His name was William C. Dennard, enlisted in Houston, TX in October of '42. & 01.04.1945-10.05.1945, 636th TD Battalion (SP) (less C Company The local townspeople were brought in to give the dead prisoners a proper burial. Since all the many bodies were in various stages of decomposition, the stench of death was overpowering. Rosters for units serving in World War II from 1944 - 1946 were destroyed in accordance with Army disposition authorities. Veterans and next of kin of deceased veterans also may use eVetRecs to request records. [42][44], One regiment of the 45th (the 179th Infantry) went ashore with the landings. [8] The 45th Infantry Division was then based around the 157th, 179th, and 180th Infantry Regiments. 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. In many cases where personnel records were destroyed in the, , proof of service can be provided from other records such as morning reports, payrolls, and military orders, and a certificate of military service will be issued. The 45th Division was deployed on the southeastern side of the beachhead, along the lower Mussolini Canal.[45]. [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. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Rome-Arno. Raymond, Allen D. 1st Battalion, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division 200. 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. 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. The 45th in this time was regarded as one of the better-trained National Guard divisions. [119] That same year, due to the perceived lack of need for so many large formations in the Army National Guard, the 45th Infantry Division was inactivated, as part of a larger move to reduce the number of Army National Guard divisions from 15 to eight, while increasing the number of separate brigades from seven to 18. Entry: 88092 Subject: EDWARD JAMES LAMBERT. As I turned to look over the prison yard with unbelieving eyes, I saw a large number of dead inmates lying where they had fallen in the last few hours or days before our arrival. The Division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the Moder River. The Dachau massacre and other reprisal killings of concentration camp guards and trustee inmates. [102] Additionally, in an effort to reduce the burden on the National Guard,[n 2] troops from the division were often replaced by enlisted and drafted soldiers from the active duty force. [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. 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird" U.S. Army A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Sort by: name Grid List Units 1st Battalion 2nd Batallion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion Anti-tank Company assigned as surgeon 1st Battalion Cannon Company Commanding Officer Company A Commanding Officer Company E Commanding Officer Company G Their bodies were left behind in various locations throughout Germany. After the North Korean People's Army invaded the Republic of Korea, four understrength U.S. divisions on occupation duty in Japan were rushed to South Korea to stand alongside the Republic of Korea Army. [13] After a long process of reviewing design submissions, a design by Woody Big Bow, a Kiowa artist from Carnegie, Oklahoma, was chosen for the new shoulder sleeve insignia. [64] Some veterans of the 45th Infantry Division have said that only 30 to 50 German soldiers were killed and that very few were killed trying to surrender, while others have admitted to killing or refusing to treat wounded German guards.[65]. Please type your message and try again. [95], On 1 September 1950,[96] the 45th Infantry Division was activated as the first National Guard division to be deployed to the Far East theater since World War II. Check out the people who helped make it possible! In conjunction with the reenacting unit is a Venturing Crew of the Boy Scouts of America, allowing members of the unit who are under 18 years of age to participate in events. Group, 21.10.1944-24.10.1944 & 01.11.1944-11.11.1944, 15.08.1944-18.08.1944 & 19.09.1944-27.10.1944 After Action Reports. 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. Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Armored Division Army's 1st - 15th Army Air Corps Artillery Band Cavalry Chaplain Corps Chemical Coast Artillery Corps Engineers Finance Corps General Staff Infantry Division Inspector General Department Intelligence Corps Judge Advocate General Corps Medical Corps Military . 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. OMPFs and individual medical reports for soldiers of the U.S. Army who served during World War II and who separated from the service before 1960 are in the custody of NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis. The 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, was an element of the Philippine Division, U.S. Army, based at Ft. McKinley. In practice, the military institutionally recognized the Korea unit as the only "official" division, and most of the returning Oklahoma guardsmen were either separated from the Guard at the end of their enlistments or remained in inactive reserve status. [34] Italian and German forces resisted fiercely at Motta Hill on 26 July, however, and for four days the 45th Division was held up