The First Expeditionary Division, later designated the 1st Infantry Division, was organized in May 1917 from Regular Army units then in service on the Mexican border and at various posts throughout the United States.

The first units sailed from New York and New Jersey, on 14 June 1917. Throughout the remainder of the year, the rest of the Division followed landing at St. Nazaire, France, and Liverpool, England . After a brief stay in rest camps, the troops in England proceeded to France, landing at Le Havre. The last unit arrived in St. Nazaire on 22 December. Upon Arrival in France, the Division, less Artillery, was assembled in the 1st (Gondrecourt) Training Area and the Artillery at Le Valdahon.

On the 4th of July, the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, paraded through the streets of Paris to bolster the sagging French spirits. At Lafayette's tomb, one of General Pershing's staff uttered the famous words, "Lafayette, we are here!" Two days latter, on 6 July, the first Expeditionary Division was re designated as the First Infantry Division.

On the morning of 23 October, the first American shell of the war was sent screaming toward German lines by a First Division Artillery unit. Two days latter, the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry suffered the first American casualties of the war.

By April 1918, the Germans had pushed up to within 40 miles of Paris. In reaction of this thrust, the Big Red One was moved into the Picardy Sector to bolster the exhausted French First Army. To the Divisions front lay the small village of Cantigny, situated on the high ground overlooking a forested country side. It was the "Black Lions of Cantigny," attacked the town and within 45 minuets had captured it together with 250 German soldiers. The first victory of the war was a First Division Victory.

Soissons was taken by the First Division in July 1918. The Soissons victory was costly - 7,000 men were killed or wounded. The First Infantry helped to clear the St. Mihiel salient by fighting continuously from 11-13 September 1918. The last major World War I battle was fought in the Meuse-Argonne Forest. The Division advanced seven kilometers and defeated, in whole or part, eight German divisions. The war was over when the Armistice was signed. The Division was at Sedan the farthest American penetration of the war. The Division was the first to cross the Rhine into occupied Germany.

By the end of the war, the Division had suffered 22,320 casualties in the war and boasted five Medals of Honor winners. Its colors carry campaign streamers for (1) Lorraine, 1917; (2) Lorraine, 1918; (3) Picardy, 1918; (4) Montdidier-Noyon; (5) Aisne-Marne; (6) St. Hihiel; and (7) Meuse- Argonne.

The 1st Infantry Division entered World War II at Oran, North Africa, as part of the "Torch" Invasion, the first American campaign against Germany. On 8 November 1942, following training in the United Kingdom, soldiers of the Big Red One landed on the coast of Algeria near Oran. The initial lessons of combat were harsh and many men were casualties in the following campaign in Tunisia.

On 9 May 1943, the commander of the German "Afrika Korps" surrendered his force of 40,000. The Division then moved on to take Sicily in "Operation Husky." The1st Division stormed ashore at Gelaon 10 July 1943 and quickly overpowered the preliminary Italian defenses. Soon after, the division came face-to-face with 100 tanks of the Herman Goering Tank Division. With the help of naval gunfire, it's own artillery and Canadian Allies, the First Infantry Division fought it's way over the island's hills, driving the enemy back. The Fighting First advanced onto capture Troina and opening the allied road to the straits of Mesina.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Big Red One stormed ashore at Omaha Beach. Soon after H-Hour, the Division's 16th Regiment was fighting for it's life on a strip of beach near Coleville-sur-Mer that had been marked the "Easy Red" on battle maps. Within two hours, the decimated unit huddled behind the seawall. The beach was so congested with the dead and the dying there was no room to land reinforcements. Colonel George Taylor, Commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment, told his men "Two kinds of people are staying on this beach! The dead and those who are going to die! Now lets get the hell out of here!" Slowly, the move inland got underway.

A German blockhouse above the beach became a command post named "Danger Forward."

The Division moved through the Normandy Hedgerows. The Division liberated Liege, Belgium, and pushed to the German border, crossing through the fortified Siegfried line. The 1st Infantry Division attacked the first major German city, Aachen and after days of bitter fighting, the German commander surrendered the city on October 21 1944.

The Division continued its push into Germany, crossing the Rhine River. On 16 December, twenty-four enemy divisions, 10 of which were armored, launched a massive counter-attack the Ardennes sector, resulting in what became know as the Battle of the Bulge. On 15 January 1945, the First Infantry attacked and penetrated the Siegfried Line for the second time and occupied the Remagen bridgehead. On Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945 the Division marched 150 miles to the east of Siegen. On 8 April, the division crossed the Weser river, into Czechoslovakia. The war was over on 8 May 1945.

