43rd Infantry Division ( United States ) The 43rd Infantry Division was a formation of the United States Army from 1925 to 1967 , serving in the Pacific during World War II . It was activated on 21 March 1925 as a National Guard Division in Connecticut , Maine , Rhode Island , and Vermont . The 143rd Area Support Group of the Connecticut National Guard now carries on the heritage . Creation . The 43rd Infantry Division was first activated in 1923 , with the division headquarters in Hartford , Connecticut . The 43rd Division consisted of two infantry brigades , the 85th in Connecticut , and the 86th in Vermont . The 85th Brigade included the 102nd and 169th Infantry Regiments , both based in Connecticut . The 86th Brigade was made up of the 172nd Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103rd Infantry Regiment in Maine . In addition , the 68th Field Artillery Brigade was based in Providence , Rhode Island . World War II . Combat Chronicle . The 43d Infantry Division landed in New Zealand on 23 October 1942 . The 172d Infantry Regiment arrived at Espiritu Santo , 26 October . The Division moved to Noumea , New Caledonia , in November and to Guadalcanal , 17 February 1943 . The Russell Islands were occupied without opposition , 21 February , and training continued . Elements landed on Vangunu and Rendova Islands against minor resistance , 30 June . Rendova served as the major staging point for the assault on the Island of New Georgia . The assault on New Georgia was met with determined enemy resistance . The Japanese fought fiercely before relinquishing Munda and its airfield , 5 August . Vela Cela and Baanga were taken easily , but the Japanese resisted stubbornly on Arundel Island before withdrawing , 22 September . After training at Munda , the 43d moved to Guadalcanal and thence to New Zealand for rest and rehabilitation . On 19 July 1944 , the Division assumed defensive positions at Aitape , engaged in patrols and reconnaissance at Tadji and along the Drinumor River , 25 July , and took the offensive , 8 August 1944 , ending organized resistance on the 25th . On 9 January 1945 , the 43rd made an assault landing in the San Fabian area , Lingayen Gulf , Luzon . Under enemy fire , the Division secured the beachhead and fought into the Lingayen Plain by 12 February . The offensive was resumed against the enemy north and west of Fort Stotsenburg , 27 February . After ending Japanese resistance in the Zambales Mountains with help from the Philippine Commonwelth army forces , the 43d swung south against the Shimbu Line . On 6 May 1945 , the attack continued in the Bulucan area . Ipo Dam was secured and enemy opposition smashed in the Ipo area , 19 May . Mopping - up activities continued until 30 June 1945 . The Division left Manila , 7 13 September , for occupation duty in Japan until it left for home . In 1946 the Division was reorganized again , and was now made up of units from Connecticut , Vermont and Rhode Island . The 172nd Infantry with the 206th Field Artillery Battalion were based in Vermont . The division headquarters , 102nd and 169th Infantry Regiments , and 963rd Field Artillery and 192nd Field Artillery were organized in Connecticut . In addition , Connecticut was also home to the 143rd Tank Battalion . Rhode Island was home to the 43rd Division Artillery Headquarters , the 103rd Field Artillery Battalion , the 118th Engineer Battalion and the 43rd Signal Company . Combat Support units were based throughout all three states . During the Korean War , the 43d Division was again ordered into active Federal Service on 5 September 1950 , and became part of NATO forces in the defense of Germany . On 15 June 1954 , the 43d Division was released and returned to state control . On 16 Dec 1967 , the 43d Division was inactivated and reorganized as Headquarters Company , 43d Brigade , 26th Infantry Division aka the YANKEE Division . The 43d Brigade was relieved from assignment to the 26th Division on 1 September 1993 , when the 26th Division was inactivated . It was then reorganized as Headquarters Company , 43d Infantry Brigade and now organized as the Headquarters Company , 143d Area Support Group . Recognition . U . S . Route 7 is signed as the 43rd Infantry Division Memorial Highway between Norwalk and Danbury , CT . Vermont Route 100 is signed as the 43 Inf Div highway .