1st Infantry Division 1st Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia Active 24 May 1917 – present Country United States of America Allegiance United States Army Branch Regular Army Type Mechanized infantry Role Heavy Mechanized Size Division Part of Forces Command Garrison/HQ Fort Riley, Kansas Nickname "The Big Red One"[1] "The Fighting First" Motto "No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!" Colors Red and Green March "The Big Red One Song" Mascot Rags (WW I) Engagements World War I Western Front World War II Operation Torch Operation Husky Operation Overlord Battle of Hurtgen Forest Battle of the Bulge Vietnam War Tet Offensive Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Storm War on Terror Iraq War Afghanistan War Commanders Current commander Major General William C. Mayville[2] Notable commanders Major General Charles Pelot Summerall Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen, Sr. Major General Clarence R. Huebner Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Insignia Distinctive Unit Insignia   1st Infantry Division "The Big Red One" (1942–1945) Parent unit 1st Infantry Division Components 16th Infantry Regiment 18th Infantry Regiment 26th Infantry Regiment 5th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 7th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 32nd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 33rd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) 745th Tank Battalion (June 1944 – May 1945) US infantry divisions (1939–present) Previous Next 2nd Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army is the oldest division in the United States Army.^[3][4] It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917.^[3] It was officially nicknamed the The Big Red One after its shoulder patch^[3] and is also nicknamed The Fighting First.^[3] However, with typical soldier gallows humor, the division has also received troop monikers of The Big Dead One and The Bloody First as puns on the respective officially-sanctioned nicknames.^[5] It is currently based at Fort Riley, Kansas.

World War I[link]

First Division monument on the Meuse-Argonne Battlefield, France.

The First Expeditionary Division, later designated the 1st Infantry Division, was constituted on 24 May 1917, in the Regular Army, and was organized on 8 June 1917, at Fort Jay, on Governors Island in New York harbor under the command of Brigadier General William L. Sibert, from Army units then in service on the U.S.-Mexico border and at various Army posts throughout the United States. The original Table of Organization and Equipment included two organic infantry brigades of two infantry regiments each, one engineer battalion; one signal battalion; one trench mortar battery; one field artillery brigade of three field artillery regiments; one air squadron; and a full division train. The total authorized strength of this TO&E was 18,919 officers and enlisted men. George S. Patton, who served as the first Headquarters commandant for the American Expeditionary Force oversaw much of the arrangements for the movement of the 1st Division to France, and their organization in-country.

The first units sailed from New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey on 14 June 1917.^[6] Throughout the remainder of the year, the rest of the division followed, landing at St. Nazaire, France, and Liverpool, England. After a brief stay in rest camps, the troops in England proceeded to France, landing at Le Havre. The last unit arrived in St. Nazaire 22 December. Upon arrival in France, the division, less its artillery, was assembled in the First (Gondrecourt) training area, and the artillery was at Le Valdahon.

On 4 July (Independence Day in the United States), the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry,^[7] paraded through the streets of Paris to bolster the sagging French spirits. At Lafayette's tomb, one of General John J. Pershing's staff uttered the famous words, "Lafayette, we are here!" Two days later, 6 July, Headquarters, First Expeditionary Division was redesignated as Headquarters, First Division.

On 8 August 1917, the 1st Division adopted the Square Table of Organization and Equipment, which included two organic infantry brigades of two infantry regiments each; one engineer regiment; one signal battalion; one machine gun battalion; one field artillery brigade of three field artillery regiments, and a complete division train. The total authorized strength of this new TO&E was 27,120 officers and enlisted men.

On the morning of 23 October, the first American shell of the war was fired toward German lines by a First Division artillery unit. Two days later, the 2nd Battalion of the 16th Infantry suffered the first American casualties of the war.

By April 1918, the Germans had pushed to within 40 miles (64 km) of Paris. In reaction to this thrust, the Big Red One moved into the Picardy Sector to bolster the exhausted French First Army. To the division's front lay the small village of Cantigny, situated on the high ground overlooking a forested countryside. The 28th Infantry Regiment^[8] attacked the town, and within 45 minutes captured it along with 250 German soldiers. It was the first American victory of the war. The 28th was thereafter named the "Black Lions of Cantigny."^[8]

Soissons was taken by the First Division in July 1918. The Soissons victory was costly — 700 men were killed or wounded. (One of them, Private Francis Lupo of Cincinnati, was missing in action for 85 years, until his remains were discovered on the former battlefield in 2003).^[9] The First Infantry helped to clear the St. Mihiel salient by fighting continuously from 11–13 September 1918. The last major World War I battle was fought in the Meuse-Argonne Forest. The division advanced seven kilometers and defeated, in whole or part, eight German divisions. The war was over when the Armistice was signed. The division was at Sedan, the farthest American penetration of the war, and was the first to cross the Rhine into occupied Germany.

The 1st Infantry Division entering Trier, Germany, November 1918.

By the end of the war, the division had suffered 22,668 casualties and boasted five Medal of Honor recipients.

The division's famous dog-mascot was a cairn terrier known as Rags. Rags was adopted by the division in 1918 and remained its mascot until his death in 1936.^[10] Rags achieved notoriety and celebrity as a war dog, after saving many lives in the crucial Argonne Campaign by delivering a vital message despite being bombed and gassed.

• Casualties

1. 4,411 Killed in Action
2. 17,201 Wounded in Action
3. 1,056 Missing or Died of Wounds

[edit] Order of battle in WWI^[11]

Assigned[link]

• 1st Infantry Brigade
  • 16th Infantry
  • 18th Infantry
  • 2nd Machine Gun Battalion
• 2nd Infantry Brigade
  • 26th Infantry
  • 28th Infantry
  • 3rd Machine Gun Battalion
• 1st Field Artillery Brigade
  • 5th Field Artillery (155mm)
  • 6th Field Artillery (75mm)
  • 7th Field Artillery (75mm)
  • 1st Trench Mortar Battery
• Divisional Troops
  • 1st Machine Gun Battalion
  • 1st Engineers
  • 2nd Field Signal Battalion
  • Headquarters Troop
• Trains
  • 1st Train Headquarters and Military Police
  • 1st Ammunition Train
  • 1st Supply Train
  • 1st Engineer Train
  • 1st Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals 2, 3, 12, 13)

Attached Units[link]

• en route to France and in 1st (Gondrecourt) Training Area 9 June – 23 September 1917

1. 5th Regt USMC

• Ménil-la-Tour Area 28 February – 3 April 1918

1. 1st Bn 2nd Engrs (2nd Div)

• Cantigny Sector, at times from 27 April – 7 July 1918

1. Fr 228th FA Regiment (75mm)
2. Fr 253d FA Regiment (75mm)
3. 1st and 2nd Bns Fr 258th FA Regiment (75mm)
4. 4th Bn Fr 301st Arty Regiment (155mm)
5. 1 btry Fr 3d Cl Arty Regiment (155mm)
6. 3d and 4th Bns Fr 284th Arty Regiment (220mm)
7. 2d Bn Fr 289th Arty Regiment (220mm)
8. 1 btry Fr 3d Cl Arty Regiment (220mm)
9. 6th Bn Fr 289th Arty Regiment (280mm)
10. 2 btrys Fr TM (58mm)
11. 1 btry Fr TM (150mm)
12. 1 btry Fr TM (240mm)
13. Fr 5th Tank Bn (12 tanks)

