49th Infantry Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 49th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army
formed from the 52nd Infantry Division.
The 52nd Infantry Division was activated on 15 August 1946, and was allocated to the State of California as a National Guard
division during the post World War II
demobilization. The division was to be headquartered in the area of "49'ers" of the California Gold Rush
. To mark the upcoming centenary of the 1849 gold rush, the State of California requested that the 52d Infantry Division change its designation to the 49th Infantry Division.
The change was approved by a National Guard Bureau Letter, CSNGB, dated 24 October 1947, Subject: "Change in Designation of 52d Infantry Division" and an Adjutant General Letter, AGAO-I 325 dated 20 October 1947, Subject: "Allotment of National Guard Units (California)." The change was made retroactive to 5 August 1946, the formation of the original 52nd division. The new division was known as the "Argonaut Division," and its shoulder sleeve insignia depicted a 49'er panning for gold. The nickname refers to the 49'ers, who were also known as Argonauts. The 49th Infantry Division was inactivated on 29 January 1968.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
formed from the 52nd Infantry Division.
The 52nd Infantry Division was activated on 15 August 1946, and was allocated to the State of California as a National Guard
California National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
division during the post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
demobilization. The division was to be headquartered in the area of "49'ers" of the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. To mark the upcoming centenary of the 1849 gold rush, the State of California requested that the 52d Infantry Division change its designation to the 49th Infantry Division.
The change was approved by a National Guard Bureau Letter, CSNGB, dated 24 October 1947, Subject: "Change in Designation of 52d Infantry Division" and an Adjutant General Letter, AGAO-I 325 dated 20 October 1947, Subject: "Allotment of National Guard Units (California)." The change was made retroactive to 5 August 1946, the formation of the original 52nd division. The new division was known as the "Argonaut Division," and its shoulder sleeve insignia depicted a 49'er panning for gold. The nickname refers to the 49'ers, who were also known as Argonauts. The 49th Infantry Division was inactivated on 29 January 1968.
General
- Nickname: Argonauts
- Shoulder Patch: A crouched gold miner in blue on a red and gold shield.