Someone asked me for these photos from the 732nd ROB. I have just found them inside one 2 Tetras-bytes External Archives Disk and that’s why I am posting them immediately.
These photos were send to my by a World War Two veteran I wish to thanks for this donation.
Mar
06
2010
Feb
03
2010
SC 167571 – The 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, that cleared the road and fields of mines, marching through the Kasserine Pass and on to Kasserine and Farriana, Tunisia. 26 Feb 1943. Photo : McGray.
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Jan
16
2010
 |
 HEADQUARTERS 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION APO 443 US ARMY After Action Report |
A : Enclosed are the After Action Reports and Journals of the following units and General Staff Sections of the 106th Division, covering action against the enemy during the month of December 1944 :
- 424th Infantry Regiment Report
- 106th Division Artillery Report
- 81st Engineer (C) Battalion Report
- 331st Medical Battalion Report
- 106th Division Special Troops Report
- G-1 Report
- G-2 Report
- G-3 Report
- G-4 Report
B : The commanding officers and staffs of the 422d Infantry Regiment, 423d Infantry Regiment and the 106th Reconnaissance Troop are missing in action. Their records are presumed to have been destroyed and are not available. The action of these units is covered, but not completely, in the reports and journals of the General Staff Sections. The 14th Cavalry Group was attached to the division from 111900A to 181300A December. Its action, in part, during this period is included in the reports and journals of the general Staff Sections. After 181300A December, it was attached to the 7th Armored Division.
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Jan
14
2010
Put on your boots, boots, boots
And parachute-chute-chutes
We’re going up, up, up
And coming down, down, down
We’re All American and proud to be
For we’re the soldiers of liberty
Some ride their gliders to the enemy
Others are sky paratroopers
We’re All American and fight we will
‘Til all the guns of the foe are still
Airborne from skies of blue
We’re coming through, let’s go
Put on your boots, your parachutes
Get all those gliders ready to attack today
For we’ll be gone into the dawn
To fight them all the 82nd way
AMERICA’S GUARD OF HONOR
Where is the prince who can afford to cover his country with troops for its defense as that ten thousand men descending from the clouds, might not, in many places, do an infinite deal of mischief before a force could be brought to repel them ?
Benjamin Franklin, 1784
Jan
04
2010
Category : 017th Airborne Division, Commemorations, EUCMH Mails Center
Written December 22, 2009 by Carol Klinger Woolbright, Ed.D., Orphan Daughter of Capt Jack R. Klinger. KIA, Battle of the Bulge, B Co., 194th Glider Infantry, 17th Airborne Division.
But this rose is an extra.
Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it.
It is only goodness which gives extras,
and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers
Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Naval Treaty)
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Dec
21
2009
The following informations received today (21-12-09) from one German World War Two Veteran and another link can be added to the History’s chain.
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Dec
06
2009
The foregoing pages tell of the results achieved by air power in each of its several roles in the war in the Pacific, including the effects of the atomic bombs. The Survey has already reported on the results achieved by air power in the European war. It remains to seek out the degree to which the Pacific study modifies, adds to or supports the signposts to the future which were suggested by the European study; to state the extent to which hindsight suggests that air power might have been differently or better employed in the Pacific; to discuss the impact of the existence of atomic bombs on the role of air power; and to state the Survey’s recommendations.
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Dec
03
2009
US STRATEGIC BOMBING SURVEYS
EUROPA AND PACIFIC THEATER
WORLD WAR TWO
The new relation of air power to strategy presents one of the distinguishing contrasts between this war and the last. Air power in the last war was in its infancy. The new role of three-dimensional warfare was even then foreseen by a few farsighted men, but planes were insufficient in quality and quantity to permit much more than occasional brilliant assistance to the ground forces. Air power in the European phase of this war reached a :
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Nov
29
2009
Category : BOB Photos, Battle of the Bulge
As you probably noticed it I have changed the theme of my Wordpress and I have lot of images that were used before with the other theme. I was thiking of erasing them then thought that other Military History Bloggers could maybe use them for their Blogs.
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Sep
23
2009
As probably many of you , readers, know it, Belgium is a country made of paradox. Being itself one of the most paradoxical country what would you expect ?
Doing researches on the Fields for the past 40 years, in fact I’ve found accidentally, my first US Hand Grenade (MK-2) when I was 3 and 1/2 years old, I know almost every one of those who do also researches on the Battlefields today. Of course – and like in almost every works – they are many jerks in this area.
In the past 40 years, I have lost 3 friends :
- André, blown away while “playing” with the most dangerous American ammunitions ever created : the 105-MM Semi Fixed Shell HE-AT M-67 Hollow Charge and it’s terrible 3 Levels Work M-61A1 or M-62 Base Impact Fuze that doesn’t allow anyone, when fired and got lost, to play with it.