there. Main telephone: 202.488.0400 These cars were an assortment of odd boxcars, some of which were locked, and some were coal-car type. When the three units arrived at Dachau, they discovered more than 30,000 prisoners in the overcrowded camp. The division remained on the front lines in such engagements as Old Baldy Hill and Hill Eerie until the end of the war, returning to the U.S. in 1954. Due to drastic reductions in U.S. military spending following the end of World War II, these divisions were equipped with worn-out or obsolete weaponry and suffered from a shortage of anti-armor weapons capable of penetrating the hulls of the North Korean T-34 tanks. [29][30] Landing near Scoglitti, the southernmost U.S. objective on the island, the division advanced north on the U.S. force's eastern flank. View the list of all donors. Army Unit Rosters and Unit Photos. Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 105th We have every reason to believe him, because he was not the kind to tell stories just to make himself look good. 1st Cavalry . [21][23] By the time the 45th Division landed in North Africa on 22 June 1943, the Allies had largely secured the African theater. Best of luck with your family research! [39] The advance continued, with Aschaffenburg falling on 3 April, and Nuremberg on the 20th. Under this Headquarters, the Regimental CP became the, George Fisher, in his superb "The Story of the 180th Infantry Regiment,", states "On June 9th, our Regiment was relieved of its mission of guarding, the Dachau Concentration Camp by the 72nd AAA Battalion. If you havent already done so, we suggest that you request a copy of his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). These prisoners had apparently crawled out of the cars and had died on the ground. The 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions and the 20th Armored Division liberated Dachu, however there were many subcamps and soldiers with our unit, the 36th Infantry Division, often related in the stories they told to their families that they liberated Dachu, when technically it was a subcamp called Kaufring II in Landsburg. Error: You don't have JavaScript enabled. With few provisions, almost 2,000 inmates died during the circuitous route that took them from Thuringia through Saxony to Czechoslovakia and into Bavaria. The 45th Infantry was originally a National Guard unit drawn from Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. This is intended as a rememberance or memorial to those who served in the 45th Infantry Division. The 45th Infantry Division was reassigned to VI Corps on New Year's day. After linking up with the British Eighth Army, which had advanced from the south, the combined force, under the 15th Army Group, commanded by British General Sir Harold Alexander, was stalled when it reached the Gustav Line. [80] Instead of comprising units from several states, the post-war 45th was an all-Oklahoma organization. Against this, the Allies planned to land 180,000 troops,[27] including the 45th Infantry Division, which was assigned to Lieutenant General Omar Bradley's II Corps, part of the U.S. The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States; , U.S. Government Printing Office. [39] The Fifth Army was battered and pushed back by German forces until 20 September, when Allied forces were finally able to break out and establish a more secure beachhead. It arrived on December 2, 1920 and redesignated as a Philippine Scout regiment the next day. (155mm Howitzer), 925th FA Battalion, 100th Infantry In his effects was a hard cover book, similar to school year books, of the 180 Infantry, 45th Division, published in Munich,1945. Each of the four sides of the patch represents one of those four states. It is curious that his draft card (Ancestry.com) has an annotated discharge date of 31 March 1946. Below is a list of colors and symbols, and what they mean. and see if I can find a CIB for your dad. [39] The division captured Munich during the next two days, occupying the city until V-E Day and the surrender of Germany. I always felt there was more than a random reason he would have that, though his name\photo is not in the book. George Patton, the Seventh Army commanding general, asked Omar Bradley, II Corps commanding general, to get the cases dismissed to prevent bad press, but Bradley refused. German soldiers began surrendering to the Allies in large groups; 325,000 soldiers and civilians . The 36th Infantry Division is a possible candidate for your father. For more information see Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Records Requests. 