• Aisne-Marne Operation, at times from 18–23 July 1918

1. Fr 42d Aero Sq
2. Fr 83d Bln Co
3. Fr 253d FA-Portée (75mm)
4. Fr 11th and 12th Groups of Tanks

• Saizerais Sector, at times from 8–24 August 1918

1. Fr 258th Aero Sq
2. 6th and 7th Bln Cos
3. 3 btrys Fr 247th FA- Portée

• Preceding and during St-Mihiel Operation, at times from 8–14 September 1918

1. 8th Obsn Sq
2. 9th Bln Co
3. 58th FA Brig and 108th Am Tn (33d Div)
4. 76th FA (3d Div) (75mm)
5. 2 btrys 44th CA (8")
6. Troops D, F, and H, 2d Cav
7. 2 platoons Co A 1st Gas Regt (8 mortars)
8. 2 bns of Inf (42d Div)
9. 6th Inf Brig (3d Div)
10. 2 cos 51st Pion Inf
11. 7th MG Bn (3d Div)
12. 49 tanks of 1st Tank Brig

• Meuse-Argonne Operation 1–2 October 1918

1. 60th FA Brig
2. 110th Am Tn (35th Div)

• Meuse-Argonne Operation, at times from 1–12 October 1918

1. 1st Aero Sq
2. 2d Bln Co
3. Fr 219th FA (75mm)
4. Fr 247th FA (6 btrys 75mm)
5. Fr 5th Bn 282d Arty (220mm)
6. Provisional Sq 2d Cav
7. Co C 1st Gas Regt
8. Co C 344th Tank Bn, 1st Tank Brigade (16 tanks)
9. Cos B and C 345th Tank Bn, 1st Tank Brigade (16 tanks)

• Meuse-Argonne Operation 7 October 1918

1. 362d Inf (91st Div)

• Meuse-Argonne Operation 8–11 October 1918

1. 181st Inf Brigade (91st Div)

• Coblenz Bridgehead, at times from 18–30 June 1919

1. 14th Bln Co
2. MG elements Fr 2d Cavalry Division

• Coblenz Bridgehead 18–29 June 1919

1. 4th MG Bn (2d Div)

• Coblenz Bridgehead 20–30 June 1919

1. 7th MG Bn (3d Div)

Detached Service[link]

• at Le Valdahon 22 August – 18 October 1917 with 15th (Scottish) Division during the Second Battle of the Aisne 24 July 1918 with US 90th Division

1. 1st FA Brig
2. 1st Am Tn

• with the 15th (Scottish) Division during Aisne-Marne Operation 24 July 1918 in Saizerais (Villers-en-Haye) Sector 24–28 August 1918;
  with 42d Division in Meuse-Argonne Operation 13–31 October 1918;
  with 2nd Division in Meuse-Argonne Operation 1–4 November 1918.

1. 1st Sn Tn

• with III Corps 28 September – 2 October 1918

1. 1st Engineers

• with American Forces in Germany after 9 August 1919.

1. 2d 6th FA
2. Co A 1st Engrs
3. Cos A, B, C, D, 1st Sup Tn
4. F Hosp 13

Commanders and Chiefs of Staff[link]

Chiefs of Staff[link]

1. 8 June 1917 COL Frank W. Coe
2. 23 August 1917 CPT George C. Marshall, Jr. (Acting)
3. 3 September 1917 COL Hanson E. Ely
4. 23 November 1917 LTC Campbell King (Acting)
5. 7 January 1918 LTC Campbell King
6. 7 June 1918 COL Campbell King
7. 23 September 1918 LTC John N. Greely
8. 17 October 1918 COL John N. Greely
9. 7 November 1918 COL Stephen O. Fuqua
10. 17 June 1919 COL William F. Harrell (Acting)
11. 23 June 1919 COL Stephen O. Fuqua
12. 12 July 1919 LTC Paul E. Peabody (Acting)
13. 19 July 1919 COL Stephen O. Fuqua
14. 2 August 1919 LTC Paul E. Peabody (Acting)
15. 9 August 1919 COL Stephen O. Fuqua
16. 19 August 1919 LTC William R. Scott^{[disambiguation needed ]} (Acting)
17. 24 August to 5 September 1919 COL Stephen O. Fuqua

Commanders 1st Field Artillery Brigade[link]

• 1917

1. 16 August BG Peyton C. March
2. 3 September MG Peyton C. March
3. 7 September MG William S. McNair (ad interim)
4. 24 September MG Peyton C. March
5. 12 October BG Charles H. McKinstry
6. 23 December BG Charles P. Summerall

• 1918

1. 17 July COL Lucius R. Holbrook (ad interim)
2. 16 August COL Henry W. Butner (ad interim)
3. 21 October BG Henry W. Butner

• 1919

1. 31 March COL William H. Dodds, Jr. (ad interim)
2. 21 April COL Thomas W. Hollyday (ad interim)
3. 4 May COL William H. Dodds, Jr. (ad interim)
4. 6 May BG Henry W. Butner
5. 15 May COL Nelson E. Margetts (ad interim)
6. 17 May BG Lesley J. McNair
7. 23 June BG Augustine McIntyre
8. 12 July COL Nelson E. Margetts (ad interim)
9. 16 July BG Augustine McIntyre
10. 21 July COL Nelson E. Margetts (ad interim)
11. 24 July BG Augustine McIntyre
12. 5 August COL Nelson E. Margetts (ad interim)
13. 12 August to 5 September BG Augustine McIntyre

Interwar period[link]

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The 1st Division returned to the Continental U.S. in September 1919, demobilized its war-time TO&E at Camp Zachary Taylor at Louisville, Kentucky, and then returned to New York, with its headquarters located at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.

The First Division Monument located in President's Park, Washington, D.C.

On 7 October 1920, the 1st Division organized under the peacetime TO&E, which included two organic infantry brigades of two infantry regiments each, one engineer regiment; one observation squadron; one field artillery brigade of two Field Artillery Regiments; one Medical Regiment; one Division Quartermaster Train; and a Special Troops Command replacing the remainder of the division Train. The total authorized strength of this TO&E was 19,385. 1st Division was one of three Infantry Divisions and one Cavalry Division that was authorized to remain at full peacetime strength, and it was the only Regular Army division assigned to the Second Corps Area, which also included the 27th Infantry Division of the New York National Guard; the 44th Infantry Division of the New Jersey, New York, and Delaware National Guards; the 21st Cavalry Division of the New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New Jersey National Guards; and the 77th, 78th, and 98th Infantry Divisions and the 61st Cavalry Division of the Organized Reserves. This was the organization that existed in the Second Corps Area for the duration of the peace period.

1st Division adopted a new peacetime TO&E in preparation for war on 8 January 1940, which included three infantry regiments, one military police company, one engineer battalion, one signal company, one Light Field Artillery Regiment of three Field Artillery Battalions and one Medium Field Artillery Regiment of two Field Artillery Battalions, one Medical Battalion, and one Quartermaster Battalion. The authorized strength of this TO&E was 9,057 officers and enlisted men. 1st Infantry Division reorganized again on 1 November 1940 to a new TO&E, which added a Reconnaissance Troop, and organized the two Field Artillery Regiments into a Division Artillery Command, and beefed up the strength to a total Authorized Strength of 15,245 officers and enlisted men.

World War II[link]

Shortly after the beginning of World War II in Europe, the 1st Division was moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, on 19 November 1939 where it supported the Infantry School as part of American mobilization preparations. It then moved to the Sabine Parish, Louisiana area on 11 May 1940 to participate in the Louisiana Maneuvers. The division next relocated to Fort Hamilton on 5 June 1940, where it spent over six months before moving to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, on 4 February 1941. As part of its training that year, the division participated in both Carolina Maneuvers of October and November before returning to Fort Devens on 6 December 1941.

