Looking for Capt. Jack Chitwood – 106th/3rd/42nd

[jjmessina]

I'm helping my Dad search for Captain Jack Chitwood (or John? or Chittwood?)
They served together in WWII in the 106th - 3rd Army Division - 422nd Regiment, Headquarters Company.

My Dad is (former) Private John J. Messina, and was a POW.
And he was Captain Jack's jeep driver -- the were heading to St. Vith during the Battle of the Bulge and were captured and taken prisoner by the German's on December 16, 1944.

The were POW's in Stalag IV-B in Muhlberg, Germany.

Anyone know of Captain Jack Chitwood? My Dad thinks he was originally from Georgia?

Thanks,

Jack

[Carl W.]

Hi Jack

I found this on the Social Security Death Index:

JACK CHITWOOD
Born: 18 Oct 1915
Died: Oct 1985
Last known address: 33458 (Jupiter, Palm Beach, FL)
SS: 253-30-1366 Georgia

It could be him?
Was your father in the 422nd Infantry Regiment?

Best regards
Carl

[jjmessina]

Hi, I think my dad meant 422nd but either I heard 42nd -- or he misspoke. Whichever I have to go back to him and find out.

Were you in the 422nd?

Thanks for the info,

Jack

[Carl W.]

Hi Jack,

no I was not in the 106th. I'm currently 20 years old
The man in my profile picture was in the 422nd Regt, 3BN HQ Company, A&P Platoon.

All the best
Carl

[connie]

Birthdays are my signal to check out old posts. I added Pvt John Messina to the Site Soldier Index. A check of the roster found him listed in the Roster with a number of references cited. www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/Rosters/RosterZOHO.htm The 422nd was the unit. If you have your Dad's serial number you can verify that this is him. But the odds seem good.

Captain Jack Chitwood is still a mystery... There was a Chitwood from the 422nd listed in the roster. But the first name isn't right. The rank is not listed. Of course this is not a complete roster and does not exclude the fact that he could have been a Captain in the 422nd. But I'm also looking at page 6 of The Cub of the Golden Lion Passes in Review. This page has the list of the top officers in the 422nd with their battalions. Skimming down this I do not see a Captain Chitwood listed in any of the 3 regiments of the 106th . The Captain of 3rd Bn Hq Co of the 422 is listed as Captain Clair R. Ernst. Of course this was a snapshot in time and may have missed a change. (Can anyone else shed light on this?)
Connie