2nd Infantry Division | |
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Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 2nd ID
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Founded | 1917 |
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 | Eighth United States Army |
Garrison/HQ | South Korea (HQ), Fort Lewis |
Nickname(s) | "Indianhead" |
Motto(s) | Second to None |
March | Warrior March |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
Major General Scott McKean |
Insignia | |
Combat service identification badge | |
Distinctive unit insignia of Div HQ, HQ Bn, and most of its Bde level HQs | |
Flag | |
2nd ID and 8th ID (ROKA) Combined Div HQ Tab |
The 2nd Infantry Division ("Indianhead"; "2ID," "2nd ID", or "Second D") is a formation of the United States Army. Its current primary mission is the defense of South Korea in the initial stages of an invasion from North Korea until other American units can arrive. There are approximately 17,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Division, with 10,000 of them stationed in South Korea, accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel.
The 2nd Infantry Division is unique in that it is the only U.S. Army division that is made up partially of South Korean soldiers, called KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army). This program began in 1950 by agreement with the first South Korean president, Syngman Rhee. Some 27,000 KATUSAs served with the U.S. forces at the end of the Korean War. As of May 2006, approximately 1,100 KATUSA soldiers serve with the 2ID. There were also more than 3,000 Dutch soldiers assigned to the division between 1950 and 1954.
Denoted the 2nd Infantry Division-ROK/U.S. Combined Division (RUCD), the division is augmented by rotational BCTs from the rest of the U.S. Army's divisions.
The 2nd Division was first constituted on 21 September 1917 in the Regular Army. It was organized on 26 October 1917 at Bourmont, Haute Marne, France. At the time of its activation, the Indianhead Division was composed of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, which included the 9th Infantry Regiment; the 23rd Infantry Regiment and the 5th Machine Gun Battalion; the 4th Marine Brigade, which consisted of the 5th Marine Regiment, the 6th Marine Regiment and the 6th Machine Gun Battalion; 2nd Brigade of field artillery; and various supporting units. Twice during World War I the division was commanded by US Marine Corps generals, Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen and Major General John A. Lejeune (after whom the Marine Corps Camp in North Carolina is named), the only time in U.S. military history when Marine Corps officers commanded an Army division.