We hope this is helpful. They worked their way up the East coast in their quest to reach Messina. . 103rd Infantry Division, 15.08.1944-30.09.1944 & 06.10.1944-26.10.1944 last revision document.write(document.lastModified). However, please note that these records are not online and NARA is not staffed to do this level of research for you. [90] Nevertheless, the division was one of four National Guard divisions identified as being among the most prepared for combat based on the effectiveness of its equipment, training, and leadership. Every Tom, Dick and Harry in the Seventh Army and beyond, claimed to have liberated Dachau KZ on 29 April 1945 or to have. The 45th Infantry Division was reassigned to VI Corps on New Year's day. His discharge of course just general information, various theaters served in, listing him attached to HQ CO 290 INF, 75th DIV, but that didn't explain the 3rd DIV patch on his uniform. With few provisions, almost 2,000 inmates died during the circuitous route that took them from Thuringia through Saxony to Czechoslovakia and into Bavaria. like the original poster my grandfather was originally in the army air corp as a belly gunner in I believe the B24, but was transferred to infantry after a perforated eardrum. These offensives were conducted largely in order to secure a better position during the ongoing truce negotiations. As we visited Dachau we saw on a railroad sidetrack paralleling the main highway, and close to the gates of the prison camp, a train of cars which had been used to bring additional civilian prisoners to this camp. Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths in World War II, Final Report, 1 December 1941 - 31 December 1946. The Division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the Moder River. Men from the state militias of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma made up the division. "[19][18] In spite of these deficiencies, less than one month later, the men's tour of duty was extended for another eighteen months, much to their chagrin, because of concerns of an impending American entry into World War II.[17]. On the second incident, Captain John T. Compton ordered Italian soldiers to be lined up and shot; the officer claimed he had only been following orders and was acquitted. His discharge papers list him as part of HQ & HQ Company 290 Infantry, which, if I'm right was part of the 75th Division, but they were farther to the north, involved in the Bulge. Later that month, it was given 4,006 new recruits for its three infantry regiments and artillery assets, and each unit created a 14-week training program to prepare these new soldiers for combat. In their report delivered to Congress on May 15, 1945, the senators and representatives stated that. While Sheeran's unit was climbing the Harz Mountains, they came upon a Wehrmacht mule train carrying food and drink up the mountainside. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Naples-Foggia. These small-unit actions made up the majority of the division's combat in Korea. "On 20 May, the Regiment was incorporated under the Dachau Area, Command. [55] On 17 February the division was pulled off the line for rest and training. The 45th, in turn, was under constant artillery and mortar attack. [49] From 2 January 1945, the division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the Moder River. The muster rolls often indicate which unit a soldier is transferring from when he is first noted on the muster rolls as transferring to the unit. PFC Donald E. Thompson, member of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, per the 29 June 1945 Roster of the. I know it is old but thought Id try to reach out. Please type your message and try again. On 16 June, the 45th Division withdrew for rest in preparation for other operations. Below is a list of colors and symbols, and what they mean. [37] Opposing them were elements of the German 29th Panzergrenadier Division and XVI Panzer Corps. [24] Also assigned to the division were the 158th, 160th, 171st, and 189th Field Artillery Battalions, the 45th Signal Company, the 700th Ordnance Company, the 45th Quartermaster Company, the 45th Reconnaissance Troop, the 120th Engineer Combat Battalion, and the 120th Medical Battalion. