Before the 106th

[connie]

During the summer of 1944 more than half of the manpower of the 106th was plundered for replacements in other divisions. These men were then replaced before the division shipped out.

So, over half the men in the division when they hit the ETO were relatively new to the 106th Infantry Division.

Others arrived as replacements for the division later in their time in the ETO.

Here's a place to compare notes on where these men came from and when they arrived in the division.

Thus far, notes below include:
* Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) - reply 1
* Costal Artillery - reply 2
* 65th Infantry Division- reply 3
* Division Band Origins - reply 4
* 208th Field Artillery Regimental Band- reply 4
* 817th Ordinance Base Depot Company- reply 5: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=unit&thread=641&page=1#2895

[connie]

One soldier from another division had his interviewer hold this up, saying it was the symbol of the ASTP program. I also see it on the front of the book "Scholars in Foxholes" (link at the bottom of this post)

Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP)
Wikipedia info on ASTP: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Specialized_Training_Program
Article on ASTP by Louis E. Keefer (Author of Scholars in Foxholes) www.pierce-evans.org/ASTPinWWII.htm
Book: Scholars in Foxholes: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4789/thread

Some of the men who joined the 106th shortly before they shipped out were from this program. At least 2 had been room mates at Vanderbelt U. before they were sent to the 106th. One (Frederick Smallwood) is searching for the other (John Maloof):
106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=looking&action=display&thread=39

OTHERS FROM THE 106th WHO CAME FROM THE ASTP PROGRAM

Balch, George 423 A, POW IXB 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5015/thread
Entering the Army in 1942, basic training in Salt Lake City, he was selected in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) for basic engineering at Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kan., and completed three semesters before the program was cancelled and he was reassigned to the infantry.

Black, Ewell Jr , Chaplain 422-A POW XII A, IV B, work camp at Gleina . 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5026/thread

Bell, Harry Homer Jr. PFC 422 F was sent to Auburn U. by this program before it was disbanded and he was sent to the 106th as a mortar gunner: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4844/thread

Doxsee, Gifford B., Cpl., 423rd, 3rd Battalion Hq Co, Signal Corps Unit; POW IV B, Slaughter House 5, Gorbitz, Dresden was also part of the ASTP program: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/2766/thread

Kline, John P. Sgt 423 M Heavy Machine Gun Squad Leader; POW IV-B (1 wk); VIII-A; Journey on foot was in the ASTP right after basic training. From his personal history: "I was inducted into the Army of the United States. My Infantry Basic Training was completed at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. I was then sent to the University of Alabama for the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP).In March 1944 the Army Specialized Training Program was deactivated. I was sent to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, along with about 1,200 other ASTP students to join the 106th Infantry Division who were just coming off Tennessee Maneuvers."
(For more on John Kline's history see: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/2959/thread

It appears that PFC Charles Purington 423 H. may also have been in the ASTP program: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4635/thread

oldiers from this program are also mentioned by Floyd in the last paragraph of reply #3 on this thread.

Link to an interview with a soldier from the 422nd who was in ASTP and joined 106th during maneuvers: 106thdivision.proboards.com/thread/911/marino-anthony-422-hq-pow

During his part in a video-taped interview Kurt Vonnegut (423rd) tells of being in the ASTP before being sent to the 106th Infantry division: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/3804/thread

Widdicombe. Robert, PFC, 423-I, POW IX-B, Begra began his service in the ASTP program; see link to bio under Berga's 106th Connections: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5141/thread

[connie]

American Coastal Artillery en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Coast_Artillery_Corps

A post on this message board includes speculation that Charles Helwig 423 L may have been a member of the Costal Artillery
before he was assigned to the 106th.

A labeled photo and a medal lead toward this conclusion: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/1114/thread
106thdivision.proboards.com/post/1108/thread

Lucian O. Love 331 Medical Battalion, Company D. may also have been in the Costal Artillery off the Aleutian Islands before heading to the ETO with the 106th. His great grandson is currently assembling info from the family, attempting to get records, etc. : 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4519/thread
This edit added June 2018

[floydragsdale]

65th Infantry Division

I was in Company B, 260th Regiment of the 65th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The 69th Div, and 442nd Japanese Regimental Combat Team were located there also as well as several Corps Artillery Outfits.

