83d Infantry Division

"Thunderbolt Division"

"Ohio Division"

        The 83rd Division insignia consists of a monogrammatic design in gold selling out the word O-H-I-O on a black triangular background. The insignia was selected during World War I because the Division contained mostly draftees. Even though the Division danged from an Ohio outfit to one representing the 48 states, the insignia still remains, however, a new nickname "Thunderbolt" was selected while the Division was holding on the Rhine opposite Dusseldorf.

COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General

19 Apr 1944

Brig Gen Robert C Macon

1 Jun 1944

Maj Gen Robert C Macon

Assistant Div Commdr

19 Apr 1944

Col Claude B Ferenbaugh

27 May 1944

Brig Gen Claude B Ferenbaugh

Arty Comdr

19 Apr 1944

Brig Gen Robert M Montague

CofS

19 Apr 1944

Col Samuel V Krauthoff

1 Feb 1945

Lt Col Shelly G Hughes (Actg)

6 Feb 1945

Col Conrad L Boyle (Actg)

10 Feb 1945

Col Conrad L Boyle

ACofS G-1

19 Apr 1944

Maj Alan F S Mackenzie

15 Jun 1944

Lt Col Alan F S Mackenzie

8 May 1945

Lt Col Robert G Harrell

ACofS G-2

19 Apr 1944

Lt Col Jules H Deshotels Jr

ACofS G-3

19 Apr 1944

Maj Robert T Hering

15 Jun 1944

Lt Col Robert T Hering

9 Jul 1944

Col Conrad L Boyle (Actg)

10 Feb 1945

Lt Col Robert W Duke

ACofS G-4

19 Apr 1944

Lt Col Shelly G Hughes

ACofS G-5

15 May 1944

Maj James C Hanrahan

1 Dec 1944

Lt Col James C Hanrahan

Adj Gen

1 Apr 1944

Lt Col Robert G Harrell

8 May 1945

Maj Norman P Cowden

CO 329th Inf

19 Apr 1944

Col Edwin B Crabill

CO 330th Inf

19 Apr 1944

Col Ernest L McLendon

13 Jul 1944

Col Robert T Foster

12 Dec 1944

Col Russell F Walthour

22 Dec 1944

Col Robert T Foster

CO 331st Inf

19 Apr 1944

Col Martin D Barndollar Jr

4 Jul 1944

Lt Col William E Long

7 Jul 1944

Col John C Whitcomb

10 Jul 1944

Col James D Bender

11 Jul 1944

Col Robert T Foster

13 Jul 1944

Col Robert H York

21 Dec 1944

Lt Col William E Long

22 Dec 1944

Col Russell F Walthour

20 Jan 1945

Col Robert H York

2 May 1945

Lt Col Henry Nielsen

[page 290]

STATISTICS

Chronology

Activated

15 Aug 42

Arrived ETO

19 Apr 44

Arrived Continent (D/13)

19 Jun 44

Entered Combat

27 Jun 44

Days in Combat

244

Casualties (Tentative)

Killed

2,735

Wounded

11,678

Missing

547

Captured

288

Battle Casualties

15,248

Non-Battle Casualties

8,732

Total Casualties

23,980

Percent of T/O Strength

170.2

Campaigns

  • Normandy

  • Northern France

  • Ardennes

  • Rhineland

  • Central Europe

Individual Awards

DSC

3

Legion of Merit

1

Silver Star

653

Soldiers Medal

24

Bronze Star

5,078

Air Medal

107

PW's Taken 93,200

COMPOSITION

ORGANIC UNITS

  • 329th Infantry

  • 330th Infantry

  • 331st Infantry

  • 83rd Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz)

  • 308th Engineer Combat Battalion

  • 308th Medical Battalion

  • 83rd Division Artillery

  • 322nd Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)

  • 323rd Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)

  • 908th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)

  • 324th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)

  • Special Troops

  • 783rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company

  • 83rd Quartermaster Company

  • 83rd Signal Company

  • Military Police Platoon

  • Headquarters Company

  • Band

[page 291]

ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery

453rd AAA AW Bn (Mbl)

