93rd Infantry Division (Colored) "The Blue Helmets"
United States Army (USA)

Background
On May 15, 1942 activated as the 93rd Infantry Division (Colored) at Fort Huachuca in Arizona comprised of the 368th Infantry Regiment, 369th Infantry Regiment and 25th Infantry Regiment. Nicknamed "The Blue Helmets" a French helmet in blue on a black background representing their service in France during World War I. The 93rd Division was segregated with roughly 90% African American enlisted men commanded by white officers. During April 1943 after basic training participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers then to California for more training at Camp Coxcomb and Camp Essex. In December 1943, received their movement orders to deploy to the South Pacific (SoPAC).

• Headquarters (HQ)
• 25th Infantry Regiment
• 368th Infantry Regiment
• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 93rd Infantry Division Artillery
  • 593rd Field Artillery Battalion
  • 594th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 595th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 596th Field Artillery Battalion
• 369th Infantry Regiment
• 318th Engineer Combat Battalion
• 318th Medical Battalion
• 93rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
• Headquarters, Special Troops, 93rd Infantry Division
  • Headquarters Company, 93rd Infantry Division
  • 793rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
  • 93rd Quartermaster Company
  • 93rd Signal Company
  • Military Police (MP) Platoon
  • Band
• 93rd Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) Detachment

Wartime History
On January 11, 1944 the division's advance party departs San Francisco for the South Pacific (SoPAC) and by the end of the month arrives on Guadalcanal. The rest of the division shipped overseas in different groups with all arriving by the end of February 1944.

On March 28, 1944 the 25th Infantry Regiment arrives at Torokina unloading during intermittent Japanese shelling. On March 30, 1944 attached to the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal Division) and enter combat against enemy positions on the perimeter. On April 2, 1944 the 25th RCT reconnoitered across the Laruma River. During April 7-12, 1944 operated in the Torokina River Valley. In May 1944 patrolled the Numa Numa Trail. During May 1944 and June 1944 departs for Nissan Island (Green Island). Meanwhile, the 93rd Reconnaissance Troop remained attached to XIV Corps on Bougainville.

On June 8, 1944 the 93d Provisional Brigade was dissolved as the last elements of the 25th Infantry Regiment departed. On June 15, 1944 the 93d Division, still under XIV Corps, passed to the control of the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) after most of its elements moved to the Treasury Islands. Meanwhile, the 93d Reconassiance Troop, attached to the XIV Corps, remained on Bougainville until October 25, 1944.

During late October 1944 moves to Hollandia and Finschafen until March 31, 1945. On September 29, 1944 to March 16, 1945 to Los Negros. On October 10, 1944 to Biak until October 1, 1945. Security patrols had scattered contacts with the enemy at Urapas from 3 to 15 January 1945, at Wardo on Biak from 6 November-22 December, and at Wari on Biak on 31 December. The security detachments at Wardo and Wari were withdrawn by the middle of February 1945.

On April 4, 1945 nearly the entire 93rd Division moves to Morotai Island and were tasked with eliminating the remaining Japanese on the west coast. Later in the month, they land patrols on the west and north coast and engage in scattered skirmishes. On August 2, 1945 a patrol from the 25th RCT captured Japanese Army Colonel Ouchi C.O. 211th Regiment, 32nd Division, one of the highest ranking enemy officer captured before the official surrender.

Meanwhile, portions of the 93rd Division moved to other locations. Some are deployed to Sansapor between April 5, 1945–July 10, 1945. Others to Middleburg Island April 5, 1945–October 7, 1945. Another portion to Noemfoor Island April 13, 1945–June 7, 1945. These move to Zamboanga on Mindanao on July 1, 1945. A group to Palawan July 2, 1945–December 5, 1945. Another group to Jolo July 1, 1945–October 2, 1945. Another group to Sanga-Sanga July 3, 1945 until January 6, 1946.

