34th Infantry Division Memorial

Minnesota is the headquarters and home of the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division of the Minnesota Army National Guard; yet is one of the few divisions not represented with a memorial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. The absence of a 34th Division memorial at Fort Snelling is significant, and this fund-raising effort will seek to honor the "Red Bull" men and women who have served their state and nation with honor and distinction.

 

The 34th Infantry Division has a proud heritage, with its origins in World War I. It was the first US Division to deploy overseas after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and it fought with great distinction in World War II in the North African/Italian campaign. "Red Bull '' Soldiers have served with multinational partners and sacrificed lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, while also responding to peacekeeping efforts in the former Yugoslavia and elsewhere around the world - including homeland security in our home states and country. The 34th "Red Bull" Division is one of the US Army's most prominent divisions serving today, with most of its units part of the Minnesota and Iowa National Guard.

 

Donations will be used to create the memorial, any excess funds will be used to create a memorial at Camp Ripley Cemetery and all other donated money will go to the 34th Infantry Division Association.

 

The Plaque will state the following:

 

34th INFANTRY DIVISION

 

FORMED IN 1917 AT CAMP CODY, NEW MEXICO, THE 34TH "SANDSTORM" DIVISION WAS CREATED USING NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS FROM MINNESOTA, IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND THE DAKOTAS. THROUGHOUT THE NEXT CENTURY, 34TH DIVISION CITIZEN-SOLDIERS SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR. THE 34TH DIVISION WAS THE FIRST U.S. DIVISION DEPLOYED OVERSEAS DURING WWII WHEN THEY ADOPTED THE MOTTO OF "ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK". GERMAN TROOPS REFERRED TO THESE U.S. DIVISION SOLDIERS AS "RED DEVILS" OR "RED BULLS", SO THE DIVISION LATER ADOPTED THE NICKNAME OF "RED BULLS". THE 34TH DIVISION EARNED THE DISTINCTION OF SERVING 517 CONTINUOUS DAYS OF COMBAT, THE MOST OF ANY U.S. DIVISION IN WWII. "RED BULLS" HAVE CONTINUED TO SERVE OVERSEAS IN COMBAT AND PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING HOMELAND SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE WHEN THEIR NATION, STATE AND COMMUNITY REQUIRE THEIR SUPPORT.