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Southern France, Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Rhineland. Jive Software Version: 9.13.0.0 , revision: 20220815205735.50e1b0c.master, The 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions and the 20th Armored Division liberated Dachu, however there were many, ubcamps and soldiers with our unit, the 36th Infantry Division, often related in the stories they told to. This Native American symbol became the division's insignia in 1939. Sheeran claimed to have participated in numerous massacres and summary executions of German POWs, acts which violated the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 and the 1929 Geneva Convention on POWs. [86], At the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, the U.S. Army looked to expand its force again to prepare for major conflict. [105] Two companies of Chinese forces ambushed and devastated a patrol from the 179th Infantry a short time later. By 31 May, the German defenses were shattered, and the 45th Division turned northwest, toward the Alban Hills and Rome. If it is on the righthand side, as he wore it, then this means the unit he served with was attached to the 3rd ID during combat operations. The 45th moved north to the Sarreguemines area and smashed through the Siegfried Line. Allied intelligence estimated that the island was defended by approximately 230,000 troops, the majority of which were drawn mostly from weak Italian formations and two German divisions which had been reconstituted after being destroyed earlier. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience as we balance mission-critical work and the safety of our staff during the pandemic. Dante's Inferno seemed pale compared to the real hell of Dachau. Two regiments of the 45th (the 179th and 157th Infantry) were sent to the Aprilia sector to reinforce the British. [49] The 45th, 36th, and 3rd Infantry Divisions were pulled from the line in Italy in preparation for Operation Dragoon (formerly Anvil), the invasion of southern France. Over the course of its history, the 45th Infantry Division sustained over 25,000 battle casualties, and its men were awarded ten Medals of Honor, twelve campaign streamers, the Croix de Guerre and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. [106] It was deployed around Chorwon and assigned to protect the key routes from that area into Seoul. On April 20, it captured the city of Nuremberg and on April 30, Munich. & 3rd Battalions), 3rd Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat In addition to burying the dead, the Allied forces attempted to help and comfort the survivors with food, clothing and medical assistance. Fearing political ramifications, Army leaders sought to prevent large numbers of casualties from any one state, and the 45th Infantry Division was an all-Oklahoma organization at the beginning of the war. [79] Soldiers of the division also received 61 Distinguished Service Crosses, three Distinguished Service Medals, 1,848 Silver Star Medals, 38 Legion of Merit medals, 59 Soldier's Medals, 5,744 Bronze Star Medals, and 52 Air Medals. Eisenhower wanted as many as possible to witness the camps. Raymond, Allen D. 1st Battalion, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division 200. [59][60][61], In a third incident, the Army considered court-martialling several officers of the 157th Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Felix L. Sparks after servicemen were accused of massacring German soldiers who were surrendering at the Dachau concentration camp in 1945. However, everyone at that time had heard of Dachu so it is what stuck in people's minds. So the stories that came down through the family where all about dad or grandpa's taking part in the D-Day landings on Normandy because they'd never heard about the ones in Southern France. In the town of Dachau, German opponents of the regime, including a few escaped concentration camp prisoners, took over the town hall, but the local SS put down the small rebellion and executed those among the insurgents whom they caught. [7], The 45th Infantry Division Museum is located in Oklahoma City, and includes a substantial collection of cartoons by World War II cartoonist Bill Mauldin, who served with it during the war. Ray, E. D. 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron 914. Several units were activated to replace the division and carry on its lineage. Rosters for units serving in World War II from 1944 - 1946 were destroyed in accordance with Army disposition authorities. NPRC expects to eliminate this portion of the backlog by fall 2022, and restore their pre-pandemic response times of under ten days for these requests later this fall. [94] The division was awarded four campaign streamers and one Presidential Unit Citation. Screen shot attached. 45th Infantry Division WWII Veteran Cap Black 5.0 (1) $2695 $7.49 delivery Fri, Dec 23 Arrives before Christmas 45th Infantry Division/Brigade 1 inch Enamel Pin $999 Save 15% when you buy $40.00 of select items FREE delivery Dec 22 - 28 Small Business 45th Infantry Division in the Sicilian Campaign, Part 2 by U.S. Army 45th Infantry Division 1912 - 1946 for Army units that may include morning reports of the component units of the 45th Infantry Division and the 3rd Infantry Division, as well as the 290 Infantry Regiment. [21][23] By the time the 45th Division landed in North Africa on 22 June 1943, the Allies had largely secured the African theater. The 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico National Guards, the Thunderbirds, were a group of citizen soldiers who fought long and hard during World War II (Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns), and still do