27th Infantry Division (United States)

27th Infantry Division (1917–55) 27th Armored Division (1955–68)
27th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. The red stars depict the Orion constellation, punning on the surname of the division's World War I commander John F. O'Ryan. The Red circle on the outside is an "O", also for "O'Ryan". The letters inside form the monogram "NYD", for "New York Division".
Active	1898 1908–1919 1921–1945 1947–1968
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Nickname(s)	"O'Ryan's Roughnecks" "New York Division"
Engagements	World War I Somme Offensive Ypres-Lys Meuse-Argonne World War II Battle of Makin Battle of Saipan Battle of Okinawa Iraq War (as 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Major General John F. O'Ryan

The 27th Infantry Division was a unit of the Army National Guard in World War I and World War II. The division traces its history from the New York Division, formed originally in 1908. The 6th Division designation was changed to the 27th Division in July 1917.

History

When the New York Division was organized in 1908, New York became the second state, after Pennsylvania, to structure its National Guard at such a high tactical level in peacetime. The New York Division was called to active duty during the Mexican border crisis of 1916. While on federal duty, it was redesignated as the 6th Division in June 1916. It was released from active duty in December 1916, only to be recalled for World War I service in July 1917. The 6th Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 27th Division on 1 October 1917.

World War I

Formation

Following the declaration of war on the Central Powers by the United States, the division was called into federal service on 15 July 1917, and hastily recruited New Yorkers to increase its numbers.

The division was one of only four divisions formed during the war from National Guard units entirely from a single state; the other divisions so formed were from Illinois (the 33rd Division), Ohio (the 37th Division), and Pennsylvania (the 28th Division). However, not all New Yorkers served in the 27th. Its initial strength was 991 officers and 27,114 enlisted men. The division's initial organization of three brigades with three infantry regiments each was carried over from the 6th Division

Prior to its departing to training, the division participated in a large send-off parade in New York City along 5th Avenue on 30 August 1917. The 7th Infantry Regiment was the first to leave for training on 11 September 1917, by train. The training was conducted at a purpose-built temporary facility at Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Nearby hotels such as the Cleveland Hotel became centers for social life. The camp also housed seven YMCA Huts and a Knights of Columbus Hall. While the 27th had African-American service-men they were not permitted to enter the service organization clubs on base, which were segregated, until a black soldier's club was built in early 1918.

On the march

In the spring of 1918, the division began its movement toward embarkation camps, and shipped out on 20 April 1918. The division's advance detachment left Hoboken on 2 May and arrived at Brest, France, 10 May 1918. Late in June the last units of the 27th Division had arrived safely overseas.

Western Front

From the arrival of the first troops to the Western Front until 24 July, the division spent its time undertaking its final stages of training under British mentors in Picardy and Flanders. On 25 July, the 27th Division, excluding its artillery brigade and ammunition train, occupied the Dickebusch Lake and Scherpenberg sectors in Flanders.

In just over a month, this operation merged into the Ypres-Lys action, and then, from 19 August to 3 September, the 27th was on its own.

It was decided by Field marshal Douglas Haig that the Fourth Army's Australian Corps would lead the Battle of St. Quentin Canal . However, due to the Corps depleted nature, which was a result of fighting almost continuously, it would be reinforced by the 27th and 30th divisions, which resulted in II Corps being temporarily reassigned under Australian command. This great Somme "push", which lasted from 24 September to 1 October, saw the 27th engaged in severe fighting along the Saint Quentin Canal Tunnel—one of the out-lying strong points of the Hindenburg Line. At the conclusion of the first phase of the battle, and following heavy losses, the 27th was placed into reserve for rest and recuperation. Six days later, the division was sent back into the line, moving steadily toward Busigny whilst chasing the retreating Germans. These operations were supported by Australian Artillery until 9 October, when British artillery units began supporting the division's operations. As a result of these offensives by the Australian, British and US forces, the Hindenburg's Main Line was penetrated.

The 52d Field Artillery Brigade and the 102nd Ammunition Train of the New York Division had not gone with the rest of the Twenty-seventh Division to the British front in Flanders. They had moved up on 28 October, to support the Seventy-Ninth Division in the Argonne.

Meanwhile, the Twenty-Seventh Division units which had seen heavy action in Flanders, had moved back to an area near the French seaport of Brest.

• Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne (only the artillery), Ypres-Lys, Somme Offensive.
• Initially stationed in the East Poperinghe Line.
  • Battle of Dickebusche Lake, Summer 1918
  • Battle of Vierstraat Ridge, Summer 1918
  • Struggled to break the German defensive Hindenburg Line, September 1918.
  • Second battle of the Somme, 25 September 1918
  • Selle River, November 1918

The 27th did break the Hindenburg line during the Battle of the Somme and forced a German retreat from their defensive line and forced the Germans to a final confrontation. After a final confrontation with the retreating Germans at the Selle River the Armistice ended the fighting and the division was sent home in February 1919, to be mustered out several months later. The division had sustained a total of 8,334 (KIA: 1,442; WIA: 6,892) casualties when it was inactivated in April 1919.

Interwar period

In 1921, the division was reconstituted in the National Guard, allotted to the state of New York in the Second Corps Area, and assigned to the II Corps. The division headquarters was reorganized and federally recognized at New York City on 23 December 1921.

The 53rd Infantry Brigade initially consisted of the 105th and 106th Infantry Regiments. On 1 September 1940, the first iteration of the 106th Infantry Regiment was converted into the 186th Field Artillery Regiment and 101st Military Police Battalion. The 10th Infantry (New York), formerly part of the separate 93rd Infantry Brigade (the headquarters of which was converted into the 71st Field Artillery Brigade on 1 September 1940), was assigned to the 53rd Brigade in its place. It was later redesignated the 106th Infantry, although it was lineally unrelated to the first unit bearing that designation. The 54th Infantry Brigade initially consisted of the 107th and 108th Infantry Regiments. On 1 August 1940, the 107th Infantry was converted into the 207th Coast Artillery Regiment, and the 165th Infantry, formerly part of the 93rd Infantry Brigade, was assigned in its place as of 20 June 1940.

The designated mobilization training center for the “Empire” Division was Camp Smith, near Peekskill, New York, also where much of the division’s training activities occurred between the wars. The mobilization training center was changed in 1939 to Camp Foster, Florida. The division, less the 52nd Field Artillery Brigade, conducted summer camp most years at Camp Smith, from 1922 to 1939. The 52nd Field Artillery Brigade trained most years at Pine Camp, New York, so that its batteries could conduct live-fire training at the ranges located there. Generally, the division staff conducted command post exercises (CPX) and staff training concurrent with the camps. However, in 1929, the division staff participated in the Second Corps Area CPX from 7–29 July at Camp Dix, New Jersey, and in the First Army CPXs in July 1931 and July 1934 also held at Camp Dix. For the 1935 camp, the division participated in the Second Corps Area phase of the First Army maneuvers at Pine Camp. During that maneuver, the 27th Division operated as part of the provisional II Corps against the provisional I Corps. The “Empire” division also participated in the First Army Maneuvers in 1939 and 1940 held at Plattsburg and Canton, New York, respectively. In both maneuvers, the 27th Division again operated as part of the provisional II Corps against the provisional I Corps. The division was inducted into active federal service at home stations on 15 October 1940, relieved from the II Corps, and assigned to the VII Corps. Instead of Camp Foster, however, the Empire Division was ordered to move to Fort McClellan, Alabama, where it arrived on 25 October 1940. After the division’s initial train-up period, it participated in the Carolina Maneuvers in October–November 1941.

World War II

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the division was one of the first stateside divisions to be assigned defensive duties. The 27th Division departed Fort McClellan on 14 December 1941 for California to establish blocking positions against a seaborne invasion of the United States southwestern coast. They were further transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations and arrived in Hawaii, 21 May 1942, to defend the outer islands from amphibious attack. In September 1942, the division was reorganized from a "square" to a "triangular" division. The 27th was the last of the National Guard divisions to make this change, as it had been earmarked for overseas shipment and had departed for Hawaii in the midst of the other divisions being converted in the spring of 1942, and Army officials in Hawaii had prepared facilities to receive the units of a larger "square" division. The 165th Infantry (the once and future 69th Infantry) and 3rd Battalion, 105th Infantry first saw action against the enemy during the attack and capture of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 21–24 November 1943. The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 106th Regiment participated in the attack on Eniwetok Atoll, 19–26 February 1944, returning to Oahu in March. During this mission, the 2nd Battalion, 106th Infantry landed unopposed on Majuro Island, 1 February, and completed its seizure, 3 February. The division began preparations for the Marianas operations, 15 March. On D-day plus 1, 16 June 1944, elements landed at night on Saipan to support the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions. A beachhead was established and Aslito Airfield captured, 18 June. Fighting continued throughout June. Marine General Holland Smith, unsatisfied with the performance of the 27th Division, relieved its commander, Army General Ralph C. Smith., which led to angry recrimination from senior Army commanders, including Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall. During a pitched battle, 7 July, Japanese overran elements of the division in a banzai attack, but organized resistance was crushed the next day. During the months of July and August, the 27th cleaned out isolated pockets in the mountains and cliffs of Saipan.