1 Jul 44-still atchd 9 May 45

473rd AAA AW Bn (SP)

22 Aug 44-17 Sep 44

Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn

3 Mar 45-9 Mar 45

3 secs Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn

3 Mar 45-9 Mar 45

6 secs Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn

10 Mar 45-12 Mar 45

1 plat BtryA 226th AAA SL Bn

13 Mar 45-13 Mar 45

1 plat (-3 SLs) Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn

14 Mar 45-20 Mar 45

Armored

1st Bn 66th Armd Regt (2nd Armd Div)

28 Jun 44-5 Jul 44

746th Tk Bn

5 Jul 44-16 Jul 44

70th Tk Bn

17 Jul 44-18 Jul 44

Co C 749th Tk Bn

20 Jul 44-29 Jul 44

Co A 709th Tk Bn

6 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

Co C 709th Tk Bn

12 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

1 plat 709th Tk Bn

13 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

774th Tk Bn

28 Aug 44-24 Dec 44

774th Tk Bn

26 Jan 45-3 Feb 45

736th Tk Bn (-Co C)

6 Feb 45-9 May 45

Co C 736th Tk Bn

28 Mar 45-9 May 45

CC R (2nd Armd Div)

14 Apr 45-19 Apr 45

3rd Bn 67th Armd Regt (2nd Armd Div)

19 Apr 45-30 Apr 45

Cavalry

106th Cav Rcn Sq

16 Jul 44-28 Jul 44

24th Cav Rcn Sq

18 Jul 44-19 Jul 44

Task Force A (15th Cav Gp)

3 Aug 44-5 Aug 44

Task Force Polk

23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

Hq & Hq Tr 3rd Cav Gp

23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

3rd Cav Rcn Sq (-1 det)

23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

43rd Cav Rcn Sq

23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

dets 6th Cav Gp

23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

135th Engr C Bn 

23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

dets Fr 1st Regt of Paris

23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

32nd Cav Rcn Sq

9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

Task Force Polk

9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

3rd Cav Gp

9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

3rd Cav Rcn Sq

9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

Co A 135th Engr C Bn

9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

705th TD Bn (SP)

9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

Tr A 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div)

22 Nov 44-28 Nov 44

Tr B 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div)

22 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

Tr C 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div)

22 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

Tr A 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div)

5 Dec 44-7 Dec 44

4th Cav Gp

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

Tr A 24th Cav Rcn Sq

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

759th Tk Bn (-Co C)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

2 plats Co C 297th Engr C Bn

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

635th TD Bn (T) (-Co A & 1 plat Co C)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

24th Cav Rcn Sq (-Tr A)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

15th Cav Gp

31 Mar 45-3 Apr 45

15th Cav Rcn Sq

31 Mar 45-3 Apr 45

17th Cav Rcn Sq

31 Mar 45-3 Apr 45

113th Cav Gp

3 Apr 45-6 May 45

113th Cav Rcn Sq

3 Apr 45-6 May 45

125th Cav Rcn Sq

3 Apr 45-6 May 45

Chemical

Co A 87th Cml Bn

5 Jul 44-16 Jul 44

Co C 87th Cml Bn

5 Jul 44-16 Jul 44

Co B 86th Cml Mort Bn

19 Jul 44-29 Jul 44

Co A 86th Cml Mort Bn

Aug 44-16 Aug 44

Co C 86th Cml Mort Bn 

Aug 44-16 Aug 44

Co B 86th Cml Mort Bn

13 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

Co C 81st Cml Mort Bn

11 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

Co A 87th Cml Bn

9 Dec 44-21 Dec 44

Co C 87th Cml Bn

31 Dec 44-25 Jan 45

Co B 87th Cml Bn

2 Jan 45-25 Jan 45

2 secs 83rd Cml SG Co

1 Mar 45-2 Mar 45

92d Cml Mort Bn

15 Apr 45-4 May 45

27th Cml SG Co

18 Apr 45-30 Apr 45

83rd Cml SG Co

18 Apr 45-30 Apr 45

Engineer

1 plat Co B 297th Engr C Bn

7 Dec 44-9 Dec 44

Co C 297th Engr C Bn (-2 plats)

