37th Infantry Division

Hi. My grandpa passed away before I was born. I'd like to know more about the 37th. I've only recieved very little, and very unreliable(Wikipedia), info. Any help will be appreciated.

 

Is that the US 37th Infantry Division? If so:

37th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Divisions of World War II

Name:37thType:Infantry
Nickname:Buckeyes
Source:National Guard
Theater:Pacific
Casualties:5,960
Days of Combat:592
Activation Date:16 Oct 40
Date Sent Overseas:11 Jun 42 (Fiji)
Date Entered Combat:5 Jul 43 (New Georgia)
Status June 1946:inactivated 18 Dec 45
Other Wars:WW I, Korea, Vietnam
Commanding General(s):Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler (Oct 40 - Dec 45)
Campaign(s):Northern Solomons (22 Feb 43 - 21 Nov 44) Luzon (15 Dec 44 - 4 Jul 45)


U.S. Army Divisions of World War II: 37th Infantry Division, Casualties, Generals, Battles & Campaigns

 

More:

37TH INFANTRY DIVISION

World War

Activated: August 1917 (National Guard Division from Ohio). Overseas: June 1918. Major operations: Meuse-Argonne, Ypres-Lys. Casualties: Total-5,387 (KIA-794; WIA-4,593). Commanders: Brig. Gen. William R. Smith (26 August 1917), Maj. Gen. C. G. Trent (3 September 1917), Brig. Gen. William R. Smith (18 September 1917), Maj. Gen. C. G. Trent (5 December 1917), Brig. Gen. Joseph A. Gaston (25 April 1918), Maj. Gen. C. S. Farnsworth (8 May 1918), Brig Gen. William M. Fassett (5 December 1918), Maj. Gen. C. S. Farnsworth (10 Dec. 1918).
World War II

Activated: 15 October 1940 (National Guard Division from Ohio). Overseas: 26 May 1942. Campaigns: Northern Solomons, Luzon. Distinguished Unit Citations: 9. Awards: MH-7 ; DSC-116 ; DSM-4 ; SS-1,008 ; LM-71; SM-101 ; BSM-6,807 ; AM-84. Commanders: Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler commanded the Division during its entire period of Federal service in World War II. Returned to U. S.: November 1945. Inactivated: 18 December 1945. (See National Guard.)
Combat Chronicle

The 37th Infantry Division arrived in the Fiji Islands in June 1942 to fortify the islands against possible invasion. The Division continued its training on the islands. With the end of ground fighting on Guadalcanal, the Division moved to that island in April 1943, continued training, and staged for the Munda campaign. Two battalions joined the Marines on New Georgia, 5 July 1943, while the remainder of the Division landed, 22 July, and assisted the 43d Infantry Division in taking Munda airfield in heavy fighting. After mopping up on New Georgia, the Division returned to Guadalcanal, 9 September 1943, for rest and rehabilitation. The Division's next assignment was Bougainville. Relieving Marine units, 8-19 November 1943, the 37th took over the perimeter defense of the area, constructed roads and bridges and engaged in extensive patrol activity. In March 1944, two Japanese divisions made eight major attacks, but Division lines held. In April patrols cleared the Laruma Valley area of major enemy units. The Division remained on Bougainville and trained for the Luzon campaign. Landing with the Sixth Army on the beaches of Lingayen Gulf, 9 January 1945, the 37th raced inland against slight resistance to Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg where fierce resistance delayed capture of those objectives until 31 January. The Division continued to drive to Manila against small delaying forces, and entered the city's outskirts, 4 February. Upon crossing the Pasig River, it ran into bitter Japanese opposition, and it took heavy street fighting to clear the city by 3 March 1945. After garrison duty in Manila, 5-26 March, the Division shifted to the hills of Northwest Luzon, where heavy fighting culminated in the capture of Baguio, 26 April. Rest and rehabilitation during May were followed by action in June in the Cagayan Valley against deteriorating Japanese resistance. With the end of hostilities, 15 August, the Division was concerned with the collection and processing of prisoners of war, leaving November 1945 for the States and demobilization.
General

Nickname: Buckeye Division. Shoulder patch: Brilliant red circle on a circular background of white. Association: 37th Division Veterans' Association, 1101 Wyandotte Building, Columbus 15, Ohio. Publications: History of the 87th Infantry Division; by Col. Russell A. Ramsey, unit historian; The Infantry Journal, Washington 6, D. C.; 1947.

http://www.history.army.mil/lineage/cc/037id.htm

 

Thanks a lot Pz. Much appreciated!