In nine months we (65th. Div.) had been through Basic Training, Unit Training, and maneuvers. We were a team, well disciplined and like a well oiled machine.

In early May of 1944, my name was posted on our Company Bulletin Board as an extra man on a shipping list. A total of 1,400 men were on that list. When the train pulled away from the platform at Camp Shelby, I was left standing there.T Seven "extra" men were on that list. This Soldier was the only " extra man" they didn't take. Many men on that list were form the 65th Div. and they took part in the D Day invasion. Thus I missed the invasion on the Coast of France by the count of one man. A number of my fellow soldiers, on that list, were wounded or K.I.A on the beaches of Normandy, France in the D day action..

During August 1944, my name appeared on another shipping
list. This time I boarded the troop train which was destined for Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Company G of the 424th Regiment of the 106th Division was my new outfit.

Approximately six weeks later we, the 106th Division, were on our way overseas. At that time I was still getting acquainted with the men in my squad and platoon.

Many of the newly arrived Soldiers soldiers in the 106th were in the Armys' A.S.T.P. program and DID NOT have Infantry Basic training. This fact, I discovered, as all of us were getting to know each other.

Floyd
424th Regiment


PS. From Connie: Floyd told a humorous story about his time in basic training entitled "Basic Training and the Lizard:" 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/3774/thread

[connie]

Division Band Origins

The obituary on Ellis Leighty, who became a member of the 106th Infantry Division Band reports that before the 106th:

He joined the 123rd Field Artillery Band when it was formed on April 11, 1937, and with it was mustered into service as a part of the 33rd Infantry Division, Illinois National Guard on March 5, 1941.

Following Pearl Harbor, structural changes in the makeup of Infantry Divisions caused the 123rd to be reassigned as the 208th FA Regimental Band of 3rd Army Corps. Ellis rose through the ranks to become top sergeant (rank of tech sergeant) and assistant band director, a rank held through the remainder of his Army service.

In 1943, structural changes eliminated regiments in Corps Artillery, and so his band unit along with the 204th FA Regimental band (a Utah National Guard band) moved to Camp Jackson, South Carolina, where the 106th Infantry Division was being formed as fully functioning bands. Both bands were later merged to become the Division band.
[/i]

see: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=other&action=display&thread=585

[connie]

817th Ordinance Base Depot Company

PFC James C. Hanson apparently joined the 106th Infantry Division as part of the 159th Infantry Regiment (attached to the division in mid March of 1945). Prior to this he was part of the 817th Ordinance Base Depot Company.

History on the 817th Ordinance Base Depot Company is hard to come by on the internet. If anyone has more info on this unit, I'm sure it would be appreciated.

It appears that Hanson's time with the unit began in Texarkana, Texas. A web search does yield a Red River Army Depot there at the time (and now). A List made by Hanson seems to be a partial list of places where he was with this unit in 1943:
Aug 11 (I assume 1943) Left Texarkana
Aug 13 arrived Newport News VA
Aug 20 left Newport News VA
Aug 25 arrived Newfoundland
Aug 28 left Newfoundland
Sep 4 arrived Liverpool England
Sep 5 left Liverpool England
Sep 5 arrived Plympton, Marshmills
Sep 10 left Plympton, Marshmills
Sep 10 arrived Camp Northway Ashchurch
Sep 10 left Camp Northway Ashchruch
Other clues indicate that the company hit the continent in July of 44.

Conversations on Hanson's history: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=looking&action=display&thread=795

[connie]

Symbol for the ASTP program added above

[jrwentz]

According to the National World War II Museum all of the 1100 Army Air Forces Aviation Cadets were sent to the 106th. Among my Dad's records is a Special Order from Colonel Cavender dated April 22, 1944 assigning Dad and approximately 200 other men to specific Companies in the 423rd. I assume this was just to make it official since the effective date was 18 April 1944. The lists of men and assignments takes up five oversized pages.

[connie]

This sounds like an amazing document to have in your possession!

[jrwentz]

My intention is to get a good scan and post the info here but that may be a while. Just returned from a 15-day road trip with much to do before we leave again. Some good details on where the soldiers were stationed and the type of training they were receiving before they were transferred to the 106th.