33rd Infantry Division:
The Illinois Division.

When the U.S. entered WW II, the 33rd Division was allocated
to the Illinois National Guard and was in training at Camp
Forrest, Tennessee. After being Federalized on March 5th, 1941,
the Division had two changes of station and participated in
both Louisiana and Desert Training Center maneuvers before
embarking for Hawaii in July of 1943. While in Hawaii, the 33rd
performed guard duties at vital installations and also trained
for jungle warfare. In May of 1944, the Division arrived in
New Guinea and received additional training

The design and colors of the patch are reputed to have
been adopted when one of the Regiments was in the Philippines
to prevent the theft of Regimental property by the Moros who
considered them taboo on religious grounds. When units were
ordered to mark their baggage during WW I, the Regiment revived
its old markings which were later adopted as the Division symbol.
In addition, the black disc is said to have been used to mark
poison gas containers in WW I, suggesting that anyone
approaching this symbol would be in danger.


Worn from:
21 October 1918 - 5 February 1946.

(Brigade)

Re-designated
Thirty-third Infantry Brigade (Prairie).
Worn from:
1 February 1968 - Current.

Campaigns:
World War I
(Lorraine, AIsne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne),

World War II
(New Guinea, Luzon).

Decorations:
Philippine President Unit Citation
(streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945).