The History of the 29th Division,
116th Brigade & a early June 1944 account of the 104th (Co. B) Medical Battalion
1st brigade, 29th Infantry Division History

The 1st Brigade's lineage dates back to 1742 when Colonel James Patton organized the Augusta County Regiment of Militia. This Militia protected settlers against Indians and later the French, during the period prior to 1775. During the Revolutionary War, the battalion fought under General Andrew Lewis who was the commander of the 2nd Virginia Regiment.

The geographical area covered by the 1st Brigade furnished several regiments which formed in 1861 as the First Virginia Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah, Confederate States Army, commanded by Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson. It was at the first battle of Manassas, 21 July 1861, that the brigade won the illustrious nickname "The Stonewall Brigade".

The Virginia volunteers were first designated as the Virginia National Guard in 1916 and both the First and Second Virginia Regiments were called into Federal Service for duty on the Mexican Border from 1916 to 1917.

In 1917, the First, Second, and Fourth Virginia Regiments were combined to form the 116th Infantry Regiment of the newly formed 29th (Blue and Gray) Infantry Division. The Blue and Gray Division was formed at Camp McClellan, Alabama, and was composed of National Guard units from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.

The 116th Regiment saw heavy action in France during World War I, and as a result, the Infantry battalions earned the motto "Ever Forward" for their reputation of never having given ground in battle.

Between World Wars the 116th Regiment of the 29th Division became a part of the National Guard, and was called into Federal Service again on 03 February 1941. The Regiment trained at Fort Meade, Maryland and then A.P. Hill Military Reservation before it embarked for England in October of 1942 to engage in "D-Day" preparations.

"D-Day", 06 June 1944, found the 116th Regimental Combat Team spearheading one of the greatest military operations in history - - the assault landing on the German held coast of Normandy. The 116th Infantry, assault regiment of the Division, suffered 341 casualties on Omaha Beach.

After gaining a foothold and pushing inland, the 116th drove on toward St. Lo. The fall of this heavily defended stronghold led to the breakthrough. Major Thomas D. Howie, a Battalion Commander in the 116th, killed in action before the capture of the town, became a legend as the "Major of St. Lo". As he issued his final attack order, he parted company with his Commanders and staff with, "See you in St. Lo!"

Pinched out of line in August, the 116th was sent to Brittany to reduce the Wehrmacht fortifications at Brest, chief port on the peninsula, and fanatically defended by Nazi paratroopers. This mission accomplished, the Division took off on a 200 mile move across France, Belgium and Holland to attack the vaunted Siegfried Line. They smashed through at Aachen and became the first allied Division to reach the Roer River, holding its position throughout the Battle of the Bulge to the South.

In February of 1945 the 29th crossed the Roer and pushed on to the Rhine. On 02 May 45, the Blue & Gray made the historic link-up with Russian forces along the Elbe River. A few days later the war ended and the 29th counted its casualties; 19,814 killed, wounded and missing. The Division was inactivated from Federal Service in January 1946 and reactivation began in its National Guard role later that summer.

In August 1985 the 29th Infantry Division was reactivated with the 116th Regiment as the division's 1st Brigade.

116th Infantry Brigade History


Originally organized 3 November 1741 in the Virginia Militia as the Augusta County Regiment with Headquarters at Beverley's Mill Place (later named Staunton).

Elements of the Augusta County Regiment called into active service at various times during the French and Indian War and Dunsmore's War and provided the following elements of the Virginia provincial forces.

Augusta County Regiment or its elements called into active service at various times during the Revolutionary War and provided the following elements of the Continental Army: Captain William Fontaines's Company, 2d Virginia Regiment (organized 21 October 1775) Captain John Hayse's Company, 9th Virginia Regiment (organized 16 March 1776) Captain David Stephenson's Company, 8th Virginia Regiment (German Regiment) (organized 25 March 1776) Captains David Laird's and John Symes' Companies, 10th Virginia Regiment (organized 3 December 1776)

Augusta County Regiment expanded 31 December 1792 to form the 32d and 93d Regiments

Elements of the 32d and 93d Regiments mustered into Federal service at various times during the War of 1812 32d and 93d Regiments expanded about 1839 to form the 32d, 93d, and 160th Regiments

Elements of the 32d and 160th Regiments mustered into Federal service 6 January 1847 at Richmond as the Light

Infantry Company, 1st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers (also known as the Augusta Volunteers); mustered out of Federal service 27 July 1848 at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

