The Hourglass

Originally published in 1950 by Infantry Journal Press as the official unit history for the 7th Infantry Division in World War II. Details on the unit as follows. Activated: 1 July 1940. Overseas: 24 April 1943. Campaigns: Aleutian Islands, Leyte, Eastern Mandates, Ryukyus. Days of combat: 208. Elements of the 7th Infantry Division first saw combat in the amphibious assault on Attu, western-most Japanese entrenchment in the Aleutian chain. Elements landed, 11 May 1943, and fought a bitter battle over freezing tundra against fanatically resisting Japanese, finally defeating the Japanese at Chichagof Harbor...With the Aleutians secured, the Division moved to Hawaii, where it trained in amphibious landing technique and in jungle warfare. On 31 January 1944 the Division landed on islands in the Kwajalein Atoll in conjunction with the 4th Marine Division, and in a week of heavy fighting, wrested them from the Japanese. Elements took part in the capture of Engebi in the Eniwetok Atoll, 18 Feb. 1944. The Division then moved to Oahu, T. H., remaining there until mid-Sep. when it sailed to join the assault on the Philippines. On 20 Oct. 1944, the Division made an assault landing at Dulag, Leyte, and after heavy fighting secured airstrips at Dulag, San Pablo, and Buri. The troops moved north to take Dagami, 29 Oct., and then shifted to the west coast of Leyte, 26 November, and attacked north toward Ormoc, securing Valencia, 25 Dec.. An amphibious landing by the 77th Infantry Division effected the capture of Ormoc, 11 Dec. 1944, and the 7th joined in its occupation. Mopping up operations continued until early February 1945. Next D-day for the Division was 1 Apr. 1945, when it made an assault landing on Okinawa. It drove from the west to the east coast on the first day and engaged in a savage 51-day battle in the hills of southern Okinawa. Shoulder patch: Red circular patch bearing black hour glass which is formed by inverted "7" and superimposed "7".—Print ed.