The Oklahoma National Guard was organized into the 45th Infantry Division in the 1920s and saw extensive duty in Europe during World War II and in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Childers was assigned to C Company, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division (Thunderbirds), and was among more than 44,000 American Indians on active duty between 1941 and 1945.

The 45th Infantry Division Museum is Oklahoma's largest, state-run military history museum, built in the mid-1970s.

Members of the 45th Infantry received their first combat patch during World War II. Since then the former 45th Infantry Division and current 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have seen combat ...

The museum honors not just the service of the 45th infantry, but that of all Oklahomans. Based in Oklahoma City and one of the first National Guard units to be activated for World War II, the 45th ...

1 / 3 Show Caption + Laurence “Sparky” Rector , a World War II veteran of the 45th Infantry Division, speaks to 100 people attending his 100th birthday party in Mexico, N.Y., May 27, 2023.

The 45th Infantry Museum in Oklahoma City is celebrating its 30th birthday today, and Edmond resident Bill Stearns looks back at every one of those 30 years with pride and fondness.

Private First Class Donald Hofman, who served in the European Theater during WWII, was a member of the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.

They saw some action in World War II as a part of Gen. George S. Patton’s U.S. 7th Army in the Sicilian campaign. The brigade fought 511 days in World War II, battling in Italy, France and Germany.

Members of the 45th Infantry received their first combat patch during World War II. Since then the former 45th Infantry Division and current 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have seen combat ...