5th Infantry Division (United States)

The 5th Infantry Division ("Red Diamond") was a division of the United States Army that served in both World War I and World War II, as well as during the Cold War. Its nickname derived from the red diamond-shaped patch worn on the division's left shoulder.

World War I:

Activated in December 1917 at Camp Logan, Illinois, the division arrived in France in April 1918. It saw extensive combat in the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. After the Armistice, it remained in Europe as part of the occupation force before returning to the United States in 1919 and being demobilized.

Interwar Period:

The 5th Infantry Division remained largely inactive in the interwar period, existing primarily on paper.

World War II:

Reactivated in October 1939 at Fort Custer, Michigan, the division trained extensively before landing in Normandy, France, on July 9, 1944, as part of the Normandy Campaign. It participated in the breakout from the Normandy beaches and the subsequent advance across France, fighting in the Battle of Metz and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, the division remained in Germany as part of the occupation force.

Post World War II & Cold War:

The division was deactivated in 1946 but reactivated again in 1950. Throughout the Cold War, it served in various capacities, including as a training division and a mechanized infantry division stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. It underwent several reorganizations and redesignations during this period.

Deactivation:

The 5th Infantry Division was deactivated for the final time in November 1992 at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Its lineage and honors have been perpetuated by other units of the U.S. Army.