United States Army 80th Infantry Division (Blue Ridge)

U. S. ARMY 80TH INFANTRY (BLUE RIDGE DIVISION) -  The 80th Training Command (Total Army School System) is a formation of the United States Army Reserve.  During World War I and World War II, the unit was designated the 80th Infantry Division.  Nicknamed the "Blue Ridge Division", it was initially composed of draftees from the mid-atlantic states of Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

World War I

• Activated: September 1917
• Overseas: June 1918
• Major operations: Battle of the Somme (1918), Meuse-Argonne, Battle of Saint-Mihiel
• Casualties: Total-6,029. (KIA-880; WIA-5,149)
• Inactivated: May 1919

World War II

• Activated:  July 15, 1942
• Overseas:  July 1, 1944
• Campaigns: Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe
• Days of combat: 239
• Distinguished Unit Citations: 6
• Awards: Medal of Honor-4; Distinguished Service Cross (United States)-34; Distinguished Service Medal (United States)-1; Silver Star-771; LM-12; DFC-5; SM-35; BSM-3,869, AM-123
• Inactivated: 5 January 1946

WWII Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 17,087
• Killed in action: 3,038
• Wounded in action: 12,484
• Missing in action: 488
• Prisoner of war: 1,077

Units from the 80th Division were activated in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Two 80th Division units were called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. 

Global War on Terrorism

• Operation Noble Eagle After September 11, 2001, specialized training commenced with drill sergeant and instructor units mobilized to training posts in the U.S.
• Operation Enduring Freedom In 2004, 80th Division (IT) units provided training and reconstruction support to the Afghanistan government.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom In 2005 in support, the 80th Division (IT) mobilized and deployed to Iraq in support of the largest activation of the division's soldiers since World War II, serving in every specialty and skill as a part of the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.  Two soldiers were killed in action and two others died stateside while mobilized during this conflict.

So far 80th Division soldiers have earned more than 1,144 medals and citations including 31 Purple Hearts, 2 Bronze Stars with Combat V, 467 Bronze Stars, 84 Combat Infantryman Badges (CIB) and 187 Combat Action Badges (CAB). The unit continues to support the Global War on Terrorism with individual and group deployments to the theater of operations as required.