A day later, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and then the United States declared war. The division was ordered to Camp Blanding, Florida, as quickly as trains could be gathered and winter weather permitted, and arrived on 21 February 1942. The division was there reorganized and refurbished with new equipment, being re-designated as the 1st Infantry Division on 15 May 1942. Within a week, the division was returned to its former post at Fort Benning, from where it was expedited on 21 Jun 1942 to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation for wartime overseas deployment final preparation. The division departed New York Port of Embarkation on 1 August 1942, arrived in Beaminster in south-west England about a week later, and departed 22 October 1942 for the combat amphibious assault of North Africa.^[12]

As part of II Corps, the division landed in Oran, Algeria on 8 November 1942 as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North-Africa.^[13] The 1st Division commander was Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. as deputy division commander. Elements then took part in combat at Maktar, Tebourba, Medjez el Bab, the Battle of the Kasserine Pass (where American forces were pushed back), and Gafsa. It then led the allied assault in brutal fighting at El Guettar, Béja, and Mateur. The 1st Infantry Division was in combat in the North African Campaign from 21 January 1943 – 9 May 1943, helping secure Tunisia.

In July 1943, the division took part in Operation Husky invading Sicily still under the command of Major General Allen. Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Jr. specifically requested the Big Red One as part of his forces for the invasion of Sicily. It was assigned to the II Corps. It was in Sicily that the 1st saw heavy action when making amphibious landings opposed by Italian and German tanks at the Amphibious Battle of Gela. The 1st then moved up through the center of Sicily, slogging it out through the mountains along with the 45th Infantry Division. In these mountains, the division saw some of the heaviest fighting in the entire Sicilian campaign at the Battle of Troina; some units losing more than half their strength in assaulting the mountain town. On 7 August 1943, command was assumed by Major General Clarence R. Huebner.

Into the Jaws of Death: A Coast Guard-manned LCVP from the USS Samuel Chase disembarks Company E, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment assaulting Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944.

When that campaign was over, the division returned to England 5 November 1943^[14] to prepare for the eventual Normandy invasion.^[3] The First Infantry Division and one Regimental Combat Team from the 29th Infantry Division comprised the first wave of troops that assaulted German Army defenses on Omaha Beach on D-Day^[3][15] ,^[16] with some of the division's units suffering 30 percent casualties in the first hour of the assault,^[17][18][19] and secured Formigny and Caumont in the beachhead by the end of the day. The division followed up the Saint-Lô break-through with an attack on Marigny, 27 July 1944, and then drove across France in a continuous offensive, reaching the German border at Aachen in September. The division laid siege to Aachen, taking the city after a a direct assault on 21 October 1944.^[3] The First then attacked east of Aachen through the Hurtgen Forest, driving to the Rur, and was moved to a rear area 7 December 1944 for refitting and rest following 6 months of combat. When the German Wacht Am Rhein offensive (commonly called the Battle of the Bulge) was launched on 16 December 1944,^[3] the division was quickly moved to the Ardennes front. Fighting continuously from 17 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, the division helped to blunt and reverse the German offensive. Thereupon, the division attacked and again breached the Siegfried Line, fought across the Ruhr, 23 February 1945, and drove on to the Rhine, crossing at the Remagen bridgehead, 15–16 March. The division broke out of the bridgehead, took part in the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, captured Paderborn, pushed through the Harz Mountains, and was in Czechoslovakia, fighting at Kinsperk, Sangerberg, and Mnichov when the war in Europe ended. Sixteen members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor.

World War II – casualties[link]

Killed in Action: 3,616
Wounded in Action: 15,208
Died of Wounds: 664

Wartime commanders[link]

MG Norman Cota: Mar 1941 – Jun 1942
MG Donald C. Cubbison: Jun 1942 – Jul 1942
MG Terry de la Mesa Allen, Sr.: Jun 1942 – Jul 1943
MG Clarence R. Huebner: Jul 1943 – Dec 1944
MG Clift Andrus: Dec 1944 – VE Day

Order of battle 1944–1945[link]

1st Infantry Division – Order of Battle 1944–1945

HQs & HQs Co 1st Infantry Division
HQs & HQs Battery Division Artillery
Headquarters Special Troops
Military Police Platoon
1st Cav Recon Squadron
1st CIC Detachment
1st Engineer Combat Battalion
1st Medical Battalion
1st Quartermaster Company
1st Signal Corps Company
5th Field Artillery Battalion (155-MM)
7th Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM)
16th Infantry Regiment
18th Infantry Regiment
26th Infantry Regiment
32nd Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM)
33rd Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM)
701st OD Light Maint Company
745th Tank Battalion – at : 6 June 1944 – 8 May 1945
634th Tank Destroyer Battalion – at : 1 August 1944 – 2 May 1945
635th Tank Destroyer Battalion – at : 7 June 1944 – 30 September 1944
703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion – at : 18 December 1944 – 31 December 1944
103rd AAAA-W Battalion – at : 16 June 1944 – 7 February 1945
103rd AAAA-W Battalion – at : 24 February 1945 – 8 May 1945

From newly-captured town, members of the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, cross the Weser River in assault boats to take Furstenberg. 8 April 1945.

Assignments in the European and North African theaters[link]

1. 1 February 1943: II Corps, British First Army, 18th Army Group
2. July 1943: US II Corps, U.S. Seventh Army, 15th Army Group
3. 1 November 1943: US First Army.^{[note 1]}

1. 6 November 1943: VII Corps.
2. 2 February 1944: V Corps, First Army, British 21st Army Group
3. 14 July 1944: US First Army.
4. 15 July 1944: VII Corps.
5. 1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
6. 16 December 1944: V Corps.
7. 20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group.
8. 26 January 1945: XVIII Airborne Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
9. 12 February 1945: III Corps.
10. 8 March 1945: VII Corps.
11. 27 April 1945: VIII Corps.
12. 30 April 1945: V Corps.
13. 6 May 1945: United States Third Army, 12th Army Group.

Cold War[link]

Korean War[link]

During the Korean War, the Big Red One was assigned to occupation duty in Germany, while acting as a strategic deterrent against Soviet designs on Europe. 1st Infantry Division troops secured the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials and later transported seven convicted Nazi war criminals to Spandau Prison in Berlin.

In 1955 the division colors left Germany and were relocated to Fort Riley, Kansas.^[3]

1950s–1970s[link]

Following its return from Germany, the 1st Infantry Division established headquarters at Fort Riley, Kansas. Its troops reorganized and trained for war at Fort Riley and at other posts. In 1962 and 1963, four 1st Infantry Division Pentomic battle groups (2nd Battle Group, 12th Infantry; 1st Battle Group, 13th Infantry; 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry; and 2nd Battle Group, 26th Infantry) rotated, in turn, to West Berlin, Germany to augment the U.S. Army's Berlin Brigade during an international crisis initiated by construction of the Berlin Wall. These "Long Thrust Operations" were the most significant deployments conducted by 1st Infantry Division troops during the Cold War, placing Big Red One troops in confrontation with hostile communist forces. While the bulk of the division was stationed at Fort Riley, its 3rd Brigade, a mixture of cavalry and infantry, was forward-deployed and stationed in the Stuttgart region of Germany.

Vietnam[link]

The division fought in the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1970.^[3] Arriving in July 1965, the division began combat operations within two weeks. By the end of 1965 the division had participated in three major operations: Hump, Bushmaster 1 and Bushmaster II, under the command of MG Jonathan O. Seaman.

In 1966, the division took part in Operation Marauder, Operation Crimp II, and Operation Rolling Stone, all in the early part of the year. In March, MG William E. DePuy took command.^[20] In June and July the division took part in the battles of Ap Tau O, Srok Dong and Minh Thanh Road. In November 1966, the division participated in Operation Attleboro.

1967 saw the division in Operation Cedar Falls, Operation Junction City, Operation Manhattan, and Operation Shenandoah II. MG John H. Hay assumed command in February. On 17 October 1967, the 1st I.D suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Ong Thanh with 58 killed.

