40th Division History

40th Infantry Division History.

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The Title:

" The Fighting Fortieth In War And Peace "

THE AUTHOR:

MG. James D. Delk ( AUS- RET )

Major General Delk retired in August 1992 from the National Guard after more than 42 years of military service, including 23 years of active duty.

He rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class before graduating from Officer Candidate School. He later had almost eighteen years of command, culminating with over three years in command of the 40th Infantry Division, Mechanized.

His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.

This is General Delk's second book. His first book, Fires and Furies, told the story of the Los Angeles Riots, which the 40th Infantry Division played a key role in controlling.

THE CONTENTS:

Chapter I. The Formation of the 40th Division. Brief history of the militia, and the units that formed the Division. Organization of the Division. Training at Camp Kearny.
Chapter 2. World War I. Brief background of World War I Training and deployment to France, Redesignation as 6th Depot Division as elements of the division are split off. Battles fought by members of the division. The armistice and demobilization.
Chapter 3. Between World Wars. Re-establishment of the 40th Infantry Division. Training, plus state duty including prison riots, flooding, earthquakes, longshoremen's strike and a train wreck. Camp San Luis Obispo is established.
Chapter 4. Training for World War II. Activation of the division. Training and maneuvers, Actions as a result of Pearl Harbor. Defending Hawaii while training. Guadalcanal. Advanced Amphibious training.
Chapter 5. Introduction to Combat. New Britain. Light combat. Planning for the invasion of Luzon.
Chapter 6. The invasion of Luzon. Kamikazes. Landing and capture of Lingayen. Advances and expanding the beachhead. Liberating Capas, Tarlac, and Bamban. Fighting for Fort Stotsenburg and Clark Field.
Chapter 7. Securing Central Luzon. Fighting in the Zambales Mountains. Storm King Mountain, Scattered Trees Ridge, Snake Hill West, Top of the World, Seven Hills, and many others.
Chapter 8. Panay, Leyte. Mindanao and Smaller Islands. Invasion of Panay. The 40th's role on Leyte, Mindanao, and the smaller islands of Guimares, Inampulugan. and Masbate. Recognition of guerrilla contnbution.
Chapter 9. The Negros Campaign. Seizure of Bago River Bridge. Landing and capture of Bacolad, and other towns. Capture of various airfields and huge lumber mill at Fabrica. Fighting at Lantawan and Malisbog, and the hill battles. The Sjogren Medal of Honor action. Fighting on Banana and Virgne Ridges.
Chapter 10. Fighting stops. Occupation begins. Preparations for the invasion of Japan. Shipment to Korea. Occupation duties including security, repatriating Koreans to Korea and shipping Japanese home. Problems with smuggling.
Chapter 11. Between Tours in Korea.Reestablishing the division. The 52nd (later 49th) division. The Korean War erupts. Movement to Camp Cooke. Receipt and training of fillers. Movement to Japan. Training for Korea.
Chapter 12. Korea: The Front Lines.Relief of the 24th Division in Korea. Combat, Operation " Clam Up ", infantry patrols and tank battles. Changing the divisions name. Two Medals of Honor. Guarding POWs. Kapyong.
Chapter 13. The Fight to the End. Heartbreak Ridge. The Punchbowl. Heavy combat during the " active defense ". More POW missions. Heavy tank battles. Return to Heartbreak Ridge and Sandbag Castle. The Collier Medal of Honor. Return of the divisions colors.
Chapter 14. Post Korea to PresentVarious domestic emergencies and riots. Conversion to an Armored Division. Furling the Divisions Colors until reorganized as a Mechanized Division. Vietnam. Various exercises, such as Gallant Eagle and Team Spirit. Training.
Appendices: Glossary, Chronology, Division Commanders, Organization of the Division, Decorations and Campaign Credits, Medal of Honor Citations, Divisional elements that Fought Elsewhere During WWII, Operations Memorandum for the Occupation of Korea, Sources, Bibliography.
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