The 25th Infantry Division was formed on 1 October 1941 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The division traces its lineage to the Hawaiian Division, which defended Hawaii since 1921. As part of reorganization, the Hawaiian Division was dissolved and two new divisions, the 24th and 25th divisions, were formed from its units. Barely two months old on 7 December 1941, the 25th Infantry Division received its baptism of fire when Japanese forces attacked military facilities on the island of Oahu. The division continued its role as guardian of Oahu until November 1942, when they were ordered into action against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands. It was due to their superior performance during this operation the 25th Infantry Division earned its nickname: “Tropic Lightning”. The Division also took part in the liberation of the Philippine Islands, landing on 16 January 1945 and was in combat continuously for 165 days. After the war the division performed occupation duty in Japan near the city of Osaka until 1950, when the division would fight its second war.
The 25th Infantry Division was called into action and deployed to Korea from 5-18 July 1950. Upon arrival they immediately began operations to defend the city of Pusan from North Korean forces. After weeks of bitter fighting, the division was able to break out from the Pusan area in September 1950 along with U.S. and United Nations forces to link with U.S. Marines who landed at the city of Inchon. Most of Korea was liberated when Chinese forces joined the fighting in November 1950, forcing the 25th Infantry Division and allied forces south once again. The division began retaking lost territory in January 1951, fighting bitter battles until 27 July 1953 when an armistice took effect. By October 1954, the division had returned home to Hawaii after a 12 year absence.
In December 1965, “Tropic Lightning” deployed in force to South Vietnam at the request of MACV. In a massive airlift, 3rd Brigade deployed to the central highlands at Pleiku, while the rest of the division was transported by sea. The Command Group of the division had established their base in Cu Chi district, 20 miles northwest of the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon. By April 1966, the entire division had arrived in country and ready to strike. During 1966 and 1967 the division engaged in operations to destroy communist forces within their Area of Responsibility while engaging in humanitarian missions to support the Vietnamese people. In fall 1966 the division took part in Operation Attleboro, which was the largest unit operation of the war at that time. In late January 1968, enemy forces began a major offensive against allied forces during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. The 25th Infantry Division fought back enemy forces in pitched battles during the “Tet Offensive”. In April 1970 the division took part in operation Bold Lancer, which took the Vietnam War into neighboring Cambodia to destroy enemy sanctuaries previously immune from attack. In December 1970 the division began leaving Vietnam, with 2nd Brigade being last to depart in April 1971.
The very face of the 25th Infantry Division changed in 1985 when it was selected to change into a light infantry formation. By 1 October 1986, the division had lost its heavy equipment and gained the designation of 25th Infantry Division (Light).
The 25th Infantry Division would see its first major deployment as a Light Infantry Division in January 1995 when the 2nd and 3rd Brigades were sent to Haiti as part of Operation Uphold Democracy. The division became a critical element in the stabilization and reconstitution of Haiti, providing security and rebuilding the infrastructure. The division’s mission was officially completed in March 1995, however the final contingent of Tropic Lightning soldiers stayed until June. From April to September 2002, the 25th Infantry Division (Light) continued its peacekeeping mission into the 21st Century as 1,000 Tropic Lightning soldiers took part in operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As part of Stabilization Force XI, division troops took part in mine-clearing operations, reconstruction, and the destruction of weapons turned in by civilians.
In support of the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 25th Infantry Division was called to arms in July 2003 to prepare for deployment in 2004. This deployment would mark the first time the division deployed as a whole outside the Pacific region.
The Second Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq in January 2004, under command of Colonel Lloyd Miles. The brigade was stationed outside the city of Kirkuk, where they engaged in peacekeeping operations and nation building projects. The “Warrior” Brigade fought and destroyed insurgent forces in various cities and towns including Najaf, Huwijah, Samarra, and Kirkuk. The culmination of their deployment occurred just before they were relieved, when they helped support the first free elections in Iraq held in over 50 years. After a year of hard fighting, the 2BCT returned to Schofield Barracks by March 2005.
