The nickname rainbow division represented the diversity of men grouped into one division as. Soldiers of the 42nd needed to learn the newly implemented acft. In 1917, rainbow division celebrated christmas in france u. A photograph from the book the story of the rainbow division shows soldiers with the missouri national guards 117th field signal battalion part of the 42nd infantry division making. In 1917 men were selected from various units of the national guard of 26 states and the district of columbia to form a truly representative division with a view towards bringing the war home to the people. Internet archive bookreader 42nd rainbow infantry division. Apr 25, 2010 vernon lawrence larry petersen was a technical sergeant in the 42nd rainbow division of the us seventh army during ww ii. The 42nd infantry division stretches like a rainbow from one end of america to the other. The 42nd infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. University of kentucky office of university events 25,618 views. The 42nd infantry division 42id rainbow is a division of the united states army national guard.
Angered by the sight of it, we hauled down that nazi flag and burned it. It is the story of his contribution to the safety and security of the people of his country and of the world. The 167th infantry regiments history lives on in the 1st battalion, 167th infantry, 4th alabama. On august 28, 1917 its 3,677 officers and men left alabama by train for new york where they became part of the 42nd rainbow division. This history of the rainbow is a record of he accomplishments of every man who served in the division it is the story of his contribution to the safety and security of the people of hi country and of the world. The 42nd infantry rainbow divisions history as a unit began with americas entry into world war i. The unit traces its history back to the seminole indian wars. It is a history made possible not by individual achievement, but by the combined effort of all. The best feature of all is the original hand painted rainbow for the 42nd infantry. The 42nd infantry division, a part of the new york national guard since 1947, was born a 100 years ago on august 5, 1917 as a.
This item is available to borrow from 1 library branch. The division headquarters is a unit of the new york army national guard. The 42d infantry division 42id rainbow is a division of the united states army national guard. These items document the 42nd rainbow division and the rainbow division veterans association as they relate to individuals who were active in the organization. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Mihielmeuseargonne world war iirhinelandcentral europeactivated. Vernon lawrence larry petersen was a technical sergeant in the 42nd rainbow division of the us seventh army during ww ii. Armys 42nd infantry division stood its ground during world war ii allyn vannoy it was bitter cold with a foot of snow on the ground and no moonlight the night of january 24, 1945, as the green gis of the 42nd rainbow division s 222nd infantry regiment strained to. The sun, adapted from the seal of the state of new york, refers to the location and home area of the 42nd infantry division. Ny soldiers in france to commemorate the history of the 42nd. This history of the rainbow is a record of the accomplishments of every man who served in the division.
Made up of units from 26 states and the district of columbia, the rainbow was a unique attempt to combine units from every section of the nation and to get them to france as quickly as possible. Jul 24, 2018 thencolonel douglas macarthur was the 42nd division s chief of staff and said that this diverse unit would stretch over the country like a rainbow. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Amidst the rush by america to mobilize, individual states competed with each other for the honor to be the first to send their national guard units to fight in the trenches of europe. His son, bruce petersen, wrote in an email to me that as was the case with many ww ii veterans, he would rarely talk about the. Rabbi bohnen joined the us army in 1943 and served as assistant chaplain with the 42nd infantry division at the rank of major. Amidst the rush by america to mobilize, individual states. The 42nd infantry division received the name rainbow division in 1917 during its organization at camp mills, long island, new york.
Fortysecond infantry division 42nd divisionnickname. About 25,000 strong the division was made up of national guardsmen from 26 states, said by colonel douglas macarthur to cover the united states like a rainbow. Official story of the 166th infantry, 42nd division, in the world war raymond minshall cheseldine f. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. This is a history of the combat infantry, of the artillery, the reconnaissance troop, the medical and engineer battalions, the signal, ordnance and quartermaster companies and of the division.
The 42nd infantry division has served in world war i, world. First 19 pages cover the combat history of the unit. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The 242nd infantry s most notable member was vito r. The 232nd infantry regiment was an infantry regiment of the united states army during world war ii. Fort hood new york army national guard soldiers attached to signal co. Activated 14 jul 1943 entered combat 24 dec 1944 days of combat 106 casualties 3,971. See more ideas about infantry, world war, division. Wwii rainbow division veterans memorial foundation, inc. Rainbow division that represented the united states. In 1944, theres a rainbow in the army was published, and remains the 42nd infantry division s official song to this day.
