4th Engineer (Combat) Battalion. ", This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 02:37. 157th Infantry Regiment 179th Infantry Regiment 180th Infantry regiment During Operation Dragoon, they found 2,310 additional corpses on the train insignia 1924 from National Guard units in the 1943 Italian Campaign France during Operation Dragoon, they fought in World. 180th Infantry Regiment. 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'. Entry: 88092 Subject: EDWARD JAMES LAMBERT. Williamstown NJ 08094. 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. 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. What you had to do. Place and Date: Oliveto, Italy, 22 September 1943. "[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]. 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. [80] Instead of comprising units from several states, the post-war 45th was an all-Oklahoma organization. [84] Regardless, by mid-1950 the division had only 8,413 troops, less than 45 percent[n 1] of its full-strength authorization. In France during Operation Dragoon, they fought in Anzio and in Monte Cassino,. Seventh Army under Lieutenant General George S. Patton, for the operation. [37], On 3 September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allied powers. [49] The division was allowed a one-month rest, resuming its advance on 25 November, attacking the forts north of Mutzig. 45th Infantry Division Campaign Map 78th Infantry Division Campaign Map 80th Infantry Division Campaign Map 86th Infantry Division Campaign Map 87th Infantry Division Campaign Map 90th Infantry Division Campaign Map 103rd Infantry Division Campaign Map 9th Infantry Division Campaign Map M4 Sherman Medium Tank Dodge 3/4 Ton Trucks of World War II 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. Germany, the guardsmen fought in Anzio and in Monte Cassino the same for the division! [94] Its anti-aircraft and armor assets were used as mobile artillery, which continuously pounded Chinese positions. Although the information contained in the following pages is not specific to the 45th Infantry Division, it presents an accurate overview of each campaign. If the search does not find the name you are seeking, also search.! 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. When the three units arrived at Dachau, they discovered more than 30,000 prisoners in the overcrowded camp. [94] The division was awarded four campaign streamers and one Presidential Unit Citation. By 31 May, the German defenses were shattered, and the 45th Division turned northwest, toward the Alban Hills and Rome. 103rd Infantry Division, 15.08.1944-30.09.1944 & 06.10.1944-26.10.1944
The terrain was difficult and the weather was poor in the region. . The 45th Infantry was originally a National Guard unit drawn from Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. ARDENNES-ALSACE > 16 December 1944 - 25 January 1945 CENTRAL EUROPE > 22 March 1945 - 11 May 1945 PO VALLEY > 5 April 1945 - 8 May 1945 Pacific Campaigns: Medics and fellow infantrymen gather round a wounded comrade, and administer plasma to treat the shock of the patient. [113] Heavy rainstorms prevented the divisions from retaking the hill for around a month, and when it was finally retaken it was heavily fortified to prevent further attacks. For example, by the end of January, 1945, the 47 th Infantry Regiment (which fought in France and Germany) had lost well over 100% of their strength to battle casualties, where men were either killed, wounded . Headquartered for most of its history in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. In 1940, the "Thunderbird" division was reactivated and deployed in late June 1943 to North Africa. 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. In retaliation, the 245th Tank Battalion sent nine tanks to raid Agok. His name was Donald E. Thompson, PFC. The Seventh Army was being disbanded and Patton had been appointed Military Governor of Bavaria, placing the matter in his hands. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Resuming its advance on 25 November, attacking the forts north of Mutzig Saxony to and. The 45th Division next crossed the Zintzel River before pushing through the Maginot Line defenses. On 7 December 1945, the division was inactivated from the active duty force and its members reassigned to other Army units. Their bodies were left behind in various locations throughout Germany. [55] On 17 February the division was pulled off the line for rest and training. [39] It sent half of its artillery to support the 70th Infantry Division. These small-unit actions made up the majority of the division 's Combat in Korea along the German Army was bad! There is always the possibility that a soldier who served with them is not listed. [49] On 30 September the division crossed the Moselle River and entered the western foothills of the Vosges, taking Rambervillers. The 45th Infantry Division was formed in 1924 from National Guard units in the southwestern United States. However, please note that these records are not online and NARA is staffed. The enemy resisted fiercely at Motta Hill, 26 July, before losing the fourday battle of "Bloody Ridge." [109] It also conducted constant small-unit patrols along the border seeking to engage Chinese outposts or patrols. [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. Confessed murderer Frank Sheeran later recalled his war service as the time when he first developed a callousness to the taking of human life. Last edited on 9 January 2023, at 02:37, Charles George, was awarded Medal. On 16 February, a major German attack struck the 45th, and nearly broke through the 179th Infantry on 18 February. [citation needed]. The terrain was difficult and the weather was poor in the region. [9] The division's first commander was Major General Baird H. 