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90th Infantry Division

Before D-Day in Normandy, the initials T-O on the 90th Division’s shoulder patch stood for Texas and Oklahoma, home states of most of the outfit’s personnel in World War I. Not long after D-day, to the men who wore them, the initials stood for “Tough ’Ombres.”

The 90th didn’t land without difficulty. One of its troopships was sunk in the English Channel, and a battalion of Infantrymen, with a company of engineers, swam and waded ashore without weapons to enter the fight for the beachhead.

After the landings the Tough ’Ombres, previously untried in battle, fought for 53 straight days. Their first major task was to deepen the wedge driven into France by the aerial assault of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 90th saw heavy fighting at Pont-l’Abbé, Gourbesville, and Portbail. Then, early in July, the Tough ’Ombres went into the misty hell of Forêt de Mont Castre.

For three years the Germans had been using Mont Castre as a maneuver area, and knew the terrain there intimately. Fur-thermore, it was a heavily fortified sector—the strong point in a line of outposts before the defense line running eastward from Coutances. Facing the Tough ’Ombres were picked German paratroopers and SS men. The 90th struck at Mont Castre on July 3, and battled there for eight days. Camouflaged enemy paratroopers took advantage of the low visibility in the area to raise havoc with the Americans, and one unit of the 90th suf-fered so heavily that it was compelled to organize a company "J” from an old lot of cooks, clerks, and mechanics.

But the 90th took Mont Castre, and then set off on a new mission. Crossing the Selume River and seizing St. Hilaire-du- Harcouet, the Division began to close the Falaise pocket, and by August 22 the 90th had trapped 12,000 Germans in that sector. During that month, too, the 90th Division took Chambois.

As summer turned into fall, the Division headed east toward Metz, taking part in the attack on that fortified city. By early 1945, the 90th had driven into the Saar, by March it was racing down the east bank of the Rhine, had stormed the gates of Mainz, and had captured the walled city of Boppard.

The war was nearly over, but the 90th wasn’t through yet. April saw it fighting south of Eisenach and, after having by-passed armored units, in Barchfeld. It helped take Plauen, and cut Germany virtually in half late in the month by slashing through the rail center of Hof. Just before the final bell rang, the Tough ’Ombres crossed the Czechoslovakian border.

From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.

90th Infantry Division World War II Missing in Action

There are 81 soldiers of the 90th Infantry Division World War II still listed as missing in action.

  Technician Fifth Grade Walter A. Andrasik 358th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1945
  Private First Class James H. Biggs 357th Infantry Regiment 12/09/1944
  Private First Class James F. Black 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Sergeant Bernard A. Block 359th Infantry Regiment 06/26/1944
  Private First Class Lee O. Brunson 357th Infantry Regiment 12/08/1944
  Private William E. Bullard 357th Infantry Regiment 01/14/1946
  Private William J. Bundrock 357th Infantry Regiment 10/10/1944
  Private Lawrence P. Burkett 357th Infantry Regiment 12/11/1944
  Private First Class Archie J. Butler 358th Infantry Regiment 07/23/1944
  Private First Class Yaro J. Cerny 357th Infantry Regiment 10/14/1944
  Private First Class Roger E. Charpentier 357th Infantry Regiment 12/08/1944
  Corporal Thomas R. Cody 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade William A. Corey 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944
  Private First Class Charles R. De Graw 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944
  Private Rodolphe Desrochers 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944
   John Eaton 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion 07/03/1944
  Private John P. Eaton 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion 07/03/1944
  Private First Class Paul E. Fields 357th Infantry Regiment 12/15/1944
  Sergeant Willard C. Fisher 359th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1944
  First Lieutenant Gilman E. Gambs 358th Infantry Regiment 01/16/1945
  Private First Class Candeloro B. Garcia 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/10/1944
  Private First Class Wilfred E. Garcia 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Private Donald R. Girardot 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/07/1945
  Technician Fifth Grade Dale R. Hartley 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/15/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Weldon J. Hickey 357th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Private First Class James T. Hoke 359th Infantry Regiment 06/07/1945
  Private David L. Hughes 358th Infantry Regiment 11/23/1944
  Staff Sergeant Paul A. Huzarewicz 359th Infantry Regiment 12/11/1944
  Private Charles J. Jacobson 358th Infantry Regiment 11/25/1944
  Private First Class Ervin N. Johnson 357th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1944
  Private First Class Orville E. Johnson 359th Infantry Regiment 06/29/1944
  Private First Class Elmer O. Jones 359th Infantry Regiment 12/13/1945
  Private Bernard R. Kadlec 357th Infantry Regiment 12/12/1944
  Private Eugene P. Kane 358th Infantry Regiment 07/16/1945
  Private First Class Thomas F. Keeley 359th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1944
  Private First Class John F. Kotroba 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Private Michael W. La Pore 359th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944
  Private First Class William L. Langston 359th Infantry Regiment 06/07/1945
  Private First Class Kenneth I. Larson 357th Infantry Regiment 06/20/1945
  Staff Sergeant Thomas J. Lauridson 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944
  Private First Class Frank B. Lawson 357th Infantry Regiment 12/13/1944
  Private First Class John A. Lehane 359th Infantry Regiment 07/12/1945

