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In May 1943, troops stationed at Camp Patrick Henry in Virginia witnessed one of the strangest spectacles in American military history—a campfire war dance put on by soldiers about to embark for overseas. They were some of the 1,500 American Indians—from 28 tribes—who belonged to the “Thunderbird” Division. Composed in 1940, when it was activated, of National Guardsmen from Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, the 45th was much changed after its first two years of foreign service. Few of the Indians were left in its ranks. Its total casualties had amounted to twice its original strength.
But the 45th was used to changes. For instance, for years its shoulder patch, four-sided for the states to which it owed allegiance, had displayed a respectable old Indian design—the swastika. When the Nazis rose to power, the Division hastily substituted for this unseemly symbol another traditional Indian figure—that of the thunderbird, the Red Men’s “sacred bearer of unlimited happiness.”
At Oran, the Division trained for the first invasion of Europe-Sicily. On D-day, the 45th stormed ashore at Scoglitti, and in three weeks had overrun 1,000 square miles of enemy-held territory, moving so relentlessly that one German prisoner complained peevishly, “Don’t you ever sleep?” The high spot of the 22-day campaign was the fierce fight for “Bloody Ridge,” just before the Thunderbirds took San Stefano.
When the Allies landed at Salerno in September, the 45th vent in, on D-plus-1, at Paestum, and fought for four bitter months through the Apennines until it was relieved on January r: 1944. During this stretch, the Division crossed the Volturno River, took Venafro, and battled the enemy on icy mountaintops here it was so cold the Doughboys couldn’t dig foxholes in the hard ground. Some of the Thunderbirds turned muleskinners, in order to get supplies to the front lines over trails impassable for vehicles. After a brief rest, the 45th went ashore again at Anzio, and remained there under ceaseless enemy fire for 76 days. It turned back the major German counterattack calculated to drive me Allies back into the sea, and three units of the Division received citations for heroism.
After the breakthrough out of the beachhead, the 45th inarched north to Rome, and was relieved again on June 6 D-day in northern France. By the time the Division sailed for-its fourth invasion—southern France—it had already completed 271 days in the line. With other units of the Seventh Army, it rolled up the Rhone Valley and into the Vosges Mountains, where it ran into tough enemy opposition. Then it fought its way into the heart of Germany. Under the command of Major General Robert T. Frederick, one of the youngest division commanders in the Army, who was wounded nine times in battle, the veteran Thunderbirds took city after city, including the supposedly bypassed Aschaifenburg, whose fanatical defenders, including young boys and girls, put up some of the bitterest resistance the 45th had ever encountered. The Nazi shrine at Xümberg and the Nazi hell at Dachau were next, and the 45th climaxed its long months of service by marching triumphantly into Munich. The soldiers who had had to stop wearing the swastika had evened things up after 511 days of frontline combat, by conquering the birthplace of the movement that shamed it.
From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.
"Thunderbird Division"
The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. The thunderbird is a symbol of the Southwestern Indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. The Spanish colors, red and gold, indicate that the four States (Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona) represented by National Guard units in the division were settled by the Spaniards. Each side of the square represents a State.
| 15 August 1944 | Maj. Gen. William W. Eagles |
| 3 December 1944 | Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick |
| 15 August 1944 | Brig. Gen. Frederick D. Butler |
| 22 December 1944 | Col. Paul D. Adams |
| 24 March 1945 | Brig. Gen. Paul D. Adams |
| 15 August 1944 | Brig. Gen. Henry J. D. Meyer |
| 15 August 1944 | Col. George E. Martin |
| 5 December 1944 | Col. Kenneth G. Wickham |
| 15 August 1944 | Capt. Frank J. Glasgow |
| 1 January 1945 | Maj. Frank J. Glasgow |
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. Francis J. Reichmann |
| 3 December 1944 | Maj. Leo V. Bishop |
| 5 March 1945 | Lt. Col. Francis J. Reichmann |
| 1 May 1945 | Maj. Leo V. Bishop (Acting) |
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. James A. Reynolds |
| 25 December 1944 | Lt. Col. Emil P. Eschenburg |
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. Walter Schlotzhauer |
| 15 August 1944 | Maj. Orwin W. Campbell |
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. Henry B. Roach |
| 30 August 1944 | Col. Walter P. O'Brien |
| 7 October 1944 | Lt. Col. Preston J. C. Murphy |
| 7 December 1944 | Col. Preston J. C. Murphy |
| 16 April 1945 | Lt. Col. William P. Grace |
| 15 August 1944 | Col. Robert L. Dulaney |
| 6 January 1945 | Lt. Col. Everett W. Duvall |
| Inducted | 6 September 1940 |
| Arrived ETO | 15 August 1944 |
| Arrived Continent (D Day [Southern France]) | 15 August 1944 |
| Entered Combat [Previous combat in NATOUSA] | 15 August 1944 |
| Days in Combat | 230 |
| Killed | 1,510 |
| Wounded | 7,246 |
| Missing | 1,436 |
| Captured | 266 |
| Battle Casualties | 10,458 |
| Non-Battle Casualties | 15, 991 |
| Total Casualties | 26,449 |
| Percent of T/O Strength | 187.7 |
| Distinguished Service Cross | 54 |
| Legion of Merit | 30 |
| Silver Star | 1,230 |
| Soldiers Medal | 36 |
| Bronze Star | 3,314 |
| Air Medal | 53 |
Prisoners of War Taken
