Adopted from the original National Timberwolf Association
104th Infantry Division
Activated 15 September 1942, Camp Adair, Oregon
Three years after the end of World War I, in July 1921, the 104th was organized under the provisions of the National Defense Act as a reserve Infantry Division with personnel to be drawn from the Western states of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. Twenty-two years after the close of World War I, men from all parts of the United States came West to join the ranks of the 104th Division, now no longer a reserve division but a combat outfit, ready for training to play a vital role in World War II.
Combat Chronicle:
From the canals of Holland to the banks of the Mulde
The 104th Infantry Division landed in France on 7 September '44 and moved into a defensive position in the vicinity of Wuustwezel, Belgium, 23 October '44. There it relieved the British 49th Division & joined the First British Corps, First Canadian Army. This relief made the 413th Infantry the first Regiment of the Division to take its place in line, the first regiment of the American Army to relieve an allied unit on the Western Front, as well as the first American Regiment to fight under the command of an Allied Army on this front. The 104th went over to the offensive on the 25th, soon liberating Zundert, Holland, gaining control of the Breda-Roosendall Road, and overrunning the Vaart Canal defenses.
Leur and Etten fell as the Division advanced in a coordinated drive to the Mark River at Standdarbuiten on 2 November '44 and established a bridgehead. Zevenbergen was captured and the Maas River reached 5 November. The bulk of the Division moved near Aachen, Germany (to relieve the First Division & join the U.S. Seventh Corps, First U.S. Army), with some elements remaining to secure Moerdijk, Holland until 7 November. Our job in Holland was over. We recovered our wounded, buried our dead and moved on to our enemy's homeland.
On 16 November the 104th attacked, taking Stolberg and pushing on against heavy resistance. Eschweiler fell on the 21st and the enemy was cleared from the area west of the Inde River, including Inden, by 2 December. Lucherberg was held against enemy counterattacks on 3 December, and all strongholds west of the Roer (Ruhr) River were captured by the 23rd. The 104th actively defended its sector near Duren and Merken from 15 December '44 to 23 February '45, and moved across the Roer taking Huchem-Stammeln, Birkesdorf and North Duren. On 5 March, after heavy fighting, it entered Cologne (Koln). After defending the west bank of the Rhine, the Division crossed the river at Honnef, 22 March '45, and attacked to the east of the Remagen Bridgehead.
The 413th Infantry overran the airfield east of Eudenbach on 23 March. After a period of mopping-up and consolidation, the division began the offensive against the Ruhr Pocket on 25 March and joined the 3rd Armored Division to eliminate scattered resistance and participated in the trap of enemy troops in the Ruhr pocket. The 104th repulsed heavy attacks near Medebach and captured Paderborn 1 April, '45. Regrouping, it advanced to the east and crossed the Weser River on the 8th, blocking enemy exits from the Harz Mountains. The Division then crossed the Saale river and took Halle in a bitter five-day struggle 15 to 19 April. The sector to the Mulde River was cleared by the 21st, and after vigorous patrolling, the Division contacted the Red Army at Pretzsch 26 April. Contact with enemy was lost on 5 May, completing 195 consecutive days of combat.
The 104th left Europe for home 27 June, 1945 and was stationed at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, with anticipated deployment for further combat in the Pacific. On 30 August official word was received from higher headquarters that the Division would not be needed in the Pacific. In recent years, the government has released classified details of the proposed invasion of Japan. The 104th Division's role in all of this was to complete training on the West Coast, stage through the Philippines, and eventually become part of the eleven-division floating reserve that would back up Operation Coronet (see details below), the code for the invasion to take place about March 1946, against the main island of Japan, Honshu.
The War Department ordered the inactivation of the 104th Infantry Division effective 20 December 1945. . . .
Leur and Etten fell as the Division advanced in a coordinated drive to the Mark River at Standdarbuiten on 2 November '44 and established a bridgehead. Zevenbergen was captured and the Maas River reached 5 November. The bulk of the Division moved near Aachen, Germany (to relieve the First Division & join the U.S. Seventh Corps, First U.S. Army), with some elements remaining to secure Moerdijk, Holland until 7 November. Our job in Holland was over. We recovered our wounded, buried our dead and moved on to our enemy's homeland.
On 16 November the 104th attacked, taking Stolberg and pushing on against heavy resistance. Eschweiler fell on the 21st and the enemy was cleared from the area west of the Inde River, including Inden, by 2 December. Lucherberg was held against enemy counterattacks on 3 December, and all strongholds west of the Roer (Ruhr) River were captured by the 23rd. The 104th actively defended its sector near Duren and Merken from 15 December '44 to 23 February '45, and moved across the Roer taking Huchem-Stammeln, Birkesdorf and North Duren. On 5 March, after heavy fighting, it entered Cologne (Koln). After defending the west bank of the Rhine, the Division crossed the river at Honnef, 22 March '45, and attacked to the east of the Remagen Bridgehead.
The 413th Infantry overran the airfield east of Eudenbach on 23 March. After a period of mopping-up and consolidation, the division began the offensive against the Ruhr Pocket on 25 March and joined the 3rd Armored Division to eliminate scattered resistance and participated in the trap of enemy troops in the Ruhr pocket. The 104th repulsed heavy attacks near Medebach and captured Paderborn 1 April, '45. Regrouping, it advanced to the east and crossed the Weser River on the 8th, blocking enemy exits from the Harz Mountains. The Division then crossed the Saale river and took Halle in a bitter five-day struggle 15 to 19 April. The sector to the Mulde River was cleared by the 21st, and after vigorous patrolling, the Division contacted the Red Army at Pretzsch 26 April. Contact with enemy was lost on 5 May, completing 195 consecutive days of combat.
The 104th left Europe for home 27 June, 1945 and was stationed at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, with anticipated deployment for further combat in the Pacific. On 30 August official word was received from higher headquarters that the Division would not be needed in the Pacific. In recent years, the government has released classified details of the proposed invasion of Japan. The 104th Division's role in all of this was to complete training on the West Coast, stage through the Philippines, and eventually become part of the eleven-division floating reserve that would back up Operation Coronet (see details below), the code for the invasion to take place about March 1946, against the main island of Japan, Honshu.
The War Department ordered the inactivation of the 104th Infantry Division effective 20 December 1945. . . .
Its mission in World War II had been accomplished.
Our Absent Comrades
The Timberwolf history is the story of a combat Infantry Division. The 104th Infantry Division did not win the war. We make no such far- reaching claim . . . but the Timberwolves did play a most effective role in crushing the iron fist of Nazidom. It is fitting that this history be dedicated to those of our gallant comrades who went forth with us to battle, but when the battle ended, did not return. It is to those brave officers and men who, from the canals of Holland to the banks of the Mulde, have written a tale of courage that we offer this history as our tribute. We know that no word of ours can pay them adequate honor; rather is it from their names and their deeds that honor comes to us. After peace had been won, the 104th formed for its last parade. Though the flags have been furled and each of us have gone our separate way, we shall never forget that many of this Division keep their ranks formed forever as they lie sleeping in the perpetuated fields of nine American Cemeteries of Europe or returned to private resting places in the bosom of their home land.