Men of the 27th Division crossing a pontoon bridge on Okinawa. 21 April 1945.

Beginning in the middle of August, the division moved to the New Hebrides for rest and rehabilitation. On 25 March 1945, the 27th sailed from Espiritu Santo, arriving at Okinawa, 9 April 1945. The Division participated in the XXIV Corps general attack, 19 April 1945, securing a dominating ridge line south of Machinato and Kakazu. Machinato Airfield was captured, 28 April, after a severe struggle. On 1 May, the division was relieved by the 1st Marine Division and attached to the Island Command for garrison duty. Tori Shima was seized, 12 May, without opposition. The 27th attacked from the south end of Ishikawa Isthmus to sweep the northern sector of Okinawa. The enemy fought bitterly on Onnatake Hill from 23 May until 2 June, before losing the strong point. After a mopping-up period, the division left Okinawa, 7 September 1945, moved to Japan and occupied Niigata and Fukushima Prefectures.

• Overseas: 10 March 1942.
• Campaigns: Divisional elements participated in various campaigns in the Pacific Theater:
• Distinguished Unit Citations: 2.
• Awards: MH: 4; DSC: 21; DSM: 2 ; Silver Star: 412; LM: 15; SM: 13; BSM: 986; AM: 9.
• Returned to U.S.: 15 December 1945
• Inactivated: 31 December 1945

Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 6,533
• Killed in action: 1,512
• Wounded in action: 4,980
• Missing in action: 40
• Prisoner of war: 1

Campaign participation credits, 27th Infantry Division

Unit	Campaign participation credit
Headquarters, 27th Infantry Division	Central Pacific, Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
105th Infantry Regiment	Central Pacific, Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
106th Infantry Regiment	Eastern Mandates (Ground), Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
165th Infantry Regiment	Central Pacific, Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 27th Infantry Division Artillery	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
104th Field Artillery Battalion	Eastern Mandates (Ground), Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
105th Field Artillery Battalion	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
106th Field Artillery Battalion	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
249th Field Artillery Battalion	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
102nd Engineer Combat Battalion	Central Pacific, Eastern Mandates (Ground), Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
102nd Medical Battalion	Central Pacific, Eastern Mandates (Ground), Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
27th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
Headquarters, Special Troops, 27th Infantry Division	Ryukyus
Headquarters Company, 27th Infantry Division	Central Pacific, Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
727th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
27th Quartermaster Company	Central Pacific, Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
27th Signal Company	Central Pacific, Eastern Mandates (Ground), Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
Military Police Platoon	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
Band	Ryukyus, Western Pacific (Ground)
27th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment	Ryukyus

Postwar

The division was reformed as a National Guard formation on 21 April 1947. The division was reconstituted along the lines of its wartime structure with limited reorganizations.

On 1 February 1955 the 27th Division became the 27th Armored Division, retaining many of its former units.

On 1 February 1968, the division was reorganized as the 27th Armored Brigade, a unit of the 50th Armored Division.

The 27th Armored Brigade was reorganized as an infantry brigade in 1975 and aligned with the 42nd Infantry Division.

In 1985 the 27th Infantry Brigade was activated as part of the New York Army National Guard, and assigned as the "roundout" brigade of the Army's 10th Mountain Division.

The 27th Brigade was later reorganized as the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and reestablished use of the 27th Infantry Division's NYD shoulder sleeve insignia. The 27th Infantry Brigade carries on the lineage and history of the 27th Infantry Division.

Order of battle

Chain of command deployed, WWI

• Fourth Army, British Expeditionary Force
  • II Corps, American Expeditionary Force

Organization Jul – Nov 1917

• Division Headquarters
  • 1st Brigade
    • 7th Infantry
    • 12th Infantry
    • 14th Infantry
  • 2d Brigade
    • 1st Infantry
    • 23d Infantry
    • 71st Infantry
  • 3d Brigade
    • 2d Infantry
    • 3d Infantry
    • 74th Infantry
  • Brigade Field Artillery
    • 1st Field Artillery
    • 2d Field Artillery
    • 3d Field Artillery
    • 1st Cavalry
    • Squadron A and Machine Gun Troop
    • 22d Engineers
    • 1st Battalion, Signal Corps
  • Trains
    • Military Police
    • Ammunition Train
    • Supply Train
    • Engineer Train
  • Sanitary Train
    • Headquarters Ambulance Companies
      • 1st Ambulance Company
      • 2d Ambulance Company
      • 3d Ambulance Company
      • 4th Ambulance Company
    • Headquarters Field Hospital
      • 1st Field Hospital
      • 2d Field Hospital
      • 3d Field Hospital
      • 4th Field Hospital

Organization from Nov 1917

Initially 3 brigades consisting of 3 infantry regiments each, for a total of nine regiments. Reorganized into 2 brigades of 2 infantry regiments each.

