95th Infantry Division (United States)

95th Infantry Division
95th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1918
1921–1945
1947 - present
Country United States
Branch United States Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQFort Sill, Oklahoma
Nickname(s)"Iron Men of Metz" (special designation)[1]
"Victory Division"[2]
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander
Brigadier General Daphne Davis[3]
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Stephen Raney[3]
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 95th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. Today it exists as the 95th Training Division, a component of the United States Army Reserve headquartered at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Activated too late to deploy for World War I, the division remained in the Army's reserve until World War II, when it was sent to Europe. Renowned for fighting back fierce German counterattacks, the division earned the nickname "Iron Men of Metz" for fighting to liberate and defend the town.

In April 1945, the 95th Infantry Division (United States) "Victory" division uncovered a German prison and civilian labor camp in the town of Werl. On April 7, the unit reported discovering a camp housing some 4,500 undernourished French officers and 800 enlisted men. The 95th provided the prisoners with emergency rations from the division's own supplies.

After World War II, the division spent another brief period in reserve before being activated as one of the Army's training divisions.

The 95th Infantry Division (United States) was recognized as a liberating unit by the United States Army Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995.

Over the next fifty years the division would see numerous changes to its structure as its training roles changed and subordinate units shifted in and out of its command. It activated many regimental and brigade commands to fulfill various training roles. The division then began conducting one station unit training, a responsibility it continues to this day.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference CMH Designations was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Order of Battle, p. 351.
  3. ^ a b "95th Training Division (Initial Entry Training)". 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2024.