AMERICAL DIVISION

The Americal Division, officially designated as the 23rd Infantry Division, was formed in May 1942 on New Caledonia during World War II, becoming the only U.S. Army division to be created outside of U.S. territory. Initially assembled from Task Force 6814, the division earned distinction in the Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Philippines campaigns in the Pacific Theater. After being deactivated post-war, the Americal Division was reactivated in 1954 for a brief period and again during the Vietnam War in 1967. In Vietnam, the division participated in major operations, including the infamous My Lai incident, before being inactivated in 1971.