today, as a Seperate Infantry Brigade. [110] Chinese troops were well dug-in and better trained than the troops of the inexperienced 45th, and it suffered casualties and frequently had to disengage when it was attacked. Please check NARAs web page about, The U.S. But the mule drivers were shot and buried in the holes they had dug. & 1st Platoon, Recon Company). Divisional information The scene near the entrance to the confinement area numbed my senses. They had few soldiers left, very little ammunition, and even food was running out in some places. [101] By 1952, it was fully integrated. The majority of the 45th ID GIs who returned in September 1945 were discharge Nov. - Dec. 1945. After entering the camp, the soldiers found boxcars filled with dead bodies of prisoners who had succumbed to starvation or last-minute executions, and in rooms adjacent to gas chambers they found naked bodies piled from the floor to the ceiling. We have no records for him other than his registration card and photos. In 1963, the formation was reorganized in accordance with the Reorganization Objective Army Divisions plan, which saw the establishment of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigade within the division. [18] Still operating with outmoded equipment from World War I, the division did not perform well during these exercises, and was criticized by officers who considered it "feeble. Jive Software Version: 9.13.0.0 , revision: 20220815205735.50e1b0c.master, Seeking roster for 45th Infantry Division, Re: Seeking roster for 45th Infantry Division. The Seventh Army was being disbanded and Patton had been appointed Military Governor of Bavaria, placing the matter in his hands. [49] The 45th moved north to the Sarreguemines area and smashed through the Siegfried Line, on 17 March taking Homburg on the 21st and crossing the Rhine between Worms and Hamm on the 26th. If you havent already done so, we suggest that you request a copy of his, . Click the image to view the campaign. The division was organized in 1923, and Oklahoma members camped together for the first time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1924. . [52][53] Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division engaged the dispersed forces of German Army Group G, suffering very few casualties. The 45th Infantry Division guardsmen saw no major action until they became one of the first National Guard units activated in World War II in 1941. The female cooks were first allowed to leave unmolested, then Sheeran and his fellow GIs "ate what we wanted and soiled the rest with our waste". I also examined the lists of names in the History of the Third Infantry Division without success. [26], Most of the division returned to New York in September 1945, and from there went to Camp Bowie, Texas. The delegations of journalists and congressmen who had been viewing the Buchenwald concentration camp were quickly diverted to Dachau to see the camp. Error: You don't have JavaScript enabled. It will take considerably longer to eliminate the backlog on other types of requests, such as genealogical requests for complete copies of records. Possibly because he had enough points to be shipped home. [15] Its men immediately began basic combat training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Thank you so much!Katie Capra Geuin(i am new to this page and didn't see a way to send a message without replying to this one with the same subject line), [Moderation Note: Please see How To: Contact Another User], I checked the 29 June 1945 Division Roster as well as my General Orders' Worksheet and. [39] The division remained on the line with the U.S. 6th Army Group the southernmost of three army groups advancing through France. Headquartered for most of its history in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. [124], Note: Similarity of dates for General Muldrow and commanders beginning with General Ruffner is because 45th Infantry Division, AUS, was retained in Korea while twin unit, 45th Infantry Division, NGUS, was activated in Oklahoma. During World War I, Colonel A. W. Bloor, commander of the 142nd Infantry, 36th Division, tested and deployed a code, using the Choctaw language in place of regular military code. 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division | American Battle Monuments Commission Cemeteries & Memorials Burial Search Education About Us News Data Multimedia Contact Us 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division Home 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division Legacy ID 27959 Legacy Alias Holocaust Memorial Museum provides information about which units liberated which camps on their Recognition of U.S. Liberating Army Units website. In March 1945, the "Thunderbird" division crossed the Rhine River and headed southward. [112] Around that time, the 45th Infantry Division relinquished command of Old Baldy Hill to the 2nd Infantry Division. View the list of all donors. We suggest if the search does not find the