The division involved in the Tet Offensive of 1968, securing the massive Tan Son Nhut Air Base. In March, MG Keith L. Ware took command. That same month the division took part in Operation Quyet Thang ("Resolve to Win") and in April the division participated in the largest operation of the Vietnam War, Operation Toan Thang ("Certain Victory"). On 13 September, the division Commander, Maj. Gen. Ware, was killed in action when his command helicopter was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire.^[21] MG Orwin C. Talbott moved up from his position of Assistant Division Commander to assume command of the division.

In the first half of 1969, The Big Red One conducted reconnaissance-in-force and ambush operations, including a multi-divisional operation, Atlas Wedge. The last part of the year saw the division take part in Dong Tien ("Progress Together") operations. These operations were intended to assist South Vietnamese forces to take a more active role in combat. In August, MG A. E. Milloy took command of the 1st I.D. while the division took part in battles along National Highway 13, known as "Thunder Road" to the end of the year.

In January 1970 it was announced that the division would return to Fort Riley.^[3] 11 members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor.

During its involvement in the Vietnam war, the division lost 6,146 killed in action, with a further 16,019 wounded. Twenty of its number were taken as prisoners-of-war.

Commanders[link]

1. MG Jonathan O. Seaman (February 1964)^[22]
2. MG William E. DePuy (March 1966)^[22]
3. MG John H. Hay, Jr. (January 1967)^[22]
4. MG Keith L. Ware (February 1968)^[22]
5. MG Orwin C. Talbott (September 1968)^[22]
6. MG Albert E. Milloy (August 1969)^[22]

Modern era[link]

First Gulf War[link]

The division, commanded by Major General Thomas G. Rhame, also participated in Operation Desert Storm. The division's two maneuver brigades from Ft. Riley were rounded out by the addition of two tank battalions (2nd and 3rd of the 66th Armor Reg.), an infantry battalion (1–41st Infantry Regiment), and a field artillery battalion (4-3 FA) from 2nd Armored Division (Forward) in Germany. It was responsible for the initial breach of the Iraqi defenses, consequently rolling over the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division and taking 2,600 prisoners of war. The Big Red One continued with the subsequent 260-kilometre (160 mi) long assault on enemy-held territory over 100 hours, engaging eleven Iraqi divisions, destroying 550 enemy tanks, 480 armored personnel carriers and taking 11,400 prisoners. By the early morning of 28 February 1991, the division had taken position along the "Highway of Death", preventing any Iraqi retreat. The division's First squadron, fourth cavalry regiment, (1/4 CAV) was then tasked with securing town of Safwan, and the airfield there where the Iraqis were later forced to sign the surrender agreement. Iraq, which was to be the site for the permanent cease-fire negotiations.

There was also the "bulldozer assault", wherein the 1st & 2nd brigades from the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) used mine plows mounted on tanks and combat earthmovers to bury Iraqi soldiers defending the fortified "Saddam Line." While approximately 2,000 of the troops surrendered, escaping burial, one newspaper story reported that the U.S. commanders estimated thousands of Iraqi soldiers had been buried alive during the two-day assault 24–25 February 1991.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996 the division colors were relocated to the German city of Würzburg.

Balkans[link]

Captured equipment from 1st ID soldier on display in Belgrade museum

2nd (Dagger) Brigade Combat Team deployed to Bosnia as part of IFOR (and subsequent SFOR) from October 1996 to April 1997. 2nd Brigade was replaced by element from 3rd Brigade and the division's aviation brigade. Units from the 1st (Devil) Brigade Combat Team also deployed to Bosnia as part of SFOR6 ("Operation Joint Forge") from August 1999 to April 2000.

Kosovo, 1999-2BDE/1st Div

Elements of the division, to include personnel and units from the 2nd, 3rd and aviation brigades, served in Kosovo. During the Kosovo War three soldiers were captured by Serbian forces but were later released after peace talks.

Units of the 1st Infantry Division served in Kosovo as part of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) 1A and KFOR 1B from June 1999 to June 2000, then again for KFOR 4A and 4B from May 2002 to July 2003.

2003 Deployments to Iraq[link]

One battalion of the 3rd (Duke) Brigade, 1–63 Armor, deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq from their base in Rose Barracks, Germany, during the first-ever deployment of the USAREUR (United States Army Europe) Immediate Ready Task Force (IRTF) in March 2003, in support of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The battalion redeployed to Europe with the 173rd in March 2004.

The 1st (Devil) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division deployed from Fort Riley, Kansas in September 2003 to provide support to the 82nd Airborne Division in the city of Ramadi, Iraq. In February 2004, the Division deployed to Iraq, where it conducted a relief in place of the 4th Infantry Division, primarily in Salah ad-Din and Diyala provinces, with the Division headquarters being located on Forward Operating Base Danger, near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Task Force Danger, as the Division was called during OIF2, also had a light infantry brigade from the 25th Infantry Division, another brigade the 30th Armored Brigade (Enhanced) (Separate) "Old Hickory" of the North Carolina National Guard, and the 264th Engineer Group of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. In September 2004, the 1st Brigade was replaced by elements from the 2nd Infantry Division in Ramadi and redeployed to Ft. Riley. In February 2005, the division was replaced by the 42d Infantry Division, New York National Guard, and elements of the 3rd Infantry Division and returned to its home in Germany.

1st Infantry Division rebasing to CONUS[link]

In July 2006 the division was withdrawn from Germany back to Fort Riley in CONUS, leaving only 2nd (Dagger) Brigade in Schweinfurt, Germany until 28 March 2008 when the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division reflagged as the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Currently there are three maneuver (1st, 2nd and 4th BDE), one CAB and one sustainment brigade are based at Fort Riley, Kan., with one brigade (3rd BDE) based out of Ft Knox, KY.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08[link]

The 2nd (Dagger) Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq from mid-August 2006 to late November 2007. 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment was the first to embark and was sent to the Adhamiya district of Baghdad to assist in suppressing the widespread sectarian violence. The 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment was deployed to Ramadi and the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment was sent to Forward Operating Base Falcon in the Al Rashid district of southwest Baghdad. HQ and HQ Company 2BCT, 1st ID, 9th Engineer BN, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 299th Support Battalion, and 57th Signal Company were all (Dagger) units occupying Camp Liberty, a sprawling encampment of 30,000+ military and DoD civilians located just east of Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). 2nd plt 1st Military Police Company was located at FOB(Forward Operating Base) Justice.

Elements from Fort Riley's 1st (Devil) Brigade deployed in the fall of 2006 to other area of operations in Iraq. Units include companies from the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 34th Armor; 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery; 1st Engineer Battalion; and D Troop, 4th Cavalry.

Transition Team training mission[link]

State-side training for the Military Transition Teams (MiTTs) is located at Fort Riley, Kansas. Training began 1 June 2006. Some of the units such as the 18th Infantry Regiment, the 26th Infantry Regiment, and the 16th Infantry Regiment have already gone into Afghanistan along with some reconnaissance units. Those units have been in the Kunar Province since mid 2006. As of fall 2009 the transition team training mission has moved to Fort Polk, and the 1st Brigade has transitioned into a combat ready force with possible plans to deploy in the next few years.

2007 Deployments to Iraq[link]

Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team conduct security operations in Baghdad, Iraq in March 2007

In February 2007, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed to southern Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. the second unit tasked with the "surge" announced earlier in the year by President Bush. The main force of the Brigade under Col "Ricky" Gibbs. 2nd Bn 16th Infantry was put under operational control of 2nd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division, and located at FOB Rustamiyah (Featured in the Book "the Good Soldiers" by Washington Post reporter David Finkel)

In the fall of 2007, the Combat Aviation Brigade (Demon Brigade), 1st Infantry Division deployed to Iraq and was placed under the command of Multinational Division – North located at COB Spiecher. The majority of the CAB is stationed at COB Spiecher, with the 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment and some supporting elements stationed at FOB Warrior.

