41st Infantry Division-41st Separate Infantry Brigade (E)
41st Infantry Brigade Insignia Left and Right
41st Shoulder Patch
The 41st Division was first organized September 17, 1917 at Camp Greene North Carolina from National Guard units from the Northwest and Washington D.C. federalized for World War I. Due to the Division's close association with the Pacific Northwest, it quickly picked up the nickname "Sunset Division".
The division was composed of units whose history dated back to the Indian Wars of the 1840's. Some of these units, such as the 162d Infantry Regiment, already carried numerous battle streamers from the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection and the Mexican Border. Soldiers from Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota as well as Washington, D.C. were used to bring the Division to full strength.
The Division was shipped to France on December 20, 1917; it was the fifth United States division to arrive "Over There" and its soldiers would see combat at places like Chateau-Thierry, the Muese-Argonne and many others. Shortly after arriving in France, the division was designated as a replacement division; thus its soldiers were sent into combat in other units, primarily, the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the Regular Army.
The 41st Division was deactivated 22 February 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey
In 1920 the 41st Division was reactivated as the 41st Division in the Northwest. Throughout the 1920's and 30's the Guardsmen attended drill each week in their home towns and went to summer encampments at places like Camp Withycombe, Camp Murray and Vancouver Barracks.
On Jan. 3, 1930 Major General George Ared White was appointed Major General and assigned commander of the 41st Division. The 41st Division was reorganized and Federally recognized on the same date at Portland, Oregon, as Headquarters, 41st Division. The division was comprised of units from Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
The 41st Division was federalized in September 1940 in preparation of the anticipated entry of the United States into the war in Europe.
August 2, 1941 the 41st Division was re-designated the 41st Infantry Division.
November 8, 1941 the 41st Infantry Division was reorganized from a Square Division to a Triangular Division.
Authorized strength of a square division consisted of about 28,000 soldiers. Authorized strength of a triangular division was approximately 15,000 soldiers.
On December 7, 1941 units of the 218th Field Artillery Regiment, commanded by Col. William D. Jackson of Portland, less one battalion, was in convoy bound for Manila and 800 to 1000 miles at sea. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, orders were sent to the convoy to return to San Francisco. The 218th FA Regiment rejoined the 41st at Fort Lewis in January 1942. The remainder of the 41st Infantry Division had remained at Fort Lewis Washington and following the attack on Pearl Harbor was ordered to take up defensive positions on the Oregon and Washington coast.
In February 1942, units of the division began movements to deploy overseas. By May 1942 the entire 41st Infantry Division had arrived in Australia. Large Map photo Small Map photo
During World War II the 41st Infantry Division was; the first American Division to go overseas after the attack on Pearl Harbor, served overseas longer (45 months) than any other division, was first division trained for jungle warfare, fought in more campaigns than any other division, killed and captured more Japanese than any other division, and was named the "Bloody Butchers" by Tokyo Rose.
The 41st Infantry Division fought mostly in New Guinea and the Southern Philippines.
On December 31, 1945 at 2400 hours, the 41st Infantry Division was deactivated in Kure-Hiro Japan.
In 1946, the 41st Infantry Division began reforming as a National Guard Division with units divided between Oregon and Washington.
In 1965, the 41st Infantry Division was re-organized into the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade. The Brigade was designated a Select Reserve Force (SRF) in preparation for mobilization to Vietnam.
In 1968, the SRF concept ended and 41st Separate Infantry Brigade was reorganized placing all of its units and elements in the state of Oregon.
In 1969, the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade acquired the lineage of the 41st Infantry Division.
In 1975 the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade became "Roundout" to the 7th Infantry Division.
In effect the 41st SIB was the 3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division stationed at Fort Ord, CA.
In 1986 the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade "Roundout" status to the 7th Infantry Division ends.
In 1994 the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade was designated as "Enhanced"
In 1998 the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade (E) was selected as one of the Enhanced Brigades to form the Integrated Division. The 7th Infantry Division (Light) is headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado, and is composed of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Arkansas), the 45th Infantry Brigade (Oklahoma), and the 41st Infantry Brigade (Oregon).
In 2001, the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade (E) continues its mission and is ready to serve when and where needed.
Recent Extended Active Duty Deployments of the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade (E);
1999: 'C' Company 1st Bn 162 Infantry (Gresham) deployed to Saudi Arabia. Oct 1999 - Feb 2000
2000: 'C' Company 2/162 Infantry (Eugene) deployed to Kuwait, Feb. 2000 - Aug. 2000
2000: 'B' Company 1st Bn 186th Infantry (Medford) deployed to Saudi Arabia, Aug. 2000 - Dec. 2000
2001: 241st Military Intelligence Co. (Tigard) deployed to Bosnia. Sep. 2001 -
2002: 186th Infantry Battalion (Southern Oregon) called for duty in the Sinai Peninsula and will be deployed from
the spring 2002 to Jan. 2003. The battalion was notified in Nov. 2001.
Shoulder Patch
A semi-circular disk having a red background and a demi-sun with 12 orange rays on a blue base line. The insignia represents the sun setting in the Pacific. (Former patch of 4lst Infantry Division called "Sunset Division" and nicknamed the "Jungleers")
there
is a left and right insiginia with beavers facing in when worn on uniforms.
Approved May 24, 1924: amended September 26, 1925. On a wreath argent and azure a demidisk gules charged with the setting sun with 12 light rays behind a beaver sejant proper. The setting sun alludes to the Northwest, the station of the 41st Division, of which a majority of Oregon troops is a part. The beaver superimposed upon the face of the setting sun alludes to the state itself. Oregon is part of the "Oregon Territory" whose American title was established in 1846. the territory is completely American and the twists of the wreath are white and blue.
162nd Infantry Regiment