7th Infantry Division (United States)
| 7th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
7th Infantry Division identification badge
|
|
| Active | 1917–21 1940–71 1974–94 1999–2006 2012–present |
| Country |
 United States of America
|
| Branch |
 United States Army
|
| Type | Stryker infantry |
| Role | Command and control organization containing two to four maneuver brigades |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | I Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, U.S. |
| Nickname(s) | '"Hourglass Division", "Bayonet Division", "California Division" |
| Motto(s) | Light, Silent, and Deadly |
| March | Arirang |
| Mascot(s) | Black Widow spider |
| Engagements |
Korean War |
| Website | Official Website |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
MG Thomas S. James, USA |
| Notable commanders |
Charles H. Corlett Archibald V. Arnold Joseph Warren Stilwell, Jr. Lyman Lemnitzer Arthur Trudeau Hal Moore Wayne C. Smith David G. Barr |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| Combat service identification badge |  |
Korean War
Operation Golden Pheasant
The 7th Infantry Division is an infantry division of the United States Army. Today, it exists as a unique 250-man deployable headquarters based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord overseeing several units, though none of the 7th Infantry Division's own historic forces are active.
The division was first activated in December 1917 in World War I, and based at Fort Ord, California for most of its history. Although elements of the division saw brief active service in World War I, it is best known for its participation in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II where it took heavy casualties engaging the Imperial Japanese Army in the Aleutian Islands, Leyte, and Okinawa. Following the Japanese surrender in 1945, the division was stationed in Japan and Korea, and with the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 was one of the first units in action. It took part in the Inchon Landings and the advance north until Chinese forces counter-attacked and almost overwhelmed the scattered division. The 7th later would fight in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill and the Battle of Old Baldy. From 1953 to 1971, the 7th Infantry Division defended the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Its main garrison was Camp Casey, South Korea. During these occupation duties, the division saw a complete reorganization in compliance with the Reorganization Objective Army Divisions plan. The division's former headquarters company grew into the 1st Brigade, 7th Infantry Division while the 13th Infantry Brigade was reactivated as the 2nd Brigade, 7th Infantry Division. The 14th Infantry Brigade was reactivated as the 3rd Brigade, 7th Infantry Division. In 1965 the division received its distinctive unit insignia, which alluded to its history during the Korean War. On 2 April 1971, the division returned to the United States and was inactivated at Fort Lewis, Washington. In October 1974 the 7th reactivated at its former garrison, Fort Ord.[133] In the late 1980s, it briefly saw action overseas in Operation Golden Pheasant in Honduras and Operation Just Cause in Panama. In the early 1990s, it provided domestic support to the civil authorities in Operation Green Sweep and during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. In 1994, the Division was inactivated at Ft. Ord and Ft Ord was closed, as per BRAC rulings. Reactivated in 1999 at Ft Carson, Colorado, where the division's final role was as a training and evaluation unit for Army National Guard brigades, which it undertook until its inactivation in 2006.
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Wikipedia