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. Slowly advancing through Italy, they fought in Anzio and the Beachhead breakout to the capture of Rome. In addition to burying the dead, the Allied forces attempted to help and comfort the survivors with food, clothing and medical assistance. [103] Though the division was no longer an "All-Oklahoma" unit, leaders opted to keep its designation as the 45th Infantry Division. Short version, I know that my father was transferred from the Army Air Corps to the infantry, I don't know to what division, in the winter of 1944, when the Allies were lined up along the Rhine. One story I often share to illustrate how we have to look at the stories left by soldiers and their families helps illustrate the problem. [118], The division briefly patrolled the Korean Demilitarized Zone following the signing of the armistice ending the war, but most of its men returned home and reverted to National Guard status on 30 April 1954. It went over to the attack, 23 May, crossed the Tiber River, 4 June, outflanking Rome and withdrew for rest and training on the 16th. [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. In September of 1940, the War Department called the 45th Infantry to federal service and began training for a possible war with Germany and Japan. [39] It sent half of its artillery to support the 70th Infantry Division. Men from the state militias of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma made up the division. Send Email To NORA DREWRY. In their report delivered to Congress on May 15, 1945, the senators and representatives stated that. History Of the 45th Infantry Following World War I, the National Defense Act of 1920 created the authority to form the 45th Infantry Division from the four states of Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. While Sheeran's unit was climbing the Harz Mountains, they came upon a Wehrmacht mule train carrying food and drink up the mountainside. [42] For this mission, CCA (Combat Command A) of the 1st Armored Division was attached to the 45th Infantry Division. 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. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Sicily. [94] The involvement of the National Guard in the fighting in Korea was further expanded when the 40th Infantry Division of the California Army National Guard received warning orders for deployment as well. "[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]. [92], In preparation for the deployment, the division was sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to begin training and to fill its ranks. 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. You may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RL-SL. Malnutrition and disease were rampant, and corpses lay unburied. They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the Southwestern United States throughout the late 1800s. A non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Horace T. West, 33 years old, later confessed to the crimes in the first incident and was found guilty. Group, 36th Engineer Combat Group (less 2nd Once this rest period was complete, the division was assigned to XV Corps for the final push into German territory. The 816 surviving prisoners were taken to barracks within the camp. For more information, please refer to, Onsite Operations at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, We searched the National Archives Catalog and located, 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. The Spanish colors, red and gold, indicate that the four States (Colorado, Oklahoma, New. The 45th Infantry Division in World War II: An Unofficial Guide to Resources Circumstance may have prevented that. It will take considerably longer to eliminate the backlog on other types of requests, such as genealogical requests for complete copies of records. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Central Europe. Division, 2nd Battalion, 411th Infantry Regiment, A row of small cement structures near the prison entrance contained a coal-fired crematorium, a gas chamber, and rooms piled high with naked and emaciated human corpses. Battalion. . 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 45th Division next crossed the Zintzel River before pushing through the Maginot Line defenses. [39] The 45th Infantry Division landed its 157th and 180th regimental combat teams and captured the heights of the Chaines de Mar before meeting with the 1st Special Service Force. See: As a result of this effort, two 45th Infantry Division units existed between 1952 and 1953; the mostly Active-duty 45th Infantry Division (AUS) in Korea, and the National Guard 45th Infantry Division (NGUS) in Oklahoma. To access these records for the 1940s, you will need to either make an appointment to visit the National Archives at St. Louis or hire a researcher. [10] In 1937, the division's troops were once again called up, this time to help manage a locust plague affecting Colorado. [105] The division was put under the command of Eighth Army's I Corps for most of the conflict. The division received seven distinguished unit citations and eight campaign streamers during the conflict. [94][98] Following its arrival, the division moved to the front line to replace the 1st Cavalry Division, who were then delegated to the Far East reserve, having suffered over 16,000 casualties in less than 18 months of fighting. [94] Its anti-aircraft and armor assets were used as mobile artillery, which continuously pounded Chinese positions. 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. 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. Divisional troops Holocaust Memorial Museum provides information about which units liberated which camps on their Recognition of U.S. Liberating Army Units website. Keywords: Korean War, 45th Infantry Division, Thunderbirds. AAA Group, 31.08.1944-10.11.1944 & 23.11.1944 &18.02.1945 He described often witnessing similar behavior by fellow, Orders from unit commanders during a mission. 