The 77th Sustainment Brigade is the legacy command of the legendary 77th Infantry Division, the first Army Reserve division to see combat in the First World War. The brigade is tasked with providing in theater logistics support to combat units. World War IActivated: 18 August 1917
Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Oise-Aisne. The 77th Infantry Division was organized from draftees, drawn
mostly from New York City, and trained at Camp Upton in Yaphank, NY in the central part of Suffolk Country, Long Island; the camp is now Brookhaven National Laboratory. The 77th Infantry Division was the first American division composed of draftees to arrive in France in World War I, landing in April 1918; overall it was the seventh of 42 divisions to reach France. The division fought in the Battle of Château-Thierry on July 18, 1918. The division returned to the U.S. in April 1919 and was deactivated that month. The "Lost Battalion" of World War I fame was composed of six companies of the 77th's 308th Infantry Regiment and one from the 307th Infantry Regiment. Pictures of the Lost Battalion Area
Commanders: Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell (18 August 1917), Brig. E. M. Johnson (4 December 1917), Maj. G. B. Duncan (8 May 1918), Brig. Johnson (20 July 1918), Brig. Johnson (19 August 1918), Maj. Robert Alexander (27 August 1918)
[edit] World War IIActivated: 25 March 1942
Overseas: 24 March 1944
Campaigns: Western Pacific, Southern Philippines, Ryukyus
Distinguished Unit Citations: 16
Awards: Medal of Honor-6 ; Distinguished Service Cross-19 ; Distinguished Service Medal-2 ; Silver Star-335; Legion of Merit-22; Soldier's Medal-25 ; Bronze Star-4,433 ; Air Medal-4
Commanders: Maj. Robert L. Eichelberger (March-June 1942), Maj. Roscoe B. Woodruff (June 1942-May 1943), Maj. Andrew D. Bruce (May 1943-27 February 1946)
Chaplain: Fray Angélico Chávez
Deactivated: 15 March 1946 in Japan
The 77th Infantry Division landed in Hawaii, 31 March 1944, and continued training in amphibious landings and jungle warfare. Elements began to leave Hawaii, 1 July 1944, for the amphibious assault on Guam. Attached to III Amphibious Force, the 77th made an assault landing on Guam, 21 July 1944. After taking over defense of the beachhead, the division drove north to seize Mount Tenjo and effected junction with the 3d Marine Division, linking the northern and southern bridgeheads, 23–29 July. It continued to drive north, and dislodged the enemy from positions at Barrigada town and mountain, 4 August, resistance ending on the 8th. With Guam recaptured, the 77th sailed for New Caledonia, but plans were changed en route and it was directed to proceed to Leyte. The division landed on the east coast of Leyte, 23 November 1944, and was attached to XXIV Corps, Sixth Army. After a short period of training and combat patrolling in the Corps' rear, 23 November-6 December, it landed at Ipil and fought up the east coast of Ormoc Bay to seize Ormoc, 10 December. Attacking north, astride Highway No. 2, the division secured Valencia and the Libungao-Palompon road junction. Mopping up operations continued through January 1945 to 5 February 1945. The next combat assignment was Okinawa. In late March (26-29), the division made 15 landings, securing Kerama Retto and Keise Shima for the assault on Okinawa. Riding at sea, 1–15 April 1945, it suffered casualties from enemy su***de attacks, - and prepared for the assault landing on Ie Shima. On 16 April 1945, the 77th landed on Ie Shima, captured the airfield, and engaged in a bitter fight for "Government House Hill" and "Bloody Ridge." It was in this operation that Ernie Pyle was killed. On 25 April, it left Ie Shima for Okinawa, relieving the 96th Division, 28 April 1945. Fighting its way slowly against extremely heavy Japanese resistance, the division drove to Shuri in conjunction with the 1st Marine Division, occupying it 29–31 May. In June the division covered the right flank of XXIV Corps and "sealed" Japanese cave positions. In July the division moved to Cebu, Philippine Islands, and prepared for the proposed invasion of Japan. The division landed in Japan in October 1945 for occupation duty, and was inactivated a few months later, 15 March 1946.
