US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Jackson, SC)

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lish Channel, the 8th tasted battle. The division Went gallantly on to cross the Ay River on the 26th, pushed through through Rennes on 8 Aug- ust, and attacked Brest in September. The Crozon Peninsula was cleared on 19 September and the division drove across France to Luxembourg, moved to the Hurtgen Forest in Germany on 20 November, cleared Hurtgen on the 28th and Brandenburg on 3 December and pushed on to the Roer. That river was crossed on 23 February, Duren taken on the 25th and the Erft Canal on the 28th. The 8th reached the Rhine near Ro- denkirchen on 7 March and maintained positions along the river near Koln. On 6 April the divi- sion attacked northwest to aid in the destruction of enemy forces in the Ruhr Pocket, and by the 17th had completed its mission. After security duty, the division, under operational control of the British Second Army, drove across the Elbe on 1 May and had penetrated to Schwerin, Ger- many, when the War in Europe ended. Returning to the United States, the division was again returned to an inactive status at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on 20 November 1945. Battle credits during World War I include the Streamer Without Inscription, and during World War II, Battle Streamers indicating the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Cen- Seeking out Nazi snipers Flame thrower - an important weapon of World War II ik

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l ' G it Advancing to the front and on 5 December 1943 a convoy be ' - th or the invasion of western Europe Infantry Division sailed from N: - In- drew ne , training program was expended bH1'ka'Ci011- an i nsified and on 1 uly 1944 the division North Ireland, Where a varied program of train- Europe. ATI' ' Jul 01' D-Day plus 23, the ing was instigated W - .4 . as .,,.. . - to . .., .' 3 . a Beach on the Cher- small-unit. tactics. While there, the ' ' I a, where Hnal preparations for inspected by General Dwight D. Eisenho - g - e to battle were completed. the late Lieutenant General George S. Patton. On 7 July, three days after crossing the Eng-

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One of the strong points held by the Nazis. Napoleon is said to have undergone his early military training here. tral Europe campaigns are affixed to the pike of the divisionis standard. Honors during World War II include two Congressional Medals of Honor and five Disting- uished Unit Citations. The current mission of the Division is to train enlistees and selectees to be skilled soldiers and to be in subsequent readiness for the role of a replacement in a combat unit. The motto of the Division is These are my credentialsv and was so proclaimed during World War II when Company I of the 8th was ordered to clearout a strip of German beach containing pill- boxes and coastal guns. A platoon commander, while leading his men through these knolls and em- placements, noticed Germans waving white flags. In perfect English, a German medical officer announced that General Ramcke was in a dugout below and would like to talk terms with the Am- erican Commanding Officer. Brigadier General Charles C. W. Canham, Assistant Division Com- mander, accompanied by a small group of staff officers, arrived at the dugout, 75 feet under- ground. Through his interpreter the Nazi com- mander stated: I am to surrender to you. Let me see your credentials. Pointing outside to dough- boys crowding the dugout entrance, General Can- ham replied, These are my credentials?