United States Army 95th Infantry Division (Iron Men of Metz)

U. S. ARMY 95TH INFANTRY DIVISION (IRON MEN OF METZ) -  The 95th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. Today it exists as the 95th Training Division, a component of the United States Army Reserve headquartered at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  Activated too late to deploy for World War I, the division remained in the Army's reserve until World War II, when it was sent to Europe.  Renowned for fighting back fierce German counterattacks, the division earned the nickname "Iron Men of Metz" for fighting to liberate and defend the town.  After World War II, the division spent another brief period in reserve before being activated as one of the Army's training divisions.

Over the next fifty years the division would see numerous changes to its structure as its training roles changed and subordinate units shifted in and out of its command.  It activated a large number of regimental and brigade commands to fulfill various training roles.  The division then began conducting one station unit training, a responsibility it continues to this day.

World War II

On July 15, 1942, the division was ordered into active military service and reorganized at Camp Swift, Texas.   The 189th and 190th Infantry Brigades were disbanded as part of an army-wide elimination of infantry brigades.  Instead, the division was based around three infantry regiments, the 377th Infantry Regiment, the 378th Infantry Regiment, and the 379th Infantry Regiment.   Major General Harry L. Twaddle took command of the division, a command he held for its entire duration in World War II, making him one of only eleven generals to do so. 

WWII Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 6,591
• Killed in action: 1,205
• Wounded in action: 4,945
• Missing in action: 61
• Prisoner of war: 380

The division was reactivated on May 13, 1947 at Oklahoma City as a reserve unit.   However, it was not mobilized for any combat duties following World War II.

The division continued its mission of training and operating one station unit training.  In 1996, the division received three additional brigades as part of an Army consolidation of training commands. The 5th Brigade, 95th Division was activated in San Antonio, Texas, the 6th Brigade, 95th Division was activated in Topeka, Kansas, and the 7th Brigade, 95th Division was activated from the 95th Training Command in Little Rock, Arkansas.

In 2000, the brigade took on the additional responsibility of training Reserve Officer's Training Corps cadets.  The 8th Brigade, 95th Division was activated as a provisional unit in charge of ROTC units throughout the southwestern United States.   In 2005, the division headquarters were relocated to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  This put the division at the area's major training center, allowing it to more effectively provide training oversight.

A number of soldiers who served with the 95th Division later went on to achieve notability for various reasons. T hey include journalist Harry Ashmore,  writer Jerry Rosholt, oil tycoon Ernest L. Massad, and Lieutenant General Emmett H. Walker, Jr.. A  dditionally, one soldier of the division received the Medal of Honor during his service, Andrew Miller, who received the medal in World War II during the division's fight for Metz.  Miller captured a number of German machine gun nests and soldiers while leading a squad of men in assaulting the city.   German born (MG) Gerd Grombacher served as an NCO interrogating POWs and was commissioned 2LT Grombacher in January 1945.  He directly assisted in the negotiations for the capture of Metz in 1944.