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The dougboys' dream—a ringside seat at a decisive battle, with someone else doing the fighting—came true to the footsloggers of the 102nd Infantry Division.
One of the last battles fought in Germany, just before the unconditional surrender of the Nazi war machine, was fought near Tangermiinde, and the men who call themselves the Ozarks, and who wear an O and a Z on their shoulder patch to prove they aren’t fooling, were witnesses, not participants.
The battle was fought between the Russians advancing on the Elbe River, and the Nazis who were trying to get across the river to surrender to the men of the 102nd.
The fire fight went on for hours, but the Ozarks didn’t dare join in—even if they had craved another chance at combat—for fear of hitting the Russians. So, they just took it easy on their bank of the river, and watched the Reds and the Nazis slug it out.
The Germans finally managed to cross the Elbe, cutting through thousands of civilians who were retreating in face of the onrushing Reds, to lay down their arms to the 102d. They then boasted of their cleverness in escaping the Russians. These German soldiers, craven quitters, were the last elements of the once mighty German Ninth and Twelfth Armies.
The Ozarks went overseas in September 1944, but did not see action until near the end of the year. Serving under the Ninth Army, the Ozarks entered combat near the Roer River, taking Lovenich, and then fighting in the Miinchen-Gladbach area. Late in February 1945, the Ozark Doughs spearheaded the Ninth’s crossing of the Roer, and then attacked north, toward the Rhine. In their dash to the Rhine, the “Hillbillies,” as they do not mind being called, overran 86 towns and cities.
One of the most important spots to fall to the 102nd was Krefeld, a key railroad and communications center. At this city the Division stored its supplies in caves that the Romans had used centuries before as barracks, and, when taken by the Yanks, were the site of a tremendous rocket factory.
The Ozarks chased the Gennans from the Rhine to the Elbe, and, on reaching the Elbe north of Magdeburg, did extensive patrol duty while awaiting the arrival of the Russians. On May 4, the German Ninth and Eleventh Armies surrendered to the 102nd at Worgl. The Division was at this town on V-E Day.
From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.
102ND INFANTRY DIVISION
AMERICAN MADE
"Ozark Division"
The division insignia combines a golden "O", "Z", and an arc on a circular blue background to spell out the nickname of the division, "Ozark". In 1921, the division became part of the Organized Reserve and was allocated to the states of Arkansas and Missouri, the Ozark region, and therefore adopted the design. When the French settled in this area, they found it inhabited by Indians who were very proficient with the bow and arrow, and they therefore called the entire region "Terre aux arcs" or "Bow Country". "Ozark" is an Americanization of "aux arcs", and the arc in the insignia actually represents an Indian bow and signifies marksmanship. Gold and blue are the colors which tradition has always associated with valor and distinction.
Motto: "Distinction, Valor, Marksmanship"
| 22 Sep 44 | Brig. Gen. Frank A. Keating |
| 2 Jan 45 | Maj. Gen. Frank A. Keating |
| 22 Sep 44 | Brig. Gen. Alonzo P. Fox |
| 22 Sep 44 | Col. James G. Watkins |
| 22 Sep 44 | Col. George P. Lynch |
| 22 Sep 44 | Lt. Col. Joseph H. Chaille |
| 22 Sep 44 | Lt. Col. Charles J. Parsons |
| 22 Sep 44 | Lt. Col. Claude L. Crawford |
| 22 Sep 44 | Lt. Col. Arthur W. Allen, Jr. |
| 16 Oct 44 | Maj. John E. Wiley |
| 16 Dec 44 | Lt. Col. Frank H. Stone |
| 4 Apr 44 | Col. Laurin L. Williams |
| 22 Sep 44 | Col. Bernard F. Hurless |
| 22 Sep 44 | Col. James C. Reed |
| 29 Jan 45 | Col. Philip R. Dwyer |