  Sergeant Arthur M. Lermusiaux 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944
  Private First Class Colon A. Lockerman 358th Infantry Regiment 06/30/1944
  Private First Class Albert H. Marks 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944
  Private First Class Calvin B. Martin 357th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944
  Private First Class Harold R. McCray 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Corporal Thorn O. McGee 344th Field Artillery Battalion 12/16/1944
  Private Homer J. Mitchell 359th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944
  Private First Class Kenneth W. Moore 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944
  Private First Class Robert C. O'Donnell 359th Infantry Regiment 07/10/1944
  Private First Class Frank W. Parkhurst 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944
  Private First Class William D. Peele 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Private Edward R. Poglitsch 359th Infantry Regiment 11/15/1944
  Staff Sergeant Dayton Polvado 359th Infantry Regiment 12/13/1945
  Staff Sergeant Francis L. Raub 357th Infantry Regiment 09/15/1944
  Staff Sergeant Johnie W. Robbins 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944
  Private First Class Refugio R. Rodriguez 357th Infantry Regiment 12/08/1944
  Private Domenic T. Rosa 359th Infantry Regiment 09/26/1944
  Private Adolf Rosenzweig 359th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1944
  Private First Class Raymond C. Sanders 359th Infantry Regiment 06/07/1945
  Private First Class Stanley Schachne 357th Infantry Regiment 12/07/1944
  Staff Sergeant Harold A. Schafer 357th Infantry Regiment 12/10/1944
  Private First Class Charles R. Schmidt 358th Infantry Regiment 09/24/1944
  Private First Class Eugene A. Schwarz 357th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Private First Class Roy J. Searle 357th Infantry Regiment 12/09/1944
  Sergeant Paul D. Sharpe 358th Infantry Regiment 01/16/1945
  Private Leonard F. Sisselman 358th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Private First Class Johnnie E. Smith 358th Infantry Regiment 11/23/1944
  Private Alvin M. Stephens 359th Infantry Regiment 01/13/1946
  Sergeant Edward A. Swank 357th Infantry Regiment 12/11/1944
  Private First Class Edmund C. Szczepaniak 357th Infantry Regiment 02/11/1945
  Private John J. Tafoya 358th Infantry Regiment 11/23/1944
  Private Charles R. Tew 359th Infantry Regiment 11/12/1944
  Private First Class Trumon Tice 357th Infantry Regiment 12/06/1944
  Private Anthony Tronotti 359th Infantry Regiment 12/18/1944
  Private First Class Manuel M. Vasquez 358th Infantry Regiment 11/25/1944
  Staff Sergeant Donald E. Watson 315th Engineer Combat Battalion 10/03/1944
  Private Peter M. Waugaman 358th Infantry Regiment 07/23/1944
  Captain Paul White 357th Infantry Regiment 08/07/1945
  Technician Fifth Grade Sigmund J. Wisniewski 358th Infantry Regiment 01/16/1945

"Alamo Division"

"Tough Ombres"

The division insignia consists of a monogrammatic red "T" and "O" on a square olive drab background. It was adopted by the 90th Division during World War I because most of its original personnel were drafted from Texas and Oklahoma.

