During WWII, the U.S. 8th Infantry Division was sent to Europe to fight against the Axis. The division landed on Utah Beach, the westernmost beach of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of WWII. It was divided into zones assigned Tare Green, Uncle Red and Victor. Shortly after its arrival, the division captured the French cities of Rennes and Brest. Following these actions, the division turned east towards the German border, taking part in the heavy fighting in the Huertgen Forest in November 1944. In early March 1945, the division had advanced into the Rhineland. It fought its way into the Ruhr region the following month. By war's end, the «Golden Arrow» division had advanced to the Elbe River in central Germany. On May 2, 1945, as it advanced into northern Germany, the U.S. 8th Infantry Division encountered the Neuengamme concentration camp Wöbbelin subcamp, near the city of Ludwigslust.

Black crackle Zippo engraved with «8th Co. F» and the the insignia of the U.S. 8th Infantry Division on the front, various important dates «6.6.44 Fr», «28.8.44 Paris» «25.12.44 Hurtgen» on the back, «Red Uncle» along with eight counting marks on the sides.