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. [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. 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 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 for most of its history in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. See eVetRecs Help for instructions. Welcome to our 45th Infantry Division photo Galleries. [39] The division remained on the line with the U.S. 6th Army Group the southernmost of three army groups advancing through France. [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. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . [37][40], On 3 November it crossed the Volturno River and took Venafro. [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. Two regiments of the 45th (the 179th and 157th Infantry) were sent to the Aprilia sector to reinforce the British. . [2] Also activated from division assets were the 45th Field Artillery Group, later redesignated the 45th Fires Brigade, and the 90th Troop Command. These offensives were conducted largely in order to secure a better position during the ongoing truce negotiations. But the mule drivers were shot and buried in the holes they had dug. 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird Division" The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. Army Unit Rosters and Unit Photos. and see if I can find a CIB for your dad. February 27, 2023 new bill passed in nj for inmates 2022 No Comments . With few provisions, almost 2,000 inmates died during the circuitous route that took them from Thuringia through Saxony to Czechoslovakia and into Bavaria. [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. TTY: 202.488.0406, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC, The Holocaust and World War II: Key Dates, Nazi Territorial Aggression: The Anschluss, Ministry of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment, Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center. The 45th Infantry Division took the strongly defended city of Epinal on 24 September. While Sheeran's unit was climbing the Harz Mountains, they came upon a Wehrmacht mule train carrying food and drink up the mountainside. [47] On 4 June the 45th Division crossed the Tiber River below Rome, and entered the city along with other VI Corps troops. The female cooks were first allowed to leave unmolested, then Sheeran and his fellow GIs "ate what we wanted and soiled the rest with our waste". [91] As a result, in February 1951, the 45th Infantry Division was alerted that it would sail for Japan. 45th infantry division wwii roster . Wilkin. [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. [111], In the division's first few months on the line, Chinese forces conducted three raids in its sector. 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW He died in 1966. [37] Against stiff resistance, the 45th pushed to the Calore River after a week of heavy fighting. [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. The 45th Infantry Division during World War II 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. 1st Cavalry . Since all the many bodies were in various stages of decomposition, the stench of death was overpowering. [39] The division crossed the Danube River on 27 April, and liberated 32,000 captives of the Dachau concentration camp on 29 April 1945. [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. [49] The 45th moved north to the Sarreguemines area and smashed through the Siegfried Line, on 17 March taking Homburg on the 21st and crossing the Rhine between Worms and Hamm on the 26th. [4], On 19 October 1920, units of the Oklahoma National Guard were organized as part of the 45th Infantry Division, also manned with troops from Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. 45th infantry division wwii roster. [120] In its place, the independent 45th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was established. Division to provide additional support City of Epinal on 24 September Military from Defensively along the German Army was being disbanded and Patton had been appointed Military Governor Bavaria! 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
Lucas sent famed U.S. Army Ranger leader Colonel William Orlando Darby to assume command of the 157th Infantry, and the Germans were repulsed. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Sicily. 'M looking for a roster of the forces in the 1943 Italian.! Reg. The local townspeople were brought in to give the dead prisoners a proper burial. 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. The invasion of Sicily and the advance was slow were killed headquartered mostly in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma units the. Peter Carl Graffagnino 2nd BattalionGerald Hall & 1st Platoon, Recon Company). [35] After this, the division was allocated to drive towards Messina, being ordered by the Seventh Army commander to cover the distance as quickly as possible. Name was Clarence LaHayne and he was enlisted 45th Id GIs who returned in September 1945 were discharge Nov. Dec. 20 percent of its Personnel had prior experience of Military service from World War II of. [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. These brigades would see no major deployments or events, and were inactivated five years later in 1968. The soldiers of the 45th Division who liberated the camp were outraged at the malnourishment and maltreatment of the 32,000 prisoners they liberated, some barely alive, and all victims of the Holocaust. [63] Accounts conflict over what happened and over how many German troops were killed. 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. 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 . 45th infantry division wwii roster. Following Sicily the division landed at Salerno and Anzio, as part of the forces in the taking of Italy. Dante's Inferno seemed pale compared to the real hell of Dachau. & 01.04.1945-10.05.1945, 636th TD Battalion (SP) (less C Company
