80th Division (United States)

The 80th Division was a unit of the United States Army that fought in both World War I and World War II. It was initially formed as a National Army division during World War I and was nicknamed the "Blue Ridge Division," a reference to the mountainous region where many of its soldiers originated.

World War I:

Activated in August 1917, the 80th Division was composed primarily of draftees from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. It arrived in France in June 1918 and was assigned to the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). The division participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, a major Allied push that ultimately contributed to the end of the war. They fought with distinction, experiencing heavy casualties. Following the armistice in November 1918, the 80th Division served in the occupation of Germany before returning to the United States and being demobilized in 1919.

World War II:

The 80th Division was reactivated in July 1942 as part of the Army Reserve. After extensive training, it landed in France in August 1944, following the D-Day landings. The division fought its way across France and into Germany, participating in the campaigns in Lorraine, the Ardennes (during the Battle of the Bulge, though it was not directly involved in the initial fighting), and the Rhineland. Notably, the 80th Division liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp in April 1945. After the German surrender in May 1945, the division remained in Europe on occupation duty until its deactivation in January 1946.

Post-War:

The 80th Division was reconstituted in the Army Reserve following World War II, serving in a training capacity. The division's mission shifted over the years, focusing on training reserve component soldiers for various military occupational specialties. Later it was redesignated as the 80th Training Command (Total Army School System). While the 80th Division no longer exists as an infantry division, its legacy continues through the 80th Training Command.