COMMAND AND STAFF

Commanding General

5 Apr 1944 Brig Gen Jay W. McKelvie
13 Jun 1944 Maj Gen Eugene M Landrum
30 Jul 1944 Brig Gen Raymond S McLain
22 Sep 1944 Maj Gen Raymond S McLain
15 Oct 1944 Brig Gen James A Van Fleet
15 Nov 1944 Maj Gen James A Van Fleet
22 Jan 1945 Maj Gen Lowell W Rooks
2 Mar 1945 Brig Gen Herbert L Earnest

Assistant Div Commdr

2 Feb 1943 Brig Gen Samuel P Williams
31 Jul 1944 Brig Gen William G Weaver
27 Nov 1944 Col Joseph M Tully
1 May 1945 Brig Gen Joseph M Tully

Arty Comdr

5 Apr 1944 Brig Gen John M Devine
16 Sep 1944 Col Ernest A Bixby
11 Nov 1944 Brig Gen Ernest A Bixby

CofS

5 Apr 1944 Col Gustave C Dittmar
2 May 1944 Col Philip D Ginder
18 May 1944 Col Robert L Bacon
15 Jul 1944 Col John C Whitcomb

ACofS G-1

5 Apr 1944 Lt Col Phillip M Marsh
25 Jun 1944 Lt Col Frank G Adams (actg)
10 Sep 1944 Lt Col Cyril E Williams
22 Jan 1945 Maj Richard F Lynch
1 May 1945 Lt Col Richard F Lynch

ACofS G-2

5 Apr 1944 Lt Col James O Boswell

ACofS G-3

5 Apr 1944 Lt Col Richard G Stilwell
14 Feb 1945 Lt Col Robert P Booth

ACofS G-4

5 Apr 1944 Maj Thomas M Andrews
1 Oct 1944 Lt Col Thomas M Andrews

ACofS G-5

3 May 1945 Maj William A Russell (actg)

Adj Gen

5 Apr 1944 Lt Col Ray C Scott
5 Nov 1944 Maj Leslie V Dix
16 Feb 1945 Lt Col Leslie V Dix

CO 357th Inf

15 May 1944 Col Philip H Ginder
13 Jun 1944 Col John W Sheehy
15 Jun 1944 Lt Col Charles M Schwab
17 Jun 1944 Col George H Barth
30 Oct 1944 Col Julian H George
15 Feb 1945 Lt Col John H Mason

CO 358th Inf

5 Apr 1944 Col James V Thompson
16 Jun 1944 Col Richard C Partridge
3 Aug 1944 Col Christian H Clark Jr
28 Nov 1944 Lt Col F H Loomis
10 Dec 1944 Col J W Bealke

CO 359th Inf

5 Apr 1944 Col Clarke K Fales
6 Jul 1944 Col Robert L Bacon
3 Nov 1944 Lt Col D G Gorton (actg)
5 Nov 1944 Col Raymond E Bell

STATISTICS

Chronology

Activated
25 Mar 42
Arrived ETO
5 Apr 44
Arrived Continent (D/2)
8 Jun 44
Entered Combat:
First Elements
6 Jun 44
Entire Division
10 Jun 44
Days in Combat
308

Casualties (Tentative)

Killed
2,963
Wounded
14,009
Missing
1,052
Captured
442
Battle Casualties
18,460
Non-Battle Casualties
9,157
Total Casualties
27,617
Percent of T/O Strength
196.0

Campaigns

  • Normandy
  • Northern France
  • Ardennes
  • Rhineland
  • Central Europe

Individual Awards

DSC
72
Legion of Merit
14
Silver Star
1,459
Soldiers Medal
50
Bronze Star
5,705
Air Medal
120
DFC
4

PW's Taken 83,437

COMPOSITION

ORGANIC UNITS

  • 357th Infantry
  • 358th Infantry
  • 359th Infantry
  • 90th Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz)
  • 325th Engineer Combat Battalion
  • 315th Medical Battalion
  • 90th Division Artillery
  • 343d Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
  • 344th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
  • 915th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
  • 345th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
  • Special Troops
  • 790th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
  • 90th Quartermaster Company
  • 90th Signal Company
  • Military Police platoon
  • Headquarters Company
  • Band

ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery

537th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 16 Jun 44-7 Jul 44
1 btry 537th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 7 Jul 44-15 Jul 44
537th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 15 Jul 44-26 May 44
Btry B 217th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 5 Feb 45-6 Feb 45

Armored

746th Tk Bn 12 Jun 44-15 Jun 44
712th Tk Bn 28 Jun 44-7 Jul 44
Co A 712th Tk Bn 7 Jul 44-15 Jul 44
712th Tk Bn 15 Jul 44-_Sep 44
1 CC Fr 2d Armd Div 18 Aug 44-22 Aug 44
17th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) 9 Sep 44-14 Sep 44

