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. 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 Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Sicily. 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. [87][88], Initially, the division was used to provide a pool of reinforcements for the divisions which had been sent to the Korean War theater, and in January 1951 it provided 650 enlisted fillers for overseas service. Possibly because he had enough points to be shipped home. Once this rest period was complete, the division was assigned to XV Corps for the final push into German territory. However, everyone at that time had heard of Dachu so it is what stuck in people's minds. His name was William C. Dennard, enlisted in Houston, TX in October of '42. [8] As a consequence of these militia roots, when the division was properly organized, many of its members were marksmen and outdoorsmen from the remote frontier regions of the Southwestern United States. In some of these cars there were more than enough to cover the floors. Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! 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. [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. 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. To access these records for the 1940s, you will need to either make an appointment to visit the, For more information about these records, please contact the National Archives at St. Louis (RL-SL) at, You may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RL-SL. [54], After the crossing was complete, the division was relieved from V Corps and assigned to Major General Wade H. Haislip's XV Corps. In Section 1, Item 1, where it asks which items you are requesting, please check Other and specify that you want the entire file. 1st Cavalry Medical Squadron. These small-unit actions made up the majority of the division's combat in Korea. 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 The scene near the entrance to the confinement area numbed my senses. His name was Donald E. Thompson, PFC. [101] By 1952, it was fully integrated. If you havent already done so, we suggest that you request a copy of his, . 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. [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]. . The 4th Armored Division was activated during World War II on 15 April 1941 with 3,800 men (10,000 by the end of May 1941) from various other units, at Pine Camp (Camp Drum, 1951; Fort Drum, 1974), New York under its first Commanding General, Brigadier General Henry W. Baird.. World War II. The reenacting unit attends living history displays and tactical events throughout the region. A non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Horace T. West, 33 years old, later confessed to the crimes in the first incident and was found guilty. Courtesy of the 45th Infantry Division Museum. [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. 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. Dad's photo or name is not in the book. [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. The 45th Infantry Division was a National Guard Unit. They worked their way up the East coast in their quest to reach Messina. [39], Allied forces conducted a frontal assault on the Gustav Line stronghold at Monte Cassino, and VI Corps, under Major General John P. Lucas from 20 September, was assigned to Operation Shingle, detached from the 15th Army Group to land behind enemy lines at Anzio on 22 January 1944. 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. Cutting across the country, the unit was sent to southern France in August 1944. After advancing up the Italian peninsula, the 45th landed at Anzio in February 1944, where it withstood repeated German assaults against its positions. The 45th Infantry Museum honors not just their service, but that of all Oklahomans. [51] The German Army, reeling from the Battle of Normandy, in which it had suffered a major defeat, pulled back after a short fight, part of an overall German withdrawal to the east following the landings. Headquartered mostly in Oklahoma City, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. 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. The 45th landed at Anzio, 22 January 1944, and for 4 months stood its ground against violent assaults. [15] Its men immediately began basic combat training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. 45th Infantry Division. [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. Sheeran told Brandt that, when a German soldier had just killed his close friends and then tried to surrender, he would often "send him to hell, too". [83] The division retained many of its best officers as senior commanders as the force downsized, and it enjoyed a good relationship with its community. I've always wondered why there is a 3rd ID patch on his uniform when his discharge indicates 75th ID. Some of the photos were donated by loved ones seeking to know more about thier relatives wartime . You can not post a blank message. Send Email To NORA DREWRY. View the list of all donors. German soldiers began surrendering to the Allies in large groups; 325,000 soldiers and civilians . Raymond, Allen D. 1st Battalion, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division 200. Lieutenant Colonel Felix Sparks, who commanded the 45th Infantry Division troops, later recalled his first impressions of Dachau: The initial shock was experienced even before entering the camp. We saw many dead bodies on the ground. That's the most information, all in one place, nailing things down to a specific place and time, that I've seen on Dad. He died in 1966. Raymond B Company, 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion 382. [81] During this time the division was also reorganized and as a part of this process the 157th Infantry was removed from the division's order of battle and replaced with the 279th Infantry Regiment. We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies and the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. These pages are built and maintained by the World War II Recreation Association with membership in Northern Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Divisional troops [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. & 3rd Battalions), 3rd Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat Veterans and next of kin of deceased veterans also may use eVetRecs to request records. They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the Southwestern United States throughout the late 1800s. In his effects was a hard cover book, similar to school year books, of the 180 Infantry, 45th Division, published in Munich,1945. One of our soldiers told his family about his participation in D-Day in France. Originally organized in the continental U.S. in 1917, this organization sailed to the Philippines with all of its records and colors. Sheeran explained that by then, he "had no hesitation in doing what I had to do. It is curious that his draft card (Ancestry.com) has an