89th Infantry Division Organization during World War II


Rolling W Division

The division insignia consists of a black "W" within a circular black tower. The division personnel, during World War I, was drawn primarily from the Middle West, and the "W" indicates its western origin~ when inverted, the letter becomes "M" and thus the name, "Middle West" Division. On its side, the letter represents the Greek letter "sigma", the symbol of summation that is, coordination or single effort. The "Middle West Division" circle is that geometrical figure which can come to stability in any position, yet move rapidly in answer to a change of forces.

Motto: "Get It Done!"


COMMAND AND STAFF

Commanding General
22 January 1945
Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Finley

Assistant Division Commander
22 January 1945
Brig. Gen. John N. Robinson

Artillery Commander
22 January 1945
Brig. Gen. John T. Bissell

Chief of Staff
22 January 1945
Col. Norman M. Winn

Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
22 January 1945
Lt. Col. Harold E. Sanford

Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
22 January 1945
Lt. Col. Charles M. Myrick

Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
22 January 1945
Lt. Col. George H. Gerhart

Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
22 January 1945
Lt. Col. James A. Wilson

Adjutant General
22 January 1945
Lt. Col. Vernon J. Blondell

Commanding Officer, 353d Infantry
22 January 1945
Col. Frank R. Maerdian

Commanding Officer, 354th Infantry
22 January 1945 Col. Robert C. Aloe
17 April 1945 Col. Curtis D. Renfro

Commanding Officer, 355th Infantry
22 January 1945
Col. Jesse T. Harris


STATISTICS

Chronology
Activated 15 July 1942
Arrived ETO 22 January 1945
Arrived Continent (D+230) 22 January 1945
Entered Combat 12 March 1945
Days in Combat 57

Casualties
Killed 222
Wounded 692
Missing 91
Captured 1
Battle Casualties 1,006
Non-Battle Casualties 1,074
Total Casualties 2,080
Percent of T/O Strength 14.6%

Campaigns
Rhineland
Central Europe

Individual Awards
Legion of Merit 5
Silver Star 45
Soldiers Medal 1
Bronze Star 164
Prisioners of War Taken 43,512



COMPOSITION

353d Infantry
354th Infantry
355th Infantry
89th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
314th Engineer Combat Battalion
314th Medical Battalion

89th Division Artillery
340th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
341st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
914th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
563d Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)

Special Troops
714th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
405th Quartermaster Company
89th Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Band


ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery
550th AMA AW Bn (Mbl) (5 Mar 45-31 May 45)

Armored
748th Tk Bn (25 Mar 45-6 Apr 45)
707th Tk Bn 6 (6 Apr 45-31 Apr 45)

Chemical
Co A, 91st Cml Mort Bn (9 Mar 45-23 Mar 45)
Co B, 93rd Cml Mort Bn (4 Apr 45-20 Apr 45)

Tank Destroyer
811th TD Bn (SP) (6 Mar 45-12 Mar 45)
602d TD Bn (SP) (12 Mar 45-29 May 45)


DETACHMENTS

355th CT, attached to 11th Armd Div (17 Mar 45-21 Mar 45)
914th FABn, attached to 11th ArmdDiv (17 Mar 45-21 Mar 45)
CoC, 314th Engr CBn, attached to 11th Armd Div (17 Mar 45-21 Mar 45)
355th CT, attached to 4th Armd Div (3 Apr 45-6 Apr 45)
914th FABn, attached to 4th Armd Div (3 Apr45-6Apr45)


89th DIVISION ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS

18 Jan 45: Attached to ETOUSA, 12th Army Group
21 Jan 45: Attached toFifteenth Army, 12th Army Group
4 Mar 45: Attached to XII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group
23 Mar 45: Attached to VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group
22 Apr 45: Attached to VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Group


COMMAND POSTS
Date Town Region Country
22 Jan 45 Fecamp (Camp Lucky Strike) Seine-Inferieure France
22 Feb 45 Blangy Seine-Inferieure France
6 Mar 45 Mersch Luxemburg Luxemburg
10 Mar 45 Ralingen Rhineland Germany
10 Mar 45 Ralingen Rhineland Germany
10 Mar 45 Speicher Rhineland Germany
13 Mar 45 Gillenfeld Rhineland Germany
15 Mar 45 Bad Bertrich Rhineland Germany
18 Mar 45 Peterswald Rhineland Germany
20 Mar 45 Rhaunen Rhineland Germany
22 Mar 45 Soberheim Rhineland Germany
24 Mar 45 Lingerhahn Rhineland Germany
25 Mar 45 Badenhard Rhineland Germany
28 Mar 45 Weisel Hessen-Nassau Germany
29 Mar 45 Bad Schwalbach Hessen-Nassau Germany
28 Mar 45 Bad Schwalbach Hessen-Nassau Germany
3 Apr 45 Hersfeld Hessen-Nassau Germany
4 Apr 45 Nesselroden Thuringa Germany
8 Apr 45 Waltershausen Thuringa Germany
11 Apr 45 Amstadt Thuringa Germany
13 Apr 45 Bad Berka Thuringa Germany
15 Apr 45 Kahla Thuringa Germany
16 Apr 45 Wejda Thuringa Germany
18 Apr 45 Werdau Saxony Germany