26th Infantry Division

• Nickname – "Yankee Division": The 26th Infantry Division is famously known as the "Yankee Division" because its original members were drawn from New England states, symbolizing its regional heritage. • World War I Service: The division was activated in 1917 and was one of the first U.S. divisions to arrive in France, participating in major battles such as Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. • First Complete National Guard Division in France: The 26th was the first full National Guard division to reach the Western Front in World War I, reflecting the importance of the National Guard in U.S. military mobilization. • Distinguished Unit Insignia: The division’s shoulder sleeve insignia features a blue "YD" monogram on a field of khaki, with "Y" representing "Yankee" and "D" for "Division." • World War II Campaigns: In World War II, the 26th Infantry Division landed in France in September 1944 and fought in campaigns including Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe. • Liberation of Gusen Concentration Camp: Elements of the division helped liberate the Gusen concentration camp, a subcamp of Mauthausen in Austria, in May 1945. • Postwar Service: After World War II, the division was reorganized as part of the Massachusetts National Guard and has participated in various domestic missions and overseas deployments. • Famous Members: Notable soldiers who served in the 26th include future U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor and Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant John F. Shea. • Cold War Role: During the Cold War, the 26th Infantry Division was designated as part of the Strategic Reserve, ready to be deployed in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. • Inactivation and Legacy: The division was inactivated in 1993, but its lineage and honors are carried on by the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.