If you had friends or family members from AL, FL, LA, or MS who served in the U.S. Military at any time from World War I through the Korean War, there is a good chance that a section of Interstate highway is dedicated to their memory —
The U.S. Army 31st Infantry Division served during World War I and was demobilized in 1919.
The division was reorganized in 1923 as a National Guard Division, made up of men from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Since most of these soldiers were from the deep south, they acquired the nickname of “Dixie Division.”
During World War II they were mobilized to active service in the Army and deployed to serve in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
This division was deactivated in December 1945 and returned to National Guard status.
Then from 1951 to 1954 it was once again mobilized to serve in the Korean War.
Many of the soldiers from these four southern states were members of this Dixie Division, and the section of Interstate 20 from the Alabama/Mississippi state line to the Mississippi River is dedicated to their memory.
The signs pictured below are located at the Mississippi Welcome Center in Lauderdale County, serving I-20 and I-59 westbound travelers.