Cavalry

Tr B 4th Cav Rcn Sq 20 Jun 44-29 Jun 44
Tr B 43d Cav Rcn Sq 7 Sep 44-11 Sep 44
Fr Gp Tactique Lorraine 12 Oct 44-13 Oct 44
Task Force Polk (3d Cav Gp) 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44
Hq & Hq Tr 3d Cav Gp 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44
3d Cav Rcn Sq 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44
43d Cav Rcn Sq 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44
807th TD Bn (SP) (-1 Co) 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44
135th Engr C Bn 12 Oct 44-9 Nov 44
3d Cav Gp (Reinf) 20 Dec 44-6 Jan 45
2d Cav Gp 17 Mar 45-24 Mar 45

Chemical

Co A 86th Cml Mort Bn 28 Jun 44-29 Jul 44
Co C 86th Cml Mort Bn 1 Jul 44-1 Jul 44
Co D 86th Cml Mort Bn 4 Jul 44-6 Jul 44
Cos C & D 81st Cml Mort Bn 20 Aug 44-22 Aug 44
Co C 81st Cml Mort Bn 13 Nov 44-6 Jan 45
Co B 81st Cml Mort Bn 11 Dec 44-6 Jan 45
Co C 3d Cml Mort Bn 11 Jan 45-18 Jan 45
Co D 3d Cml Mort Bn 13 Jan 45-25 Jan 45
161st Cml SG Co 6 Mar 45-10 Mar 45
Co C 91st Cml Mort Bn 11 Mar 45-14 Apr 45
2 secs 84th Cml SG Co 11 Mar 45-22 Mar 45
161st Cml SG Co 22 Mar 45-26 Mar 45
Co A 97th Cml Mort Bn 14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45

Engineer

148th Engr C Bn 21 Jun 44-22 Jun 44
135th Engr C Bn 9 Nov 44-21 Dec 44
44th Engr C Bn 4 Mar 45-6 Mar 45
35th Engr C Bn 4 Mar 45-10 Mar 45

Field Artillery

980th FA Bn (155 Gun) 13 Jun 44-15 Jun 44
4th Div Arty 28 Jun 44-6 Jul 44
693d FA Bn (105 How) 31 Jul 44-17 Aug 44
400th Armd FA Bn 3 Aug 44-5 Aug 44
202d FA Bn (155 How) 3 Aug 44-5 Aug 44
40th FA Gp 4 Aug 44-17 Aug 44
173d FA Gp 4 Aug 44-17 Aug 44
Btry B 3d FA Obsn Bn 4 Aug 44-17 Aug 44
999th FA Bn (8" How) 9Aug 44-17 Aug 44
284th FA Bn (105 How) 27 Aug 44-30 Aug 44
282d FA Bn (105 How) 5 Sep 44-17 Sep 44
282d FA Bn (105 How) 23 Sep 44-2 Oct 44
241st FA Bn (105 How) 8 Nov 44-14 Nov 44
Btry C 558th FA Bn (155 Gun) 11 Nov 44-16 Nov 44
Btry C 558th FA Bn (155 Gun) 4 Dec 44-21 Dec 44
241st FA Bn (105 How) 4 Dec 44-6 Jan 45
282d FA Bn (105 How) 30 Dec 44-1 Jan 45
949th FA Bn (155 How) 11 Jan 45-11 Feb 45
274th Armd FA Bn 27 Jan 45-24 Feb 45
Btry A 174th FA Bn (155 Gun) 29 Jan 45-24 Feb 45
771st FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 15 Feb 45-21 Feb 45

Tank Destroyer

Co B 899th TD Bn (SP) 17 Jun 44-19 Jun 44
607th TD Bn (T) (-Co A) 20 Jun 44-2 Nov 44
803d TD Bn (SP) 4 Jul 44-15 Jul 44
Co A 607th TD Bn (T) 7 Jul 44-2 Nov 44
773d TD Bn (SP) 2 Nov 44-9 May 45
607th TD Bn (T) 20 Nov 44-27 Nov 44
807th TD Bn (ST) 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
774th TD Bn (T) 31 Dec 44-6 Jan 45

 

Arrow 358th Infantry, 90th Division, June 1944
Arrow 90th Division, July 1944
Arrow 90th Infantry Division, Historical Sketch in France
Arrow 90th Infantry Division, June 1944

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