32D Red Arrow Infantry Division and Brigade

Michigan and Wisconsin National Guards
activated for Federal service on 15 July 1917.

32^D ‘Red Arrow’ Division was
organized from Michigan and Wisconsin National Guard units at Camp MacArthur,
Texas, in August & September of 1917.
The organization of the 32^D Division was completed 15 October
1917.

There are three
important dates associated with the birth of the 32^D ‘Red Arrow’
Division. General Order No. 95 (some references state 101) War Department, 18 July 1917, specified that the
National Guard troops from Wisconsin and Michigan would be combined to form the
32^D Division and would train at Camp MacArthur. War Department
instructions dated 22 September 1917
provided detailed information about how the old Wisconsin and Michigan National
Guard units would be combined and reorganized to form the 32^D
Division in accordance with the 1917 Tables of Organization. Numerous Division
unit histories list 15 October 1917
as the date the 32^D ‘Red Arrow’ Division came into existence. This
is likely the completion date, the effective date, of the physical
reorganization to create the 32^D ‘Red Arrow’ Division from the old
Wisconsin and Michigan National Guard units. [updated 1 Sep.
‘14]

Arrived in France, with about 27,000 officers
and men, on 16 February 1918, the sixth division to join the A.E.F.

Served six months in combat, from 18 May
to 11 November 1918, with only 10 days in a rest area.

First
American troops to set foot on German soil – in Alsace in May 1918.

Fought on five fronts in three major
offensives – the Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne and Meuse-Argonne.

Captured Fismes in the Marne offensive after
an advance of 19 kilometers in seven days.

Fought in the Oise-Aisne offensive as the
only American unit in General Mangin’s famous Tenth
French Army, breaking the German line which protected the Chemin
des Dames.

Twice in the line in the Meuse-Argonne
offensive, fighting continuously for 20 days, penetrating the Kriemhilde
Stellung, crossing the Meuse and starting drive to flank Metz.

Fought and defeated 23 German Divisions,
capturing 2,153 prisoners.

Gained 38 kilometers in four attacks and
repulsed every enemy counter attack.

In action east of the Meuse when the
Armistice was signed.

Suffered over 14,000 casualties from all
causes. Casualty figures vary from one source to another, but the Division
suffered from 2,898 to 3,245 Soldiers killed and approximately 10,900 Soldiers
wounded-in-action, non-battle injuries, or incapacitated due to illness. [updated
12 Feb. ‘14]

Received at least 20,140 replacement Soldiers
from nearly every state in the Country. [added 12 Feb. ‘14]

Marched
300 kilometers to the Rhine for Army of Occupation duty as front line element
of the Third U.S. Army. Occupied the center sector in the Coblenz bridge-head
for four months, holding 63 towns and 400 square kilometers of territory.

Over 800 officers and men decorated by
American, French and Belgian governments, including 275 Distinguished Service
Crosses. The colors of all four Infantry Regiments, three Artillery Regiments
and three Machine Gun Battalions wear the Croix de Guerre With Palm of the
Republic of France while every flag and standard in the Division has four
American battle bands.

Insignia is a Red Arrow, signifying that the
Division shot through every line the enemy put before it.

Awarded the nom-de-guerre of “Les Terribles”
by the French.

Commanded in all its actions by Major General
William G. Haan and in the Army of Occupation by Major General William
Lassiter.

Departed Europe for home in April 1919.
Arrived in the United States and demobilized in May.

Bibliography:

Haan, William G., Major
General.  “The Division as a Fighting Machine”.  The
Wisconsin Magazine of History.  Volume 04, Issue 1. Menasha, WI: State
Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1920.

Hanton, Carl,
Captain.  The 32nd Division in the World War.  Madison, WI: Wisconsin War History
Commission, 1920.
Souvenir of the First Annual
Reunion of the 32nd Division (Les Terribles).  Milwaukee, WI: 121^ST
F. A. Veterans’ Association, 1920.