| 556th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 2Nov44-11Nov44 |
| 548th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 11Nov44-25Jun45 |
| 473d AAA AW Bn (SP) | 8Dec44-9Dec44 |
| Btry B, 473d AAA AW Bn (SP) | 10Dec44-10Jan45 |
| Btry C, 559th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 8Feb45-25Feb45 |
| 771st Tk Bn | 4Nov44-20Dec44 |
| 40th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) | 27Nov44-28Nov44 |
| 17th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) | 30Nov44-3Dec44 |
| 744th Tk Bn | 20Dec44-23Dec44 |
| Co C, 739th Tk Bn (Mine Exploder) | 20Jan45-27Jan45 |
| Co A, 739th Tk Bn (Mine Exploder) | 21Jan45-27Jan45 |
| Sq B, Br 1st Lothians & Border Yeo (Br 79th Armd Div) | 23Jan45-26Jan45 |
| Sq B, Br Fife & Forfar Yeo (Br 79th Armd Div) | 23Jan45-27Jan45 |
| Br 22d Dragoon Gds Armd Regt (Br 79th Armd Div) | 23Jan45-28Jan45 |
| CC B (5th Armd Div) | 6Feb45-24Feb45 |
| 701st Tk Bn (-Co D) | 4Apr45-2Jul45 |
| 113th Cav Gp | 14Nov44-23Nov44 |
| 113th Cav Rcn Sq | 14Nov44-23Nov44 |
| 125th Cav Rcn Sq | 14Nov44-23Nov44 |
| Task Force BIDDLE (113th Cav Gp) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| Hq&Hq Tr, 113th Cav Gp | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 113th Cav Rcn Sq | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 125th Cav Rcn Sq (-Tr B) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 40th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 440th Armd FA Bn (7th Armd Div) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 434th Armd FA Bn (7th Armd Div) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 849th Armd FA Bn (7th Armd Div) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 83d Armd FA Bn | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| Co C, 171st Engr C Bn | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| Co A, 814th TD Bn (SP) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| Btrys A & C, 203d AAA AW Bn (SP) | 18Nov44-21Nov44 |
| 11th Cav Gp | 13Dec44-3Feb45 |
| 36th Cav Rcn Sq | 13Dec44-3Feb45 |
| 44th Cav Rcn Sq | 13Dec44-3Feb45 |
| 113th Cav Rcn Sq | 20Dec44-24Dec44 |
| 17th Cav Rcn Sq | 24Dec44-29Jan45 |
| 11th Cav Gp | 9Feb45-24Feb45 |
| 36th Cav Rcn Sq | 9Feb45-24Feb45 |
| 44th Cav Rcn Sq | 9Feb45-24Feb45 |
| Tr B, 36th Cav Rcn Sq | 11Apr45-13Apr45 |
| Co C, 92d Cml Mort Bn | 23Nov44-24Nov44 |
| Co C, 92d Cml Mort Bn | 30Nov44-4Dec44 |
| Co C (-1st Plat), 92d Cml Mort Bn | 19Dec44-23Dec44 |
| Co C, 92d Cml Mort Bn | 24Dec44 |
| Co C (-1st Plat), 92d Cml Mort Bn | 25Dec44-7Feb45 |
| 92d Cml Mort Bn (-Co A) | 22Jan45-27Jan45 |
| 74th Cml SG Co | 3Feb45-5Feb45 |
| 3d Cml Mort Bn (-Cos C and D) | 6Feb45-7Mar45 |
| 74th Cml SG Co | 24Feb45-25Feb45 |
| Co B, 3d Cml Mort Bn | 22Mar45-30Mar45 |
| Co A, 3d Cml Mort Bn | 9Apr45-19Apr45 |
| Cos B and C, 3d Cml Mort Bn | 14Apr45-19Apr45 |
| Co A, 3d Cml Mort Bn | 3May45-10May45 |
| 1276th Engr C Bn | 27Dec44-26Jan45 |
| 171st Engr C Bn | 12Jan45-16Jan45 |
| 252d Engr C Bn | 15Jan45-26Jan45 |
| 336th Engr C Bn | 15Jan45-26Jan45 |
| 277th Engr C Bn | 15Jan45-28Jan45 |
| 252d FA Bn (105mm How) | 23Nov44-12Mar45 |
| Btry A, 557th FA Bn (155mm Gun) | 27Nov44-2Dec44 |
| 83d Armd FA Bn | 29Nov44-19Dec44 |
| 692d FA Bn (105mm How) | 20Dec44-27Jan45 |
| 691st FA Bn (105mm How) | 20Dec44-30Jan45 |
| 557th FA Bn (- Btry A) (155mm Gun) | 26Jan45-27Jan45 |
| 335th CT (84th Div) | 24Nov44-27Nov44 |
| 40th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) | 24Nov44-27Nov44 |
| Co A, 814th TD Bn (SP) | 24Nov44-27Nov44 |
| 48th Armd Inf Bn (7th Armd Div) | 5Dec44-9Dec44 |
| 2d Bn, 335th Inf (84th Div) | 18Apr45-23Apr45 |
| 771st TD Bn (SP)(- Co C) | 4Nov44-30Mar45 |
| 605th TD Bn (T) | 15Feb45-2Mar45 |
| 771st TD Bn (SP) (- Co B and one platoon of Rcn Co) | 10Apr45-17Apr45 |
| 771st TD Bn (SP) | 27Apr45-3Jul45 |
