89th Infantry Division (Rolling W)

• Nickname "Rolling W": The 89th Infantry Division is famously known as the "Rolling W" Division, due to its distinctive shoulder patch which features a letter "W" inside a circle, symbolizing "Win." • World War I Service: Activated in 1917, the 89th served in France during World War I, participating in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, two of the largest American operations of the war. • World War II Reactivation: The 89th was reactivated in 1942 at Camp Carson, Colorado, and trained extensively before deploying to Europe in 1945. • Rhine River Crossing: In March 1945, the division executed a successful assault crossing of the Rhine River at Oberwesel, Germany, a significant milestone in the Allied advance. • Liberation of Ohrdruf: The 89th was among the first U.S. units to liberate a Nazi concentration camp, reaching Ohrdruf, a subcamp of Buchenwald, in April 1945. This was the first such camp liberated by American forces. • General Patton's Visit: General George S. Patton visited Ohrdruf shortly after its liberation, describing the horrors he witnessed and urging others to see the camp to bear witness to Nazi atrocities. • Rapid Advance: In just 57 days of combat in World War II, the 89th advanced 340 miles through central Germany, capturing over 13,000 prisoners and inflicting heavy casualties. • Decorations and Honors: Members of the division earned numerous awards for valor, including three Distinguished Service Crosses, 93 Silver Stars, and 536 Bronze Stars. • Postwar Service: After WWII, the 89th served as an occupation force in Germany before returning to the U.S. and being inactivated in late 1945. • Legacy and Reconstitution: The 89th Infantry Division was reconstituted in the Army Reserve in 1947 as the 89th Army Reserve Command, continuing its legacy in various forms into the modern era.