88th Infantry Division

• First All-Draftee Division: The 88th Infantry Division was the first U.S. Army division composed almost entirely of draftees during World War II, earning it the nickname “The Blue Devil Division.” • Activation and Training: The division was activated on July 15, 1942, at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, and underwent extensive training before deployment. • Combat Debut in Italy: The 88th landed in North Africa in December 1943, but saw its first major combat in Italy in March 1944, participating in the Italian Campaign. • Rome Liberation: The 88th was among the first Allied units to enter and liberate Rome on June 4, 1944, just two days before D-Day in Normandy. • Purple Heart Trail: The division fought in some of the most rugged terrain in Italy, sustaining heavy casualties and earning a reputation for tenacity and bravery. • Distinctive Shoulder Patch: The division’s insignia, a blue cloverleaf, was chosen to represent good luck and the unit's numerical designation (“88” resembles a four-leaf clover). • “Blue Devils” Nickname: German troops reportedly referred to the 88th as the “Blue Devils” due to their blue insignia and fierce fighting capability. • Post-War Occupation: After World War II, the 88th was assigned to occupation duty in northern Italy and Austria, helping to stabilize the region. • Decorations and Honors: The division and its soldiers were awarded numerous decorations, including two Medals of Honor and hundreds of Silver and Bronze Stars. • Legacy and Reactivation: The 88th Infantry Division was inactivated in 1947, but its lineage continues today as the 88th Readiness Division in the U.S. Army Reserve.