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. 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. [2] Also activated from division assets were the 45th Field Artillery Group, later redesignated the 45th Fires Brigade, and the 90th Troop Command. I also examined the lists of names in the History of the Third Infantry Division without success. The reenacting unit attends living history displays and tactical events throughout the region. Sheeran later joked that they did so without complaint, likely hoping that he and his buddies would change their minds. In company with the British 1st Infantry Division, they advanced north along the Anzio-Albano road and captured the Aprilia "factory", but encountered ingrained resistance from German armored units a few miles further on. 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. 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. The delegations of journalists and congressmen who had been viewing the Buchenwald concentration camp were quickly diverted to Dachau to see the camp. 45th Infantry Division. . I know that the 45th, the 42nd, and the 3rd Divisions swept down through that area. Mortar Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat If you provide your dad's name, I can check it. [26] Nine soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during their service with the 45th Infantry Division: Van T. Barfoot,[72] Ernest Childers,[73] Almond E. Fisher,[74] William J. Johnston,[75] Salvador J. Lara,[76] Jack C. Montgomery,[77] James D. Slaton,[73] Jack Treadwell,[78] and Edward G. 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW In the Dachau camp itself, an international committee composed of representatives of the various nationalities imprisoned there was established to organize resistance. You can not post a blank message. [14] The new insignia featured the Thunderbird, another Native American symbol, and was approved in 1939. No record of Clarence E. LaHayne in the June 1945 Roster of the 45th Infantry Division nor. OMPFs and individual medical reports for soldiers of the U.S. Army who served during World War II and who separated from the service before 1960 are in the custody of NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis. Then the Wehrmacht mule drivers were given shovels and ordered to "dig their own shallow graves". With the American entry into World War I, in April 1917, troops of the National Guard were formed into the units which exist today, with elements of the Colorado National Guard forming the 157th Infantry Regiment, the Arizona National Guard forming the 158th Infantry Regiment, and the New Mexico National Guard forming the 120th Engineer Regiment. Divisional information Several units were activated to replace the division and carry on its lineage. The scene near the entrance to the confinement area numbed my senses. The division was organized in 1923, and Oklahoma members camped together for the first time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1924. . For more information about these records, please contact the National Archives at St. Louis (RL-SL) at stl.archives@nara.gov. If you see this and check out your roster I would love to know what you find. Primarily I'm looking for a roster of the 45th Division, but also interested in the same for the 3rd Division. last revision document.write(document.lastModified). I've always wondered why there is a 3rd ID patch on his uniform when his discharge indicates 75th ID. After landing in France during Operation Dragoon, they joined the 1945 drive into Germany that ended the War in Europe. [45] The next three months were spent on the defensive, with the 45th engaged in trench warfare, alike to that in World War I. Eisenhower wanted as many as possible to witness the camps. Please turn JavaScript back on and reload this page. It will take considerably longer to eliminate the backlog on other types of requests, such as genealogical requests for complete copies of records. 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. Documents: All of the files from The 45th Division in World War II: The Thunderbirds Facebook Group in searchable PDF format plus other documents. I'm trying to find information on my great grandfather's service in WWII. [39] The division had great difficulty moving across the rivers and through the mountainous terrain, and the advance was slow. That's the most information, all in one place, nailing things down to a specific place and time, that I've seen on Dad. I have to wonder why he would have that particular book. [32] The paratroopers, conducting their first combat jump of the war after six weeks of training in Tunisia, then set up to protect the 45th's flank against German counterattack, but without weapons to counter heavy armor, the paratroopers had to rely on support from the 2nd Armored Division to repulse the German Tiger I tanks. The 179th Infantry and a tank battalion of CCA tried to recapture Aprilia but were repulsed. View of a Clearing Station, somewhere behind Utah Beach, Normandy, taken June 6 - 7, 1944 - triage of Airborne casualties and patients . & 3rd Battalions), 3rd Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat Find topics of interest and explore encyclopedia