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=36th Division-"the Texas Division"= toc

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Name: 36th Division Country/Headquarters: United States of America/Camp Bowie Texas Active: 1940-1945 Branch of military: United States Army Commanders/Battles: MG Fred L. Walker/ World War:Dutch East Indies Campaign, Italian Campaign, Operation Dragoon, and Central Europe

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US 5th Army

Mark W. Clark

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

143rd Infantry Regiment

Major General Fred L. Walker

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The 36th division is an infantry unit in the United States Army. The 36th is known as the “T-Patchers” or the Texas Division. The 36th has its origins as the Army National Guard Division from Texas, hence the T-Patch insignia and the nickname. The 36th served in World War I when it was called up as part of America’s mobilization effort in 1917-1918. The 36th fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and had over 2,500 casualties. The division was deactivated in 1919 and called up for service in the fall of 1940 in preparation for armed conflict with the Axis Powers. From 1940 to spring 1943, the 36th prepared for war through training and mock war games.

The 36th division arrived in the European Theater of action via North Africa, but did not see combat until the amphibious landings at Salerno, Italy in September of 1943. Following the beachhead at Salerno, the 36th and allies turned north pushing the Germans towards Rome. In November 1943, the 36th successfully captured Mount Magglore, Mount Lungo, and San Pietro. In early 1944, the 36th suffered heavy losses at the failed crossing of the Rapido River. Following the disaster at the Rapido, the T-Patchers assisted the 34th division assault at Cassino. With the allied advanced stalled around Cassino, the 36th division took part in another amphibious assault this time at Anzio. The Anzio beachhead was part of an allied coordinated operation meant to break out of the stalemate. After the breakout, the allies and the 36th were able to push northward and liberate Rome on June 5, 1944.

After a rest period, the T-Patchers made another amphibious assault in southern France. Shortly after the beachhead and rapid push inland, the 36th linked up with the French First Army and began a long grueling push towards the Rhine River. From the August 1944 beachhead to the heavy fighting along the Rhine in December 1944, the 36th was in continuous action. The 36th finally was taken off the front in January of 1945 and didn’t return until March 1945. As the allies crossed into Germany, many units like the 36th witnessed the horrors the Nazis had created as they liberated subcamps of the concentration camp system of Dachau. By early May, the T-Patchers were in Austria when the official German surrender was announced. With 400 days of front line combat, the 36th division’s war was over and they returned stateside in December of 1945.

The 36th division led the way in the Italian Campaign making two separate amphibious assaults. The 36th played an essential role liberating the city of Rome and Italy as a whole. As the allies landed on the beaches of Normandy, the 36th was part of Operation Dragoon in southern France which began the final push towards Germany. Finally, the T-Patchers played the role of liberator once again as it freed those held in concentration camps across central Europe. Overall, the 36th division played an important role ensuring victory for the Allied Powers.

Wall Posts

 * September 9, 1943 Salerno, Italy. The 36th division was the first American combat unit to invade occupied Europe. The beachhead was finally secured on September 14th after several days of intense resistance from the Germans.


 * January 20-21, 1944 the Rapido River, Italy. In an effort to gain control of the Liri Valley and Cassino, the 36th division crossed the quick moving Rapido River to attack German positions. The attack was a failure as Germans expected the attack and were fully prepared. The 36th division fought bravely, but they had to retreat in order to fight the enemy another day.


 * June 5, 1944 Rome, Italy. The 36th division liberates the capital city without major German resistance. The German withdrew from the city to form up a line of defense just to the north of the city. Thousands of Romans flooded the ancient streets to greet the American liberators.


 * May 8, 1945 Austria. The 36th division oversaw surrender the thousand of Germans. T-patchers supervised the collection of German weapons and ammunition on VE Day. Late