Photo By Master Sgt. Doug Roles | The commanding general of the 28th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. John Gronski, awards...... read more read more
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The 28th Infantry Division, the oldest continuously serving division in the Army, celebrated its 136th birthday recently.
The Iron Division, the Bloody Bucket, the oldest continuously serving division in the Army. The 28th Infantry Division has earned many titles, nicknames and accolades in the 136 years since it was born on March 12, 1879.
To mark the 136th birthday this year, the 28th held a dining-out ceremony March 7 in Harrisburg. This event serves to foster camaraderie, reinforce esprit de corps, celebrate traditions and look to the future.
In that spirit, the event featured the recognition of retired Staff Sgt. Michael Kacer as the 28th Infantry Division Resilient Soldier of the year, as well as Sgt. 1st Class Annamaria Grunza and Staff Sgt. Kevin Walters as recipients of the Octavius V. Catto Medal.
Kacer, who lost his left arm as a result of an IED attack in Afghanistan, frequently appears at Pennsylvania National Guard events to motivate Soldiers and help teach the Army’s resilience program.
Sgt. 1st Class Eric Darling, Kacer’s former readiness NCO and current master resilience trainer, introduced his former Soldier at the event.
“He is the embodiment of how adversity can produce character and strength,” Darling said. “He was wounded so badly that we thought the next time we would see sergeant Kacer would be at his funeral. But he surprised us. He came back stronger than when he left.”
Although the division’s metallic moniker was earned during World War I, Kacer is proof that its Soldiers continue to live up to that name according to Maj. Gen. John Gronski, the 28th Infantry Division commanding general.
“The name Iron Division was earned due to bravery and was paid for with blood by every generation of 28th Infantry Division Soldiers who have worn the keystone on their left shoulder.”
Gronski said the current generation of Soldiers stands on the shoulders of previous generations, and the division’s history continues to be written today by the thousands of Soldiers who have conducted state missions here at home and combat and peacekeeping operations overseas.
“Our Soldiers have performed superbly over the past 14 years,” Gronski said. “We all well know that many of our 28th Infantry Division warriors have purchased the future liberty and prosperity of this country with their blood and with their lives. Forty-two 28th Infantry Division Soldiers have paid the ultimate price over the past 14 years. May all of our fallen warriors rest in peace.”
Though 136 may not seem like a milestone, this birthday marks the first time since 9/11 the division has gone more than one year without deploying a company-sized or larger element in support of overseas contingency operations. Unlike other periods between major conflicts, the division remains fully engaged in other activities overseas despite the lull in combat rotations.
In 2014, members of the division mobilized to France, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and other locations. This year, the 28th will participate in another Saber Strike exercise in eastern Europe. These operations are designed to test readiness and further develop relationships between the division and the United States’ allied forces.
The commanding general said the 28th Infantry Division is characterized by the ability to overcome adversity and a spirit of toughness and discipline. These traits have enabled the division to succeed in every mission it has been assigned, something he said it will continue to do regardless of the circumstances.
“I am very proud of our 28th Infantry Division Soldiers,” Gronski said. “We all know and believe that the 28th Infantry Division Soldier can do anything. There is no challenge too great for us. There is no difficulty that we can’t overcome.”
A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE 28TH INFANTRY DIVISION
The 28th Infantry Division and the Pennsylvania National Guard trace their lineage back to the militia organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1747 known as the Associators. Franklin organized artillery and infantry units to defend the city of Philadelphia against French and Spanish privateers. The first meeting of the Associators occurred on Nov. 21, 1747, and on Dec. 7, 1747, the enlistees and officers were formally commissioned by the Provincial Council president, Anthony Palmer. On that day, hundreds of armed Associators presented themselves to Palmer at the Philadelphia Courthouse and he wisely stated their activities were “not disapproved” and duly commissioned all of them.
The 28th Infantry Division is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. On March 12, 1879, Gov. Henry Hoyt signed General Order Number One appointing Maj. Gen. John Hartranft as the first division commander of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and the most storied and renowned division in the history of the U.S. Army was born. The keystone was prescribed as the designated symbol of the National Guard of Pennsylvania on Aug. 27, 1879.
The division was mustered into service for the Spanish-American War in 1898, and three regiments, three artillery batteries, and three cavalry troops were deployed for service. In 1916 the division, then designated the 7th Division, was mustered into service and deployed to El Paso, Texas, to serve along the Mexican border.
In response to World War I, the division was drafted into federal service on Aug. 5, 1917, and trained at Camp Hancock, Georgia. While in Georgia, the division was reorganized as the 28th Infantry Division on Oct. 11, 1917. After arriving in France, the 28th Infantry Division gained fame as a result of its gallant stand on July 15, 1918. As the division took up defensive positions along the Marne River east of Chateau-Thierry, the Germans commenced their attack with a fierce artillery bombardment. When the German assault collided with the main force of the 28th Infantry Division, the fighting became bitter hand-to-hand combat. The 28th Infantry Division repelled the German forces and decisively defeated their enemy. After the battle, Gen. John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, visited the battlefield and declared that the 28th Infantry Division Soldiers are “Men of Iron” and named the 28th Infantry Division his Iron Division. The 28th Infantry Division developed a red keystone-shaped shoulder patch, officially adopted Oct. 27, 1918.
The 28th Infantry Division was mobilized in preparation for World War II on Feb. 1, 1941. The first Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division stepped ashore at Omaha Beach on July 22, 1944. On Aug. 29, 1944, the 28th Infantry Division had the honor of being the first American division to parade through Paris, and later fought across northern France into Germany. As the 28th Infantry Division breached the formidable Westwall of the German defenses in September 1944, Staff Sgt. Francis Clark from the 109th Infantry earned the Medal of Honor. The 28th Infantry Division fought valiantly in the Huertgen Forest, disrupted the German counter-offensive during the Battle of the Bulge, and eventually liberated Colmar, France, from the grip of the German military.
The 28th Infantry Division crossed the Rhine and took positions in the Ruhr Pocket to stop any German forces driving south, and was in those positions when the fighting in Europe came to an end.
During the Korean War, the 28th Infantry Division was mobilized and deployed to Europe as a part of the NATO command defending Western Europe from the threat of Soviet attack. The 28th Infantry Division mobilized on Sept. 5, 1950, and remained on federal service until May 22, 1953.
The Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division have continued to make history since Sept. 11, 2001. The division has conducted operations in places including Bosnia, Kosovo, the Sinai, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Many 28th Infantry Division Soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice, and hundreds have been recognized for their dedicated service and valor. The 28th Infantry Division continues to build on its legacy as the Iron Division and 28th Infantry Division warriors take pride in being fit, resilient and well-trained in order to support each other and defend our great nation.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.12.2015 12:51 |
| Story ID: | 156773 |
| Location: | HARRISBURG, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 393 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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