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143rd history 
 
Symbolism of the 143rd Unit Crest   
 
 
Symbolism: The gold sun is the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 40th Division; the rattlesnake represents service on the Mexican Border, and the fleur-de-lis is for service in France during World War I. 
 
Symbolism of 40th Unit Crest  
 
 
Symbolism: The semi-sunburst represents the division's allocation to California. The demi-fleur-de-lis symbolizes service in World War I. The outer rim of sun-rays refer to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The red arrowhead represents the assault landing on Luzon in World War II. The torii gate, a symbol of the Far East refers to the Republic of Korean Presidential Unit Citation awarded the division.  
 
 
SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA  
Approved by the Commanding General of the American Expeditionary Force November 1918, amended 17 March 1931. On a blue square, 2 1/2 inches on a side: Yellow sun in splendor. The disk 13/16 inches in diameter. Twelve rays within a circle 1 7/8 inches in diameter. The square to be worn point up.  
 
 
KOREAN WAR UNOFFICIAL VERSION  
The Division’s most tenacious Guardsmen stitched a red thread into the center of the sunburst to represent a “flame”. Several other versions of unauthorized patches stitched with a red ball, burst, or circle, on the inside of the sunburst where purchased by some in Japan and/or while fighting in Korea. 
 
Campaigns   
 
Korea  
January 1952 - July 1953 
 
Campaigns  
Second Korean Winter - Korean Summer-Fall 1952  
Third Korean Winter - Korean Summer 1953 
 
Major Engagements  
Heartbreak Ridge, Sandbag Castle,  
Kumwah, Chorwon 
 
Distinguished Unit Citation  
140th Tank Battalion 
 
Meritorious Unit Commendation  
760th Ordinance Company  
40th Quartermaster Company 
342 Days of combat  
----  
376 Men killed in combat  
----  
1457 Wounded in action  
----  
3 Medals of Honor  
----  
9 Distinguished Service Crosses  
----  
246 Silver Stars  
----  
675 Bronze Stars for Valor 
 
143rd KIA & WIA   
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER 
 
SGT. UHARRIET, JOHN M WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
January 26, 1952  
Los Angles County, California 
 
CPL. GRAY, EARL WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
February 22, 1952  
Crook County, Wyoming 
 
PFC. MATHIS ALFORD, L. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
April 14, 1952  
Sebastian County, Arkansas 
 
PFC. MURPHY, WENDELL L. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
September 24, 1952  
Carroll County, Maryland 
 
SGT. BIRCHET, LESTER H. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
October 24, 1952  
Cowlitz County, Washington 
 
2LT . MILLER, DONAL R. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
October 28, 1952  
Ritchie County, West Virginia 
 
PFC. WOOMER, CLAIR D. KIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
November 3, 1952  
Wayne County, Michigan. 
 
PV2. BIBBY, BRUCE M. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
November 3, 1952  
Monroe County, New York 
 
PFC. COSH, RICHARD KIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
November 4, 1952  
Hall County, Nebraska. 
 
PFC. COLLIER, JOHN D. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
November 4, 1952  
Waseca County, Minnesota 
 
PV1. PRYSI, CHARLES W. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
November 19, 1952  
King County, Washington 
 
PFC. LYNN, JAMES L. KIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
December 11, 1952  
Mason County, Illinois. 
 
PFC MCCARTHY, EARL W. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
January 23, 1953  
Hubbard County, Mississippi 
 
CPL. EIDE, JACK R. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
March 1, 1953  
Los Angles County, California 
 
PVT. DELANY, LAWRENCE H. KIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
April 1, 1953  
Marion County, Illinois. 
 
PFC. GORDLEY, JAMES E. KIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
April 1, 1953  
Sangamon County, Illinois. 
 
SGT. ANDERSEN, CURTIS C. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
April 1, 1953  
Hamlin County, South Dakota 
 
PFC. FOUNTAIN , EDWARD J. KIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM ) B Battery  
May 28, 1953  
Hartford County, Connecticut. 
 
PFC. FUTREL, MEARL L. WIA  
143 rd ARTILLERY BATTALION ( 105MM )  
July 18, 1953  
Lucas County, Ohio 
 
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