Page 2 - Thunderbird Division News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Felix Sparks led elements of the 45th Division through heavy fighting and the liberation of Dachau. Here's What You Need to Know: The 45th, or “Thunderbird” Division, was a National Guard outfit formed primarily of units from Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. The morning of February 16, 1944, dawned foggy over the Via Anziate in Anzio, Italy. The 45th Infantry Division’s 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment had advanced overnight to take positions on the west side of the roadway, assuming its place on the front line. Company E, commanded by Captain Felix Sparks, was assign...

Operation Dragoon: Why the Allied Invasion of Southern France Succeeded Operation Dragoon is often referred to as the Champagne Campaign due to its relative ease, but this is an oversimplification. Here's What You Need to Know: The Allied landing on the southern coast of France in August 1944 was a controversial operation, but it led to the rapid liberation of the region. U.S. Army Sergeant Vere Williams listened to his instincts as his landing craft approached the beach. It was August 15, 1944, and his unit, the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Division was part of the invasion force for...