40th Infantry Division US Army Patch

The 40th Infantry Division—The Sunburst Division—carries a legacy forged in the crucible of America’s hardest battles and tempered by a century of service. Formed in 1917 from National Guard units across California, Nevada, and Utah, the 40th quickly became a symbol of western grit: citizen-soldiers who transformed into warriors when history demanded it. Their story is one of courage across continents, from the trenches of France to the jungles of the Pacific and the mountains of Korea.

In World War I, the 40th Infantry Division was sent to Europe as a replacement division, feeding battle-hardened troops into some of the fiercest fighting of the war. The men who wore the Sunburst served alongside America’s most storied units, helping to bring the Great War to its final, hard-fought conclusion.

Two decades later, when the world descended once more into conflict, the 40th rose again. Deployed to the Pacific during World War II, they fought across New Britain, the Philippines, and Luzon—battling Japanese forces in brutal jungle warfare where every ridge, ravine, and shadow held danger. The division earned its reputation for relentless determination, often fighting in terrain so unforgiving that even survival was a triumph. Their advance helped liberate cities, free prisoners, and break the enemy’s hold across the islands.

But it was in Korea that the Sunburst burned brightest. Called to action in 1951, the 40th replaced war-weary units on the front lines of the Korean Peninsula. There, they held rugged mountain positions under freezing winds and enemy assault, proving that a National Guard division could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Army’s finest. Their defense of the Punchbowl and Heartbreak Ridge remains etched in the annals of courage—fighting not only the enemy, but the brutal elements that punished every step.

In the decades that followed, the 40th Infantry Division evolved into a modern, adaptable force—supporting missions at home and abroad, responding to natural disasters, deploying in peacekeeping operations, and sending troops to Iraq, Afghanistan, and worldwide. The Sunburst continues to shine on soldiers who balance civilian life with the highest call to arms, carrying a lineage of sacrifice and duty that stretches across generations.

The 40th Infantry Division patch honors that enduring legacy—a symbol worn by those who fought in mud, jungle, snow, and sand. It stands for the citizen-soldier, the warrior next door, and the heroes who stepped forward whenever the nation called.