41st Infantry Division (United States)

41st Infantry Division
41st Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1917–1919 1930–1968
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Role	Infantry
Size	Division
Nickname(s)	"Jungleers" or "Sunsetters"
Engagements	World War I World War II Papua New Guinea Southern Philippines
Commanders
Notable commanders	Major General George A. White Major General Horace H. Fuller Major General Jens A. Doe

The 41st Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army National Guard composed primarily of units from the Pacific Northwest. The division saw active service in World War I and World War II, receiving the nickname “Jungleers” during the latter.

Organized in 1917 after the American entry into World War I, the division was selected as a replacement division after being deployed to France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. Its infantry units were used to provide individual replacements and the division functioned as a replacement depot. The 41st Division was reorganized in the National Guard during the interwar period, consisting of units from Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Sent to Australia after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the 41st became one of the first Army units to engage in offensive ground combat operations during World War II when elements of the division were committed to the New Guinea campaign in the last months of 1942. The division suffered its heaviest casualties in the 1944 Battle of Biak at the conclusion of the campaign. In the final months of the war, the division took a major role in the liberation of the Southern Philippines, including the Palawan, Zamboanga, Eastern Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago operations. The division ended its active service in the occupation of Japan.

Postwar, the 41st Infantry Division was re-established in the National Guard, split between Oregon and Washington. The 41st Infantry Brigade was formed from mainly Oregon elements of the division in 1965 and in 1968 the division was eliminated during reductions of the National Guard. Its former units were used to form two separate brigades, the 41st Infantry Brigade in Oregon, and the 81st Infantry Brigade in Washington.