Legacy dates back to WWI

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

The proud heritage of the 4th Infantry Division begins in World War I with the creation of active-duty divisions in the regular Army, rather than calling up units from states as had been done in the Mexican, Civil and Spanish American Wars.

The story begins as America, which had been neutral during the Great War in Europe in 1917, decided to enter the war to support the Allies.

Filled with draftees, the 4th Division, whose insignia had been adopted by its first commanding general, Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron, became known as the “Ivy” Division.

World War I

In April 1918, the Ivy Division embarked to fight in France in World War I. By the time the Great War ended some months hence, the Ivy Division would serve with distinction. It was the only American combat force to serve with both the French and the British in their respective sectors, as well as with all corps in the American sector.

When the war ended, Nov. 11, 1918, the Ivy Division had earned five battle streamers. Over 2,000 division men had been killed in action; total casualties were almost 14,000.

Sgt. William Shemin would be posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving as a rifleman during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, earning the 4th Inf. Div.’s only Medal of Honor during World War I.

The 4th Division inactivated at Camp Lewis, Washington, as part of the Army Reorganization Act of 1920.

World War II

As war clouds engulfed Europe prior to World War II, the 4th Division reactivated June 1, 1940, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Chosen as the spearhead amphibious division of the D-Day landing on the Normandy coast of France, the men of the reflagged 4th Infantry Division stormed ashore at H-Hour (6:30 a.m.) on a stretch of the French coast named — for this operation and forever after — Utah Beach. It was for his actions that day that the assistant division commander, Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., earned the division’s first Medal of Honor for actions in World War II.

On Sept. 11, 1944, a patrol from the 4th Inf. Div. became the first Allied ground force to enter Germany. Fighting in the Siegfried Line followed. Mid-November found the division in the bloodiest battle of its history. The most grueling battle in Europe was fought in the Hürtgen Forest. Fighting in the cold rain and snow and in a forest of pine and fir trees 150 feet in height, the Ivy Soldiers slugged it out yard-by-yard and day-by-day against determined German artillery and infantry resistance.

By the end of the war, May 8, 1945, the 4th Inf. Div. had participated in all of the World War II campaigns — from the Normandy Beach through Germany. Five more battle streamers were added to the division colors and Ivy Soldiers who served during this period were authorized to wear the five campaign stars of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.

The division suffered almost 22,000 battle casualties and more than 34,000 total casualties, including more than 5,000 who were killed or died of injuries during the 4th Inf. Div.’s 11 months of fighting across Europe. For 199 straight days, the 4th Inf. Div. was in constant contact with the Germans, and five division Soldiers were presented the Medal of Honor for their actions above and beyond the call of duty.

Cold War

The Cold War found the 4th Inf. Div. again standing tall in defense of freedom. While America’s armed forces fought the Communists in Korea, the Ivy Division returned to Germany in 1950, and for the next six years stood strong against the Com­munist threat to Western Europe. After returning to the U.S. in 1956, the division trained at Fort Lewis, Washington, for the next time they would be called into battle: Vietnam, in the late summer of 1966, 22 years and two months after the Ivy Division landed on Utah Beach.

Vietnam

In August 1966, led by the 2nd Brigade, the Ivy Division headquarters closed into the central high-lands of Vietnam. On Sept. 25, 1966, the division began a combat assignment against the North Vietnamese that would not end until Dec. 7, 1970.

With the largest assigned area of operations of any division in Vietnam, the Ivy Division was charged with screening the border of South Vietnam as the first line of defense against infiltration down the Ho Chi Minh trail through Laos and Cambodia, and to pre-empt any offensive on the more populated lowlands. Triple canopy jungles, extreme heat and seasonal monsoons were constant challenges to the division as were the North Vietnamese Regulars and Viet Cong. By the time the Ivy Division completed its assignment in Vietnam and arrived at Fort

Carson at the end of 1970, 2,497 Ivy Soldiers had been killed and 15,229 had been wounded. Twelve Ivy Division Soldiers would be presented the Medal of Honor for their bravery during this period.