Augusta County volunteer infantry companies of the 32d, 93d, and 160th Regiments reorganized and redesignated 13 April 1861 as the 5th Regiment, Virginia Volunteers; mustered into Confederate service 1 July 1861 as the 5th Virginia Infantry, an element of the 1st Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah (later designated as the Stonewall Brigade)(organized 1 June - 15 July 1861 to consist of the 2d, 4th, 5th, 27th, and 33d Virginia Infantry (organized from volunteer companies in the Shenandoah Valley))

Remainder of the 32d, 93d, and 160th Regiments, Virginia Militia, mustered into Confederate service 1 May 1862 as the 52d Virginia Infantry Stonewall Brigade and the 52d Virginia Infantry surrendered 9 April 1865 at Appomattox Court House with the Army of Northern Virginia

Former elements of the Stonewall Brigade and the 52d Virginia Infantry reorganized 1871-1881 in the Virginia Volunteers as separate infantry companies in the Shenandoah Valley.

Reorganized 2 May 1881 as the 2d Regiment of Infantry with Headquarters at Staunton (Location of Headquarters changed 22 April 1886 to Harrisonburg)

Regiment disbanded 2 April 1887 and its elements reorganized as separate infantry companies

Reorganized 20 April 1889 in the Virginia Volunteers as the 2d Regiment of Infantry with Headquarters at Winchester (Location of Headquarters changed 15 June 1893 to Woodstock)

Consolidated with elements of the 1st Regiment of Infantry (organized in 1851) and mustered into Federal service 10-21 May 1898 as the 2d Virginia Volunteer Infantry; mustered out of Federal service 13-20 December 1898 at home stations.

Disbanded 29 April 1899

Elements of the former 2d Regiment of Infantry reorganized 1899-1902 in the Virginia Volunteers as separate infantry companies in western Virginia

Consolidated 19 May 1905 with elements of the former 3d Regiment of Infantry (see ANNEX); consolidated unit reorganized as the 72d Infantry with Headquarters at Luray

Redesignated 1 September 1908 as the 2d Infantry (Virginia Volunteers redesignated 3 June 1916 as the Virginia National Guard)

Called into Federal service 30 June 1916 at Camp Stuart, Virginia; mustered out of Federal service 28 February 1917 at Richmond.

Called into Federal service 25 March 1917 and mustered in 25 March - 3 April 1917 at home stations.

Drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917

Consolidated 4 October 1917 with the 1st Infantry (organized in 1851) and the 4th Infantry (organized in 1882); consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 116th Infantry and assigned to the 29th Division.

Demobilized 30 May 1919 at Camp Lee, Virginia.

Former elements in western Virginia reorganized 12 October 1921 in the Virginia National Guard as the 2d Infantry.

Redesignated 9 March 1922 as the 116th Infantry and assigned to the 29th Division (later redesignated as the 29th Infantry Division); Headquarters Federally recognized 3 April 1922 at Staunton (Location of Headquarters changed 26 June 1933 to Lynchburg).

Inducted into Federal service 3 February 1941 at home stations.

Inactivated 6 January 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

Reorganized and Federally recognized 24 March 1948 with Headquarters at Staunton.

Reorganized 1 June 1959 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System to consist of the 1st and 2d Battle Groups, elements of the 29th Infantry Division.

Reorganized 22 March 1963 to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions, elements of the 29th Infantry Division .

Reorganized 1 February 1968 to consist of the 1st, 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 28th Infantry Division.

Reorganized 1 April 1975 to consist of the 1st, 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 116th Infantry Brigade.

104th Medical Battalion (early June 1944) History


The 104th Medical Battalion, 29th Infantry Division, commanded by Lt. Col. Arthur N. Ericksen, MC, left the United Kingdom in various Craft Loads during the early days of June to support the Division in the invasion of the Continent.

Company B, attached to the 116th Infantry Combat Team, was stationed in Marshalling Area along the Southern coast of England. The company was broken down into 9 separate boatload groups, each in their respective areas. The orders came to proceed to the loading points at PORTLAND and WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND, and the company proceeded to the hardstands, they pulled away from the Hards and anchored in PORTLAND and WEYMOUTH harbors until 5 June 1944.

At 1600 hours, 5 June 1944, the crafts lifted anchor, assembled at sea and proceeded to the coast of FRANCE.  At 0800 hours, 6 June 1944, the first 3 men of the company landed on the coast of France with the first group of the 116th Infantry.  At 0840 hours, Lt. Charles Giese, litter  platoon commander, with 41 litter bearers, landed and gave first aid to the men on the beach and evacuated them to a point above the high water mark.  2 squads continued this work while the other litter bearers proceeded through a draw east of Beach exit D-3  and evacuated 1st Division casualties to a collecting point on the beach.