At the end of World War II, the division had suffered 21,023 casualties and 43,743 men had served in its ranks. Its soldiers had won a total of 20,752 medals and awards including 16 Congressional Medals of Honor. Over 100,000 prisoners had been taken.

Following the war, the First remained in Germany as occupation troops until 1955 when the Division moved to Fort Riley, Kansas.

In 1965, the First Infantry Division was again selected to be the first division to go, this time to Vietnam. The first unit from the Big Red One to deploy was the 2nd Brigade.

Advanced parties landed at Qui Nhon on 23 June 1963. The first soldier to step foot on Vietnamese soil was PFC Gerard Werster of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion 7th Artillery.

The Big Red One's first operations began on 22 July 1965, when Company B, 2nd Battalion 16th Infantry conducted a search of the area around the base camp at Bien Hoa.

The main body of the Division began leaving Fort Riley on 15 September 1965, under the command of Major General Jonathan O. Seaman. Major General Keith L. Ware, also a Division commander, was killed in action on September 1968. His helicopter was shot down by ground fire near Loc Ninh, North of Saigon.

The First Infantry Division launched a series of operations that were to completely disrupt enemy activity. The division pushed into areas known by such names as the, Trapezoid, Iron Triangle, Catcher's Mitt, Song Be Corridor, Saigon Corridor and Highway 13, better know as Thunder Road.

For nearly five years, the First Infantry Division soldiers battled against an aggressive enemy. The enemy made expert use of the dense jungle and inaccessibility of the countryside. The use of helicopter was one of the best means of countering the jungle and lack of roads. The experience gained in resupply operations, medical evacuation and the tactics of the air mobile assault has been used in developing basic doctrine in these areas.

The First Infantry Division returned to Fort Riley in April 1970. Over 2,000 soldiers of the Big Red One died in action. Eleven Medals of Honor winners were added to the roles.

The Big Red One's colors now carry "Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer," "Embroidered Vietnam 1968," "The Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer Embroidered Vietnam 1965-1968" "First Class Streamer Embroidered Vietnam 1965-1970"

On 2 August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. This act precipitated U.S. military involvement in the Persian Gulf. The 1st ID was put on alert for deployment on 8 November 1990. The division deployed over 12,000 soldiers and 7,000 pieces of equipment to Saudi Arabia over the next two months.

At 2:00 a.m., 17 1991, Operation Desert Storm commenced with air raids and artillery barrages on Iraqi targets. The Division continued to rehearse its mission to penetrate Iraqi defenses and destroy the Republican Guard in its zone.

On the morning of 24 February 1991, under Major General Thomas G. Rhame, the Big Red One spearheaded the armored attack into Iraq, leading the way for the VII corps. The Division smashed into the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division in breaking through the enemy lines, taking over 2,500 prisoners. The British 1st Armored Division was allowed to advance and pass through after elements secured a beachhead. This kept up the momentum of the coalition forces attack. The division the turned east to continue it's drive into enemy territory.

Continuing it's attack, the Division collided with the Tawakalna Division Republican Guard and the 37th Brigade of the 12th Iraqi's Tank Division. On the night of 26 February 1991, the Division battled with enemy forces, destroying both exposing units. Enemy loses included more than 40 tanks and 40 infantry fighting vehicles. The Divisions exploited its success and continued its pursuit of the demoralized Iraqi forces.

Following the Battle of Norfolk, the Division raced ahead to cut of the Iraqi lines of retreat from Kuwait City. Division elements destroyed scores of enemy vehicles and took thousands of prisoners as they advanced. By 8:00 p.m., 27 February, the 1-4 Cavalry Squadron had seized the main highway leading north out of Kuwait, barring the Iraqi's escape. By the next morning , the rest of the division had taken up positions along the highway, fully securing it.

At 8:00 a.m., 28 February 1991, the war was over when a cease-fire was called. The Big Red One had fought through 260 kilometers of enemy-held territory in 100 hours, destroying 550 enemy tanks, 480 armored personnel carriers and taking 11,400 prisoners. A total of 18 of the Divisions soldiers were killed in the war. The Division earned three campaign streamers for it's colors: Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation of Kuwait and Cease Fire.

On 3 March 1991, negotiations were held between coalition forces and Iraqi leaders to cement the cease-fire agreements. Following this, the division prepared for it's return to the United States.On 10 May 1991, the Division unfurled its colors at Fort Riley, signifying its return home.