Resuming training and Cold War missions, the 4th Inf. Div. remained stationed at Fort Carson from 1970 through 1995. During this period, the division was converted to a mechanized organization and frequently sent units to Europe to continue the Cold War mission of standing against the Communist threat. It was during its time at Fort Carson that the division assumed the nickname “Iron Horse.” The 4th Inf. Div. relocated to Fort Hood, Texas, in 1995, where it joined the Task Force XXI Advanced Warfighting Experiment to modernize Army warfare.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

On Jan. 18, 2003, under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the 4th Inf. Div. was given the deployment order for movement to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

During the yearlong deployment from March 2003 to April 2004, the division and other Task Force Iron Horse units carried out aggressive offensive operations designed to hunt down the last holdouts of the old regime. At the same time, the mighty 4th had the massive job of rebuilding the infrastructure of the many villages within their area of operations and re-establishing a governmental structure. During Operation Red Dawn, conducted Dec. 13, 2003, in coordination with a special operations unit, the 4th Inf. Div. captured Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq. His capture has been described by the news media as the No. 1 news story of 2003.

The 4th Inf. Div. returned to Iraq starting in the fall of 2005, this time to Baghdad in support of OIF 05-06 where Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman led Multi-National Division-Baghdad (MND-B), with the 4th Inf. Div. as the command component. With attached units, MND-B numbered more than 30,000 personnel and was responsible for the largest population area of Iraq, including the always volatile city of Baghdad. In December 2006, the division again returned home.

On Dec. 19, 2007, Task Force Iron Horse again assumed command of MND-B with a 15-month mission to exploit the gains made during the “surge” in 2007. The mission in support of OIF 07-09 was defined as clear, control, retain and transition. In a Christmas letter, 4th Inf. Div. Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jeffery W. Hammond explained the challenge for the 4th Inf. Div.’s mission was “to continue to build upon the momentum built by Soldiers of Multi-National Division-Baghdad. To do this we must, first and foremost, in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces, continue to protect the

Iraqi people, aggressively hunt the enemy down, and build upon the partnerships with the Iraqi people, their security services and the local and provincial governments …”

Through the summer, fall and winter, work continued to transition the lead from coalition to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B prepared to turn over the lead to the ISF Jan. 1, 2009. This was accomplished on schedule with the ISF taking the lead as the new year arrived. On New Year’s Eve 2008, Baghdad conducted successful provincial elections without a significant enemy attack, and a few months later, the 4th Inf. Div. again returned to Fort Hood, ending their its deployment to Iraq since 2003.

In the three deployments to Iraq, 84 Task Force Iron Horse Soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in 2003-2004, 235 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers lost their lives in 2005-2006 and 113 were killed in 2007-2009.

Operation New Dawn

In July 2009, Maj. Gen. David G. Perkins took command of the 4th Inf. Div. With this change of command, the Iron Horse Division completed 14 years calling Fort Hood home and returned to Fort Carson, where the Iron Horse Division began to prepare for its fourth deployment to Iraq in less than eight years.

As the sole commanding general in northern Iraq, Perkins and the Iron Horse Task Force were charged with maintaining the momentum of Iraq’s security forces and setting conditions for the smooth transition to an embassy-led mission, advising and training Iraqi security elements on intelligence collection, medical training and counterterrorism tactics. The 4th Inf. Div. furled and cased its colors Oct. 20, 2011, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, signifying the end of its 13-month mission in support of Operation New Dawn.

Operation Enduring Freedom

Upon the division’s return to Fort Carson, Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson assumed command, Nov. 16, 2011, and the 4th Inf. Div. began resetting, refitting and training to deploy as required to serve the nation for its next mission.

During this time, the division’s newly reflagged and reorganized 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (BCT) deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Two Soldiers from the “Warrior” Brigade were presented the Medal of Honor for their valor in the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh. Staff Sgts. Clinton L. Romesha and Ty Michael Carter received the nation’s highest military award for extraordinary gallantry and selfless actions during the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, Oct. 3, 2009.

Another Warrior Brigade Soldier, Capt. Florent Groberg, also received the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Afghanistan, Aug. 8, 2012.

