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Home My WebLink AboutWWII Prog 36th Natl GuardTEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD 36th Infantry Division - the "Texas" Division The 36th became the first American combat division to land in Europe. 14 of its members were awarded the Medal of Honor. The 36th spent 400 days in combat, accepted the surrender of Field Marshal Hermann Goering, won seven campaign streamers for its colors, and took part in two assault landings. The Division had the ninth highest casualty rate of any Army Division in World War II. Organized at Camp Bowie (Fort Worth), Texas on 18 July 1917, the 36th Infantry Division drew from units of the Texas and Oklahoma National Guard. When World War I was over in 1919, the Division adopted a shoulder patch of an Infantry Blue Arrowhead with a green "T" superimposed over it. The arrowhead stood for Oklahoma and the "T," for Texas. After the war, the 36th was reorganized and became an "all Texas" division, and the Oklahoma units became part of the 45th Infantry Division. On 25 November 1940, the Division was mobilized for World War II, with active duty station at Camp Bowie, in Brownwood. It took part in training maneuvers and in April 1943 began its move overseas. It landed in North Africa, conducted amphibious training and on 9 September 1943, landed in Italy at Paestum in the Gulf of Salerno. The Division fought in the Italian Campaign in such notable actions as Mt. Lungo, San Pietro and the Rapido River. In the Rapido River action, the Division lost the better part of two of its three regiments - 141st and 143d - in unsuccessful attempts to cross the river. The attempted crossing was made to divert German troops from the landing of allied troops at Anzio. On 25 May 1944, the Division landed at Anzio and led the breakout toward Rome. The Division captured Velletri on 1 June 1944, and opened the gates of Rome for the 5th Army. The Division was then pulled out of Italy and landed on the beaches of Southern France on 15 August. Driving up through Southern France, the 36th was attacking and breaking the Siegfried Line when the war in Europe ended. . . . and Texans thank the 36th today in 2005 for still looking after us . . . Barbara Donalson Althaus Bryan, Texas WWII Prog 36th Natl Guard Ref: Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas online and one other ??