The 9th Infantry Division saw its first combat in the North African invasion, 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers, Safi, and Port Lyautey. With the collapse of French resistance, 11 November 1942, the Division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border. The 9th returned to Tunisia in February and engaged in small defensive actions and patrol activity. On 28 March 1943 it launched an attack in southern Tunisia and fought its way north into Bizerte, 7 May. In August the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily, and took part in the capture of Randazzo and Messina. After returning to England for further training, the Division hit Utah Beach on 10 June 1944 (D plus 4) , cut off the Cotentin Peninsula, drove on to Cherbourg and penetrated the port's heavy defenses. After a brief rest in July, the Division took part in the St. Lo break-through and in August helped close the Falaise Gap. Turning east, the 9th crossed the Marne, 28 August, swept through Saarlautern, and in November and December held defensive positions from Monschau to Losheim. Moving north to Bergrath, Germany, it launched an attack toward the Roer, 10 December, taking Echtz and Schlich. From mid-December through January 1945, the Division held defensive positions from Kalterherberg to Elsenborn. On 30 Jannary the Division jumped off from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to Rhine, crossing at Remagen, 7 March. After breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, the 9th assisted in the sealing and clearing of the Ruhr Pocket, then moved 150 miles east to Nordhausen and attacked in the Harz Mountains, 14-20 April. On 21 April the Division relieved the 3d Armored along the Mulde River, near Dessau, and held that line until VE-day.

20 November 1943: First Army. 25 November 1943: VII Corps. 1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. 26 October 1944: V Corps. 6 December 1944: VII Corps. 18 December 1944: V Corps. 20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group. 18 January 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. 17 February 1945: III Corps. 31 March 1945: VII Corps. 4 April 1945: III Corps. 14 April 1945: VII Corps.

there is a white disk in center. Association: 9th Infantry Division Association, P. O. Box 1704, Washington 13, D. C., Mr. Charles O. Tingley, secretary. Publications: Eight Stars to Victory; by Lt. Joseph B. Mittelman, unit historian; F. J. Heer Printing Co., Columbus, Ohio; 1947. The Octofoil, monthly Association paper (editor: Paul S. Plunkett, 337 South High St., Columbus, Ohio). Hitler's Nemesis, The 9th Infantry Division; Stars and Stripes; Paris, Desfosses ; 1944 ; 32 pp. Hold Fast!; 9th Division; 59 pp. The Final Thrust; History of the 9th Infantry Division in Germany, September 1941, to May 1945; 9th Division Historian's Office; by Lt. Joseph D. Mittelman ; 1948 ; 73 pp.

*See footnote, 1st Infantry Division.

The 9th Infantry Division (Motorized), "Old Reliables" or "Octofoil," was headquartered at Fort Lewis, Washington, and served as an experimental testbed to evaluate new operational concepts and equipment. As was common at the time, the 41st Infantry Brigade (Separate) was a Reserve Component (RC) round-out brigade assigned for training and planning purposes.