Afghanistan 2008-09[link]

In June and July 2008, 3rd Brigade deployed to Eastern Afghanistan under the command of CJTF-101, relieving the 173rd Airborne Brigade and taking control of the Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces. One of the brigades infantry battalions, 2-2, was tasked out down South in the Kandahar province outside of the brigade command. Main focuses of the brigade and PRT was to protect population centers such as Jalalabad and Asadabad and help develop the local economy through the construction of roads, and provide security while doing so. The brigade returned to Ft. Hood, Texas in July 2009 after a year of combat in which they recorded over 1000 firefights, over 1000 enemy killed, over 500 bombs dropped, 26,000 rounds of artillery fire and over 400 purple hearts awarded, giving them the highest casualty rate of any Army or Marine Corps unit during their year-long tour.

Iraq 2008-09[link]

In October 2008, the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team deployed to northwest Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Brigade HQ was located on VBC (Victory Base Complex) and the Brigade was responsible for the NW quarter of Baghdad. During this deployment soldiers of the 1st CAB (Combined Arms BN) 18th Infantry Regiment were located on FOB Justice. The 1st CAB (Combined Arms BN) 63rd Armor was initially located in Mah-Muh-Diyah (south of Baghdad) and then relocated to JSS Nasir wa Salam (NWS) in the Abu Ghraib area to the west of Baghdad. 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry was located in the Ghazaliyah area of West Baghdad where they battled the 1920s Revolutionary Brigade and eventually wrested control of the area from them. The 1st Battalion 7th Field Artillery was located on FOB Prosperity within the "Green Zone", and the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion located in the Victory Base Complex. During the course of this deployment, the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry was attached to the Brigade for several months, as well as the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, and a BN from the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (PA NG). The most notable events which occurred during this time were the Iraqi provincial elections, the expiration of the UN Mandate and the corresponding implementation of the Security Agreement (SA), between the Government of Iraq and the Unitied States, and "Bloody Wednesday" 19 August 2009 coordinated bombing of the finance ministry and the foreign ministry, with rocket attacks in the green zone. The bombings resulted in 101 dead and over 560 wounded. The Dagger Brigade thankfully experienced minor enemy contact during this deployment—although the BDE still had 2 KIAs (One serving as the BDE DCO's PSD, and one from the attached PA NG Battalion) and numerous WIA. During this deployment, LTC J.B. Richardson III (commander of 5-4 CAV) earned a BSV for (allegedley) single-handedly assaulting through an enemy RKG-3 ambush and inflicting multiple casualties on the enemy, although according to soldiers reports on the ground, he simply exited the vehicle and ran down an alley after the RKG-3 thrower had already been killed by his vehicles gunner.

Iraq 2009-10[link]

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Dragons) deployed in August 2009 as one of the last combat units to be deployed to Iraq.

Iraq 2010–11[link]

1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team headquarters with their Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) and Special Troops Battalion deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq in October 2010 to establish the 1-1 Advise and Assist Task Force as part of Operation New Dawn. They were later joined by 1-5 FA in northern Iraq in late spring 2011.

2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in November 2010 in an Advise and Assist role as part of Operation New Dawn under the command of COL Paul T. Calvert. The Brigade HQ was located at Victory Base Complex, where it was co-located within the USD-C Division HQ building and shared the same TOC. This unique C2 relationship earned the Brigade the moniker of the "Luckiest Brigade in the Army" from the USD-C commander. The Brigade was placed under USD-C (initially 1st AD, then 25th Infantry Division after Dec 2011) and was single-handedly responsible for the entire province of Baghdad. As the brigade responsible for the "Center of Gravity" (i.e. Baghdad) for United States Forces-Iraq, the 2nd "Dagger" Brigade was responsible for advising and assisting 50% of the Iraqi Security Forces within Iraq to include 2xIraqi Corps HQ (the Karkh Area Command and Rusafa Area Command) and 7xIraqi Divisions (6th IA, 9th IA—Mechanized, 17th IA, 11th IA, 1st FP, 2nd FP, and 4th FP) and 50,000 Iraqi Policemen.

The 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, commanded by LTC John Cross, was located at Camp Taji and FOB Old MOD. They were partnered with the 9th and 11th IA Divisions. 1st Battalion, 7th FA, commanded by LTC Andrew Gainey, was located at JSS Loyalty. They were partned with the 1st Federal Police Division. 1st Battalion, 63rd Armored, commanded by LTC Michael Henderson, was located at JSS Deason, Muthana Airfield, and VBC. They were partnered with the 6th and 17th IA Divisions. 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry, commanded by LTC Mathew Moore was located at JSS Falcon. They were partnered with the 2nd and 4th FP Divisions. The Special Troops Battalion, commanded by LTC Silisia Geter, was located at VBC (Victory Base Complex) and partnered with the Baghdad Police Directorate. Meanwhile, due to the drawdown of US Forces and the redeployment of theater-level Sustainment Brigades, the 299th BSB, commanded by LTC Dale Farrand, assumed the area support mission for all DOD and DOS elements within the province of Baghdad in addition to supporting the Dagger Brigade.

Significant items during this deployment included the resumption of attacks by the Sadrist movement and other Iranian-backed militia, the subsequent operations that stopped those attacks, the rearward passage of lines of USD-North as they redeployed through Baghdad, the organization and training of divisional Field Artillery Regiments for the IA divisions, the fielding of M1 tanks for the 9th IA Division, and the hand-over of all US facilities within Baghdad to the Government of Iraq or elements of the US State Department. During this deployment the Brigade simultaneously trained ISF units to the point of conducting Iraqi-led Battalion CALFEXs, advised ISF units as they conducted hundreds of Iraqi-led raids which disrupted the attacks of Iranian-Backed Militia, while also conducting unilateral and combined Force Protection operations to ensure the security of US bases and redeploying US forces. The Brigade experienced 9 KIAs during this deployment, the majority of which resulted from a single IRAM attack (Improvised Rocket-Assisted Munition) conducted against JSS Loyalty by Iranian-Backed Militia on 6 JUN 2011. The Brigade departed Iraq in November 2011 after having turned the majority of the city of Baghdad over to complete Iraqi control.

Afghanistan 2011–12[link]

From 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1–16 IN (CAB) and 4-4 CAV deployed to Afghanistan in the winter of 2011, with 2–34 AR (CAB) later deploying in the spring of 2011. 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed to Khost and Paktya provinces in Eastern Afghanistan in January 2011. 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment was once again detached from the brigade and deployed to Ghazni province under Polish command.^{[citation needed]} The 4th IBCT is to deploy later in 2012 for a yearlong deployment.^[23]

Insignia[link]

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) worn on a unit member's Army Combat Uniform

The insignia of the 1st Infantry Division originated in World War I. There are two theories as to how the idea of the patch came about.

