> this sample is much worse in the pacific, where more than 20 american divisions are listed as in pacific for several years, regardless that usually only one or two were actually fighting anywhere at any given time. 1st us marine division for instance, probably the hardest fighting us dicvision in the pacific, is listed in theatre for 37 months, august 1942  august 1945: but apparently fought on guadalcanal for about five months, then on cape gloucestor in new britain between 26 december 1943 and 16 january 1944 (call it two months?); then on pelelui for a month, and on okinawa for three months. total 11 months, or a bit less than 30% of time 'in theatre' actually in combat. > so compared to a grand total of 1,150 months overseas for all american divisions of all types, make what you will of these numbers, all months actually in combat:  > infantry divisions - british 284 months in combat, indian 282, australian 183, canadian 44, african empire troops 68, south africa 33, new zealand 35 (commonwealth total 935 months in combat). also free french 75, free poles 34, free italians 28, brazilians 10 and free czechs 6, + greeks, jews (palestinian jews), etc. (total of minors 153+). total of just the infantry divisions of the non american western allies comes to almost 1,100 months in actual combat. (although the americans come up with almost 500 months in europe, and 312 in pacific, it would be extraordinarly generous to suggest that the total number in combat came to more than 60% of that. > in real terms it is unlikely that the american total in combat came to half of everyone elses 1,100 months.) > in real terms it is unlikely that the american total in combat came to half of everyone elses 1,100 months.) > in real terms it is unlikely that the american total in combat came to half of everyone elses 1,100 months.)
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