If you provide your dad's name, I can check it. On Sunday, April 29th, 1945, the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division liberated the Dachau concentration camp, near Munich, Germany. If you see this and check out your roster I would love to know what you find. [39] The division was then reassigned to V Corps, under the command of Major General Leonard T. Gerow, for its next advance. Holocaust Memorial Museum provides information about which units liberated which camps on their, Recognition of U.S. Liberating Army Units, Re: Seeking Roster for 45th Inf Division WW2. 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. The 45th, in turn, was under constant artillery and mortar attack. 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. Attachments 79th Infantry Division, 03.01.1945-17.01.1945 & 22.01.1945-29.01.1945, 19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Inside this website you will find over 100 pages of Maps History and Photographs of the World War Two Thunderbirds. The dates after the campaign name are the dates of the campaign not of the division. 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. Headquartered mostly in Oklahoma City, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. Some of those photos match the area where Operation Dragoon was executed. Lucas sent famed U.S. Army Ranger leader Colonel William Orlando Darby to assume command of the 157th Infantry, and the Germans were repulsed. "On 20 May, the Regiment was incorporated under the Dachau Area, Command. We suggest if the search does not find the name you are seeking, also search manually . After Action Reports. Please type your message and try again. [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. Additionally, only about 20 percent of its personnel had prior experience of military service from World War II. 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. 45th Infantry Division. Confessed murderer Frank Sheeran later recalled his war service as the time when he first developed a callousness to the taking of human life. They assumed he meant the more well known D-Day in Northern France in June 1944, but what he was actually talking about was the D-Day in Southern France in August 1944. [52][53] Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division engaged the dispersed forces of German Army Group G, suffering very few casualties. Does anyone in the family have his discharge papers that confirm he was a member. The division was organized in 1923, and Oklahoma members camped together for the first time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1924. Their bodies were left behind in various locations throughout Germany. 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. The division remained a National Guard formation until its downsizing in 1968. Markham. Artillery and the four Artillery Battalions) and did not find his name. We saw many dead bodies on the ground. [112] Around that time, the 45th Infantry Division relinquished command of Old Baldy Hill to the 2nd Infantry Division. [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. The 45th Infantry Division guardsmen saw . [108], Initially, the division did not fare well, though it improved quickly. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Southern France, Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Rhineland. 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. Courtesy of the 45th Infantry Division Museum. Division (105mm Howitzer), 01.12.1944-03.12.1944 & 20.01.1945-07.02.1945, 12.03.1945-20.03.1945 & 30.03.1945-01.04.1945, 06.11.1944-09.11.1944 & 28.11.1944-05.12.1944, 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry . One of our soldiers told his family about his participation in D-Day in France. [125], As of 1 August 1950, the division consisted of 698. 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. [45] The next three months were spent on the defensive, with the 45th engaged in trench warfare, alike to that in World War I. 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. Documents: All of the files from The 45th Division in World War II: The Thunderbirds Facebook Group in searchable PDF format plus other documents. That's the most information, all in one place, nailing things down to a specific place and time, that I've seen on Dad. 42nd Infantry Division - "The Rainbow Division" 43rd Infantry Division "Winged Victory Division" 44th Infantry Division 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird" 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and fire" 65th Infantry Division - "The Battle-Axe Division" 66th Infantry Division -"Black Panther Division" The 45th Infantry Division was formed in 1924 from National Guard units in the southwestern United States. The 45th Division was deployed on the southeastern side of the beachhead, along the lower Mussolini Canal.[45]. [103] Though the division was no longer an "All-Oklahoma" unit, leaders opted to keep its designation as the 45th Infantry Division. [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. Your relative might have been told at the time that his unit was liberating a Dachu camp and it just stuck that it was "the" Dachu camp instead of one of its many sub camps. 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. 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. Slowly advancing through Italy, they fought in Anzio and in Monte Cassino. Washington, DC 20024-2126 [56] During the next month, the division remained in Munich and set up collection points and camps for the massive numbers of surrendering troops of the German armies. [33] For most of the first two weeks while the division moved slowly north, it encountered only light resistance from Italian forces fighting delaying actions. 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. Slowly advancing through Italy, they fought in Anzio and the Beachhead breakout to the capture of Rome. City and State: HUNTLEY MT 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. 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. Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths in World War II, Final Report, 1 December 1941 - 31 December 1946. However, everyone at that time had heard of Dachu so it is what stuck in people's minds. They took part in intense fighting during the invasion of Sicily and the attack on Salerno in the 1943 Italian Campaign. On April 29, 1945, three US Army divisions converged on the camp: the 42nd Infantry, the 45th Infantry, and the 20th Armored. 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. Keywords: Korean War, 45th Infantry Division, Thunderbirds. 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. Click the image to view the campaign. News of Dachau's liberation spread swiftly. 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. Read more about the division insignia and there nickname. [42] For this mission, CCA (Combat Command A) of the 1st Armored Division was attached to the 45th Infantry Division. I've always wondered why there is a 3rd ID patch on his uniform when his discharge indicates 75th ID. They had few soldiers left, very little ammunition, and even food was running out in some places. [117] One soldier from the division, Charles George, was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving in Korea. 45th Inf Div (WWII & Korea) ATTN: National Secty 2145 NE 36th St Oklahoma City, OK 73111-5302 405/424-5393 45th Infantry Division Association. [107] The division suffered its first casualty on 11 December 1951. 