Insignia

[Excerpt from Wyllie, Col. Robert E. "The Romance of Military Insignia."
 The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 6. December, 1919. ]

The fir tree was selected for the insignia as being typical of the Far West, the home of the Division, and also, being an evergreen, was emblematic of the state of readiness of each unit of the organization.

[Excerpt from division history]

While the Division was serving in Belgium orders were received to submit to the Commander-in-Chief a pattern and description of a divisional distinctive insignia to be worn on the left shoulder of the blouse. The insignia recommended was a fir tree of green cloth, inscribed within a triangle with base of two inches and altitude two inches. This having been approved, orders were issued in December announcing the insignia and directing the Quartermaster to furnish the proper number for each officer and man.

While the Division served at La Ferte Bernard the following orders were issued to announce the name by which the Division was popularly known, the distinctive divisional insignia and motto:

HEADQUARTERS 91ST DIVISION,
A. E. F.

January 29, 1919.

GENERAL ORDERS:
No. 7.

1. The name "Wild West Division," by which this Division has been known since the days of its organization at Camp Lewis, Washington, in 1917, is officially recognized as the distinctive divisional name.

2. The distinctive divisional design, a green fir tree, adopted as a personal badge, to be worn by each officer and man of the Division (G. O. 57, 91st Division, 1918), is emblematic not only of the foliage found in each State from which the personnel of this Division was selected, but the ever green and ever useful character of this foliage is emblematic also of the state of readiness and the degree of usefulness which has characterized, and should continue to be the aim of, each unit of the Division.

3. Since this Division was ready to participate in the St.-Mihiel Salient operation while standing in the reserve of the First American Army; since it was ready to attack in the front line of the Fifth Army Corps, from Fôret de Hesse, when the Commander-in-Chief launched his attack against the enemy’s line of communications between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest; since some of its units were already entraining for Belgium before others, marching from the firing line, had reached the railroad; since its units never hesitated to attack the most formidable of the enemy’s defenses in Belgium; and since its members are now ready, either to return to the United States and resume the pursuits of peace, or to continue their service wherever ordered by the Commander-in-Chief, the phrase "Always Ready" is adopted as the divisional motto.

By command of Major General Johnston:

Nickname

"Wild West" Division, as most of the original members were draftees from the Western states.

Background

National Army Division established by the War Department on 5 August 1917 to be established at Camp Lewis, WA.  Draftees were from California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.  Movement overseas commenced on 21 June 1918 and was completed by 26 July 1918.

Primary Units

181st Infantry Brigade:
361st Infantry Regiment
362d Infantry Regiment
347th Machine Gun Battalion

182d Infantry Brigade:
363d Infantry Regiment
364th Infantry Regiment
348th Machine Gun Battalion

166th Field Artillery Brigade:
346th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm)
347th Field Artillery Regiment (4.7")
348th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm)
316th Trench Mortar Battery

Divisional Troops:
346th Machine Gun Battalion
316th Engineer Regiment
316th Field Signal Battalion
316th Train Headquarters and MP
316th Ammunition Train
316th Supply Train
316th Engineer Train
316th Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies & Field Hospitals 361, 362, 363, 364)

Product Flyers

DB 91-1: 91st Division, Division Histories

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