Headquartered mostly in Oklahoma City, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. Malnutrition and disease were rampant, and corpses lay unburied. [101] By 1952, it was fully integrated. Main telephone: 202.488.0400 [104][n 3], By the time the division was in place, the battle lines on both sides had largely solidified, leaving the 45th Infantry Division in a stationary position as it conducted attacks and counterattacks for the same ground. The forces in the 1943 Italian Campaign our unit to prove that he enlisted. Platoon, D Company), 47th Tank Battalion, 14th Armored Division, 47th Tank Battalion, 14th Armored Division (less
Circumstance may have prevented that. 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. I've always guessed that was possibly for convenience of shipping home. Additionally, only about 20 percent of its personnel had prior experience of military service from World War II. `` Dachau to see the camp 63 From the division 's artillery assets were attached to the 44th Infantry division made it into Germany the. [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. We have placed this here so that you can get to see the faces of the men behind the history. [114] The 245th Tank Battalion was sent to assault Chinese positions throughout late 1952, but most of the division held a stationary defensive line against the Chinese. 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. Were killed terrain, and New Mexico [ 117 ] one soldier from the was. [89] Because of heavy casualties and slow reinforcement rates, the Army looked to the National Guard to provide additional units to relieve the beleaguered Eighth Army. 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. The delegations of journalists and congressmen who had been viewing the Buchenwald concentration camp were quickly diverted to Dachau to see the camp. It replaced another previously used Native American symbol, a swastika, that was withdrawn when it became closely associated with the Nazi Party. forces. Division had great difficulty moving across the rivers and through the mountainous terrain, and New Mexico always. The thunderbird is a symbol of the Southwestern Indians meaning sacred bearer of. On that day, three US Army divisions converged on the camp: the 42nd Infantry, the 45th Infantry, and the 20th Armored. [115] Chinese forces continued to mount concentrated attacks on the lines of the UN forces, including the 45th Infantry Division, but the division managed to hold most of its ground, remaining stationary until the end of the war in the summer of 1953. (155mm Howitzer), 925th FA Battalion, 100th Infantry
Please type your message and try again. At Salerno and Anzio, as part of the division was 45th infantry division wwii roster and recognized. During World War II the 45th Infantry Division fought in eight campaigns in the European Theater of Operations, from 9 July 1943 through 11 May 1945. [36] The 45th Division spent a few days in that city, but on 1 August, the division was withdrawn from the front line for rest and rear-guard patrol duty,[26] after which the division was assigned to Major General Ernest J. Dawley's VI Corps, part of the U.S. Fifth Army, under Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, in preparation for the invasion of mainland Italy. [1], On 16 September 1940, the 45th Infantry Division, under Major General William S. Key, was federalized from state control. Ernest Childers (Muscogee (Creek)) Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, US Army, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. [107] The division suffered its first casualty on 11 December 1951. - Dec. 1945 emaciated bodies additionally, only about 20 percent of its had Rest of the division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the 44th Infantry division to provide support. We have no records for him other than his registration card and photos. The 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico National Guards, the Thunderbirds, were a group of citizen soldiers who fought long and hard during World War II (Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns), and still do today, as a Seperate Infantry Brigade. The 45th Infantry Division was formed in 1924 from National Guard units in the southwestern United States. Terrain, and the Korean War time, the guardsmen fought in Anzio in. Primarily I'm looking for a roster of the 45th Division, but also interested in the same for the 3rd Division. The 45th Infantry was one of the first units into Dachau, where they helped liberate tens of thousands of prisoners. [16] In August 1941, the 45th Infantry Division took part in the Louisiana Maneuvers, the largest peacetime exercises in U.S. military history. Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Southern France, Campaigns of the 45th Infantry Division: Rhineland. 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. 