With its outstanding record of achievement stretching out over
almost half a century, the Cottonbalers plunged into World War II by being among the first to land in North Africa in 1942 with
their assault on Morocco. This was the beginning of a series of victories during
World War II that added ten more battle streamers to their colors. The 7th Infantry pushed onward from North Africa through Italy and France
to Germany, where the Cottonbalers capped their efforts by capturing
Berchtesgaden, Adolph Hitler’s mountain fortress.
The 7th Infantry was one of three infantry regiments assigned to the 3rd
Infantry Division during World War II. The 3rd Infantry Division is
one of the oldest infantry divisions in the United States, and
has participated in almost every major conflict during the 20th, and now 21st, Century. At its earliest
beginning during World War I, the Division earned the nickname "The Rock of the Marne" for
its outstanding performance in one of the most pivotal campaigns of the war. In
World War II, the Division fought from the North African landings in 1942, and into Tunisia. Taking part in the amphibious landings in Sicily,
they crossed over into mainland Italy, and experienced hard fighting up the peninsula.
The Third took part in the Anzio landings in February
1944. After the fall of Rome four months later, the Division was withdrawn from Italy, and landed in Southern
France to create the "hammer" to the "anvil"
of the armies that landed in Normandy.
The "Rock" fought it's way into Germany, and at the end of the War was one of the few American Divisions to have been in combat
continuously from the start to the end of the American involvement, and still end up in Germany at the finish.
