United States Army 7th Infantry Division (Bayonet Division)

U. S. ARMY 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION (BAYONET DIVISION) -  "Bayonet Division" – this nickname "became synonymous with the division through its participation in the Korean War and symbolizes the fighting spirit of the men of the 7th Infantry division." Also called "H-Hour" from their Shoulder patch: Red circular patch bearing black hour glass which is formed by an inverted "7" and a superimposed "7".  The 7th Infantry Division is an infantry division of the United States Army.  Today, it exists as a unique 250-man deployable headquarters based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord overseeing several units, though none of the 7th Infantry Division's own historic forces are active.

The division was first activated in December 1917 in World War I, and based at Fort Ord, California for most of its history.  Although elements of the division saw brief active service in World War I, it is best known for its participation in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II where it took heavy casualties engaging the Imperial Japanese Army in the Aleutian Islands, Leyte, and Okinawa.   Following the Japanese surrender in 1945, the division was stationed in Japan and South Korea, and with the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 was one of the first units in action.

WWII Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 9,212
• Killed in action: 1,948
• Wounded in action: 7,258
• Missing in action: 4
• Prisoner of war: 2

From 1953 to 1971, the 7th Infantry Division defended the Korean Demilitarized Zone.  Its main garrison was Camp Casey, South Korea.  At the end of the Cold War, the US Army considered new options for the integration and organization of active duty, Army Reserve and Army National Guard units in training and deployment.  Two division headquarters activated in the active duty component for training National Guard units.  The 7th Infantry Division and the 24th Infantry Division headquarters were selected.  Though it was inactivated, the division was identified as the highest priority inactive division in the United States Army Center of Military History's scheme based on age, campaign participation credit, and unit decorations.  The 7th Infantry Division was awarded one campaign streamer in World War I, four campaign streamers and two unit decorations in World War II, and ten campaign streamers and two unit decorations in the Korean War, for a total of fifteen campaign streamers and four unit decorations in its operational history.