87th Division (United States) - World War II

World War II

  • Activated: 15 December 1942 at Camp McCain, Mississippi.
  • Training: Moved to the Tennessee Maneuver Area on 3 December 1943, for the Second Army #4 Tennessee Maneuvers; Consolidated to Fort Jackson, South Carolina on 20 January 1944 for divisional training.
  • Staged at Camp Kilmer, at Stelton (now Edison), New Jersey, on 10 October 1944 until it received its Port Call to the New York Port of Embarkation in Brooklyn, NY.
  • Overseas: Deployed to the European Theater on 17 October 1944.
  • Arrived England on 12 November 1944, and Staged for movement to France.
  • Assigned to US 3rd Army on 25 November 1944.
  • Arrived La Havre, France 28 November 1944.
  • Was further assigned to US III Corps on 4 December 1944, and to US XII Corps on 11 December 1944, and to US XV Corps on 21 December 1944, and to US VIII Corps on 29 December 1944.
  • Crossed into Belgium on 12 January 1945, and returned to XII Corps on 14 January 1945.
  • Crossed into Luxembourg on 21 January 1945, and assigned to VIII Corps on 25 January 1945.
  • Due to discontinuity of German railroad system, 87th ID was routed to Germany by returning to Belgium on 3 February 1945.
  • Entered Germany 16 March 1945, and remained to VE Day.
  • Returned to Continental US at New York Port of Embarkation on 11 July 1945, and proceeded to Fort Benning, Georgia on 14 July 1945 to prepare for deployment to Japan.
  • Was at Fort Benning on VJ Day.
  • 87th Infantry Division was deactivated on 21 September 1945, at Fort Benning, Georgia.
  • Campaigns: Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
  • Days of combat: 154.
  • Presidential Unit Citation: 2.
  • Awards:
  1. Medal of Honor-1 ;
  2. Distinguished Service Cross-9 ;
  3. Distinguished Service Medal-1 ;
  4. Silver Star-364;
  5. Legion of Merit −20;
  6. Soldier's Medal −41 ;
  7. Bronze Star −1,542 ;
  8. Air Medal −49.

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