content related to those topics, Find articles, photos, maps, films, and more listed alphabetically, Recommended resources and topics if you have limited time to teach about the Holocaust, Explore the ID Cards to learn more about personal experiences during the Holocaust. & 1st Platoon, Recon Company). Nora Drewry wrote on January 10, 2014. [80] Its colors were returned to Oklahoma on 25 September of that year, formally ending the division's presence in Korea. [42][46] VI Corps was stopped at the "Pimlott Line" (the perimeter of the beachhead), and the fight became a battle of attrition. B Company), 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion (less [41] Until 9 January 1944, the division, now under Major General William W. Eagles (replacing Major General Middleton who, struck down with arthritis, was sent to England to command VIII Corps in the Normandy invasion), inched forward into the mountains reaching St. Elia, north of Monte Cassino, before moving to a rest area. Dragoon was originally planned to coincide with the Normandy landings in the north, but was delayed until August because of a shortage of landing craft. Campaigns Commanding General Assistant Division Commander Artillery Commander 15.08.1944 Please turn JavaScript back on and reload this page. [26], Most of the division returned to New York in September 1945, and from there went to Camp Bowie, Texas. I have two rosters of the 45th Division plus several Excel worksheets of men who served in the division. [55] The 45th Infantry Division, now commanded by Major General Robert T. Frederick, who had previously commanded the 1st Special Service Force, was reassigned to VI Corps on New Year's Day. On 16 February, a major German attack struck the 45th, and nearly broke through the 179th Infantry on 18 February. [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 was an infantry division of the United States Army, most associated with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, from 1920 to 1968. In some of these cars there were more than enough to cover the floors. [85] Only 10 percent of the division's officers and five percent of its enlisted men had combat experience with the division from World War II. 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. I came on this site hoping to find a clue to Dad's whereabouts in Germany after crossing the Rhine, but I have to say I don't appreciate him being dismissed as every Tom, Dick, and Harry. The majority of the 45th ID GIs who returned in September 1945 were discharge Nov. - Dec. 1945. In each of them the floor of the car was covered with dead, emaciated bodies. The thunderbird is a symbol of the Southwestern Indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. On April 20, it captured the city of Nuremberg and on April 30, Munich. In 1940, the "Thunderbird" division was reactivated and deployed in late June 1943 to North Africa. The 45th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army, most associated with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, from 1920 to 1968. [23], The division's two combat commands, the 89th and 90th Infantry Brigades, were inactivated in 1942, as the Army favored smaller and more versatile regimental and battalion-level commands for the new conflict. WW2 Order of Battle Medical Units. 45th US Infantry Division "Thunderbird" home Divisional information Divisional troops Attachments Assignments Detachments Command Posts Divisional information Top Specials [read more] Read more about the division insignia and there nickname. The main goals of the World War II Recreation Association, 45th Infantry Division reenactors are to honor the veterans who served the United States Armed Forces in World War Two so that their legacy may live on, and to educate all within our reach about the history of our nation and our Armed Forces. 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 3rd Division was not directly involved in the liberation of Dachau, but Dad, if he was with the 3rd Division, could have been sent over to see the camp. [50], The 45th Infantry Division participated in its fourth amphibious assault landing during Operation Dragoon on 15 August 1944, at St. Maxime, in Southern France. 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 [101] By 1952, it was fully integrated. Division, 1st Battalion, 315th Infantry Regiment, Since its inception, Native Americans from the tribes of Oklahoma have served in the National Guard with pride and honor. [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. [125], As of 1 August 1950, the division consisted of 698. Please check NARAs web page about COVID-19 updates for the latest information. The 45th Infantry Division was formed in 1924 from National Guard units in the southwestern United States. [39] It would remain in the area for a month waiting for other units to catch up before crossing the Mortagne River on 23 October. [43] Landing on schedule, VI Corps surprised the Germans, but Major General Lucas's decision to consolidate the beachhead instead of attacking gave the Germans time to bring the LXXVI Panzer Corps forward to oppose the landings. He never claimed to have liberated Dauchau, just that he was there, no other details, and we only learned that toward the end of his life. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Naples-Foggia. I know it is old but thought Id try to reach out. Division (less 3rd Battalion), 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry My father, Charles Joseph Capra's records were burned up in the Armory fire in St. Louis. Horrible images. Yeah, I've heard of that fire in 1973. [107] The division suffered its first casualty on 11 December 1951. Company Morning Reports. [37] Opposing them were elements of the German 29th Panzergrenadier Division and XVI Panzer Corps. They had few soldiers left, very little ammunition, and even food was running out in some places. [93][97] Nevertheless, it was not deployed to Korea until December 1951, when its advanced training was complete. When describing his first murder for organized crime, Sheeran recalled: "It was just like when an officer would tell you to take a couple of German prisoners back behind the line and for you to 'hurry back'. I can count on one hand the stories - harmless stories - we know of his time over there. [50] Against slight opposition, it spearheaded the drive for the Belfort Gap. 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. [106] It was deployed around Chorwon and assigned to protect the key routes from that area into Seoul. The 45th Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit by the US Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985. Calculated attempts to dehumanize and degrade German POWs. 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. [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. His name was Donald E. Thompson, PFC. The following year, on 10 September 1946, the 45th Infantry Division was reconstituted as a National Guard unit. The 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions and the 20th Armored Division liberated Dachu, however there were many subcamps and soldiers with our unit, the 36th Infantry Division, often related in the stories they told to their families that they liberated Dachu, when technically it was a subcamp called Kaufring II in Landsburg. The following month, the division landed in Sicily, where it engaged Axis troops in combat. Rosters. The first evidence of the horror to come was a string of about forty railway cars on a siding near the camp entrance. & 05.03.1945-15.03.1945 & 20.03.1945-25.03.1945 & 11.04.1945-10.05.1945, 1st Platoon, A Battery, 353rd AAA SL Battalion, 15.08.1944-25.08.1944 & 30.08.1944-09.11.1944 On 16 June, the 45th Division withdrew for rest in preparation for other operations. The terrain was difficult and the weather was poor in the region. [112] Around that time, the 45th Infantry Division relinquished command of Old Baldy Hill to the 2nd Infantry Division. If you havent already done so, we suggest that you request a copy of his, . [citation needed]. Wilkin. 79th Infantry Division, 03.01.1945-17.01.1945 & 22.01.1945-29.01.1945, 19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th & 02.11.1944 & 05.12.1944-28.12.1944, Hq & Hq Battery, 938th FA Battalion . I have a newspaper clipping from the local paper that he had informed his parents that he had been transferred to the infantry - from the Air Corp/Air Force - of course there would be no mention of what unit he was transferred to, and this was during the winter of '44, when they were pulling men from all branches to fill the line. [57], During and after the war, courts-martial were convened to investigate possible war crimes by members of the division. 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. As a result, the division was not sent into combat upon arrival and instead commenced training at Arzew, French Morocco,[26] in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. See: Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953), Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Streamer, "Lt. Kleindienst's Forward Observer's Notebook", "Codes Used in the Daily Journals of the Command Reports", "Legislature Honors 45th Infantry Brigade", "Home at Last National Guardsmen Return Home", The American People in World War II: Freedom from Fear, Part Two, "Obama will award Medal of Honor to 24 overlooked Army veterans", 45th Infantry Division History and Reenactments, The 45th: The Story of the 45th Infantry Division, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Forty-fifth Infantry Division (OKANG), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=45th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)&oldid=1132482693, 70th Field Artillery Brigade (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), 120th Ammunition Train (inactive; allotted to Oklahoma National Guard), 120th Medical Regiment (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), 120th Quartermaster Regiment (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 45th Infantry Division Artillery, 45th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized), Headquarters, Special Troops, 45th Infantry Division, Headquarters Company, 45th Infantry Division, 45th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment, Revenge killings in the heat of battle. I had to show them his records, with our unit to prove that he was nowhere near Normandy in June 1944. [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. As Allied troops moved across Europe in a series of offensives against Nazi Germany, they found tens of thousands of concentration camp prisoners in deplorable conditions. Re: Seeking roster for 45th Infantry Division Dave Kerr Nov 30, 2022 12:50 PM ( in response to Katie Geuin ) Katie, I checked the 29 June 1945 Division Roster as well as my General Orders' Worksheet and did not find your dad's name. The 45th Infantry Division guardsmen saw . Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! Dad's photo or name is not in the book. [63] Accounts conflict over what happened and over how many German troops were killed. [10], The 45th Infantry Division engaged in regular drills but no major events in its first few years, though the division's Colorado elements were called in to help quell a large coal mining strike. Inside this website you will find over 100 pages of Maps History and Photographs of the World War Two Thunderbirds. Hometown - Argyle. [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. [55] On 17 February the division was pulled off the line for rest and training. "Train, No. [45] For the next few months the 45th Infantry Division was mostly stuck in place, holding its ground during repeated German counterattacks, and subjected to bombardment from aircraft and artillery.[39]. Visit the 45th Infantry Museum. 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. & 01.01.1945-16.02.1945 & 04.03.1945-09.05.1945, 191st Tank Battalion (less A Company & 3rd Nevertheless, the Army officials in charge of this camp advised us that there were 50 of these cars in this 1 train and that at least 100 of these civilians had been jammed into each car . Detachments These offensives were conducted largely in order to secure a better position during the ongoing truce negotiations. [94] The division was awarded four campaign streamers and one Presidential Unit Citation. 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird" 1939 and before 1939 - present The 45th Infantry Division served for 511 days in Combat in the European African Middle Eastern Theater; during this time they served in the campaigns of SICILY , NAPLES-FOGGIA , ANZIO , ROME-ARNO , SOUTHERN FRANCE , RHINELAND , ARDENNES-ALSACE, and CENTRAL EUROPE. Will order it. 45th ID in World War II. He also claimed to have been at Dachau and talked about it to some detail when I was younger. A shame. Just that, no other details. 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. In 1940, the "Thunderbird" division was reactivated and deployed in late June 1943 to North Africa. Ray, E. D. 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron 914. Dad was not given to bragging about his three years in Europe. [49] The division was allowed a one-month rest, resuming its advance on 25 November, attacking the forts north of Mutzig. Confessed murderer Frank Sheeran later recalled his war service as the time when he first developed a callousness to the taking of human life. [48] Men of the 45th Division were the first Allied troops to reach the Vatican. Some of the victims apparently had died only hours before the 45th Division entered the camp, while many others lay where they had died in states of decomposition that overwhelmed the soldiers' senses. Please complete a GSA Standard Form 180 and mail it to NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. [24], The 45th Division sailed from the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation for the Mediterranean region on 8 June 1943, combat loaded aboard thirteen attack transports and five cargo attack vessels as convoy UGF-9 headed by the communications ship USSAncon. ", It appears that most of the regiment remained in the Dachau vicinity until, 20 July, when the regiment embarked by train for Camp St. Louis. [37], On 3 September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allied powers. [32] As the division advanced towards its main objective to capture the airfields at Biscari, and Comiso, German forces were pushed back. [39] The division crossed the Danube River on 27 April, and liberated 32,000 captives of the Dachau concentration camp on 29 April 1945. forces. In retaliation, the 245th Tank Battalion sent nine tanks to raid Agok. So he might have actually meant one of the subcamps which would increase the number of possible units. The 45th Infantry Division World War II in Germany. Major General Roy Hoffman took command in 1931, followed by Alexander M. Tuthill, Alexander E. McPherren in 1935, and William S. Key in 1936. We hope this is helpful. [7] It was assigned the 89th Infantry Brigade of the Colorado and Arizona National Guards, and the 90th Infantry Brigade of the Oklahoma National Guard. I think that means he would have been in one of the artillery units for the 45th Infantry Division, but I don't know where to find a roster to check. [91] As a result, in February 1951, the 45th Infantry Division was alerted that it would sail for Japan. The following month, the division landed in Sicily, where it engaged Axis troops in combat. The 45th Infantry Division took the strongly defended city of Epinal on 24 September. Although the information contained in the following pages is not specific to the 45th Infantry Division, it presents an accurate overview of each campaign. 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