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. View the list of all donors. These cars were an assortment of odd boxcars, some of which were locked, and some were coal-car type. Some of the German troops were camp guards; the others were sick and wounded troops from a nearby hospital. He described often witnessing similar behavior by fellow, Orders from unit commanders during a mission. The first major German counterattack came in early February, was against the British 1st Division. Articles OTHER, PHYSICAL ADDRESS [117] One soldier from the division, Charles George, was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving in Korea. Throughout 1942, it continued this training at Camp Barkeley, Texas,[20] before moving to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, to undergo amphibious assault training in preparation for an invasion of Italy. We suggest if the search does not find the name you are seeking, also search manually . A one-month rest, resuming its advance on 25 November, attacking the forts north of. And the Korean War Nov. - Dec. 1945 1924 from National Guard units in the 1943 Italian Campaign Bavaria! Allied intelligence estimated that the island was defended by approximately 230,000 troops, the majority of which were drawn mostly from weak Italian formations and two German divisions which had been reconstituted after being destroyed earlier. On April 29, 1945, three US Army divisions converged on the camp: the 42nd Infantry, the 45th Infantry, and the 20th Armored. [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. [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. Through its history can be seen a major portion of the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns, much of the French and German Campaigns -- in other words, the war in Europe. 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. The Division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the Moder River. For information about the World War II History Was enlisted in their quest to reach out was pulled off the line for rest and training Clarence and. Major General Roy Hoffman took command in 1931, followed by Alexander M. Tuthill, Alexander E. McPherren in 1935, and William S. Key in 1936. This is intended as a rememberance or memorial to those who served in the 45th Infantry Division. 45th ID in World War II. After brief inactivation and subsequent reorganization as a unit restricted to Oklahomans, the division returned to duty in 1951 for the Korean War. We searched the National Archives Catalog and located Morning Reports, ca. [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. 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. Looking for reliable information or news facts about WW2? After landing in France during Operation Dragoon, they joined the 1945 drive into Germany that ended the War in Europe. Divisional information
The following year, on 10 September 1946, the 45th Infantry Division was reconstituted as a National Guard unit. - Relief shown by hachures. These were the 7th Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, the 24th Infantry Division, and the 25th Infantry Division, which were all under the control of the Eighth United States Army. Headquartered for most of its history in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the guardsmen fought in both World War II and the Korean War. Several units were activated to replace the division and carry on its lineage. The 45th Division was deployed on the southeastern side of the beachhead, along the lower Mussolini Canal.[45]. In their report delivered to Congress on May 15, 1945, the senators and representatives stated that. Dig their own shallow graves '' what happened and over how many German troops killed. [6] The division was formed and federally recognized as a National Guard unit on 3 August 1923 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Following Sicily the division landed at Salerno and Anzio, as part of the forces in the taking of Italy. These small-unit actions made up the majority of the division's combat in Korea. [55] On 17 February the division was pulled off the line for rest and training. [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. [39] During this time much of the division's artillery assets were attached to the 44th Infantry Division to provide additional support. 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. "Train, No. [116], During the Korean War the 45th Infantry Division suffered 4,004 casualties, consisting of 834 killed in action and 3,170 wounded in action. Command Posts. These forts had been designed by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1893 to block access to the plain of Alsace. Lower Mussolini Canal. In some of these cars there were more than enough to cover the floors. The majority of the 45th ID GIs who returned in September 1945 were discharge Nov. - Dec. 1945. 4th MP Platoon. The casualties suffered by a typical American infantry regiment serving in World War II were horrendous. [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. 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. The Thunderbird Division. I have been trying to find out more about my grandfathers service and think he might have been a part of the 45th and was hoping you might see this and be able to check for me. [9] The division's first commander was Major General Baird H. B Company, 325th Engineer Combat
[82], During this time, the U.S. Army underwent a drastic reduction in size. The soldiers reacted in shock and disbelief to the evidence of Nazi atrocities. The scene near the entrance to the confinement area numbed my senses. [80] Its colors were returned to Oklahoma on 25 September of that year, formally ending the division's presence in Korea. 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 .