Maj. Gen. Paul LaCamera, assumed command of the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson March 14, 2013. Under the watch of LaCamera, the Iron Horse Division took control of Regional Command-South at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, from July 8, 2013, until July 7, 2014, and since 2013, three 4th Inf. Div. BCTs have deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Atlantic Resolve

On Feb. 13, 2015, nearly 100 Soldiers from the Iron Horse Division arrived in Grafenwöhr, Germany, in support of Atlantic Resolve, and Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves assumed command of 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, May 14, 2015.

The Mission Command Element (MCE) serves as the intermediate headquarters for U.S. Army Europe under the Army’s new Regionally Aligned Force concept. The MCE is a headquarters element designed to provide command and control for all U.S. ground forces participating in the Atlantic Resolve footprint spread throughout eastern Europe.

100 years of service

As the 4th Inf. Div. celebrates its 99th anniversary, Iron Horse Soldiers are looking forward to the division’s 100 years of distinguished service to the nation. In 2016, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 4th Combat Aviation Brigade returned home from deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq and

Europe, having completed nine-month rotations providing dedicated training support to their host nations. A team of combat-focused Soldiers and resilient military Families, the 4th Inf. Div. continues to answer the nation’s call, whenever and wherever called.

The 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson Soldiers are the standard bearers for contingency operations around the world. From the origins of the Roman numeral IV, to the transitional nickname “Iron Horse,” in recognition of readiness for contingency deployments worldwide, 4th Infantry Division remains “Steadfast and Loyal.”

 

Campaigns and decorations

Campaigns

World War I

Aisne-Marne

St. Mihiel

Meuse-Argonne

Champagne 1918

Lorraine 1918

 

World War II

Normandy

Northern France

Rhineland

Ardennes-Alsace

Central Europe

 

Vietnam

Counteroffensive, Phase II

Counteroffensive, Phase III

Tet Counteroffensive

Counteroffensive, Phase IV

Counteroffensive, Phase V

Counteroffensive, Phase VI

Tet 69/Counteroffensive

Summer-Fall 1969

Winter-Spring 1970

Sanctuary Counteroffensive

Counteroffensive, Phase VII

 

Iraq War

Liberation of Iraq, 2003

Transition of Iraq, 2003-2004

Iraqi Governance, 2004-2007

National Resolution, 2005-2007

Iraqi Surge, 2007-2008

 

Division decorations

Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Plieku Province (1st Brigade)

Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Dak to District (1st Brigade) Belgian Fourragere, 1940

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardenes

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for Vietnam, 1966-1969

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for Vietnam, 1969-1970

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for Vietnam, 1966-1969

Army Superior Unit Award (selected units) for Force XXI Test and Evaluation, 1995-1996

Valorous Unit Award (1st Brigade Combat Team and supporting units) for Operation Red Dawn, Iraq, 2003

Medals of Honor

World War I

Sgt. William Shemin

Company G, 47th Infantry

 

World War II

Staff Sgt. Marcario Garcia

Company B, 22nd Infantry

 

Lt. Col. George L. Mabry Jr.

2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry

 

1st Lt. Bernard J. Ray

Company F, 8th Infantry

 

Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

4th Infantry Division

 

Pvt. Pedro Cano

Company C, 8th Infantry

 

Vietnam

Pfc. Leslie Allen Bellrichard

Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

 

Cpl. Thomas W. Bennett

2nd Platoon, 14th Infantry

Spec. 4 Donald W. Evans Jr.

Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry

 

Platoon Sgt. Bruce Alan Grandstaff

Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

 

Spec. 5 Dwight H. Johnson

Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor

 

Pfc. Phill G. McDonald

Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry

 

Sgt. Ray McKibben

Troop B, 7th Squadron (Airmobile), 17th Cavalry

 

1st Sgt. David H. McNerney

Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

 

Staff Sgt. Frankie Z. Molnar

Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

 

Sgt. Anund C. Roark

Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry

 

Staff Sgt. Elmelindo R. Smith

1st Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry

 

Pfc. Louis E. Willett

Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry

 

Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha

Troop B, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team

 

Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter

Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team

 

Capt. Florent A. Groberg

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team