The Ellipse in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Second Infantry Division Memorial
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, January 2, 2009
1. Second Infantry Division Memorial - center section from 1936
The flaming bronze sword by James Earle Fraser is symbolic of the division's role as an impediment to the German advance on Paris in 1918.
The Second Division
To Our Honored Dead, 1917-1919
Toulon
Troyon
Bois de Belleau
Vaux
Soissons
Marache
St. Mihiel
Blanc Mont
Meuse-Argonne
The Rhine
[From 1962, west inner wing:]
Organized in France in October, 1917; original unit consisted of Army, Marine and Navy troops.
[From 1962, west outer wing:]
Normandy
Rhineland
Brest
Remagen
Siegfried Line
Leipzig
The Bulge
Czechoslovakia
[From 1962, east inner wing:]
United Nations battalion assisted [the] division in Korean War - from France, The Netherlands, Thailand.
[From 1962, east outer wing:]
Natong River
Bloody Ridge
Kuni-Ri
Heartbreak Ridge
Chipyong-Ni
Old Baldy
Wang-Ju
Arrowhead Ridge
[Cornerstone:]
1936, 1962
Erected 1936.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • Military • Notable Events • War, 2nd Iraq • War, Korean • War, World I • War, World II.
Location. 38° 53.555′ N, 77° 2.278′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The German-American Friendship Garden (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bulfinch Gate House (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named The German-American Friendship Garden (about 400 feet away); Ysabel I, La Catolica (about 500 feet away); The Home of the Pan American Union (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named German-American Friendship Garden (about 500 feet away); The Canal Connection (about 600 feet away); Lock Keeper’s House (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
More about this memorial. The Memorial is on the Ellipse, south of the White House.
Also see . . .
1. 2nd Infantry Division. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on January 5, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
2. James Earle Fraser (sculptor). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on January 6, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
3. 2nd Infantry Division Association. Association website homepage (Submitted on January 6, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional commentary.
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
2. Left Outside Panel
Indicates years of the Korea War service.
1. Marines and Sailors in the 2nd Infantry Division, U.S.A.
At the time of its activation during WWI, the Division included the 3d Infantry Brigade, a regular organic Army brigade which included the 9th and 23rd Infantry Regiments; and the 4th Marine Brigade, which consisted of the 5th the 6th Marine Regiments. Twice during "The Great War" the division was commanded by Marine Corps generals, Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen and Major General John A. Lejeune, the only time in U.S. Military history when Marine Corps officers commanded an Army division. Although the Marines comprised less than half of one division out of 90-plus divisions in the American Expeditionary Force, they are remembered for receiving what seemed to be more publicity than did rest of the AEF put together, a sore point in inter-service relations that continued for the rest of the century.
Meanwhile, the Navy hospital corpsmen who served heroically with the 4th Marine Brigade were subsequently authorized to wear a special strap on the left shoulder of their "dress blue" uniforms in order to accommodate the French Fourragere earned by the brigade, the only Navy men to ever be so privileged.
(Ironically, units of the the 2ID would fight under Marine Corps command in Iraq in 2004 attached to the 1st Marine Division.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
3. Right Outside Panel
Indicating World War II service years.
Additional keywords. "Indian Head Division"; "2ID"; "Second to None", 4th Marine Brigade; KATUSAs; James Earle Fraser; Operation Iraqi Freedom; American Expeditionary Force (AEF).
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, January 2, 2009
4. Second Infantry Division Memorial - west wing addition, 1962
honoring the 2ID's dead from World War II.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, January 2, 2009
5. Second Infantry Division Memorial - east wing addition, 1962
honoring the 2ID's dead from the Korean War.
The more than 7,000 combat deaths suffered by the 2nd Division in Korea remain the highest total for any modern U.S. division in any war; and its 17000-plus combat deaths in World War I, World II, and Korea (a figure exceeding its average combat strength) are the greatest combined total for any U.S. division.
The more than 7,000 combat deaths suffered by the 2nd Division in Korea remain the highest total for any modern U.S. division in any war; and its 17000-plus combat deaths in World War I, World II, and Korea (a figure exceeding its average combat strength) are the greatest combined total for any U.S. division.
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
6. Left Corner Stone
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, January 2, 2009
7. Second Infantry Division Memorial
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
8. Close Up of the "Indian Head" Symbol on the Sword
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 5,961 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on January 6, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on January 5, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on January 5, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6. submitted on January 7, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7. submitted on January 6, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 8. submitted on January 7, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