The first theory states that the 1st Division supply trucks were manufactured in England. To make sure the 1st Division's trucks were not confused with other allies, the drivers would paint a huge "1" on the side of each truck. Later, the division engineers would go even farther and put a red number one on their sleeves.^[24]

The second theory claims that a general of the division decided the unit should have a shoulder insignia. He decided to cut a red numeral "1" from his flannel underwear. When he showed his prototype to his men, one lieutenant said, "the general's underwear is showing!" Offended, the general challenged the young lieutenant to come up with something better. So, the young officer cut a piece of gray cloth from the uniform of a captured soldier, and placed the red "1" on top.^[24]

Current structure[link]

1st Infantry Division Order of Battle

1st Infantry Division consists of the following elements:

• Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion(DHHB)
  • Headquarters Support Company
  • Operations Company
  • Intelligence and Sustainment Company
  • Signal Company
  • 1st Infantry Division Band
  • Commanding General's Color Mounted Guard
• 1st Brigade Combat Team (Heavy) "Devil Brigade"^[1][25]
  • Special Troops Battalion "Defiant"^[26]
  • 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment "Pale Riders"
  • 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment "Dreadnaughts"
  • 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment "Iron Rangers"
  • 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment
  • 101st Brigade Support Battalion

• 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Heavy) "Dagger Brigade"
  • Special Troops Battalion "Griffins"^[27]
  • 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment "Dragons"
  • 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment Vanguards
  • 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment First Lightning
  • 299th Brigade Support Battalion "Lifeline

• 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Infantry) "Duke Brigade" at Fort Knox, Kentucky
  • Special Troops Battalion^[28]
  • 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment
  • 201st Brigade Support Battalion

• 4th Brigade Combat Team (Infantry) "Dragon Brigade"
  • Special Troops Battalion^[29]
  • 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment
  • 701st Brigade Support Battalion

• Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division "Demon Brigade"
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • 1st Battalion (Attack), 1st Aviation with 24 AH-64D Apache Longbow
  • 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment with 24 OH-58 Kiowa
  • 2nd Battalion (General Support), 1st Aviation Regiment with 8 UH-60L/M Black Hawk, 10 CH-47D Chinook and 10 HH-60L/M Black Hawk
  • 3rd Battalion (Assault), 1st Aviation Regiment with 30 UH-60M Black Hawk
  • 601st Aviation Support Battalion
• 75th Fires Brigade "Diamond Brigade" at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
  • 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment "Copperheads", firing Paladin.
  • 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment, firing MLRS.
  • 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment "Red Dragons", firing MLRS.
  • 100th Support Battalion^[30]

The division is supported by the 1st Sustainment Brigade at Fort Riley.

Honors[link]

Campaign participation credit[link]

• World War I:

1. Montdidier-Noyon
2. Aisne-Marne
3. St. Mihiel
4. Meuse-Argonne
5. Lorraine 1917
6. Lorraine 1918
7. Picardy 1918

• World War II:

1. Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead)
2. Tunisia
3. Sicily (with arrowhead)
4. Normandy (with arrowhead)
5. Northern France
6. Rhineland
7. Ardennes-Alsace
8. Central Europe

• Vietnam:

1. Defense
2. Counteroffensive
3. Counteroffensive, Phase II
4. Counteroffensive, Phase III
5. Tet Counteroffensive
6. Counteroffensive, Phase IV
7. Counteroffensive, Phase V
8. Counteroffensive, Phase VI
9. Tet 69/Counteroffensive
10. Summer-Fall 1969
11. Winter-Spring 1970

• Southwest Asia:

1. Defense of Saudi Arabia
2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
3. Cease-Fire

• Global War on Terrorism

1. Operation Iraqi Freedom II
2. Operation Iraqi Freedom VI-VIII
3. Operation Iraqi Freedom VIII-IX
4. Operation Enduring Freedom 08-09

Decorations[link]

1. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968
2. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA
3. Army Superior Unit Award for 1997
4. French Croix de guerre with Palm, World War II for KASSERINE
5. French Croix de guerre with Palm, World War II for NORMANDY
6. French Croix de guerre, World War II, Fourragere
7. Belgian Fourragere 1940
8. Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at MONS
9. Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at EUPEN-MALMEDY
10. Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1965–1968
11. Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1965–1970

Commanding generals[link]

See also[link]

United States Army portal

• The Big Red One (1980), a movie about the division's experiences in World War II written by Samuel Fuller who served in the division during World War II.
• Cantigny, the former estate of Col. Robert R. McCormick, is where the 1st Infantry Division Museum is located. The museum showcases the history of the 1st Infantry Division, from their involvement in World War I to the present, along with several tanks situated outside the museum dating from World War I to the present.
• First Division Monument
• Iraq Assistance Group, a former joint command coordinating the coalition military transition team mission in Iraq which was formed from the 1st Infantry Division.

Notes[link]

Notes

Citations

References[link]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Center of Military History document "1st Infantry Division Honors".

Further reading[link]

• Felix G. "Third Graders At War" The true story of a Cavalry Scout during Operation Desert Storm ISBN 978-1-4575-0152-4
• Rohan, John Rags, The Dog Who Went to War,, Diggory Press, ISBN 978-1-84685-364-7
• Gantter, Raymond Roll Me Over, An Infantryman's World War II,, Ivy Books, ISBN 0-8041-1605-9
• Stanton, Shelby, Vietnam Order of Battle: A Complete Illustrated Reference to the U.S. Army and Allied Ground Forces in Vietnam, 1961-1973, Stackpole Books 2006 ISBN 0-8117-0071-2
• Stanton, Shelby, World War II Order of Battle: An Encyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion through Division, 1939-1946 (Revised Edition, 2006), Stackpole Books ISBN 978-0-8117-0157-0

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 1st Infantry Division (United States)

• Official 1st Infantry Division website
• Society of the First Infantry Division
• Duty First: The 1st Infantry Division's award-winning quarterly magazine
• GlobalSecurity.org page on 1ID
• The First! The Story of the 1st Infantry Division (WWII divisional history booklet, 1945)
• Echoes of War: Stories from the Big Red One Interactive PBS documentary about the 1st Infantry Div.
• Raw Combat Footage DVD of the 1st Infantry Division June and July 1944.
• Raw Combat Footage DVD of the 1st Infantry Division from August to November 1944.
• 1st Infantry Division Living History Group – Germany
• Cantigny First Division Oral Histories, includes freely accessible video oral history interviews with veterans of the U.S. Army's First Infantry Division

Media

• The short film Big Picture: The Big Red One is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film "The Fighting First (1946)" is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-5A (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-1OA (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-17A (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-21A (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-22A (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-29A (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The short film STAFF FILM REPORT 66-30A (1966) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]

The Red Digital Cinema Camera Company manufactures digital cinematography cameras and accessories. It was founded and financed in 1999 by Oakley founder Jim Jannard. The company currently produces three cameras: Red One, Epic, and Scarlet.

DSMC concept[link]

On November 13, 2008 Red officially announced that the DSMC concept of an integrated Digital Still and Motion Camera system was to be the overarching philosophy of Red's future product lines.

Red opted to design and build interchangeable camera components that are configurable to allow owners to replace various components as they are upgraded and improved, rather than having to replace the entire camera system.

These components come together around a central piece called a Brain, which houses a sensor and the necessary electronics to record, encode, decode, and otherwise control the recorded images. As with the other modules, the Brains can be upgraded independently of the rest of the camera, and can also be swapped, so that a single project could use multiple Brains as needed, while otherwise maintaining a preferred configuration of the DSMC.

Scarlet and Epic share the same modular design and are the two current lines of DSMC Brains.

REDCODE[link]

All current Red cameras record only in the REDCODE RAW codec. The codec offers a constant-bitrate Wavelet compression with a compression ratio from 18:1 to 3:1. When it was introduced by Red the codec was the first to allow high bit depth bayer sensor video data to be recorded to CompactFlash, mechanical hard disk or SSD media instead of a big external storage system. Being a lossy codec, decompression does not fully restore the original image data recorded by the sensor. Red claims the codec is "visually lossless", suggesting that the information loss is not visible to the naked eye when images are viewed. Since Redcode is a wavelet based codec, it is possible to extract lower resolutions from the video stream to get real time playback on lower end machines.

Having a video stream that offers the same advantages of a raw image, it is possible to apply all kinds of image processing like white balancing, sharpening, gamma or exposure correction in a non-destructive manner like photographers do with their Raw images.

RedCine-X[link]

RedCine-X is a closed source RAW converter provided by Red to decode the Redcode data stream. It can be used directly as a standalone RAW converter that transcodes .R3D files into other formats or it can be accessed via its SDK through other video editing applications to directly load .R3D files like a regular videostream.

