: Formed in 1917 during World War I as the First Expeditionary Division.
: The division achieved the first American victory of WWI at the Battle of Cantigny . During WWII, they were the first ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day and played critical roles in North Africa and Sicily. The Big Red One
: The film follows a sergeant and four "wetnoses" (infantrymen) as they survive various campaigns across North Africa and Europe. : Formed in 1917 during World War I
: Fuller famously described the film's intent with the opening text: "This is fictional life, based on factual death". himself a veteran of the division.
The unit's legacy was popularized by the semi-autobiographical film written and directed by , himself a veteran of the division.