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 15 Aug 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 105th AAA Gp | 15 Aug 44-23 Aug 44 |
| 107th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 15 Aug 44- |
| 216th AAA AW Gun Bn (Mbl) | 15 Aug 44- |
| 103d AA Bln Btry (VLA) | 15 Aug 44- |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 31 Aug 44-10 Nov 44 |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 23 Nov 44- |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 18 Feb 45- |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 5 Mar 45-15 Mar 45 |
| 1st Plat, Btry A, 353d AAA SL Bn | 11 Mar 45-15 Mar 45 |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 20 Mar 45-25 Mar 45 |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 11 Apr 45-10 May 45 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 15 Aug 44-25 Aug 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 15 Aug 44-28 Nov 44 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 30 Aug 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 24 Nov 44-14 Feb 45 |
| 191st Tk Bn (- Co A & 3d Plat, Co D) | 29 Nov 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 47th Tk Bn (14th Armd Div) | 1 Dec 44-2 Dec 44 |
| 47th Tk Bn (- Co A) (14th Armd Div) | 3 Dec 44-6 Dec 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 22 Dec 44-27 Dec 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn (- Co B) | 28 Dec 44-31 Dec 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 1 Jan 45-16 Feb 45 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 4 Mar 45-9 May 45 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 5 Mar 45-15 Mar 45 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 20 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
| Tr B, 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 15 Aug 44-18 Aug 44 |
| Tr A, 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 25 Aug 44-30 Sep 44 |
| 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 2 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 100th Rcn Tr (100th Div) | 28 Nov 44-5 Dec 44 |
| Tr C, 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 4 Jan 45-7 Jan 45 |
| 106th Cav Gp | 23 Apr 45-4 May 45 |
| Co A, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 15 Aug 44-9 Nov 44 |
| Co C, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 15 Aug 44-9 Nov 44 |
| Co B, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 15 Aug 44-24 Nov 44 |
| Co D, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 1 Oct 44-5 Oct 44 |
| 3d Cml Mort Bn (- Co B) | 6 Dec 44-24 Dec 44 |
| Co B, 3d Cml Mort Bn | 7 Dec 44-24 Dec 44 |
| Co A, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 24 Dec 44- |
| Co A, 7th Cml Bn | 17 Mar 45-18 Mar 45 |
| 2d Cml Mort Bn (- Co A) | 18 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
| Cos B & C, 2d Cml Mort Bn | 18 Mar 45-1 May 45 |
| Co A, 2d Cml Mort Bn | 22 Mar 45-30 Apr 45 |
| 2d Bn, 36th Engr C Gp | 11 Oct 44-24 Oct 44 |
| 36th Engr C Gp (- 2d & 3d Bns) | 15 Oct 44-24 Oct 44 |
| 3d Bn, 36th Engr C Gp | 21 Oct 44-24 Oct 44 |
| 3d Bn, 36th Engr C Gp | 1 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| Co B, 325th Engr C Bn (100th Div) | 7 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 257th Engr C Bn | 19 Apr 45-23 Apr 45 |
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 15 Aug 44-18 Aug 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 938th FA Bn (155mm How) | 15 Aug 44-4 Sep 44 |
| 976th FA Bn (155mm Gun) | 15 Aug 44-4 Sep 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 35th FA Gp | 15 Aug 44-6 Sep 44 |
| 141st FA Bn (155mm How) | 18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44 |
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 19 Sep 44-27 Oct 44 |
| 925th FA Bn (100th Div) (105mm How) | 1 Nov 44-10 Nov 44 |
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 2 Nov 44- |
| 693d FA Bn (105mm How) | 1 Dec 44-3 Dec 44 |
| 501st FA Bn | 1 Dec 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 5 Dec 44-28 Dec 44 |
| 693d FA Bn (105mm How) | 20 Jan 45-7 Feb 45 |
| 44th Div Arty | 12 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
| 283d FA Bn (105mm How) | 12 Mar 45-1 May 45 |
| 63d Div Arty | 24 Mar 45-26 Mar 45 |
| 44th Div Arty | 30 Mar 45-1 Apr 45 |
| 250th FA Bn (105mm How) | 12 Apr 45-27 Apr 45 |
| 399th Inf (100th Div) | 2 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 398th Inf (100th Div) | 6 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 397th Inf (100th Div) | 6 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 100th Bn, 442d Inf (Non-Div) | 9 Nov 44-12 Nov 44 |
| 397th Inf (100th Div) | 28 Nov 44-5 Dec 44 |
| 275th Inf (70th Div) | 31 Dec 44-8 Jan 45 |
| 313th Inf (- 3d Bn) (79th Div) | 1 Jan 45-14 Jan 45 |
| 314th Inf (79th Div) | 1 Jan 45-14 Jan 45 |
| 1st Bn, 315th Inf (79th Div) | 2 Jan 45-15 Jan 45 |
| 274th Inf (70th Div) | 3 Jan 45-17 Jan 45 |
| 19th Armd Inf Bn (14th Armd Div) | 4 Jan 45-10 Jan 45 |
| 2d Bn, 276th Inf (70th Div) | 9 Jan 45-13 Jan 45 |
| 409th Inf (103d Div) | 15 Jan 45-17 Jan 45 |
| 2d Bn, 411th Inf (103d Div) | 18 Jan 45-21 Jan 45 |
| 274th Inf (70th Div) | 22 Jan 45-29 Jan 45 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 15 Aug 44-30 Sep 44 |
| Co C, 601st TD Bn (SP) | 6 Oct 44-25 Oct 44 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 6 Oct 44-26 Oct 44 |
| 636th TD Bn (- Co C & 1 plat, Rcn Co) (SP) | 6 Oct 44-27 Oct 44 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Nov 44-10 Nov 44 |
| Co B, 824th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Dec 44-2 Dec 44 |
| Co A, 824th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Dec 44-3 Dec 44 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Dec 44-14 Feb 45 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 5 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Apr 45-10 May 45 |