They proceeded to ST. LAURENT, being unable to reach VIERVILLE-SUR-MER because of heavy enemy small arms fire.  Meanwhile, Lt. Ralph Maxwell, with 60 enlisted men had landed near D-3 beach exit at about 0800 hours and started to give first aid to the wounded on the beach, giving plasma and acting as an Aid Station. The 2 groups of litter bearers at about 1800 hours and during the evening started evacuation of beach casualties to small boats.

At 1700 hours, 6 June 1944, Lt. Sudley with 16 enlisted men landed east of Beach Exit D-1 and began giving first aid to the wounded on the beach.  They were joined at 1800 by Captain Lester N. Kolman and Captain Anson R. Hyde with 12 enlisted men and 6 vehicles, 2 of which were lost when they attempted to land in high water.  During the evening, these groups evacuated casualties to collecting points from western extremity of the beach.  The beach at this time was under a heavy concentration of enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire.

On 7 June 1944 at 0900 hours, Lt. Giese and his men tried to reach VIERVILLE but were unsuccessful because of enemy fire.  They then joined the 2nd Battalion of the 115th Infantry and evacuated their casualties from the woods South of ST. LAURENT-SUR-MER, Lt. Maxwell and his men began to operate along the ST. LAURENT-VIERVILLE Road, evacuating casualties from the 115th Combat Team to the Beach and in the evening of 7 June 1944, Captain Hyde and Lt. Shelley  proceeded with their men to an assembly area south of VIERVILLE, while Captain Lester N. Kolman remained on the Beach with 8 men and 3 ambulances to complete the evacuation of the Beach.  These ambulances were later seen in the assembly area, but at daybreak on 7 June 1944, the entire area was covered by heavy enemy small fire arms from all sides.  Because of this, the group returned to the D-1 Beach exit, but no contact had been made with Captain Kolman and his men.

On the morning of 8 June 1944 at AUGAY, Captain Anson R. Hyde, assumed command of the company as no contact had been made with Captain Kolman, the previous Commanding Officer. Captain Hyde made contact with the various elements and assembled as a whole, the company for the first time. At this time, after careful investigation and search, it was found that in addition to Captain Lester N. Kolman, S Sgt August Fitch, Tec 3 John Jenkins, Tec 5 Robert Temple, Pfc William Upcraft, Pfc Allen B. Miller, Pvt Anthony Cimino and 3 ambulances were missing in action. Later that day the ambulances were found in a field near Vierville but there was no trace of the men. A station was established at AUGAY and evacuation was by ambulance to a Beach Clearing Company.

On 9 June 1944, the company moved to ST. PIERRE in support of the Infantry in attack and station was established at 0950 hours. Casualties were evacuated to the Beach. On 10 June 1944, the company moved to LONGUEVILLE and established a station at 1630 hours. Contact was made with the Regimental and Battalion Aid Station of the 116th Infantry and it was found that the CT was in Corps Reserve. There were very few casualties evacuated this date. The 43 enlisted men attached to the company from the 104th Medical Battalion, as over strength for the Invasion, were relieved from attached and assigned to the 116th Infantry Medical Detachment as replacements.

On 11 June 1944, the company moved by motor convoy to a point near CASTILY ) and established a station at 2000 hours. The evacuation of casualties were light.

On 12 June 1944, the company moved to L’EPINAY-TESSON, they arrived at 1615 hours and established a station and evacuated a good number of casualties to the Clearing Company.

On 13 June 1944, the company moved to a location near ST CLAIR arriving at 1100 hours and established a station and into contact with Regimental and Battalion Aid Station of the 116th Infantry, who were attacking ST. CLAIR. Evacuation of casualties to the Clearing Company were heavy throughout the day and night.

On 15 June 1944, 4 enlisted men and 4 vehicles which had been left in England as residuals reported to the company for duty.

On 17 June 1944, the company moved 1 mile north of COUVAINS . The company arrived at this area and established a station at 1330 hours and began immediate evacuation of casualties from the 1stm 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 116th Infantry and the 2nd Battalion of the 115th Infantry who were attacking in the vicinity of COUVAINS. Casualties were very heavy throughout the day and night and evacuation was made by ambulance to the Clearing Company. The company stayed in this area and continued to evacuate casualties by ambulance to the Clearing Company and was waiting for the Infantry Units to move forward into the ST. LO area.

Company B was awarded The Bronze Star for it's actions on these few days,
it was awarded to 2 Officers and 7 enlisted men for Meritorious Achievements
in action against the enemy and performance of duty above the ordinary.



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The 29th Inf Div comprising of the 116th Inf Reg (Stonewall Brigade),
the 29th MP Platoon & the 104th Medical Battalion (Co B).

If you found the historical information on the page interesting, you may wish to read our new Division Info page, which contains lots of extra facts and info about the 29th and her support units.
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