With the introduction of the Red Epic, there is the possibility to enable the HDRx feature that records two video streams in parallel. One normally exposed track (A-track) and one underexposed (X-track) track. The underexposed track can be blended together later via RedCineX to recover blown out highlights in the main video track. To recreate the motion blur there are two blending options available that were implemented by The Foundry into RedCine-X.

Magic Motion[link]

Magic motion attempts to create a motion blur closer to the human perception of movement, meaning the resulting video stream will show motion blur as well as sharp edges for fast moving objects.

MNMB[link]

More Natural Motion Blur emulates the motion blur one would get from a standard 180° shutter image like when shot with a film camera or a single exposure video stream.

Alternatives[link]

R3D files that were created before Red started to encrypt the files in the camera can be decoded with FFmpeg. Video streams that were created after that can only decoded with proprietary software from Red.

Red One[link]

The Red One in a simple setup

The Red One was announced in 2006 and released in 2007 as the first camera produced by Red Digital Cinema Camera Company.

Initial order process[link]

Red ran a reservation for the Red One camera, requiring a $1,000 deposit, between April 24, 2006 and October 31, 2006. Around 1,000 cameras were reserved during that time. Reservations were reopened from January 21, 2007 until January 24, 2007.^[1] The first 1,080 reservation holders each received a machined titanium "R" with their future camera serial number engraved on it. On August 31, 2007, Red shipped the first 25 Red One cameras to pre-order customers. Subsequently the camera became available for general ordering, although through late 2008, there was a wait time of up to several months, as Red filled its order backlog for over 3,000 units. The pre-order process has ended and the Red One became generally available in late 2008.^[2]

NAB 2007[link]

At the National Association of Broadcasters 2007 show in Las Vegas, three working Red One cameras were on display as well as all-day screenings of the 12-minute short entitled Crossing the Line directed by Peter Jackson using two alpha versions of the Red camera nicknamed Boris and Natasha. The alpha versions had nothing but a record/stop button and shot at 4K at 24 frames per second and a 180 degree shutter. All other features were unavailable. Initially expecting a standard camera test, when Jim Jannard, Jarred Land and Deanan Dasilva from Red arrived in New Zealand, they were surprised to learn that Peter Jackson intended to shoot a ten minute short set in World War I featuring battles in trenches and in the air.[1] The film was used to showcase the capabilities of the Red One camera in action rather than in controlled test environments.^[3][4] The film was shot in two days.

Despite being feature-incomplete, Red assured booth visitors the camera would start shipping before the end of the year.

At NAB 2007, Red announced that Redcode raw data generated by the camera can be converted using proprietary software called RedCine into a range of formats, including DPX.^[5]

Sensor[link]

The Red One has a 11.5 megapixel bayer pattern CMOS sensor. The sensor, called Mysterium measures 24.4 mm by 13.7 mm, and has 4,520 by 2,540 active pixels, though the camera only records a window of those pixels in normal operation. The sensor is about the surface area of a traditional Super 35 film frame, creating a similar angle of view and depth of field as the Super 35 film format. When shooting at 2k resolution the used sensor window is the same as Super 16 film. This allows the camera to be used with Super 16 lenses.

Red specifies the sensor's signal to noise ratio at greater than 66 dB,^[6] with 11.3 stops of total dynamic range.^[7] The default sensitivity is ISO 320.^[8] Red later shipped new cameras with the Mysterium-X sensor with higher signal to noise ratio and a native sensivity of ISO 800 and improved dynamic range of about 13^[6] stops, which had the same dimensions and pixel count as its predecessor. They also offered an upgrade program for older Red Ones to replace their Mysterium sensors with the Mysterium-X.

Lens mount[link]

The Red One camera utilises an interchangeable lens mount system allowing for the use of several industry-standard lens types. The default lens mount is a PL mount, the most common mount for modern 35 mm and 16 mm motion picture cameras. An adapter for 2/3" B4 lenses, and for Nikon F-mount lenses have also been created.

At least two third-party suppliers have made a Canon EF lens mount for the Red One, which can provide full electronic control of EF lenses.^[9][10]

Recording formats[link]

The Red One can record at several resolutions in a proprietary video lossy format called REDCODE, all recording is progressive scan. Lower resolutions are achieved by windowing the sensor.

Despite variable frame sizes, the Red One does not allow capture at standard definition or high definition resolutions. However, as part of the process of delivering the REDCODE data recorded by the camera, RedCine-X can be used to downscale to these resolutions for purposes of proxy editing or final output. After the required debayering process, the images resolution of the Red One is approximately 3,200 lines for the Red One M sensor and 3,700 lines for the Red MX sensor. The resolution advertised by Red Digital Cinema is the resolution of the camera's sensor, not the actual amount of resolvable pixels.

Recording media[link]

The Red One records footage to Redcode data files on disk or flash-based digital storage. Four different recording units with flash, SSD or mechanical drives are available.

Firmware updates[link]

Red began shipping cameras with on-board software capable of adding additional features and bug fixes over time, via the camera's software updating mechanism. The current firmware release is a version of build 30.^[8] Since the initial release of the camera, new firmware releases have enabled sound, higher frame rates and better image quality, among other features.

Field monitoring[link]

Field monitoring is possible by using either Red displays or connecting a display to the HDMI or SDI port of the camera.

The Red One generates a variety of data overlays which can be displayed on its video outputs, including histograms, waveform plots, false color exposure aids, time code, project recording formats, audio levels, and two different focus-assist displays.

Unlike virtually all HD video cameras, the Red One does not generate a video stream in-camera which represents its final product. Its real time monitoring outputs do not reflect the resolution and dynamic range captured in the raw files it records. The camera's live outputs are intended to be used only for on-set monitoring, similarly to the way a video tap is often used with film-based acquisition.

Audio[link]

The Red One has four TA3 (“mini XLR”) connectors, and can record up to four channels of 24-bit 48 kHz digital audio, with or without phantom power.

Modular Concept[link]

The camera is based around a modular design concept. It has many mounting points; accessories like recording devices, viewfinders, etc. can be mounted to the camera, rather than being integral parts of the body.

Dimensions and weight[link]

The Red One camera body weighs ten pounds (4.5 kilograms).^[6] Dimensions are 12.02 in long × 6.34 in high × 5.2 in wide (30 cm × 16 cm × 13 cm).^[6]

Performance issues[link]

As with many CMOS-based cameras, images captured by the Red One may show rolling shutter artifacts. Such cameras read data from the sensor line by line over a short period, rather than all at once, so each frame in an image sequence does not represent a single instant. Rolling shutter artifacts can cause vertical objects to appear to lean as the camera pans them horizontally, and can cause strobe effects like camera flashes or lightning strikes to appear only on portions of frames, creating a "tearing" effect. The effects of the rolling shutter have been improved in recent versions of the Red One camera firmware, but have not been eliminated. Rolling shutter also appears on some film cameras, but they are not subject to the "tearing" symptom.

Reception[link]

The first feature film shot and completed on the Red One 4K was Red Canvas, starring Ernie Reyes, Jr.^[11] Director Steven Soderbergh shot both parts of the movie Che entirely with the Red One camera. After completing the films, Soderbergh stated: "this is the camera I've been waiting for my whole career: jaw-dropping imagery recorded on board a camera light enough to hold with one hand. I don't know how Jim and the Red team did it—and they won't tell me—but I know this: Red is going to change everything."^[12] He again used the Red One for his subsequent films The Girlfriend Experience and The Informant!.^[13] The Academy Award-nominated District 9 was mostly shot using nine Red Ones.^[14] The film's producer, director Peter Jackson, was one of the camera's earliest advocates, and has used it to shoot portions of his 2009 film The Lovely Bones.

