Americal Division

US Army division formed in May 1942 from Task Force 6184 which garrisoned New Caledonia in the Pacific war. After the destruction of the Philippine division in the Philippines campaign early in 1942, it was the only division in the US Army to have a name not a number. Its 164th Regiment was one of the first army units into combat when it reinforced US Marines in October 1942 during the Guadalcanal campaign. The remainder of the division then moved there and its commander, Maj-General Patch, assumed operational control of the campaign in December 1942. It later fought in the Bougainville campaign and took part in the second Philippines campaign.