 

My uncle, William Coy Terrell served in the 37th at Luzon I believe, seems he said '44-45', anybody here know him. Great man and hero to my dad who was quite a few years younger.

 

Try logging on to: FRANKEL-Y SPEAKING - Contents
Stanley A. Frankel is the author of a book my Dad had titled "The 37th. Infantry Division in World War II". Maybe you can find a copy somewhere

 

Here's a link to the 37th Division Veterans Association.

Also, here's something on Military.com that I just came across. It is a collection of photos of the 37th Infantry Division in the South Pacific.

 

Units of 37 Division disembarked at Auckland, New Zealand in June 1942, and went to several camps south of Auckland. One such camp was "Camp Opaheke East", the site of which is marked with a bronze plaque which reads:

"CAMP OPAHEKE - EAST
1942-1944
On this site stood a major camp for the forces of the United States of America engaged in the Pacific during the Second World War"

I am researching the history of this site which is near my home. Any information would be most gratefully received.


:flag_nz:

 

Welcome to the Forum, Stu. If I understand the history correctly, the 37th Division was originally intended to go to New Zealand. An advance team was sent ahead in April 1942 to make preparations. However, the plans changed and most of the 37th was sent to Fiji instead. The 145th Infantry Regiment continued on to New Zealand and arrived at Auckland on June 12, 1942. The 145th eventually rejoined the 37th Division in Fiji on July 15th, 1942.

I've got a history of the 37th at home. I'll check it to see if there are any details of the 145th staging in New Zealand.

 

Stu, I had a chance to review the book and it has a short chapter on New Zealand. I will see about posting those pages in this thread. Are you more interested in the 37th Division's time in NZ rather than all the "drama" leading up to their arrival?

Also, to amend my previous synopsis, additional elements of the 37th that went to Auckland with the 145th Infantry were: 37th Signal Company; 117th Engineer Battalion; 637th Tank Destroyer Battalion; 135th Field Artillery; 136th Field Artillery.

 

Thank you; my primary interest is their time in New Zealand, although the other information would certainly be of interest.

 

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. Things got very busy at work and the last couple days I was sick.

Here is the chapter in the 37th ID history regarding their time in New Zealand. I hope it helps you in your research, Stu. (By the way, the map I am including is not from that chapter. I thought it would help with context.)

View attachment 16286

 

And the rest...

View attachment 16288

 

Fantastic - Thanks for your help!

 

Not a problem. I hope you will keep us updated on the progress of your research.

 

This is another surprise that I came across on my trip to the Eisenhower Presidential Library back in February. As I was going through the file they had for the 129th Infantry Regiment, I found a copy of the program for the Memorial Day service for the 37th Infantry Division which took place on Bougainville in 1944.

View attachment 16342

 

And the last three...

View attachment 16345

 

Great find, Tommy. Thanks for posting these hallowed pages.

The pictures at Military.com, are great photos. Those surrendering Japanese looked none too friendly, especially the guy in the back row, third from left, with the 30,000
yd. stare. A very eerie image.

View attachment 16359

 

Thanks Rick. I like photo #4 of Capt. William H. "Wild Bill" Akard. He looks like he's been through hell, but he's got a hint of a smile on his face and a cigar in his hand.

Regarding the Memorial Day 1944 program, I must apologize for the quality of a couple of the photos. It was difficult to photo the document because it was bound with staples and I was not allowed to remove them or flatten out the document. As a result, a couple pages are out of focus. If I were to do it over, I would probably photo one page at a time which would have solved the problem.

 

I have just joined this forum. I know this topic is old, but to tell the truth, I can't figure out how to start a new one! I am interested in the 37th Division as I am trying to find out more about my Dad's service. He was in Battallion One, Company C, and was a military policeman. I cannot seem to find out how to research his service. Does anyone know where I would look to figure out what his division, company, or the military police did in particular from 1940 to 1945? I know he was in the Solomons, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Phillipines. Would a military policeman have also engaged in regular battles? Any info, general or specific, would be appreciated. Thanks, Marla Cummins Fair, Troy OH