45th Infantry Division

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45TH (THUNDERBIRD) INFANTRY DIVISION
(OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD)

Before the Korean War the 45th Infantry Division had its headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was federalized on 1 September 1950 and sent to Fort Polk, LA, for training and to fill out its ranks. Training completed, it deployed to Japan in April 1951 for further training and went on to Korea 28 December 1951, where it replaced the 1st Cavalry Division. After initial problems when it first went into combat, the 45th Infantry Division went to compile a good combat record.

The division consisted of:

  • Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • 179th Infantry Regiment
  • 180th Infantry Regiment
  • 279th Infantry Regiment
  • Division Artillery
    158th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
    160th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
    171st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
    189th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
    145th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
  • Division Troops
    245th Tank Battalion (Medium)
    120th Engineer Battalion (Combat)
    45th Reconnaissance Company
  • Division Special Troops
    120th Medical Battalion
    45th Signal Company
    700th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
    45th Quartermaster Company
    45th Military Police Company
    45th Replacement Company
  • Attached units
    10th Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) (in Japan — 1 July 1951 - 15 September 1951)

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