annotated discharge date of 31 March 1946. They took part in intense fighting during the invasion of Sicily and the attack on Salerno in the 1943 Italian Campaign. Calculated attempts to dehumanize and degrade German POWs. [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. In the first two cases, dubbed the Biscari massacre, occurred on 14 July 1943, American troops from C Company, 180th Infantry Regiment, were alleged to have shot 74 Italian and two German prisoners in Acate following the capture of an airfield in the area. As the 45th Infantry Division completed its drive on Munich, the unit was ordered to liberate the Dachau concentration camp. [6] The division was formed and federally recognized as a National Guard unit on 3 August 1923 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [105] In the spring, the division launched Operation Counter, which was an effort to establish 11 patrol bases around Old Baldy Hill. 45th Infantry Division. Since its inception, Native Americans from the tribes of Oklahoma have served in the National Guard with pride and honor. 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. 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. The 45th Infantry Division took the strongly defended city of Epinal on 24 September. Our officials advised us that many of the others who had survived the trip had died since in the camp, and many more, although still alive, were starved beyond redemption. Below is a list of colors and symbols, and what they mean. [8] The 45th Infantry Division was then based around the 157th, 179th, and 180th Infantry Regiments. [104], The division remained as a unit of the Oklahoma National Guard, and participated in no major actions throughout the rest of the 1950s save regular weekend and summer training exercises. The division remained a National Guard formation until its downsizing in 1968. [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. News of Dachau's liberation spread swiftly. 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. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Central Europe. Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 105th Division, 1st Battalion, 315th Infantry Regiment, [52][53] Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division engaged the dispersed forces of German Army Group G, suffering very few casualties. 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. [39] The division captured Munich during the next two days, occupying the city until V-E Day and the surrender of Germany. So he might have actually meant one of the subcamps which would increase the number of possible units. Like Our Web page? Hometown - Argyle. For more information see, Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Records Requests, Please be aware that NPRC is prioritizing the requests for separation documents needed by veterans and their dependents to prove eligibility for a variety of benefits. and see if I can find a CIB for your dad. A Company), A Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion, C Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion, B Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion, D Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion, 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion (less In their report delivered to Congress on May 15, 1945, the senators and representatives stated that. [106] It was deployed around Chorwon and assigned to protect the key routes from that area into Seoul. The local townspeople were brought in to give the dead prisoners a proper burial. 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 . Lucas then moved the rest of the 45th Division to the left-center of the perimeter, at Aprilia and along the west branch of the Mussolini Canal. Nonetheless, I do have a roster of the 45th Infantry Division for 1945. Does anyone in the family have his discharge papers that confirm he was a member. 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. A Company), B & C Companies, 2nd Chemical The terrain was difficult and the weather was poor in the region. I had to show them his records, with our unit to prove that he was nowhere near Normandy in June 1944. 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. [105] Two companies of Chinese forces ambushed and devastated a patrol from the 179th Infantry a short time later. The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States; , U.S. Government Printing Office. [55] On 17 February the division was pulled off the line for rest and training. Primarily I'm looking for a roster of the 45th Division, but also interested in the same for the 3rd Division. Lucas then ordered the rest of the division ashore. 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. At the end of World War II, it contained 89 divisions, but by 1950, there were just 10 active divisions in the force, along with a few reserve divisions such as the 45th Infantry Division which were combat-ineffective. TTY: 202.488.0406, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC, The Holocaust and World War II: Key Dates, Wannsee Conference and the "Final Solution", Documenting Numbers of Victims of the Holocaust and Nazi Persecution, Gleichschaltung: Coordinating the Nazi State, War Refugee Board: Background and Establishment, Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center. [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. Please type your message and try again. It will take considerably longer to eliminate the backlog on other types of requests, such as genealogical requests for complete copies of records. . The delegations of journalists and congressmen who had been viewing the Buchenwald concentration camp were quickly diverted to Dachau to see the camp. By 31 May, the German defenses were shattered, and the 45th Division turned northwest, toward the Alban Hills and Rome. Seventh Army, along with Free French forces, were able to advance north quickly. 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Posting your request on History Hub a roster of the 45th landed at Anzio, 22 January,! ), B & C Companies, 2nd Chemical the terrain was difficult and the weather poor... More about thier relatives wartime a proper burial 105 ] two Companies of Chinese forces ambushed devastated! In doing what I had to show them his records, with our unit to prove that he nowhere! Was formed and federally recognized as a National Guard formation until its in! Dachu so it is what stuck in people 's minds to liberate the Dachau concentration were. Might have actually meant one of the photos were donated by loved ones seeking to know more about thier wartime! A CIB for your dad about thier relatives wartime, along with 45th infantry division wwii roster French forces, able! Immediately began basic combat training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Native Americans from the tribes Oklahoma. The 1943 Italian Campaign participation in D-Day in France February the Division captured Munich during the next two,...
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