|
THE
TEXAS 36TH DIVISION
Organized July 18, 1917 at
Camp Bowie, Texas, the 36th Division was composed of National Guard units
from the states of Texas and Oklahoma and traced a part of its lineage to
the Washington Guards of the Texas Revolution. During World War I, the
36th Division participated in the San Mihiel offensive and the
Meuse-Argonne offensive with the French army near St. Etienne-A-Armes and
in the liberation of Rheims. Having spent twenty-three days in active
sectors, the division captured 649 prisoners and suffered 2,628
casualties.
In 1920 the division was
reorganized with only Texas elements and was inducted into active duty on
November 28, 1940. The division was sent to North Africa in April, 1943.
In September 1943, the 36th was part of the amphibious landing near
Paestum on the Gulf of Salerno. The first American troops to fight on the
mainland of Europe in World War II. The division became part of the
campaign on the Winter Line, near Mignano, and particularly at San Pietro.
On May 18, 1944, the 36th participated n the Anzio beachhead operations.
After completing the Italian campaign, the division was part of the
amphibious landing near San Raphael and Frebus. In August, 1944, the 36th
fought along the Rhone River valley until it crossed the Moselle River
advancing through Lyon, Bourg, Besancon and Vesoulin September, 1944. The
division fought extensively through Germany capturing such notables as
Field Marshal Von Runstedt and Air Marshal Goering. During World War II,
the 36th Division spent 400 days in actual combat, having fought five
campaigns in four countries. The division captured 175,806 of the enemy
and suffered 27343 casualties, the third highest casualty rate of all
American divisions. The colors of the 36th Division were retired at Camp
Mabry, Austin, Texas, on April 1, 1980.
The Texas Highway
Department designated State Highway 36 as a memorial to the 36th Division
in 1944 and the 67th Texas Legislature funded the marking of State Highway
36 in 1981.
MEMORIAL
HIGHWAY |
