The Americal Division:

The Division's nickname and designation in WWII were the same.
The Americal Division was activated on May 27th, 1942, in
New Caledonia, from National Guard units from Illinois,
Massachusetts, and North Dakota. Early in WW II, Japanese
landings on New Caledonia (an Island off the east coast of
Australia under the control of Free French forces) appeared
to be imminent. On January 14th, 1942, Task Force 6814 was
organized with 132nd, 164th, and 182nd Infantry Regiments as
a nucleus and was given the mission of defending the island.

The shoulder patch worn by the Americal Division was approved
by the Adjutant General's Office on December 20th, 1943. The
four white stars form the constellation of the Southern Cross
and suggest the area where the unit was formed. Prior to actual
activation, the War Department directed that the new Division
be given a name instead of a number. After two choices were
rejected, it was decided to let the men of the new unit choose
the name, and a soldier of the Signal Company suggested
"Ameri" from the American troops forming the unit and "cal"
from New Caldeonia where the Division came into being. On
November 4th, 1954, the shoulder patch originally approved
for the Americal Division was redesignated and authorized
for wear by the 23rd Infantry Division.

Campaigns:
World War II
(Guadalcanal, Northern Solomons,
Leyte, Southern Philippines),

Vietnam
(Counteroffensive Phases II/IV/V/VI/VII, Tet and Tet/69
Counteroffensives, Summer-Fall 1969, Sanctuary
Counteroffensive, Winter-Spring 1970, Consolidation I).

Decorations:
Presidential Unit Citation Navy
(streamer embroidered Guadalcanal),

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
(streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945),

Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm
(streamers embroidered Vietnam, 1969; Vietnam, 1970;
and Vietnam, 1971).