Origins and World War I
The 1st Infantry Division was formed on June 8, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entered World War I, making it the Army’s first permanent division-sized unit. Known as the “Big Red One” for its iconic shoulder patch, the division deployed to France with the American Expeditionary Forces. It earned fame at battles such as Cantigny (May 1918), the first American-led offensive of the war, and later fought in major campaigns at Soissons, Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The division’s success demonstrated that U.S. forces could fight effectively alongside seasoned European armies.
World War II
Reactivated in 1941, the 1st Infantry Division was one of the first U.S. divisions sent overseas. It spearheaded Operation Torch in North Africa in 1942, fought at Kasserine Pass, and helped secure Tunisia. In 1943, the division invaded Sicily during Operation Husky. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the division stormed Omaha Beach, facing some of the fiercest German resistance. Following Normandy, the division pushed across France, fought in the Hürtgen Forest, and withstood the Battle of the Bulge. By war’s end, the “Big Red One” had established itself as one of the Army’s most battle-hardened units.
Cold War and Vietnam
After World War II, the division remained in Germany as part of the U.S. occupation force, then returned stateside before being redeployed to Europe during the Cold War. In Vietnam, the 1st Infantry Division was the first Army division deployed in 1965. Based north of Saigon, it fought in major operations including Cedar Falls and Junction City, engaging in heavy jungle warfare until its redeployment in 1970.
Modern Service
The 1st Infantry Division played major roles in Operation Desert Storm (1991), where it breached Iraqi defenses during the ground offensive. Following the Gulf War, elements supported peacekeeping missions in the Balkans. After 9/11, the division deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, conducting counterinsurgency operations, training local forces, and stabilizing contested regions. In the 21st century, the division has remained at the forefront of Army operations, serving in Europe, the Middle East, and supporting NATO missions.
Present Day
Headquartered at Fort Riley, Kansas, the 1st Infantry Division is the oldest continuously serving division in the Regular Army. With a legacy spanning over a century, it continues to embody its motto: “No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!” The division’s history—from Cantigny to Omaha Beach, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and modern counterinsurgency—marks it as one of the most decorated and respected units in U.S. Army history.