43d  Infantry Division History - 1941 - 1945

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Stationed first in New Zealand, the 43d Division island hopped its way up the Pacific chain.  Operations were conducted on many islands, some well known, others never before heard of.  Guadalcanal; the Russell Islands; New Georgia, where the 43d took heavy casualties taking Munda airfield.  The Drinimour River in New Guines, Luzon and Manila in the Philippines.  The 43d was slated to be one of the first Invasion forces on Japan proper.  It was thought by many that the division could well be decimated.  Japan surrenderd instead, and the 43d went to Japan as an occupation force. For thier actions in the Philippines, the 43d was awarded a Presidentail Unit Citation.  The 43d Division was nicknamed the "Winged Victory" Division after Gen. Leonard F. Wing took over command in 1943.  Gen. Wing was the only National Guard officer to command an active duty division in World War II.

The 43d Infantry Division was inducted into federal service on Feb. 21, 1941.  The National Guard unit was primarily made up from infantry regiments of the 172nd. Vermont, the 103d maine, and the 169th Connecticut.  The 118th Combat Engineers from Rhode Island made up the fourth New England state in the 43d.  Other units from amoung these four  states were the 118th Medical, HQ Division (Headquarters), the 103d; the 152nd; the 192nd, and the 169th Field Artillery Battalions. The division first trained at Camp Blanding, Florida.  It was supposed to be only a one-year stint, but Dec. 7, 1941 changed all of that.  The 43d was now in for the duration of the war.  After completing advanced training in Mississippi, and large scale maneuvers in Louisiana and the Carolinas, the 43d shipped out of Fort Ord, California in October of 1942.  It took the transport ships almost three weeks to reach New Zealand.

Saturday morning march.  Camp Blanding  1941 Company M  - 169th Infantry - 43d Division

View outside gates at Camp Blanding  1941

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