Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Thunderbirds

45th Infantry Division

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

1. Thunderbirds Marker

Inscription. Alva, Oklahoma
Home of the 45th Signal Company

CampaignsWorld War II — 511 Combat Days
Sicily (with Arrowhead)
Naples — Foggia (with Arrowhead)
Anzio
Rome — Arno
Southern France (with Arrowhead)
Rhineland
Ardennes — Alsace
Central Europe

Korea — 429 Combat Days
Second Korean Winter
Korea, Summer — Fall 1952
Third Korean Winter
Korea, Summer 1953

Decorations
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II
Streamer Embroidered Acquafondata

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Streamer Embroidered Korea
[back/west side]
“Born at sea, baptized in blood, your fame shall never die. Your Division is one of the best, if not the best Division, in the history of American Arms.”
— General George S. Patton, then Seventh Army Commander

“Whatever destiny may hold in store for our great country and however long that country’s military history may continue, readers in the future will search long before finding a chapter more brilliant than that written by the quill that was dipped in the blood of the Thunderbirds.”
— Brigadier General H.J.D. Meyer, then 45th Infantry Division Commander

Donated by Buddy Sams Alva Monument CO.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Korean • War, World II.

Location. 36° 48.255′ N, 98° 39.881′ W. Marker is in Alva, Oklahoma, in Woods County. It is on Government Street just south of Flynn Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 407 Government Street, Alva OK 73717, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and Cherokee Outlet.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Woods County Centennial Wall (within shouting distance of this marker); World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of United States Land Office Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Alva POW Camp

Thunderbirds Marker (<i>back/west side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

2. Thunderbirds Marker (back/west side)

(within shouting distance of this marker); 45th Infantry Div. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Honor of the Growth of Cooperative Extension Continuing Education in Woods County (about 300 feet away); The Old Courthouse (about 300 feet away); Burning of the Castle on the Hill (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alva.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. 45th Infantry Division - Thunderbirds

Also see . . .
1. 45th Infantry Division Campaigns during World War II (Holocaust Encyclopedia).

Excerpt: The 45th Infantry Division was formed in 1924 from National Guard units in the southwestern United States. In 1940, the "Thunderbird" division was reactivated and deployed in late June 1943 to North Africa. The following month, the division landed in Sicily, where it engaged Axis troops in combat. After advancing up the Italian peninsula, the 45th landed at Anzio in February 1944, where it withstood repeated German assaults against its positions. Cutting across the country, the unit was sent to southern France in August 1944. It
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

3. Thunderbirds Marker
Looking west from Government Street; the Woods County Courthouse is in the background.
quickly advanced through western France, reaching the German border by the end of the year. In March 1945, the "Thunderbird" division crossed the Rhine River and headed southward. On April 20, it captured the city of Nuremberg and on April 30, Munich. As the 45th Infantry Division completed its drive on Munich, the unit was ordered to liberate the Dachau concentration camp.

(Submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. 45th Infantry Division (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The division's original shoulder sleeve insignia, approved in August 1924, featured a swastika, a common Native American symbol, as a tribute to the Southwestern United States region which had a large population of Native Americans. However, with the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, with its infamous swastika symbol, the 45th Division stopped using the insignia. After a long process of reviewing design submissions, a design by Woody Big Bow, a Kiowa artist from Carnegie, Oklahoma, was chosen for the new shoulder sleeve insignia. The new insignia featured the Thunderbird, another Native American symbol, and was approved
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

4. Thunderbirds Marker (back/west side)
Looking east across Government Street; the Alva, Oklahoma U.S. Post Office is in the background.
in 1939.

(Submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. 45th Infantry Division - World War II Campaigns (www.armydivs.com).

Excerpt: Sicily (9 Jul - 17 Aug 43)
Naples-Foggia (9 Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44)
Anzio (22 Jan 44 - 24 May 44)
Rome-Arno (22 Jan 44 - 9 Sep 44)
Southern France (15 Aug 44 - 14 Sep 44)
Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)

(Submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 156 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.