Merit-11; Soldier's Medal-25; Bronze Star-6,294; Air Medal-110 Commanders: Maj. Gen. Frank W. Milburn (August 1942 – December 1943), Maj. Gen. Robert C. Macon (January 1944 – 31 January 1946) Assistant Division Commanders: Brig. Gen. William C. McMahon (August 1942 - December 1942), Brig. Gen. Claude B. Ferenbaugh (January 1944 - May 1945) Commanding Officers Artillery: Brig. Gen. Robert M. Montague (August 1942 - February 1946) Returned to U.S.: 26 March 1946 Inactivated: 5 April 1946 Order of battle Headquarters, 83rd Infantry Division 329th Infantry Regiment 330th Infantry Regiment 331st Infantry Regiment Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 83rd Infantry Division Artillery 322nd Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) 323rd Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) 324th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm) 908th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) 308th Engineer Combat Battalion 308th Medical Battalion 83rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) Headquarters, Special Troops, 83rd Infantry Division Headquarters Company, 83rd Infantry Division 783rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company 83rd Quartermaster Company 83rd Signal Company Military Police Platoon Band 83rd Counterintelligence Corps Detachment 453rd Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion Detachment Combat chronicle The 83rd Infantry Division, commanded by Major General Robert C. Macon, arrived in England on 16 April 1944 with its first divisional headquarters at Keele Hall in Staffordshire. After training in Wales, the division, taking part in the Allied invasion of Normandy, landed at Omaha Beach, 18 June 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carentan, 27 June. Taking the offensive, the 83rd reached the St. Lo-Periers Road, 25 July, and advanced against strong opposition as the Normandy Campaign ended. After a period of training, elements of the division took Châteauneuf-d'Ille-et-Vilaine, 5 August, and Dinard, 15 August, and approached the heavily fortified area protecting St. Malo. Intense fighting during the Battle of Saint-Malo reduced enemy strong points and a combined attack against the Citadel Fortress of St. Servan caused its surrender, 17 August. While elements moved south to protect the north bank of the Loire River, the main body of the division concentrated south of Rennes for patrolling and reconnaissance activities. Elements reduced the garrison at Ile de Cézembre, which surrendered, 2 September. On 16 September 1944: in the only surrender of a German Major General to U.S. troops, Botho Henning Elster surrendered with 18,850 men and 754 officers at the Loire bridge of Beaugency. The movement into Luxembourg was completed on 25 September. Taking Remich on the 28th and patrolling defensively along the Moselle, the