- Jean Mi, doing also something he shouldn’t have done with the little brother of the 105-MM Hollow cited above : 75-MM Shell Semi Fixed HE-AT Hollow Charge also provided to the field with this damned M-61A1 or M-62 3 Levels Work Base Fuze.
- Jan, a really nice man from the Netherlands that was doing something not allowed with a Panzer Geschoss (KWK-43 King Tiger Ammunition) and did try to remove the Base Ignitiong Fuze while holding the Shell between his legs.
In the 3 following cases, plastic bags were needed to get these guys together again. (RIP)
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Sep
07
2009
Subject : Action Against Enemy Reports, to : Commanding General, 17th Airborne Division, APO 452, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY
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Sep
03
2009
On Dec 1 1944, Hqs & Hqs Co was located in Waimes, Belgium. On Dec 11, the company marched to Venwegen, Germany a distance of 39-M.
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Sep
01
2009
Although D-day gave the western Allies a beachhead in northern France, it took them almost two months of bitter fighting to break out of the Normandy hedgerows. After the breakout, Allied armies raced across France, liberated Paris, and headed toward the German frontier. The rapid pace of the advance placed a severe strain on Allied logistics, which, along with bad weather and stiffening German resistance, slowed the offensive. By mid-December, American armies had reached the Roer River inside Germany and the West Wall along the Saar River in eastern France. Between these two fronts lay the Ardenne, a hilly, densely forested area of Belgium. The Germans had attacked France through this supposedly impassable region in 1940. In early December 1944, five American divisions and a cavalry group held the 85-mile-long Ardenne front. The difficult terrain of the region and the belief that the German army was near exhaustion had convinced the Allied commanders that the Ardenne sector was relatively safe. Thus, three of the divisions were new, full of green soldiers who had only recently arrived on the continent; the other two were recuperating from heavy losses suffered in the bitter fighting in the Huertgen forest farther north. In addition, the heavy demand for American troops in some sectors had forced Allied commanders to lightly man other portions of the front .
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Aug
31
2009
Headquarters 1111th Engineer Combat Group, A. P. O 230, 2 January 1945, Subject : Certificate of Circumstances Involving EM of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion, AOP 655
1. This is to certify that the following named enlisted men of B-1/526tth Armored Infantry Battalion did engage the enemy, who far outnumbered them, on the 181230 December, 1944, under the circumstances narrated here :
- Settlemeyer, T/Sgt, Returned to organization
- Smith Albert, S/Sgt, Returned to organization
- Evin, E. G., T/5, 34082797, Returned to organization
- Burdine, E. R., Pfc, 39329120, Returned to organization
- Isaac, Boyle, Pvt, 35798443, Returned to organization
- Surdo, J. H., Pvt, 39288375, Returned to organization
- McCullum, Killed in Action
- Hollenbeck, Killed in Action
- Higgins, Killed in Action
- Frazier, Killed in Action
- Bicker, Missing in Action
2. On December 18 1944, the above named enlisted men did establish a road block consisting of a string of mines and 1 57-MM Gun in the vicinity of Trois Ponts, Belgium. An enemy armored column was reported as approaching on the N-23 from Stavelot.
At approximately 1230 the first tank approached and were stopped by Frazier and Bicker pulling a string of mines in front of the lead tank. Although there were 8 tanks visible, the above named enlisted men showed no panic and manned the 57-MM with the result of the of the lead tank being disabled abd possibly the second one. A direct hit on the gun manned by McCullum, Buchanan, Hollenbeck and Higgins resulted in the gun being disabled and the gun crew killed. The remainder of these enlisted escaped and joined elements of assisting in operations against the enemy men for the next few days.
Robert N. Jewett
Captain Corps of Engineer.
Photos (Gunter) November 15 2009
Aug
31
2009
The following is a report of the action taken by Task Force Hansen (99th Infantry Battalion Separate)(Norwegian Vikings) in the vicinity of Malmedy, Belgium, December 1944.
Sunday, December 17 1944 at 1800-H the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) less A Company moved to Malmedy from Tilff for the propose of blocking the further advance of the Germans in that sector. Attached to this Battalion was the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion and B Company of the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion to form Task Force Hansen. Lt Col Hansen and Maj Bjornstad proceeded ahead of the Battalion and arrived in Malmedy at 3130-H. By that time the town had been evacuated by all military personnel with the exception of approximately 60 men of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion under the Command of Lt Col Runkin. The Engineers had established road block consisting of mines and were prepared to dynamite bridges and trees to further block the approaches to the town.
