78th Infantry Division | |
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78th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
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Active | 1917–19 1921–46 1946–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Nickname(s) | "Lightning" (special designation) |
Motto(s) | Audaciter (Boldly) |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
Brigadier General Michael Dillard |
Notable commanders |
Hugh L. Scott, Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr. |
Insignia | |
Distinctive unit insignia |
The 78th Training Division (Operations) ("Lightning") is a unit of the United States Army which served in World War I and World War II as the 78th Infantry Division, and currently trains and evaluates units of the United States Army Reserve for deployment.
309th Regiment, 1st Battalion:
309th Regiment, 2nd Battalion:
310th Regiment, 1sr Battalion:
310th Regim not, 2nd Battalion:
311th Regiment, 1st Battalion:
311th Regiment, 2nd Battalion:
A portion of Pine Swamp Road in Mineral County, West Virginia was named "WWII 78th Lightning Division Road" in honor of the division by the West Virginia Legislature. A portion of Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania is also named after the 78th division.
The 78th Infantry Division of the United States Army was activated on 23 August 1917 at Camp Dix, New Jersey. It consisted of four infantry regiments – the 309th, 310th, 311th and 312th and three artillery Regiments – the 307th, 308th and 309th.
The division was originally allocated to New York and northern Pennsylvania in the National Army plan. Whilst the HQ of the 78th Division was activated in August, with the first draftees arriving in September, it was not fully active until early 1918. It was transported to France in May and June 1918.
In France, during the summer and fall of 1918, it was the "point of the wedge" of the final offensive which knocked out Germany. The 78th was in three major campaigns during World War I – Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, and Lorraine. Demobilization at the end of the war took place in June 1919.