The US 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) was a prewar regular army formation stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado. The unit deployed to West Germany by air and sea, arriving in Wilhelmshaven, and entered combat against Soviet forces on 6 February 1997 where it performed well. During the retreat from Warsaw in the fall of 1997 the division suffered heavy casualties from one disaster after another. It was deemed combat ineffective and withdrawn from the lines to reform. Then in January of 1998 the "Eightball" Division was put back on the line and made part of the XI US Corps.
In the summer of 2000 the 8th Infantry participated in the NATO offensive into Poland. Due to its mobility the division's primary task was to conduct swift deep penetration raids ahead of XI Corps' main forces. In this capacity the "Eightball" did well, though in some ways, too well. In its lightning dash across northern Poland, crossing the Vistula bridgehead secured by the US 2nd Marine Division, the 8th became increasingly strung out. By the time it closed in on Kaliningrad, its final objective, a series of tactical errors left the weakened unit unable to seize the city. Worse, it had been outflanked and unable to retreat. Alone, the 8th was forced to rapidly consolidate its scattered troops and push north into the Baltic states.
According to Luis Ortega, patrols were dispatched to ascertain the likelihood of sanctuary or evacuation:
- Patrol One (Kaunas) found the city unwilling to accept the division, thus cancelling the hope of forging an alliance with the Lithuanian central government.
- Patrol Two (Klaipeda) was mysteriously lost without a trace and was believe to have been ambushed and destroyed by Soviet troops or by pro-Sov guerrillas.
- Patrol Three (Latvia) found the route to Riga wide open.
A fourth patrol, led by Major Black was sent back the way the 8th had come. Their mission was to collect any remaining stragglers and investigate the situation in Gdansk. In time the patrol would merge with the Mad Dogs.
The 8th Infantry Division's present location and status are unknown.
Recent INTEL provided by Karel Janku, via Olympic, indicates that elements of the 8th were active near the Nemen river during the Autumn.
Subordination: XI U.S. Corps
Current Location: Unknown (Baltic states region)
Manpower: Unknown (1500 at start of Offensive)
Tanks: Unknown (22 at start of Offensive)