11 Dec 44-18 Dec 44

Field Artillery

65th Armd FA Bn

27 Jun 44-4 Jul 44

400th Armd FA Bn

31 Jul 44-2 Aug 44

250th FA Bn (105 How)

31 Jul 44-4 Aug 44

174th FA Gp

Aug 44-16 Aug 44

12th FA Obsn Bn (-Btry A)

7 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

196th FA Gp

7 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

202d FA Gp

7 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

333d FA Gp

15 Aug 44-18 Aug 44

739th FA Bn (8" How)

29 Aug 44-3 Sep 44

751st FA Bn (155 How)

30 Aug 44-11 Sep 44

268th FA Bn (8" Gun)

30 Aug 44-11 Sep 44

241st FA Bn (105 How)

29 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

689th FA Bn (155 How)

29 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

81st FA Bn (155 How)

13 Oct 44-7 Dec 44

174th FA Bn (155 Gun)

25 Oct 44-7 Dec 44

Hq & Hq Btry 422d FA Gp

6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

81st FA Bn (155 How)

6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

174th FA Bn (155 Gun)

6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

Btry A 285th FA Obsn Bn

6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

Btry C 558th FA Bn (155 Gun)

11 Nov 44-11 Nov 44

Btry A 285th FA Obsn Bn

21 Nov 44-4 Dec 44

Btry C 559th FA Bn (155 Gun)

27 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

951st FA Bn (155 How)

7 Dec 44-21 Dec 44

193d FA Bn (105 How)

13 Dec 44-21 Dec 44

25th FA Bn (105 How)

22 Dec 44-24 Dec 44

24th FA Bn (105 How)

1 Mar 45-1 Mar 45

25th FA Bn (105 How)

2 Mar 45-11 Mar 45

751st FA Bn (155 How)

2 Mar 45-12 Apr 45

351st FA Bn (155 How)

9 Mar 45-12 Apr 45

Btry B 8th FA Obsn Bn

16 Mar 45-20 Apr 45

25th FA Bn (105 How)

28 Mar 45-5 May 45

967th FA Bn (155 How)

28 Mar 45-5 May 45

65th Armd FA Bn

21 Apr 45-5 May 45

696th Armd FA Bn

21 Apr 45-5 May 45

280th FA Bn (105 How)

17 May 45-31 May 45

Infantry

121st CT (8th Div)

6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44

121st Inf (8th Div)

6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44

56th FA Bn (8th Div) (105 How)

6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44

Co B 168th Engr C Bn

6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44

1 plat 513th Engr Light Pon Co

6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44

Fr Group Latique Lorraine

2 Oct 44-11 Oct 44

Fr 1st & 2d Regts of Paris

2 Oct 44-11 Oct 44

Co B 52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div)

22 Nov 44-29 Nov 44

Co C 52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div)

28 Nov 44-7 Dec 44

Co B 629th TD Bn (SP)

2 Dec 44-31 Dec 44

22d Inf (4th Div)

3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44

8th CT (4th Div)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

29th FA Bn (4th Div) (105 How)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

Co A 4th Engr C Bn (4th Div)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

Co A 1 plat Co D & G Plat 70th Tk Bn

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

Co A 803d TD Bn (SP)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

Btry A 377th AAA AW Bn (Mbl)

7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44

290th CT (75th Div)

31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45

898th FA Bn (75th Div) (105 How)

31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45

Co B 750th Tk Bn

31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45

1st Plat Co B 275th Engr C Bn (75th Div)

31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45

Btry B 440th AAA AW Bn (Mbl)

31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45

320th Inf (35th Div)

15 Mar 45-21 Mar 45

Tank Destroyer

802d TD Bn (T)

1 Jul 44-7 Dec 44

Co A 634th TD Bn (SP)

10 Jul 44-13 Jul 44

Co A 813th TD Bn (SP)

17 Jul 44-29 Jul 44

Co B 705th TD Bn (SP)

6 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

Co C 644th TD Bn (SP)

9 Aug 44-16 Aug 44

807th TD Bn (SP)

