Americal Division Official History
An Excerpt of "Armies, Corps, and Separate Brigades"
An Official Publication of
The U.S. Army Chief of Military History
Published 1987
Lineage
Constituted 24 May 1942 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters, Americal Division. Activated 27 May 1942 in New Caledonia. Inactivated 12 December 1945 at Fort Lawton, Washington. Redesignated 1 December 1954 as Headquarters, 23d Infantry Division, and alloted to the Regular Army. Activated 2 December 1954 at Fort Amador, Canal Zone. Redesignated 25 September 1967 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 23d Infantry Division, and activated in Vietnam. Inactivated 29 November 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II
- Guadalcanal
- Northern Solomons
- Leyte
- Southern Phillipines (with arrowhead)
Vietnam
- Counteroffensive, Phase II
- Tet Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV
- Counteroffensive, Phase V
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- Summer-Fall 1969
- Winter-Sping 1970
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase VII
- Consolidation I
Click here to go to a detailed list of campaigns and battles.
Decorations
Heraldic Items
![[Americal Division Patch]](images/patch.gif)
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Description:
On a blue Norman shield 2 5/8 inches high and 2 1/3 inches wide, four white
stars of varying sizes all slightly tipped to the dexter, arranged to
represent the Southern Cross.
Symbolism:
The four white stars on the blue field are symbolic of the Southern Cross
under which the organization has served.
![[Unit Crest]](images/crest.gif)
Distinctive Insignia
Description:
A gold colored metal and enamel device 1 3/8 inches in height overall,
consisting of a blue saltire bearing four white stars one near each end,
and centered vertically thereover a gold sword with hilt in base upon a
red field edged with gold and behind the sword point at top a red
arrowhead point up upon the center of a gold radiant sun, and centered
horizontally with shank passing behind the saltire a gold anchor with
crown at left and ring at right with cable passing through and behind the
arms of the saltire; all above a gold scroll inscribed "Americal" in blue.
Symbolism:
The saltire alludes to New Caledonia in the Southwest Pacific where the
division was first activated on 27 May 1942, and with its blue color
(for infantry) and four white stars forms a "Southern Cross" and refers
to the division's shoulder sleeve insignia and the area in which the
division initially served. The four stars (the brightest in the Southern
Cross constellation) also allude to the four campaigns of World War II
in which the division participated. The anchor refers to the
Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) awarded the division for Guadalcanal,
and the red arrowhead and Phillipine sun for the assault landing in the
Southern Phillipines and the award of the Phillipine Presidential Unit
Citation. The unsheathed sword with point to top refers to service in
Vietnam. The division is one of the few within the U.S. Army to bear
initially a name instead of a number, and former designation "Americal"
was adopted as a nickname, the association being both inspirational and
historically significant.