The Odyssey of the 95th Victory Division

Rare unit history map drawn by a Bronze Star recipient.

This fantastic WWII unit history captures the epic adventure of the 95th Infantry Division, nicknamed the ‘Iron Men of Metz’ or the ‘Victory Division.’ With a journey worthy of Odysseus, the unit trained throughout the United States before deployment across the Atlantic. Further preparatory work in England was followed by debarkation to Omaha Beach on D-Day + 98. This was followed by a march across France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany that included 103 consecutive days of combat. The division concluded its wartime service with occupation duty in the military government of the Ruhr. Throughout the image, small vignettes and brief captions provide further context as to the wartime experiences of the Victory Division. The insignia of primary contributing units are also presented.

The map was drawn and copywritten in 1946 by Richard E. Clark. Master Sargeant Clark (1918 – 2003) was the unit’s official mapmaker and artist, talents he skillfully combined in this postwar production. He earned a Bronze Star for leadership in the 1944 Battle of Metz and taught art education after an honorable discharge. More information about Clark can be found in a book written by his daughter titled ‘My Father – The Mapmaker, His Life and His Art: The Odyssey of the 95th Victory Division World War II.”

The map is scarce and not commonly available on the market. As of May 2024, it is unlisted in WorldCat and known in only two private collections and the Eisenhower Presidential Library, though it’s likely to be present in other institutions.

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