Original U.S. Korean War 3rd Infantry Division Lot with Rare Unit History, Theater-Made Scarf, Japanese-Made Novelty Patch, and More

Original Items. Only One Lot Available. During the Korean War, the division was known as the "Fire Brigade" for its rapid response to the crisis. 3rd Infantry Division had been headquartered at Fort Benning along with its 15th Infantry Regiment. The 7th Infantry Regiment was located at Fort Devens. 3rd Infantry Division initially arrived in Japan where, as the Far East Command Reserve, it planned post-conflict occupation missions in northern Korea. In Japan their strength was increased by augmentation by South Korean soldiers. The division was assigned to X Corps and landed at Wonsan on the east coast of Korea on 5 November and received the 65th Infantry Regiment as their third maneuver element before moving north to Hungnam and Majon-dong.

At Majon-dong they established a defensive position with the 65th Infantry. 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 7th Infantry were on the left flank. The 15th Infantry was between the 7th and 65th Regiments. 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry was set as the nucleus for Task Force Dog which was commanded by Brigadier General Armistead D. Mead, assistant 3rd Division commander and sent north to conduct a relief in place with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at Chinhung-ni; the south end of the 1st Marine Division and support the withdrawal of 1st Marine Division and Regimental Combat Team 31 from the fighting at the Chosin Reservoir. 3rd Infantry Division's Task Force Dog was the rearguard keeping the pressure off of the Marine column. The division along with the 7th Infantry Division established a collapsing perimeter around the port of Hungnam until the last of X Corps was evacuated. The division was the last unit to leave Hungnam and was shipped to Pusan where it completed unloading on 30 December and moved north to Kyongju and on 31 December it was placed in Eighth Army reserve for reorganization and reequipping following which it was to move into the Pyongtaek-Ansong area. The division was then transferred to the US I Corps.

In January 1953 the division was transferred from I Corps. The division served in Korea until 1953 when it was withdrawn. Notably, the division fought at the Chorwon-Kumwha area, Jackson Heights and Arrowhead outposts and blocked a push in the Kumsong Area in July 1953.

This is a great 3rd Infantry Division Korean War Lot with some great items including:

- 3rd Infantry Division in Korea unit history with woven cover, rare example to find. 422 pages and in great shape.
- Theater-made scarf with 3rd Division insignia on one end and Major’s oak leaf on the other. 
- 3rd Division Merry Christmas and Happy New Year card send from Korea in 1953. 
- Scarce Japanese-made novelty patch “Returned from Hell 1953 KOREA 1954”. Great example with good stitching. 7 x 8”.
- Various patches and insignia from the 3rd ID used during the Korean War era. 

A great 3rd ID lot, ready to display.