U.S. Army service members of the 3rd Infantry Division celebrated the Marne Division’s 106th birthday while deployed in Poland and the Baltic States on November 21.
The Marne birthday celebration commemorates the 3rd Infantry Division’s initial formation at Camp Greene, North Carolina November 21,1917 in response to World War I. The day’s events included a group physical fitness competition and a cake-cutting ceremony.
Since its inception, 3rd Infantry Division has carried the nickname “Rock of the Marne” since their participation in the Aisne-Marne Offensive. On July 14,1918, 3rd Infantry Division held their position near the banks of the Marne River while defending Paris against the Germans. As French troops retreated, members of the 8th Machine Gun Battalion held their position against German forces attempting to advance.
“The Marne Division has been defending the nation for over a hundred years and that legacy is something that makes me proud to be a Dogface Soldier,” said Master Sgt. Justin Puetz, the noncommissioned officer in charge of public affairs. “Events like these remind us of our history so we can look to the future as we serve our country.”
Soldiers from across Task Force Marne participated in the physical fitness competition throughout the day. The 23-minute physical training sessions began with a 1,917-meter run followed by as many rounds as possible of 21 squats, 17 kettlebell swings, and 11 burpees. The festivities of the day concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony.
“It’s esprit d’ corps,” said Master Sgt. Dexter Tomblin, master religious affairs noncommissioned officer in charge, 3rd Infantry Division. “The whole thing is about those who came before us and it’s a good time to bring Soldiers together to learn about the history of 3rd ID.”
“This is an incredible division,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, commanding general of 3rd Infantry Division. “Audie Murphy, Alwyn Cashe, Paul Smith; these are all heroes who have gone before us in history and all of us are here to keep the legacy going and work every day to deserve the honor of serving as a part of this incredible team.” The 3rd Infantry Division is deployed to Poland and neighboring Baltic States as part of a rotation of forces to support multinational training and operations and to deter adversaries in the European theater. This marks the division headquarters’ first deployment to Europe since the Cold War.