In 1917, rainbow division celebrated christmas in france. Theres a book called in search of rainbow memorials, which does a good job of cataloging the many monuments, parks, streets and other items that commemorate the 42nd division. The chief of staff of the division at that time was colonel douglas macarthur. Audiovisual boxes 89107 audio cassette materials are contained within boxes 89102. Nice unit history of the 2nd battalion, 242nd infantry regiment, 42nd rainbow division. The 42nd infantry division has served in world war i, world war ii and the global war on terrorism gwot. To bring that story alive in a novel, the book centers around my father who is the protagonist and was a replacement infantry rifleman assigned to the rainbow division after the division was alrea. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. August 1917 national guard division, the components of which were drawn from 26. Now offered for your consideration is this history and photo yearbook of the rainbow division the 42 nd infantry division of the united states army during wwii where they fought in germany. Rainbow division that represented the united states formed in. Appears in 8 books from 19191929 page 250 at the moment when the 42nd us infantry division is leaving the lorraine front, the commanding general of the 6th army corps desires to do homage to the. In 1943, the rainbow division was reactivated for duty and deployed to europe in december 1944, when it landed in the french port of marseille.
Bertoldo, who received the medal of honor for heroism in combat near hatten, france in january 1945. The rainbow division amassed one of the finest fighting records of any division regular, volunteer or national guard in the american expeditionary force. Rainbow division article about rainbow division by the free. In april 1943, he assumed command of the 42nd infantry division the famed rainbow division at camp gruber, oklahoma, and was promoted to the twostar rank of major general. Apr 03, 2017 the 42nd infantry rainbow division s history began with americas entry into world war i. A combat history of world war ii paperback december 14, 20 by lt. Maybe ill try to add a section on these memorials to the 42nd division article page when i have time. Rainbow division that represented the united states formed. After the war rainbow division reunions were big news, books about the rainbow division sold. They fought at seven pines, second manassas, antietam, gettysburg and the wilderness among other battles as the 4th alabama symbolized in the blue stars on the coat of arms. The 42nd infantry division, a part of the new york national guard since 1947, was born a 100 years ago on august 5, 1917 as a way to get 27,000 troops to france quickly during.
This is an wonderful example of a genuine usgi great war helmet from an well known infantry division of the us army. This nice example that has original period textured paint green brown. He led a passover seder in germany in march 1945 for over 1500 american soldiers of the 42nd rainbow infantry division and printed a haggadah for the seder, known as the rainbow haggadah. To check the negative implications of this competition and. Collins, then brigadier general, recalled the words of general macarthur on that.
Return to table of contents rainbow division in 1917 men were selected from various units of the national guard of 26 states and the district of columbia to form a truly representative division with a view towards bringing the war home to the people. The first rainbow division was composed of national guard units from 27 states and it was this collection of men which inspired general douglas macarthur, its most famous member, to declare. The shell is maker marked with a stamping on the underside of the rim that reads zd. American officers from the 42nd rainbow division browse. The division is currently headquartered at the glenmore road armory in troy, new york. The rainbow alludes to the shoulder sleeve insignia of the division and spanning across two fleursdelis symbolize their combat service in france during both world war i and world war ii. From the service of corporal robert lynn wade, company i, th infantry, 33rd division, aef. The 242nd infantry regiment was a formation of the united states army. His son, bruce petersen, wrote in an email to me that as was the case with many ww ii veterans, he would rarely talk about the war, and then only give us very brief. The division is currently headquartered at the glenmore armory in troy, new york with the new york national guard. It was numerically designated the 42d division, and called the rainbow division by general douglas macarthur, then colonel and newly. Monath would go on to become a composer of popular tunes, music for motion pictures including the iconic blackboard jungle, and an author of numerous books on music and chess. It served in combat with the 42nd infantry division, the rainbow division, and served during the occupation of germany before its deactivation in 1947.
These words brotherhood, comradeship, dedication, duty, honor, countryhave echoed through the decades, through the. Rainbow division, nickname of the 42d division of the u. Marion county although mail service between american soldiers in the folks back home is being improved as rapidly as possible, it often happens that the soldiers are situated where, for a few weeks, they do not have access to post office and. Wwii 42nd infantry division shoulder patch rainbow. From its activation in august 1917 through the armistice in november 1918 the 42nd was in combat longer than any other american division and suffered more than 50% casualties. Army 2nd bn 242nd inf 42nd division unit history book. This book is a comprehensive work about the rainbow divisions experiences during world war ii. Mr, hansult wrote this about his father and the 42nd rainbow infantry division that he served with in europe during ww2. It included five regiments, the largest being the 4th alabama, and had been created as militia by the alabama legislature in 1911. American bandmasters association convention the presidents own united states marine band. Wwi rainbow division veterans memorial foundation, inc. The 42nd infantry rainbow division s history as a unit began with americas entry into world war i. The item 42nd infantry division, rainbow represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in indiana state library.
Aug 04, 2017 american bandmasters association convention the presidents own united states marine band duration. The rainbow division 42nd infantry division was the premier national guard division to fight on the western front in the great war. Organized as part of the 42nd infantry division during world war ii, the regiment took part in fighting against the germans and performed postwar occupation duty in austria. The first rainbow division was composed of national guard units from 27 states and it was this collection of men which inspired general douglas macarthur.
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