31st Infantry and 32nd Infantry at the head of the attack. The target of the assault was the Triangle Hill complex northeast of Kumhwa. The 7th Infantry Division remained in the Triangle Hill area until the end of October, when it was relieved by the 25th Infantry Division. The 7th Infantry Division was highly praised by commanders for its tenacity through the fight. In April, the KPA began stepping up offensive operations against UN forces. During the
Battle of Porkchop Hill, the PVA
67th and
141st Divisions overran Pork Chop Hill using massed infantry and artillery fire. The hill had been under the control of the 31st Infantry. The 31st counterattacked with reinforcements from the 17th Infantry and recaptured the area the next day. On 6 July the PVA/KPA launched a determined attack against Pork Chop resulting in five days of fierce fighting with few meaningful results. By the end of July, five infantry battalions from the 31st and 17th were defending the hill, while a PVA division was in position to attack it. During this standoff, the UN ordered the 7th Infantry Division to retreat from the hill in preparation for an armistice, which would end major hostilities. During the Korean War, the division saw a total of 850 days of combat, suffering 15,126 casualties, including 3,905 killed in action and 10,858 wounded. For the next few years, the division remained on defensive duty along the 38th parallel, under the command of the Eighth Army.
Raymond Harvey,
Einar H. Ingman Jr.,
William F. Lyell,
Joseph C. Rodriguez,
Richard Thomas Shea,
Daniel D. Schoonover,
Jack G. Hanson,
Ralph E. Pomeroy,
Edward R. Schowalter Jr.,
Benjamin F. Wilson,
Don C. Faith Jr., and
Anthony T. Kahoʻohanohano.
Cold War From 1953 to 1971, the 7th Infantry Division defended the
Korean Demilitarized Zone. Its main garrison was
Camp Casey, South Korea. The 14th Infantry Brigade was reactivated as the
3rd Brigade, 7th Infantry Division In 1965 the division received its
distinctive unit insignia, which alluded to its history during the Korean War. In 1989 the 7th Infantry Division participated in
Operation Just Cause in Panama, briefly occupying the country in conjunction with the
82nd Airborne Division. Elements of the 7th Infantry Division landed in the northern areas of
Colón Province, Panama, securing the
Coco Solo Naval Station,
Fort Espinar,
France Field, and
Colón while the 82nd Airborne and US Marines fought in the more heavily populated southern region. Once Panama City was under US control, the 82nd quickly re-deployed and left the city under the control of the 7th Division's
9th Infantry Regiment until after the capture of
Manuel Noriega. The division's soldiers patrolled the streets of Los Angeles to act as crowd control and supported the
Los Angeles Police Department and
California Army National Guard in preventing the violence from rampaging throughout
Los Angeles County. It was part of a force of 3,500 federal troops called into the city. In 1993 the division was slated to be inactivated as part of the post-
Cold War drawdown of the US Army. The 1st Brigade relocated to Fort Lewis in 1993 and was reflagged on 15 August 1995 as the
1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division; while the 2nd Brigade and the 3rd Brigade of the 7th was inactivated at Fort Ord. The division headquarters was formally inactivated on 16 June 1994 at Fort Lewis. •
3d Battalion, 123d Aviation (Combat Support) •
Division Artillery • Headquarters & Headquarters Battery •
2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery (18 ×
M119 105 mm towed howitzer) • 7th Supply & Transportation Battalion • Company D, 123d Aviation (Maintenance, redesignated Company E, 123d Aviation on 16 October 1988) •
2d Battalion, 62d Air Defense Artillery • 13th Engineer Battalion • 127th Signal Battalion • 107th Military Intelligence Battalion • 7th Military Police Company • 761st Chemical Company • 7th Division Band
National Guard training command and Fort Carson At the end of the
Cold War, the US Army considered new options for the integration and organization of
active duty,
Army Reserve and
Army National Guard units in training and deployment. Two division headquarters activated in the active duty component for training National Guard units. The 7th Infantry Division and the
24th Infantry Division headquarters were selected. The headquarters company of the 7th Infantry Division (Light) formally reactivated on 4 June 1999, at
Fort Carson,
Colorado, as the first Active Component/Reserve Component division. The reserve formations that made up the 7th Infantry Division included the
39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the
Arkansas National Guard, the
41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the
Oregon National Guard and the
45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the
Oklahoma National Guard. Fort Carson became the new headquarters for the division. The division headquarters also provided training assistance in preparation for small-scale National Guard operations,
Joint Readiness Training Center rotations, leadership training for National Guard commanders, and annual summer training for the three brigades. This transformation was part of an overall restructuring of the US Army to streamline the organizations overseeing training. The Division West took control of reserve units in 21 states west of the
Mississippi River, eliminating the need for the 7th Infantry Division headquarters. All of the division's flags and heraldic items were moved to the
National Infantry Museum at
Fort Benning, Georgia following its inactivation. At the time it was determined that, should the US Army decide to activate more divisions in the future, the center would most likely suggest the first new division be the 7th Infantry Division, the second be the
9th Infantry Division, the third be the
24th Infantry Division, the fourth be the
5th Infantry Division, and the fifth be the
2nd Armored Division. In the announcement, McHugh denied that the move was made in response to several high-profile misconduct allegations leveled against soldiers from the base in the
Afghanistan War such as the
Maywand District murders and the
Kandahar massacre. It activated on the base on 10 October 2012. On 16 August 2024, the 1st and 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Teams were part of a re-patching ceremony officially realigning these two brigades from the
2nd Infantry Division to the 7th Infantry Division. According to the 7th Infantry Division official Facebook post about this event, "This historic event honors their extensive legacy, creates a stronger and more unified force and brings Bayonet Soldiers closer together." == Organization ==