US 1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army —nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch; and also nicknamed "The Fighting First" - is the oldest division in the United States Army, and has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917.

1. When was the Big Red One - 1st Infantry Division activated?

• May 24, 1917
• May 24, 1927
• May 24, 1937

2. 1st Division started preparing for World War II by moving to Fort Benning on November 19, 1939, and ran its personnel through the Infantry School. It then moved to the Sabine Parish, Louisiana area on May 11, 1940 to participate in the Louisiana Maneuvers. They then returned to Fort Hamilton on June 5, 1940. The headquarters was then transferred to Fort Devens at Ayer, Massachusetts February 4, 1941, and then participated in the October and November maneuvers in the Carolinas, with a garrison at Samarcand, North Carolina on October 16, 1941. 1st Division then returned to Fort Devens on December 6, 1941, which is where they were when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

• True or False?

3. Who commanded the 1st Infantry Division from February 1941 to August 1942?

• Maj. Gen. Donald Cubbison
• Maj. Gen. Abe Gibbons
• Maj. Gen. Mark Grace

4. In World War II, the division landed on November 8, 1942, as part of Operation Torch. Where did they land?

• Oran, Algeria
• Casablanca, Morocco
• Gibraltar, Spain

5. In July, 1943, it took part in Operation Husky in Sicily under the command of Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen. It was assigned to the II Corps. It was in Sicily that the 1st saw heavy action when making amphibious landings on Gela, the most fortified German beach head positions. The 1st then moved up through the center of Sicily, slogging it out through the mountains along with the 45th Infantry Division. In these mountains, the division saw some of the heaviest fighting in the entire Sicilian campaign at Troina; some units losing more than half their strength in assaulting the mountain town. On August 7, 1943, Who assumed command of the 1st Infantry?

• Major General Clarence R. Huebner
• Major General Robert Morgan
• Major General Irvin Matthews

6. When that campaign was over, the division returned to England to prepare for the Normandy invasion. Which beach did they land on?

• Omaha
• Utah
• Gold

7. The division followed up the St. Lo break-through with an attack on Marigny, July 27, 1944, and then drove across France in a continuous offensive, reaching the German border in September. What city did the division laid siege to, taking the city after a direct assault on October 21, 1944?

• Aachen
• Marline
• Rhinegarden

8. The division raced to the Ardennes, and fighting continuously from December 17, 1944 to January 28, 1945, helped blunt and turn back the German offensive.

• True or False?

9. The division attacked and again breached the Siegfried Line, fought across the Roer, February 23, 1945, and drove on to the Rhine, crossing at the bridgehead. On March 15–16, what bridgehead did they cross?

• Remagen
• Heidelberg
• Heinz

10. The First took part in the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, captured Paderborn, pushed through the Harz Mountaiins, and was in Czechoslovakia, fighting at Kinsperk, Sangerberg, and Mnichov when the war in Europe ended. How many members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor?

• Three
• Ten
• Sixteen

1st Infantry Division Answers

1. May 24, 1917
2. True
3. Maj. Gen. Donald Cubbison
4. Oran, Algeria
5. Major General Clarence R. Huebner
6. Omaha
7. Aachen
8. True
9. Remagen
10. Sixteen

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