Some of the history of the U.S. 1st infantry division.
WW1
This famous American army combat division first saw action in 1917 during WW1.
General Pershing lead the 'Big Red One' as part of the First American Expeditionary Force sent into France, bringing fresh U.S. troops to reinforce the enbattled British, French and Commonwealth forces.
The 'Fighting First' as the division also became known was one of the first of the U.S. divisions to see action in the trenches, forests and villages of WW1 France.
WW2
The 1st infantry division was to see a great deal of action during this long conflict. Serving in North Africa and Sicily as well as invading the beaches of Normandy and pushing the front into Europe.
The 'Big Red One' fought in many now famous WW2 battles including the Ardennes Saliant defence also known as the battle of the bulge. Here the German army launched what would be it's last major combat offensive on the western front, taking advantage of poor weather which for a time curtailed the British and American air support missions. Allied air superiority was playing havok with the German ground forces by this stage of the war.
Allied forces, the 1st infantry division amongst them stoutly defended this fierce onslought.
By V.E. day the division had pushed it's way into Czechoslovakia.
After the war the division maintained a presence in Germany together with other allied and later NATO forces facing off the new threat at that time, the Soviets.
Vietnam
This far east conflict once again drew upon the soldiers of the 1st infantry division. For five long years troops served here fighting Vietcong in the humid jungles. In 1970 the division returned home to Fort Riley, while also maintaining a presence in the then West Germany.
Iraq
Moving up to more recent times, the 1st infantry division has served in both of the middle eastern conflicts. In operation 'Desert Storm' 1st division forces were deployed to Saudi Arabia in preparation for a push over the border into Kuwait. After the extensive air operation of that conflict the division once again took it's share of action.
U.S. 1st division cloth patch £2.50 each.
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