United States Army 41st Infantry Division (Sunset)

U. S. ARMY 41ST INFANTRY DIVISION (SUNSET) -  The 41st Infantry Division was composed of National Guard units from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, North Dakota and Washington that saw active service in World War I and World War II. It was one of the first to engage in offensive ground combat operations during the last months of 1942.  In 1965 it was reorganized as the 41st Infantry Brigade.  The brigade has seen combat in the Iraq War in 2003.  Nicknamed "Sunset" - Unit patch has a half sun represents the setting sun on the Pacific.  Often humorously referred to as the "Days Inn Patch" or "Thirteen Lieutenants Pointing North", this is today's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.  The were also called the "Jungleers" - due to combat in the Pacific during WW II.

The 41st was first activated for U.S. Army service on 1 April 1917, just five days before the American entry into World War I, primarily from Guard units of the northwestern United States and trained at Camp Green, North Carolina.  Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 41st Infantry Division was deployed to defend the coastline of Washington and Oregon against a possible Japanese landing.   The 218th Field Artillery was at sea en route to the Philippines; it was turned back to San Francisco and eventually rejoined the division.  In February 1942, the 41st Infantry Division was alerted for overseas movement.  It handed over its coastal defence responsibilities to the 3rd Infantry Division and concentrated at Fort Lewis.  First to depart was the 162nd Infantry, 641st Tank Destroyer Battalion, and 41st Reconnaissance Troop, which entrained later that month for Fort Dix.  This group departed the Brooklyn Navy Yard on March 3, 1942 and sailed for the Pacific via the Panama Canal, reaching Melbourne on  April 9th.  They were among the first U.S. military units to be engaged in offensive ground combat operations.

World War II casualties

• Total battle casualties: 4,260
• Killed in action: 743
• Wounded in action: 3,504
• Missing in action: 13

The 41st Infantry Division was reformed in Oregon in 1946.  In 1965 it was reorganised as the 41st Infantry Brigade. The 41st Infantry Division was inactivated in 1968.