Tropic Lightning deployed an impressive force to assist in the stabilization of Afghanistan. Deploying in March 2004, deployed units included The Third Brigade Combat Team, division Artillery and units of the division’s Aviation Brigade. Soldiers of the “Bronco” brigade, “Tropic Thunder”, and “Wings of Lightning” engaged in combat operations against Al-Qaida and remnants of the former Taliban regime while helping to rebuild a country ravaged by decades of war. During operations Lightning Resolve and Lightning Freedom, both units supported democratic elections in Afghanistan, the first ever in the history of that country. All units of Tropic Lightning deployed to Afghanistan returned home to Hawaii by June 2005.
Immediately upon their return, Tropic Lightning began changing its organization as part of the Army’s program to transform into a more versatile, agile force. Organizations such as 25th Division Artillery and Division Support Command were deactivated, while the Division’s brigades were restructured to include the transformation of 2nd Brigade into a Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). The Division headquarters was expanded and supported by a new 25th Special Troops Battalion. In light of these changes, the 25th Infantry Division officially dropped its “Light” designation on 1 January 2006.
In September 2005, the 25th Infantry Division was ordered to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. The Division Headquarters, with 3rd IBCT, and 25th CAB deployed to MND-North in Iraq for a 15 month tour. The Division held its deployment ceremony on 9 July 2006, signifying the beginning of the movement to theater. During the months of July and August, the Division moved its personnel and equipment through Kuwait into Iraq. By the time of the Mission Assumption Day ceremony on 13 September 2006 the Division was already deep into the war as Task Force Lightning. Commanded by MG Benjamin R. Mixon, Task Force Lightning included units from the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd and 4th Infantry Divisions, the 82nd Airborne Division, 25th CAB, 3rd IBCT, National Guard and Reserve units, with a strength of a 23,000 Soldiers. The size of Task Force Lightning’s Area of Operations was roughly the size of Pennsylvania and included over 10 million people spread through six provinces. The Division returned to Hawaii in October 2007.
During the course of the deployment, Task Force Lightning focused on training Iraqi Security Forces, improving the effectiveness of local governments, and engaging in combat operations against insurgent groups and sectarian militias. Task Force Lightning units trained and developed over 137,000 Iraqi Army, Police, and Border Enforcement personnel, with four Iraqi Army divisions serving with Task Force Lightning transferred to Iraqi government control by the end of the deployment. Improvements to local governance and infrastructure were facilitated through the efforts of Task Force Lightning, with 1,892 projects completed totaling $155,000,000. Perhaps the most dramatic change in governance was the efforts to foster reconciliation between the Iraqi government and local tribes. A dramatic example occurred on 19 August 2007 when over 100 tribal Sheikhs in Diyala Province signed an agreement to fight al Qaeda and support the government. By the end of the deployment, tribes throughout northern Iraq were providing forces for local security. Combat operations during the deployment took its toll on the enemy. Task Force Lightning planned and executed counter IED operations such as Operation SNAKE HUNTER to attack not just the IED emplacers but the networks that facilitated the finance, recruitment, and production of IEDs. With the announcement of a “surge” of additional forces into Iraq, the OPTEMPO of Task Force Lightning went into overdrive. The mission to protect the population had become the priority, and Diyala Province became the main battleground between Task Force Lightning and the enemy.
On 19 June, Task Force Lightning began a devastating offensive against al-Qaeda and Sunni extremist insurgents in Baqubah, Diyala. Called Operation ARROWHEAD RIPPER, Task Force Lightning units attacked into Baqubah, destroying the enemy and liberating the people. From 19 June to 23 August, ARROWHEAD RIPPER resulted in 110 enemy killed and 129 weapons caches found. Most importantly, the people of Baqubah were no longer under the yoke of al-Qaeda. The pursuit of the enemy continued into the summer, with operations LIGHTNING HAMMER I AND LIGHTNING HAMMER II which struck into insurgent strongholds throughout northern Iraq.
The efforts of Task Force Lightning during Operation Iraqi Freedom VI brought incredible results: a dramatic reduction in attacks, tribal groups working with the government, better trained and capable Iraqi Security Forces, and a once emboldened enemy beaten back.
In these historic times in Iraq, the 25th Infantry Division wrote yet another chapter in its tales of glory.