29 Sep 44-11 Oct 44

629th TD Bn (SP)

9 Dec 44-23 Dec 44

772d TD Bn (T)

22 Dec 44-1 Jan 45

629th TD Bn (SP)

1 Jan 45-30 Jan 45

643d TD Bn (SP)

2 Feb 44-9 May 45

801st TD Bn (SP)

10 Apr 45-12 Apr 45

DETACHMENTS

(Attached To)

Cavalry

83d RCN Tr

Ninth Army

25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

Field Artillery

Btry C 323d FA Bn (105 How)

Task Force A

5 Aug 44-22 Sep 44

83d Div Art

34th Div

21 Jan 45-27 Jan 45

83d Div Art

29th Div

6 Feb 45-27 Feb 45

Co B 308th Engr C Bn

29th Div

6 Feb 45-27 Feb 45

1 plat Co A 308th Engr C Bn

29th Div

6 Feb 45-27 Feb 45

Infantry

330th CT Co B 308th Engr C Bn

29th Div

14 Jul 44-17 Jul 44

3d Bn 330th Inf

Task Force A

5 Aug 44-25 Sep 44

330th CT

4th Div

3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44

323d FA Bn

4th Div

3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44

Co B 308th Engr C Bn

4th Div

3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44

329th CT

4th Div

7 Dec 44-10 Dec 44

322d FA Bn

4th Div

7 Dec 44-10 Dec 44

329th CT

9th Div

13 Dec 44-13 Dec 44

2d Bn 330th Inf

5th Armd Div

13 Dec 44-23 Dec 44

1st Bn 329th Inf

Ninth Army

23 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

2d Bn 329th Inf

Ninth Army

23 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

2d Bn 331st Inf

Ninth Army

23 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

3d Bn 329th Inf

Ninth Army

24 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

2d Bn 330th Inf

Ninth Army

25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

1st Bn 331st Inf

Ninth Army

25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

3d Bn 331st Inf

Ninth Army

25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

1st Bn 330th Inf

Ninth Army

26 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

3d Bn 330th Inf

Ninth Army

26 Dec 44-26 Dec 44

330th CT (-1st Bn)

VII Corps

27 Dec 44-1 Jan 45

1st Bn 330th Inf

84th Div

27 Dec 44-1 Jan 45

331st Inf

3d Armd Div

29 Dec 44-31 Dec 44

330th Inf

3d Armd Div

1 Jan 45-7 Jan 45

2d Bn 330th Inf

3d Armd Div

7 Jan 45-19 Jan 45

3d Bn 330th Inf

3d Armd Div

7 Jan 45-19 Jan 45

1st Bn 330th Inf

3d Armd Div

11 Jan 45-19 Jan 45

329th CT

84th Div

21 Jan 45-22 Jan 45

330th Inf

29th Div

23 Feb 45-27 Feb 45

331st CT

2d Armd Div

27 Feb 45-1 Mar 45

908th FA Bn

2d Armd Div

27 Feb 45-1 Mar 45

Co C 308th Engr C Bn

2d Armd Div

27 Feb 45-1 Mar 45

330th CT

XIX Corps

5 Apr 45-7 Apr 45

323d FA Bn

XIX Corps

5 Apr 45-7 Apr 45

331st CT

XIX Corps

10 Apr 45-11 Apr 45

908th FA Bn

XIX Corps

10 Apr 45-11 Apr 45

330th CT

XIX Corps

13 Apr 45-20 Apr 45

323d FA Bn

XIX Corps

13 Apr 45-20 Apr 45

[page 296]

ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT

To Higher Units

DATE

CORPS

ARMY

ARMY GROUP

Assigned

Attached

Assigned

Attached

4 Apr 44

 

Third

 

ETOUSA

 

8 Apr 44

VIII

Third

First

 

 

25 Jun 44

VIII

Third

 

 

 

1 Jul 44

VII

Third

First

 

 

15 Jul 44

VIII

Third

First

 

 

1 Aug 44

XV

Third

 

12th

 

3 Aug 44

VIII

Third

 

12th

 

5 Sep 44

VIII

Ninth

 

12th

 

