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
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376 Men killed in combat
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1457 Wounded in action
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3 Medals of Honor
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9 Distinguished Service Crosses
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246 Silver Stars
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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