A brand new Infantry Division, the 70th Trailblazer, was revealed on February 23 to spearhead the Seventh Army's drive into Germany, south of Saarbrucken," the Stars and Stripes of February 25, 1945 reported. "The 70th, which first went into action on December 28 southeast of Haguenau, is fighting in Forbach, just inside the French border, six miles southwest of Saarbrucken, and was later reported in possession of most of the town," the famous Army newspaper concluded.

Activated as the 70th Infantry Division at Camp Adair, Oregon in 1943, the Trailblazer Division served throughout World War 11 in the European Theater of Operations but was deactivated in October, 1945, following its return to the United States. The Division was reactivated as a combat unit in 1952, and in May, 1959, reorganized as the 70th Division (Training).

Today the 70th Division (Training) is headquartered at the George A. Custer United States Army Reserve Center in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The red, white, and green shoulder patch worn by the current 70th Division (Training) is symbolic of its history. The patch bears an axe in recognition of the pioneers who traveled to the Willamette Valley, the site of Camp Adair. The snowy mountain represents Mount Hood, and the green fir is in reference to the 91st Infantry Division (the Fir Tree Division) from which the officers and noncommissioned officers of the 70th were drawn.

The 70th originated as a "triangular" division - a group of Infantry organized into three regiments. The regiments were the 274th, the 275th, and the 276th. Each regiment had three battalions, each with four companies. The 70th was one of the few divisions that had a cannon company, an anti-tank company and a service company as well as a medical detachment as part of each regiment.

Activation occurred on "Infantry Day," June 15, 1943. This was the first time the entire Division would "pass in review" before the top 70th commanders and distinguished Oregonians. However, for the "Trailblazers," a far more important day was "Organization Day," in September 1943. On September 11, 1943, the 70th was "officially" born in impressive organization day ceremonies.

Training began immediately. After the 13 week training period, the 70th Division members were tested by Fourth Army. Seven hundred twenty-nine tests were administered and the Trailblazers did well. Excellents were scored on 122 tests, and the Division received satisfactory scores on 569 tests. Lieutenant General William Simpson, Commanding General of the Fourth Army said the 70th compared favorably with any other division he had ever observed at this stage of training.

In July 1944, the 70th received word to move-out from Camp Adair to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. It took some 20 trains to carry them in average load of 800 men each. Although Fort Leonard Wood is 2294 miles closer to the European Theater than Camp Adair, there was still an additional 4262 miles to go to the Rhine. Major General Allison J. Barnett took over as the new commander, having just served in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

By mid-November 1944, Trailblazer units were preparing for movement to Europe. The 70th was reorganized for deployment. The fighting core was placed under the command of Assistant Division Commander Brigadier General Thomas Herren and named "Task Force Herren." Three regiments were moved to Camp Miles Standish outside of Boston. The Division headquarters went to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. After being refitted with newly-adapted equipment, the units were ready for overseas deployment. The 274th boarded the "Mariposa," a former passenger liner on November 31st. The 275th and 276th boarded the "SS West Point" on December 6th, and the Division Headquarters sailed on a victory ship, the "Marine Devil."

The Trailblazer's first day in Europe began at daybreak in the Port of Marseilles. Activity was intense. The troops were trucked to a bleak area on a plateau called CP 2 above the battered city. There was not a single building in sight; the only facilities were slit and trench latrines.

Normally, a division would get some time to acclimate and receive additional training before being sent to the front lines. Unfortunately, the 70th's schedule was affected by the fierce fighting up north. As soon as the task force regiments were assembled, they were sent to the northeastern area of France. The 274th, now identified as "Task Force Fox" left CP 2 on December 20 and arrived at Brumath, France, some 370 miles north, on Christmas Eve. The 275th and 276th left several days later. On December 26th, 211 men of the 274th were transferred to the 80th (Blue Ridge) Infantry Division which had relieved Bastogne. The 28th (Keystone) Division drew replacements from the 276th. The entire 275th was attached to the 45th (Thunderbird) Division of Anzio fame.

During this same time frame, the German 6 SS Mountain Division (Nord), an elite force, were ordered to return to Germany to take part in the Rundstedt Offensive. Arriving late, each mountain unit was committed to the action upon arrival, even if the entire division had not arrived. By December 21st, the German Army admitted that the Ardennes thrust had failed.

The Seventh Army held the line from Saarbrucken, southeastward to Strasbourg. It was spread thin. In one instance, the three regiments that made up "Task Force Harris" (63rd Division) were pulled from the line. The other two - "Task Force Linden" (42rd Division) and "Task Force Herren" (70th Division) took over that sector as well as their own. Knowing that the line was porous, Hitler planned to hurl all available forces at it. The German objective was to join with German troops breaking out of the Colmar Pocket, some 60 miles south, and to cut off the Seventh Army from its supply bases.

The Seventh Army's front was 84 miles long, from St. Avoid (near Saarbrucken) to the Rhine, then south along the river for 40 miles. Task forces Herren and Linden guarded the right flank inside the German National Boundary.

In front of the 70th were three German Divisions; the 361st Volks Grenadiers in the center, the 257th Volks on the right and the 256th Volks on the left. The specific objectives were to seize the Bitche-Sarrensberg road on the right, take Philippsbourg and Dambach on the left, and capture Wingen, Wimmenau and Ingwiller in the center to block the exit to the Alsatian Plain. At Ingwiller, the Panzer Divisions would reinforce the Infantry, then link with Nazi forces from Colmar and the Black Forest across the Rhine, north of Strasbourg. The Germans picked New Year's Eve for the offensive, believing that the holiday spirit would lower the Americans' guard. One of their patrols had penetrated as far as Philippsbourg, almost 2 miles behind U.S. lines and found what they termed "a country-fair like atmosphere" among the Americans. This report made the German commanders so confident that they moved all troops off line for special training, except for security forces.

The Americans were busy, too. After months on the offensive, they now found themselves on the defensive. The G-2 information was explicit. The enemy attack would come on New Year's Eve. All along the line, soldiers huddled down for that long, lonely, frightening wait for something to happen. The waiting ended with a trip flare, exactly 10 minutes before the start of 1945.

The flare revealed a fearful sight. Only 50 yards away, a German patrol wearing white parkas that blended with the snow, was crawling towards the Americans. They pulled their weapons from inside their garments and opened fire. Operation Nordwind had begun.

The strength and ferocity of the attack hadn't been expected. The white-clad enemy, laying down heavy machine gun and small arms fire, were advancing relentlessly. The American forces were driven back at Bannstein, 3 miles northwest of Philippsbourg.

By 11:30 a.m., Bannstein was surrounded and small groups of GIs pulled out through the woods, seeking to regroup at Baerenthal. The vehicles were left behind and the fragmenting of Task Force Herren had begun, The remainder of the 275th's New Year's Eve was spent preparing to move to Niederbronn to be attached to the 45th Division. The 276th was moved at the same time and attached to the 79th Division. The regiments were now using code names; the 274th was "Wyoming," the 275th, "Wrecker," and the 276th, 'Wriggle." First, second, and third battalions were designated as "Red," "White," and "Blue."

Wyoming was in a defensive position along the Rhine. During the day, new orders were received. Wyoming would relieve Wrecker on the left flank. This meant thinning the line to extend across some 21 miles of Rhine river bank which was the Regiment's new defensive responsibility. Wrecker was attached to the 45th Division on January 1st with its lst Battalion held in reserve. 2nd Battalion went into position south of Baerenthal and 3rd Battalion was ass