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Aug
30
2009
Bulge : center part, Stavelot – 18 Dec 1944
December 18 1944 : Arrived at Stavelot 0400-H 18 December 1944. Picked up Maj Paul J. Solis and Lt Pehovic from Battalion Headquarters. Company and one Platoon of Tank Destroyer on road on outskirts of Stavelot, Maj Solis, Lt Pehovic and myself went into town to get situation from the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion that was in the town (with support of elements of the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion) at the time. They had a road block (two 3 inches gun from 825th TDB) across the river on the hill and it had be fired on and the men retreated back in town. I sat up our Command Post in the Engineer Building near the bridge (the Amblève River bridge was already wired an ready to be blown).
- At 0430-H I sent 2nd Platoon and a section of TD’s route #4 to the left to the Engineer’s road block. I sent the 3rd Platoon at the same time along route #4 (Stavelot – Vaux Richard – Lodomez) to the right to establish a road block at the road junction. The 1st platoon positions around the Command Post for internal security. The Antitank platoon and the Tank Destroyer platoon and the Tank Destroyer less one section of guns, was held in reserve to be used as situation warranted.
Aug
18
2009
Category : Germany
After Action Report – 82nd Airborne Division – May 1945
1 – Narrative
By nightfall, April 30, 1945, the 82nd Airborne Division had established a small bridgehead east of the Elbe River in the vicinity of Bleckede, Germany. This bridgehead had been established by the 505th Prcht Inf Regt in a splendid example of coordination and river crossing technique by a veteran regiment.
During the night of April 30 – May 1, the plan was to build up sufficient forces from the 504th Parachute Infantry, which was arriving by train approximately five hours from the Elbe River, so as to attack out of the bridgehead with that regiment by daylight. One battalion of this regiment arrived at the bridgehead by 0430-H and with a full appreciation of the value of time it jumped off at 0500-H, the regiment being reinforced during the day by the later arrival of its other battalions. Troops completing the 4 – 6 day train trip from the Koln area were immediately en trucked and taken into the bridgehead. Then, after being briefed and issued ammunition, they were committed to the attack. It was obvious that the German was disintegrating rapidly and it was of the utmost importance that regardless of the physical condition of our troops, the momentum of our drive be maintained until the enemy was completely destroyed or overrun.
Aug
04
2009
Category : War Conferences
JOINT FOUR-NATION DECLARATION
The governments of the United States of America, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China;
- United in their determination, in accordance with the declaration by the United Nations of January, 1942, and subsequent declarations, to continue hostilities against those Axis powers with which they respectively are at war until such powers have laid down their arms on the basis of unconditional surrender;
- Conscious of their responsibility to secure the liberation of themselves and the peoples allied with them from the menace of aggression;
- Recognizing the necessity of insuring a rapid and orderly transition from war to peace and of establishing and maintaining international peace and security with the least diversion of the world’s human and economic resources for armaments;
Jointly declare :
- 1. That their united action, pledged for the prosecution of the war against their respective enemies, will be continued for the organization and maintenance of peace and security.
- 2. That those of them at war with a common enemy will act together in all matters relating to the surrender and disarmament of that enemy.
- 3. That they will take all measures deemed by them to be necessary to provide against any violation of the terms imposed upon the enemy.
- 4. That they recognize the necessity of establishing at the earliest practicable date a general international organization, based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states, and open to membership by all such states, large and small, for the maintenance of international peace and security.
- 5. That for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security pending the re-establishment of law and order and the inauguration of a system of general security they will consult with one another and as occasion requires with other members of the United Nations, with a view to joint action on behalf of the community of nations.
- 6. That after the termination of hostilities they will not employ their military forces within the territories of other states except for the purposes envisaged in this declaration and after joint consultation.
- 7. That they will confer and cooperate with one another and with other members of the United Nations to bring about a practicable general agreement with respect to the regulation of armaments in the post-war period.
Jul
17
2009
The 102nd Infantry Division was activated on September 15 1942 at Camp Maxey, Texas and moved on September 16 1943 to the 3rd Army #4 Louisiana Maneuvers. It was then transferred to Camp Swift, Texas on November 18 1943, arrived at Fort Dix, New Jersey, June 23rd 1944, staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, September 6 1944 until departed the New York Port of Embarkation on September 12th 1944.
The 102nd Infantry Division arrived in France on September 23rd 1944, crossed into Belgium on October 31st; crossed into Holland the same day and entered, finally, Germany on November 29th 1944.
When war was over, the 102nd Infantry Division returned to the New York POE on March 11th 1946. It was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on March 12th 1946.