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. Based in Oklahoma City and one of the first National Guard units to be activated for World War II, from the shores of France and all the way to Berlin liberating Dachau along the way, they later served in the brutal Korean War. I know it is old but thought Id try to reach out. Then the Wehrmacht mule drivers were given shovels and ordered to "dig their own shallow graves". The 45th participated in its fourth assault landing, 15 August 1944, at St. Maxime in Southern France. This explains the book he had on the 180th Regiment. He described often witnessing similar behavior by fellow, Orders from unit commanders during a mission. 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 [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. In March 1945, the "Thunderbird" division crossed the Rhine River and headed southward. [48] The U.S. Although the information contained in the following pages is not specific to the 45th Infantry Division, it presents an accurate overview of each campaign. In the 45th Division Bill Mauldin 45th Division NewsAngelo Casertano UnknownWilson Kale UnknownHerb Alexander 120th QuartermasterEloy Bacca C/ 120th EngineersErnesto Padilla F/ 120th EngineersAllan Osbourne Sr UnknownHistory B Company 120th Medical Bn. and see if I can find a CIB for your dad. Armored Division, 409th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry We have no records for him other than his registration card and photos. These cars were an assortment of odd boxcars, some of which were locked, and some were coal-car type. [111], In the division's first few months on the line, Chinese forces conducted three raids in its sector. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Sicily. Since its inception, Native Americans from the tribes of Oklahoma have served in the National Guard with pride and honor. Major General Roy Hoffman took command in 1931, followed by Alexander M. Tuthill, Alexander E. McPherren in 1935, and William S. Key in 1936. Just that, no other details. [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. 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. [62] The cremation ovens, which were still in operation when the soldiers arrived, contained bodies and skeletons as well. The 45th Infantry Division was reassigned to VI Corps on New Year's day. After investigating the incident, the Army considered court-martialling several officers involved, but Patton successfully intervened. 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. The proximity of the US Army gave hope to the prisoners in the camp and to anti-Nazis outside it. 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. [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. 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 . Circumstance may have prevented that. Raymond, Allen D. 1st Battalion, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division 200. Divisional information [42][46] VI Corps was stopped at the "Pimlott Line" (the perimeter of the beachhead), and the fight became a battle of attrition. [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. The division received seven distinguished unit citations and eight campaign streamers during the conflict. In his effects was a hard cover book, similar to school year books, of the 180 Infantry, 45th Division, published in Munich,1945. [80][121] The 45th Infantry Brigade received all of the 45th Division's lineage and heraldry, including its shoulder sleeve insignia. However, with the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, with its infamous swastika symbol, the 45th Division stopped using the insignia. Nora Drewry wrote on January 10, 2014. Rosters for units serving in World War II from 1944 - 1946 were destroyed in accordance with Army disposition authorities. 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. Devers. & 1st Platoon, Recon Company). In World War II, following stateside training at Camp Barkley, Fort Sill, Camp Devens, the 45th Infantry Division landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943. 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. [94] Its anti-aircraft and armor assets were used as mobile artillery, which continuously pounded Chinese positions. 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. You can not post a blank message. In Section 1, Item 1, where it asks which items you are requesting, please check Other and specify that you want the entire file. Possibly because he had enough points to be shipped home. [63] Accounts conflict over what happened and over how many German troops were killed. 1st Cavalry . 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. On 23 May, VI Corps, now commanded by Major General Lucian Truscott, went on the offensive, breaking out of the beachhead to the northeast, with the 45th Division forming the left half of the attack. [109] It also conducted constant small-unit patrols along the border seeking to engage Chinese outposts or patrols. [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] 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. 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. [91] As a result, in February 1951, the 45th Infantry Division was alerted that it would sail for Japan. Nonetheless, I do have a roster of the 45th Infantry Division for 1945. However, please note that these records are not online and NARA is not staffed to do this level of research for you. [94] The division was awarded four campaign streamers and one Presidential Unit Citation. To search PDF documents, download and open in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Adobe is unable to convert all 75 year old text to searchable text. 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. Documents. I have two rosters of the 45th Division plus several Excel worksheets of men who served in the division. . Please check NARAs web page about COVID-19 updates for the latest information. It had left Buchenwald four weeks earlier on April 7 filled with more than 5,000 prisoners. Casualty figures for the 45th Infantry Division, European theater of operations: The 45th Infantry Division gained its nickname, "Thunderbird" division, from the gold thunderbird. These pages are built and maintained by the World War II Recreation Association with membership in Northern Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. No record of Clarence E. LaHayne in the June 1945 Roster of the 45th Infantry Division nor. Eisenhower wanted as many as possible to witness the camps. I have his army serial # as well if that would help. [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. Veterans and next of kin of deceased veterans also may use eVetRecs to request records. [37][40], On 3 November it crossed the Volturno River and took Venafro. Divisional troops On 7 December 1945, the division was inactivated from the active duty force and its members reassigned to other Army units. Raymond B Company, 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion 382. Rosters. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Naples-Foggia. [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. While Sheeran's unit was climbing the Harz Mountains, they came upon a Wehrmacht mule train carrying food and drink up the mountainside.
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