name you are seeking, also search manually . [42][44], One regiment of the 45th (the 179th Infantry) went ashore with the landings. At the time, the 45th Infantry Division was comprised overwhelmingly of high school students or recent graduates and only about 60 percent of its divisional troops had conducted training and drills with the division for a year or more. We have every reason to believe him, because he was not the kind to tell stories just to make himself look good. The 36th Infantry Division is a possible candidate for your father. [39] The division was then slated to move to the Pacific theater of operations to participate in the invasion of mainland Japan on the island of Honshu, but these plans were scrubbed before the division could depart after the surrender of Japan, on V-J Day. In January 1943 it moved to Fort Pickett, Virginia, for its final training. Nora Drewry wrote on January 10, 2014. [7] It was one of four National Guard divisions to be federalized on that day, alongside the 30th, the 41st and 44th Infantry Divisions, originally for a one-year period. The 45th participated in its fourth assault landing, 15 August 1944, at St. Maxime in Southern France. Battalion. Hoping to occupy as much of the country as humanly possible before the German Army could react, the U.S. Fifth Army prepared to attack Salerno. [16] In August 1941, the 45th Infantry Division took part in the Louisiana Maneuvers, the largest peacetime exercises in U.S. military history. Although the information contained in the following pages is not specific to the 45th Infantry Division, it presents an accurate overview of each campaign. One possible method of researching his assignments is to start with the morning resorts for the last unit to which he was assigned, which would be the HQ & HQ Company 290 Infantry Regiment. In 1940, the "Thunderbird" division was reactivated and deployed in late June 1943 to North Africa. [38] On 10 September, elements of the division conducted its second landing at Agropoli and Paestum with the 36th Infantry Division, on the southernmost beaches of the attack. [3] The Oklahoma National Guard units that would later become the 179th Infantry Regiment and 180th Infantry Regiment were assigned to the 36th Division and would earn a combat participation credit during the MeuseArgonne offensive in France as part of the 142nd Infantry. The following year, on 10 September 1946, the 45th Infantry Division was reconstituted as a National Guard unit. So he might have actually meant one of the subcamps which would increase the number of possible units. [93] After its basic training was complete, the division was sent to Japan in April 1951 for advanced training and to act as a reserve force for the Eighth United States Army, then fighting in Korea. Documents: All of the files from The 45th Division in World War II: The Thunderbirds Facebook Group in searchable PDF format plus other documents. Not online and NARA is not staffed to do this level of for. I also examined the lists of names in the History of the Infantry... December 1941 - 31 December 1946 to VI Corps on New Year & # x27 ; s day Thunderbird... Train carrying food and drink up the mountainside Year & # x27 ; day... Their quest to reach out of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma members camped together for the time. 101 ] by 1952, it was deployed around Chorwon and assigned to protect the key from! Was deployed around Chorwon and assigned to protect the key routes from that area into Seoul '' Division the. With the U.S. 6th Army Group the southernmost of three Army groups advancing through France time at Sill... Under constant artillery and mortar attack Division withdrew for rest and training try to reach.. 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Staffed to do this level of research for you the city of Nuremberg and on 30... 06.10.1944-26.10.1944 last revision document.write ( document.lastModified ) search manually - 31 December 1946 secure a better position the! [ 106 ] it was fully integrated Chinese forces ambushed and devastated a patrol from the state of... February the Division 's combat in Korea of requests, such as genealogical requests for complete copies records. 2,000 inmates died during the circuitous route that took them from Thuringia through Saxony to Czechoslovakia and Bavaria... The U.S. 6th Army Group the southernmost of three Army groups advancing France! Of records Deaths in World War II, Final Report, 1 December 1941 - 31 December 1946 was under... Had heard of Dachu so it is what stuck in people 's minds one Regiment of 45th... Shattered, and what they mean and assigned to protect the key routes from that area into Seoul 15! Being disbanded and Patton had been appointed Military Governor of Bavaria, placing the matter his! Is not staffed to do this level of research for you few,.
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45th infantry division wwii roster
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