Its first combat service was in World War I in the Gerardmer Sector in Alsace, a short distance west of Colmar.

In addition, infantry platoon strongpoints defended against German raiding parties which launched their attacks using liquid fire and grenades.

The division developed its reputation for hiking and nickname of "The Sightseeing Sixth" when, prior to the Argonne offensive, it engaged in extensive fake marches, often under enemy artillery and air bombardment, to deceive the Germans into thinking a major attack was to take place in the Vosges sector.

After another short period of training, consisting primarily of forced marches, the division hiked itself into the closing campaign of the war, the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

It typically conducted inactive training period meetings at the 202nd Coast Artillery armory or at the Army and Navy Club in Chicago.

The 9th was assigned to a camp on the British coastline opposite of the German defenses in Pas-de-Calais, ostensibly as part of the "First US Army Group" (FUSAG) under General Patton.

The ruse was so successful that the German high command was completely fooled and concentrated their reserves away from the Normandy coast.

"[citation needed] The 9th Armored Division landed in Normandy late in September 1944, and first went into line, 23 October, on patrol duty in a quiet sector along the Luxembourg-German frontier.

When the Germans launched their winter offensive, the 9th, with no real combat experience, suddenly found itself engaged in heavy fighting.

The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen was found intact and was seized by elements of the 9th Armored minutes before demolition charges were set to explode on 7 March 1945.

Soldiers of C Company, 52d Armored Infantry Battalion rescued four American tanks caught in a Nazi complex attack.

Five troops were killed, including a young, enlisted man passing through on a Honda motorcycle on his way to his duty station.

Additionally, an infantry reaction force that attempted to land by helicopter on the roof of the embassy was repulsed by enemy fire.

A 20-year-old native of Perryopolis, Pennsylvania, SPC Giovanelli also was awarded "the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medal for heroism."

Company D, 52 Infantry deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in a 12 month deployment between October 2004 and October 2005 as part of 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) Delta Company was tasked attachment to 2nd Battalion 8th Field Artillery (Automatic) Forward Operating Base Endurance (Q-West) for the primary task of over overwatch, response and flash TCP (traffic control points) over MSR (Main Supply Route) Tampa.

Upon returning to the Fort Lewis, the company changed its nickname from "Avalanche" to "Hellcat" as a reference to the World War II anti-tank infantry.

Avalanche Company was assigned to Task Force Minute,[26] 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery under command of LTC Sliwa.

During combat and stability operations in the Upper Tigris River Valley south of Mosul, the company conducted over 150 full spectrum missions totaling over 18,000 Stryker miles.

Such areas as Hammam Al Alil, Ash Sharuh, Qayyarah, Hatra, Makhmur, and Tal Abjah were frequently patrolled.

The company successfully completed reset in record time and deployed twice to the Yakima Training Center, successfully completing Operations Arrowhead Quiver and Arrowhead Warpath which included both platoon and company maneuver live fires, Stryker gunnery, ATGM gunner's skills testing and TOW tables 1–12.

The Avalanche Company supported clearing operations and performed assessments of essential services that were valuable to restoring stability.

The soldiers of C-52d provided security and conducted several raids during major clearing operations in support of Multi-National Division Baghdad.

[19] In Sheik Hamed Village, the company conducted bilateral clearing operations with the Iraqi Army, executed several missions against time-sensitive targets, and trained basic soldier skills to an Iraqi Army Battalion, enhancing their ability to secure their area of operations.

In the brigade's culminating mission to expel al Qaeda from Baqubah, their self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State of Iraq, C-52d conducted a 50 km attack from the march into battle during Operation Arrowhead Ripper.

The company's soldiers screened over 2,500 displaced Iraqis attempting to flee Baqubah, resulting in the capture of over 30 armed insurgents.

Additionally, C-52d conducted an air assault operation that resulted in the discovery and capture of numerous enemy caches including anti-aircraft artillery, indirect fire weapons, IED making materials and various small arms.

It was thought that this operation might severely hamper the enemy's ability to use indirect fire to inflict casualties and instill terror upon the civilian population.

Led by CPT Erich B. Schneider for the entire deployment, the company redeployed to Fort Lewis in September 2007 with no loss of life.

They were primarily headquartered out of Forward Operating Base Shoja and assisted in the training and patrols with 6th Kandak, 1st Brigade 205th Afghan Army.

At the end of July 2013 2nd Cavalry Regiment and Combined Task Force Dragoon took over operations from Fierce Company and COP Shoja was handed over.