Werner Herzog shot his film My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? with the Red One. He was disappointed with the camera's long reboot times, saying "It drove me insane, because sometimes something is happening and you can't just push the button and record it". He described the camera as "an immature camera created by computer people who do not have a sensibility or understanding for the value of high-precision mechanics".^[15]

Notable movies and TV shows shot on Red One cameras[link]

• The 2009 short The Butterfly Circus was shot using the Red One camera, as was the same director's previous short "Stained" which was the first film shot on the Red One to win Best Film at a festival.^[16][17][18]

• Sanctuary was the first television series in North America to use the Red One camera exclusively.

• In 2009, Tamil film Unnaipol Oruvan was fully shot using Red One cameras.
• in 2008, Sinhala film "Ran Kewita ii" was shot using a Red One camera.

• The 2010 film Beginners, directed by Mike Mills, cinematography by Kasper Tuxen and starring Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Mélanie Laurent, was filmed with Red One.^[19]

• In 2010, Malayalam film Yakshiyum Njanum was shot using Red One cameras.
• In 2010, the Oscar winning short film God of Love (film) was shot using Red One cameras.
• In 2010, the black comedy FX TV series Louie was shot using a Red One camera.^[20]
• In 2011, Tamil film Billa II was fully shot using Red one cameras.
• In 2012, the science-fiction comedy Iron Sky was filmed in Red camera format.

Epic-M and Epic-X[link]

On April 15, 2010, an Epic prototype was demonstrated at an off-site meeting during the 2010 NAB show exhibition [2] (Red did not have an official booth at NAB).^[21] The Epic M was introduced in early 2011, the Epic-X in late 2011. They share the same technical features, the only differences are the manufacturing process and their delivery dates.

Sensor[link]

The camera sensor, called Mysterium-X, is a 27.7 by 14.6 mm 13.8 (5120 by 2700 pixels) megapixel bayer pattern CMOS 14 bit sensor which is rated at ISO 800 at daylight with a dynamic range of 13.5 stops. It has approximately the same surface area of a traditional Super 35 film frame masked to the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, creating a similar angle of view and depth of field as the Super 35 film format.

Lens mounts[link]

The Red Epic camera utilises an interchangeable lens mount system allowing for the use of several industry-standard lens types. The default lens mount is a PL mount, the most common mount for modern 35 mm and 16 mm motion picture cameras. Red also created a Canon EF lens mount for the Red Epic, which provides full electronic control of EF lenses. A Leica M-Mount has been shown as a prototype^[22] and is planned to be sold in December. A prototype Nikon mount with full electronic control over aperture and iris has been shown by RED.

The lens mount can be replaced with another model within a minute by removing four screws.

Table shows different mounts available for the Epic.

Recording formats[link]

The Red Epic can record at several resolutions in the proprietary video codec REDCODE. Lower resolutions are achieved by windowing the sensor.

Table shows maximum frame rates at different resolutions for the Epic camera.

Recording media[link]

The Epic records at a data rate of up to 225 MB/s to proprietary SSD drives called RedMags. Having no moving parts and being lightweight they allow for lightweight camera rigs and resist sudden motion or intense vibration that could cause dropped frames with mechanical hard drive storage.

In-camera playback[link]

On November 19, 2011 Jarred Land announced in-camera playback for the Epic.^[23]

Field monitoring[link]

The Red Epic generates a variety of data overlays which can be displayed on its video outputs, including histograms, waveform plots, false color exposure aids, time code, project recording formats, audio levels, and two different focus-assist displays. Unlike most HD video cameras, the Red One does not generate a video stream in-camera which represents its final product. Its real time monitoring outputs do not reflect the resolution and dynamic range captured in the raw files it records. The camera's live outputs are intended to be used for on-set monitoring, similarly to the way a video tap is often used with film-based acquisition.

Shutter[link]

The shutter speed can be set to any value that would correspond to a shutter angle of 1° to 359° in a film camera without creating the artifacts that a mechanical shutter creates in such a camera. Rolling shutter artifacts haven been reduced significantly by the faster readout of the sensor compared to the Red One.

HDRx[link]

When enabling HDRx, the camera records a second underexposed video track to record highlight areas that are blown out in the main track. A user-definable shutter speed of between 2 to 6 stops less than the main track can be set - expanding the dynamic range of the video stream by the same amount, however Red doesn't recommend to go further than 3EV difference if not necessary. The underexposed frame is recorded directly before the main frame to reduce motion artifacts caused by misalignment of those two images. Shooting in HDRx reduces the achievable frame rate by half and doubles the data rate of the video stream. The two streams can be blended together later with RedCine-X.

Time-Lapse[link]

Framerate on the Epic can be brought down to 1 fps to shoot time lapse footage with a user-definable shutter speed.

Upgrade plans and future Epic brains[link]

Red announced the Red Dragon 6K sensor to be the first from the Monstro sensor family. Upgrades to that sensor will be available for both Scarlet and Epic cameras.

The Red Epic brain is also announced to come in the following variants:

Modular Concept[link]

The camera is based around a modular design concept. It has many mounting points for accessories like recording devices, viewfinders, etc. that can be mounted to the camera, rather than being integral parts of the body. Several cages, plates, and rail systems are available that provide protection or extra mounting points.

Dimensions and weight[link]

The camera weight with just the mount and the SSD module is 2.4 kg.

First major theatrical releases[link]

The first major theatrical releases to be shot on the Epic will be the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man, Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Killer, Ridley Scott's Prometheus, Peter Jackson's The Hobbit[3], James Cameron's Avatar 2, Paul W. S. Anderson's Resident Evil: Retribution, Michael J. Bassett's Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, and Chakri Toleti's Billa II.

Scarlet-X[link]

The Scarlet-X is a professional digital motion picture & still camera system and features hardware that is very similar to the Red Epic. The max. framerate for 5K is 12 fps. For 24 fps recording the resolution has to be lowered to 4k by windowing the sensor, the frame rate goes up to 120 frames per second at 1K, the camera also features HDRx but with lower framerates as the Epic. Due to the same form factor and connectors all the available Epic accessories are usable with the Scarlet as well.

History[link]

The RED Scarlet program was announced on November 13, 2008 and upon announcement composed the less expensive half of the company's Digital Still Motion Camera program.^[24] The specifications that have been announced were a 3072x1620 pixel, 2/3 inch image sensor and an image processor capable of recording 120 frames per second in RED's proprietary format.^[25] It also included a non-removable 8X zoom lens [8x lens specifications : 28-224mm (35mm equivalent) T/2.4 throughout the zoom range] as well as a model which uses an interchangeable lens system. Prototypes of both models have been demonstrated publicly since 2009.^[26] When first announced the camera was expected to be sold in 2009 for $3000.

At CES 2010 a self-contained 3K resolution ²⁄₃ in sensor size Scarlet prototype with an attached lens was demonstrated. The camera was announced to be able to shoot up 120 fps at 3K resolution.

At the NAB 2011 a working prototype with a fixed lens and electronic aperture control was shown by Joseph Hutson.

On November 3, 2011, RED officially revealed the new Scarlet system, outfitted with the same S35 Mysterium-X sensor and only minor changes in the housing as the Red Epic.

Recording formats[link]

The Red Scarlet can record at several resolutions in the proprietary video codec REDCODE. Lower resolutions are achieved by windowing the sensor.

Maximum data rate for Scarlet camera is 55 MB per second (440 Mbit/s)

Table shows maximum frame rates at different resolutions for the Scarlet camera.

Audio[link]

2 channel, uncompressed, 24 bit, 48 kHz. Optional 4 channel, and KUS / EBU digital audio.^[27]

Weight[link]

2.4 kg Body only.^[27]

Competitors[link]

These competitors have similar features and pricing.

• Canon C300 (S35 sized 16:9 sensor, 1080p)
• Sony F3 (S35 sized 16:9 sensor, 1080p)
• Sony FS700 (S35 sized 16:9 sensor, 4K)

Lenses[link]