On August 25, 1945 in the morning sixteen PT Boats got underway for a rendezvous with the commanders of the Japanese forces on Halmahera Island. The force was led by PT-115 under the command of Lt. Comdr. Theodore R. Stansbury with Major General Harry H. Johnson, commander 93rd Infantry Division (Colored) and his staff. As arranged by radio, the PT Boats rendezvoused with two Japanese barges near Miti Island off northeast Halmahera Island. The Japanese sent General Ishii's chief of staff and operations officer. Upset the General had not come as expected, the Japanese were instructed to bring their commander the next morning.

On August 26, 1945 Japanese commanders from Halmahera Island including Japanese Army Lt. General Ishii and Imperial Japanese Navy Captain Fujita were transported by PT Boat to Morotai Island where they were escorted by Brigadier General Warren H. McNaught to 93rd Division headquarters where they surrendered 37,000 Army, 5,000 Navy and 4,000 civilians at the 93rd Division headquarters to Major General Harry H. Johnson. After surrendering, Ishii asked Johnson if he and his officers would be allowed to keep his sword but Johnson refused.

Casualties
During World War II, the 93rd Infantry Division suffered 12 Killed In Action (KIA) and 121 Wounded In Action (WIA).

Postwar
During October 1945, the 93d Division, with the exception of the 368th Regimental Combat Team, which had already moved, proceeded to the Agusan Del Monte area on Mindanao in the Philippines where it relieved the 31st Division. The 93rd Division was responsible for the defense and security on Mindanao, collecting, guarding, and evacuating of Japanese Prisoners Of War (POW) and the supervision of the training and supply of Philippine Army units within the command, including the 6th Philippine Infantry Division. By October 20, 1945 the 93d Division guarded approximately 30,000 Japanese, including civilians, in their stockade. On October 21, 1945 the remainder of the 93rd Division at Morotai moved to Mindanao.

On November 15, 1945 tasked with all of the Southern Islands Area Command missions and was tasked with finding Japanese stragglers, distributing surrender leaflets and collecting POWs. On January 13, 1946 moves to Tacloban on Leyte then departs for home. On February 1, 1946 arrives in the United States and two days later inactivated.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Major Gen. Charles P. Hall (May 15, 1942–October 1942)
Maj. Gen. Fred W. Miller (October 1942–May 1943)
Major General Raymond G. Lehman (May 15, 1943–August 1944)
Major General Harry H. Johnson (August 1944–September 1945)
Brig. Gen. Leonard R. Boyd (September 1945–February 6, 1946)

References
The Daily Pacifician "Jap Surrender Nets 41,000 for 93rd Division" September 3, 1945
"GHQ, AFPCA (AP) – The Negro U.S.93rd division secured the surrender of 41,000 Japanese troops and civilians on Morotai and Halmahera islands of the Netherlands Indies last week, headquarters has announced.
Included were 37,000 troops, of whom 5,000 were in a naval force and 4,000 were civilians. The surrender was accepted on Morotai by Major General Harry H. Johnson, divisional commander. All division enlisted personnel are Negroes, as are many of the unit officers.
Lt. General Ishii surrendered the Japanese Army forces after a PT boat rendezvous off Morotai.
After the signing. Ishii asked Johnson if he and his officers would be allowed to retain their swords. Johnson refused and afterwards commented, “Never again will the Japs have the means, the Army or the inclination to be an aggressor nation. We cannot allow these people to keep any semblance of military might.”
Daily News January 20, 1946 page 232
U.S. Army "The Employment of Negro Troops" Chapter XVIII Ground, Air And The Asset Side pages 497-535
U.S. Army "The Employment of Negro Troops" Endnotes for Chapter XVIII endnotes 1-103
Ninety-Third Infantry... in the South Pacific via Wayback Machine October 5, 2006
Fighting For Hope African American Troops of the 93rd Infantry Division in World War II and Postwar America (2008) by Robert F. Jefferson
Two Steps From Glory A World War II Liaison Pilot Confronts Jim Crow and the Enemy in the South Pacific (2012) by by Maj. Welton I. Taylor
The 93rd Infantry Division: The African-American Soldiers in the Pacific (2017) by Stephen D. Lutz

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