43rd Infantry Division (United States)

The 43rd Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army that saw service in both World War I and World War II. Nicknamed the "Winged Victory Division," its shoulder sleeve insignia featured a winged Roman helmet superimposed on a shield.

World War I:

The 43rd Division was originally formed in 1917 from National Guard units from the New England states: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. However, it was used as a depot division and did not see combat in France during World War I. It was demobilized in 1919.

World War II:

The division was reactivated in 1940 as part of the pre-war mobilization effort. During World War II, the 43rd Infantry Division saw extensive combat in the Pacific Theater. Its major campaigns included the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Northern Solomons Campaign (including New Georgia, Arundel, and Vella Lavella), and the Luzon Campaign in the Philippines.

The division landed on Guadalcanal in October 1942 and played a crucial role in securing the island. It then participated in the arduous fighting in the Solomon Islands, pushing against strong Japanese resistance. Its final major campaign was on Luzon, where it fought from January 1945 until the end of the war.

Post-War:

The 43rd Infantry Division was deactivated after the end of World War II. It was later reorganized as a National Guard division, and elements of the division have been called up for various state emergencies and federal mobilizations since then. Its legacy as a combat division in the Pacific continues to be remembered.