America’s “First” Division
The 1st Infantry Division is the quintessential organization of the United
States Army during the 20th century. Organized on June 8, 1917, for duty on the
Western Front in World War I, this first permanent division in the regular Army
has seen action in all American wars since 1917, except the Korean, and has
performed magnificently in all of its service. Often the first unit of the Army
to deploy and engage the enemy, the division has been characterized by an
ability to learn systematically from experience and to distill this learning
into techniques and methods to improve battlefield performance. Central to this
learning has been the training of soldiers and the development of competent
leaders at all levels. In the process the “Big Red One” (so called for the red
numeral that has adorned its shoulder patch since 1918) has also been
characterized by a remarkable esprit that has remained with the veterans long
after their active service has ended. That human experience is an important part
of the American national experience. The 1st Division’s contributions to this
nation’s defense offer insights into the history of the Army and the United
States.