10 Sep 44

-

Ninth

 

12th

 

21 Sep 44

XX

Third

 

12th

 

11 Oct 44

VIII

Ninth

 

12th

 

22 Oct 44

VIII

First

 

12th

 

8 Nov 44

XX

Third

 

12th

 

11 Nov 44

VIII

First

 

12th

 

7 Dec 44

VII

First

 

12th

 

20 Dec 44

VII

First

 

12th

Br 21st

22 Dec 44

XIX

Ninth

 

Br 21st

 

26 Dec 44

VII

First

 

Br 21st

 

15 Feb 45

XIX

Ninth

 

12th

 

8 May 45

XIII

Ninth

 

12th

 

(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.

[page 297]

COMMAND POSTS

DATE

TOWN

REGION

COUNTRY

1944

19 Apr

Newcastle-under-Lyme (Keele-Hall)

Staffordshire

England

16 Jun

Stonehenge

 

England

17 Jun

Hursley

Hampshire

England

17 Jun

Southampton

Hampshire

England

25 Jun

Omaha Beach

Calvados

France

26 Jun

Bricqueville

Manche

France

28 Jun

Carentan

Manche

France

5 Jul

Carentan (vic SW)

Manche

France

14 Jul

Hotat

Manche

France

28 Jul

Feugeres

Manche

France

29 Jul

Feugeres

Manche

France

3 Aug

Pontorson

Manche

France

4 Aug

Pontorson (vic E)

Manche

France

5 Aug

Chateau Goulion

Ille & Vilaine

France

7 Aug

Chateauneuf

Ille & Vilaine

France

10 Aug

Dinan

Ille & Vilaine

France

20 Aug

Sesson

Loire Infre

France

25 Aug

Chateaubriant

Loire Infre

France

15 Sep

Vendome

Loire et Cher

France

20 Sep

Orleans

Loiret

France

24 Sep

Luxembourg

 

Luxembourg

9 Nov

Mondorff

 

Luxembourg

12 Nov

Luxembourg

 

Luxembourg

6 Dec

Krewinkel

Rhineland

Germany

26 Dec

Eilendorf

Rhineland

Germany

27 Dec

Havelange

Liege

Belgium

27 Dec

Nettine

Luxembourg

Belgium

31 Dec

Barvaux

Luxembourg

Belgium

1945

1 Jan

Izier

Luxembourg

Belgium

8 Jan

Jevigne

Luxembourg

Belgium

15 Jan

Ottre

Luxembourg

Belgium

21 Jan

Hamoir

Luxembourg

Belgium

6 Feb

Dalhem

Liege

Belgium

22 Feb

Schaufenberg

Rhineland

Germany

28 Feb

Hasselsweiler

Rhineland

Germany

1 Mar

Aldenhoven

Rhineland

Germany

2 Mar

Buttgen

Rhineland

Germany

21 Mar

Echt

Limburg

Neth

28 Mar

Schiefbahn

Westphalia

Germany

29 Mar

Hunxe (vic W)

Westphalia

Germany

30 Mar

Stockweise

Westphalia

Germany

31 Mar

Ludinghausen

Westphalia

Germany

1 Apr

Walstedde

Westphalia

Germany

1 Apr

Beckum

Westphalia

Germany

3 Apr

Delbruck

Westphalia

Germany

4 Apr

Bad Lippspringe

Westphalia

Germany

5 Apr

Horn

Westphalia

Germany

5 Apr

Steinheim

Westphalia

Germany

7 Apr

Rischenau

Westphalia

Germany

8 Apr

Escherhausen

Westphalia

Germany

10 Apr

Gross Freden

Westphalia

Germany

10 Apr

Langelsheim

Westphalia

Germany

11 Apr

Heudeber

Westphalia

Germany

12 Apr

Cochstedt

Westphalia

Germany

13 Apr

Calbe

Magdeburg

Germany

7 May

Wernigerode

Magdeburg

Germany

 

source: https://history.army.mil/documents/eto-ob/83id-eto.htm

Page last revised 02/18/2023
James D. West 
Host106th@106thInfDivAssn.org
www.IndianaMilitary.org