45th Infantry Division Memorial Highway, Atoka, Oklahoma

In 1988 Oklahoma State Highway 3, between the cities of Ada and Broken Bow, was dedicated as a memorial to the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Division, a component of the US Army, for their service in WWII and the Korean Conflict. The dedication monument is on permanent display in front of the Atoka County Courthouse in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma. The 45th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army was a major formation of the Oklahoma Army National Guard from 1920 to 1968. Headquartered mostly in Oklahoma City, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the Southwestern United States throughout the late 1800's. The 45th Infantry Division guardsmen saw no major action until they became one of the first National Guard units activated in World War II in 1941. They took part in intense fighting during the invasion of Sicily and the attack on Salerno in the 1943 Italian Campaign. Slowly advancing through Italy, they fought in Anzio and in Monte Cassino. After landing in France during Operation Dragoon, they joined the 1945 drive into Nazi Germany that ended the War in Europe. After a brief deactivation and subsequent reorganization as a unit restricted to people from Oklahoma, the division returned to duty in 1951 for the Korean War. It joined the United Nations troops on the front lines during the stalemate of the second half of the war, with constant, low-level fighting and trench warfare against the People's Volunteer Army of China that produced little gain for either side. The division remained on the front lines in such engagements as Old Baldy Hill and Hill Eerie until the end of the war, returning to the U.S. in 1954. The division remained a National Guard formation until its deactivation in 1968 as part of a downsizing of the Guard. Several units were activated to replace the division and carry on its lineage. Over the course of its history, the 45th Infantry Division sustained over 25,000 battle casualties, and its men were awarded nine Medals of Honor, twelve campaign streamers, the Croix de Guerre and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation." The text of the monument reads as follows: "45th Infantry Division Memorial Highway By concurrent Senate and House Resolution No. 93 adopted April 20, 1988 by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission on May 2, 1988, Oklahoma State Highway 3 between Ada and Broken Bow, Oklahoma was designated the 45th Infantry Division Memorial Highway in recognition of the Division's gallant and distinguished service in World War II and the Korean Conflict and to specially honor those Thunderbirds who gave their lives in such service. On July 23, 1988 at 12:00 noon the 45th Infantry Division Memorial Highway was officially dedicated at this spot and this plaque erected as lasting evidence of such dedication and the grateful appreciation of the people of the State of Oklahoma. July 23, 1988 This plaque donated by Senator Gerald Dennis.