Campaigns : Rhineland, Central Europe
August 1945 Location : Gardelegen (Hannover) Germany
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Jul
13
2009
CHAPTER II
Planning the Counteroffensive
Details of the Plan
About 25 September Generalorberst Alfred Jodl was ordered to begin a detailed analysis of the Hitlerian concept, the only function now left to the great General Staff. Some latitude remained to the individual staff officers and those favored few in the high echelon of command who retained access to the Führer in kneading and shaping the very general outline handed down by Hitler into an operations plan. The outline as it now had taken shape contained these major points :
- (a) the attack should be launched sometime between 20 and 30 November;
- (b) it should be made through the Ardenne in the Monschau – Echternach sector;
- (c) the initial object would be the seizure of bridgeheads over the Meuse River between Liège and Namur;
- (d) thereafter, Antwerp would be the objective;
- (e) a battle to annihilate the British and Canadians would ultimately be fought north of the line Antwerp, Liège, Bastogne (1);
- (f) a minimum of thirty divisions would be available, ten of which would be armored;
- (g) support would be given by an unprecedented concentration of artillery and rocket projector units;
- (h) operational control would be vested in four armies and two panzer armies abreast in the lead, two armies composed largely of infantry divisions to cover the flanks;
- (i) the Luftwaffe would be prepared to support the operation;
- (j) all planning would aim at securing tactical surprise and speed;(k) secrecy would be maintained at all costs and only a very limited number of individuals would be made privy to the plan.
Jun
29
2009
HEADQUARTERS, 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION
Office of the Division Surgeon
A.P.O. 449, c/o Postmaster
New York, New York
28 January 1945
SUBJECT : Medical History, 99th Infantry Division.
TO : The Surgeon General, US Army, Washington, DC
(Through Technical Channels).
The Medical History of the 99th Infantry Division for the calendar year 1944 is submitted in compliance with instructions in paragraph 6, AR 40-1005, Circular Letter No. 168, 1942, No. 81, 1943, Office of the Surgeon General, and Circular Letter No. 143, 1944, Office of the Chief Surgeon, ETO, United States Army.
Jun
27
2009
UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II
Stetson Conn, General Editor
Advisory Committee
(As of 1 July 1964)
- Fred C. Cole
Washington and Lee University
- Lt Gen August Schomburg
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
- James A. Field, Jr.
Swarthmore College
- Maj Gen Hugh M. Exton
US Continental Army Command
- Earl Pomeroy
University of Oregon
- Brig Gen Ward S. Ryan
US Army War College
- Theodore Ropp
Duke University
- Brig Gen Elias C. Townsend
US Army Command and General Staff College
- Lt Col Thomas E. Griess
United States Military Academy
- Office of the Chief of Military History
Brig Gen Hal. C. Pattison, Chief of Military History
Chief Historian, Stetson Conn
Chief Histories Division, Col Albert W. Jones
Chief Editorial and Graphics Division, Col Walter B. McKenzie
Editor in Chief, Joseph R. Friedman
… to Those Who Served
Jun
26
2009
Category : Belgium
Let me tell you about this lovely little Belgian city called : La Roche. Nestling in a leafy setting on the banks of the Ourthe River, La Roche, the Jewel of the Ardenne, has a fascinating past, a wealth of history, legends, and even a ghost. We know the La Roche area was already inhabited in Neolithic times, 20 centuries before our own era. The ancient Belgæ built an oppidum (hill fort) on this rocky outcrop, where the castle now stands. In 57 BC, Ardenne like Gaul had to submit to the yoke of Rome. A fortlet was built to replace the oppidum. Excavations in La Roche have found coins dating from the time of Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) and Constantine II (AD 337-340). Taking advantage of the decline of Rome, the Franks, a Germanic people, invaded our country in the 5th century. Under the Frankish occupation in the 8th century, Pepin of Herstal turned the Roman fort into a hunting lodge. The first castle was built in the 9th century and was at its peak between the 12th and 17th centuries. In the following century, faced with attacks from the French, the castle was turned into a fortress. After 1721, a slow decline set in. A proposal to restore it was made in 1744, but never came to anything. Abandoned and neglected, the castle fell into ruin. Excavation started here in 1995, projected to finish by the end of 1999. There is a project afoot with plans already drawn up for a partial reconstruction.
Jun
18
2009
The Red Ball Express was a gigantic convoy system created by Allied forces to supply their forward-area combat units moving through Europe following the breakout from the D-Day beaches in Normandy. The term “Red Ball” was a railroad phrase referring to express shipping. The system lasted only three months, from August 25 to November 16, 1944, when the port facilities at Antwerp, Belgium were opened. The term Red Ball is often used incorrectly to refer to all WWII European supply convoys by historians and the veterans themselves.
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