
27th Division Veterans Memorial - Anniston, AL
N 33° 41.753 W 085° 49.191
16S E 609374 N 3729061
The 27th Division Veterans Memorial is a bronze plaque mounted on the base of a flagpole. At the time the 27th trained here in 1940-1941 the location of the memorial was part of Fort McClellan.
Waymark Code: WMG18W
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 12/31/2012
Views: 4
The 27th Division Veterans Memorial is a bronze plaque mounted on the base of a flagpole in front of the Anniston Museum of Natural History. At the time the 27th trained here in 1940-1941 the location of the memorial was part of Fort McClellan.
The 27th Infantry Division originated as a New York State National Guard unit. On June 16th, 1916 the New York State National Guard Division was mobilized and moved to the Mexican border to participate in Brigadier General John Pershing’s sortie into Mexico. The Division, known initially as the New York Division and then as the 6th Division remained in Mexico until March of 1917 when it was recalled to New York in preparation for possible service in Europe. In late April of 1918, the Division was transported to Europe where it fought gallantly for the remainder of World War I.
The 27th Infantry Division was federalized for service on October 15th, 1940. Following a lengthy period of maneuvers and training, the 27th was ordered to California in December following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. On November 20th 1942, the 27th Infantry Division embarked on its first combat assignment, the capture of the coral atoll of Makin. Units from the 27th Division also occupied the Majuro atoll on February 1st 1944 and successfully assaulted Eniwetok Island on February 19th of the same year. In June 1944, the Division landed on Saipan, where its regiments fought together for the first time as a full Division. On April 12th, 1945 the Division landed on Okinawa, where it would remain until September when it was sent to Japan briefly for garrison duty.
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Memorial Text:
Dedicated Oct. 1, 1980 and given in memory of those members who gave their lives in World War I & II by the 27th Division Association whose members trained on this ground 1940-1941