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The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division is a formation of the US Army. Its primary mission is the defense of South
Korea in the initial stages of an invasion from North Korea until other
US Army units can arrive.
Strength
There are approximately 15,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infanty Division.
The 2nd Division, unlike any other division in the Army, is made up partially of Korean soldiers, called KATUSAs (Korean
Augmentation to US Army). This program began in 1950 by agreement with South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Some 27,000 KATUSAs served with the US forces at the end of the Korean War. Approximately 1,400 served in 2002
Nicknames
- "Indian Head" Division (so named after the unit patch)
- "Warrior Division" (official nickname)
- Motto: "Second to None"
Command and Staff
Division Commander: Major General John R. Wood Deputy Division Commander (Maneuver)
Division Command Sergeant Major: CSM James Lucerno Division KATUSA Sergeant Major: Park, Jung Gil
Locations
- Camp Red Cloud
- Camp Essayons
- Camp Casey: 45 miles north of Seoul; 17 miles south of DMZ
- Camp Castle
- Camp Hovey
- Camp Howze
- Camp Stanley
Subunits
- 1st Brigade
- 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor, at Camp Casey
- 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor, at Camp Casey
- 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry, at Camp Casey
- 2nd Brigade
- 2nd Brigade Combat Team, at Camp Casey (tactical arrangement)
- 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry, at Camp Hovey
- 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 503rd Infantry, at Camp Hovey
- 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 506th Infantry, at Camp Casey
- Long Range Surveillance Detachment, at Camp Hovey
- Expert Infantry Badge Course, at Camp Casey
- 3rd Brigade *Stryker Brigade Combat Team 1*
- 3rd Brigade Combat Team, at Fort Lewis, WA (currently in IRAQ)
- 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment
- 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
- 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment
- 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment
- 296th Field Support Battalion
- Division Artillery (DIVARTY)
- DIVARTY Headquarters
- 1st Battalion, 15th Artillery; ("Guns Battalion"), 155 mm cannon
- 2nd Battalion, 17th Artillery; ("Steel Battalion") At Camp Hovey; supports 2nd Brigade Combat Team
- 3 Paladin batteries (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie)
- Headquarters Battery
- Service Battery
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- 6th Battalion, 37th Artillery Regiment; Commander: Lt. Colonel David Thompson
- Headquarters Battery (HHB)
- 2 ATACMS (Bat II) Multiple launch rocket systems batteries
- Service Battery
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- 1st Battaltion, 38th Artillery; ("Steel Behind the Rock"); General support for division; counter-fire on North Korean
batteries
- 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Regiment; Lieutenant Colonel Roberto L. Delgado, Commanding
- Aviation Brigade
- Aviation Brigade Headquarters
- 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry
- 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment
- 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment
Eighth Army Support:
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- 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment
- Engineering Brigade
- 2nd Engineer Battalion, located at Camp Castle
- 122nd Signal Battalion
- Division Support Command (DISCOM)
- Division Medical Operations Center (DMOC)
- 121st General Hospital, at Yongsam Garrison
- 127th Field
Surgical Team
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- 2nd Forward Support Battalion, at Camp Hovey; Tactically supports 1st Brigade Combat Team
- 302nd Forward Support Battalion ("Iron Horse"), at Camp Casey: Tactically supports 1st Brigade Combat Team
- 4th Chemical Company
- 602nd Aviation Support Battalion ("Warhorse Battalion"; motto "To Bend Broken Wings"); at Camp Stanley; Provides support for
2nd Aviation Brigade
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- 702nd Main Support Battalion; second-level maintenance
Equipment
Unit History
After training in Ireland and Wales from
October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres,
10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July. Exploiting the St. Lo
break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15
August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest,
the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26
September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions
near Elsenborn, where the German drive
was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March. The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th
Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Göttingen 8 April,
established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig,
mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved
200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the German-Czech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen,
reaching that city as the war in Europe ended.
External links
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