• Headquarters, 27th Division

Square Division example: 1918 US Infantry Division. On the far left can be seen two Brigades of two Regiments each

• 53rd Infantry Brigade
  • 105th Infantry Regiment
  • 106th Infantry Regiment
  • 105th Machine Gun Battalion
• 54th Infantry Brigade
  • 107th Infantry Regiment
  • 108th Infantry Regiment
  • 106th Machine Gun Battalion
• 52nd Field Artillery Brigade
  • 104th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm)
  • 105th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm)
  • 106th Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm)
  • 102nd Trench Mortar Battery
• 104th Machine Gun Battalion
• 102nd Engineer Regiment
• 102nd Field Signal Battalion
• Headquarters Troop, 27th Division
• 102nd Train Headquarters and Military Police
  • 102nd Ammunition Train
  • 102nd Supply Train
  • 102nd Engineer Train
  • 102nd Sanitary Train
    • 105th, 106th, 107th, and 108th Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals

The artillery elements were reassigned upon arrival in France, and did not see service with the 27th Division during combat.

Organization, WWII

• Headquarters, 27th Infantry Division
• 105th Infantry Regiment
• 106th Infantry Regiment,
• 165th Infantry Regiment
• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 27th Infantry Division Artillery

Triangular Division example: 1942 U.S. infantry division.

• • 104th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 105th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 106th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 249th Field Artillery Battalion
• 102nd Engineer Combat Battalion
• 102nd Medical Battalion
• 27th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
• Headquarters, Special Troops, 27th Infantry Division
  • Headquarters Company, 27th Infantry Division
  • 727th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
  • 27th Quartermaster Company
  • 27th Signal Company
  • Military Police Platoon
  • Band
• 27th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment

Organization, 1948 to 1954

• Division Headquarters & Headquarters Co.
• Infantry: 105th Infantry Regiment, 108th Infantry Regiment, 174th Infantry Regiment.
• Artillery: DIVARTY, 156th Field Artillery Battalion, 170th Field Artillery Battalion, 249th Field Artillery Battalion, 127th AAA Battalion (from 106th AAA, from 7th AAA, from 106th of WW2).
• Combat support: 127th Tank Battalion, 152nd Engineer Battalion, 27th Recon Troop, 27th Signal Company
• Combat service support: 27th Military Police Company, 727th Ordnance Company, 27th Quartermaster Company, 134th Medical Battalion, 27th Replacement Company.

Commanders

World War I

• Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan (16 July 1917)
• Brig. Gen. Charles L. Phillips (19 September 1917)
• Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan (6 December 1917)
• Brig. Gen. Charles L. Phillips (23 December 1917)
• Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan (29 December 1917)
• Brig. Gen. Charles L. Phillips (22 February 1918)
• Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan (1 March 1918)
• Brig. Gen. Palmer E. Pierce (16 June 1918)
• Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan (18 June 1918)
• Brig. Gen. Palmer E. Pierce (14 November 1918)
• Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan (23 November 1918)

World War II

• Maj. Gen. William N. Haskell (October 1940 – October 1941)
• Brig. Gen. Ralph McT. Pennell (November 1941 – October 1942)
• Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith (November 1942 – June 1944)
• Maj. Gen. George W. Griner Jr. (June 1944 – December 1945)

Bibliography

• Cameron, David W. (2018). Australians on the Western Front: 1918. Vol. 2. Penguin Random House Australia. pp. 387–436. ISBN 978-0-670-07828-8.

Further reading

• Love, Edmund G. (1982). The 27th Infantry Division in World War II. Battery Press. ISBN 978-0-89839-056-8.
• Gailey, Harry A. (1986). Howlin' Mad Vs. the Army: Conflict in Command, Saipan 1944. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-242-5.
• Swetland, Maurice J., and Lilli Swetland. "These Men": "For Conspicuous Bravery Above and Beyond the Call of Duty ...". [Harrisburg, Pa.]: Military Service Pub. Co, 1940. OCLC 3505183
• Mitchell A. Yockelson, Borrowed Soldiers: Americans under British Command, 1918, Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-8061-3919-7.

External links

• Pictorial History of the 27th Division, United States Army, 1940–1941 – New York State Military Museum on New York Heritage Digital Collections
• O'Ryan's Roughnecks