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Post by connie on Jan 27, 2009 20:31:23 GMT -5
Thought that this might be an interesting continued topic that others could add to... The topic will change with today's date and since members of the 106th were in the ETO about a year (or less), dates won't repeat. December dates will recount events of 1944. The rest of the dates will remember what people were doing and where they were during 1945. Of course some dates will be skipped, but when you wish to jump into the conversation you can add to info on a date already commented on or choose to tell something about the date you see before you on the calendar (only in 1944-45). Just be sure to be clear on the date you're remembering:
JANUARY 28, 1945
For a good many in the division this was another day of captivity in a German POW Camp. And, I understand that for some, imprisonment meant walking but never settling in to any camp.
For others, after more than a month of fighting, the bulge had been pushed back and the pre-bulge lines re-established. From what I'm piecing together, the 592nd Field Artillery Battalion, firing in support of the infantry that remained was probably located around Am Kreuz Belgium, some 1500 feet above sea level. Around this time 6 new inches of snow fell to top the two feet already on the ground. And, yes, with the mail service in the midst of the war, the IRS did come through with tax forms!
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Post by connie on Feb 8, 2009 16:38:16 GMT -5
Thursday, February 8, 1945
Obviously, most out there will not have much in the line of information on specific dates at this point. You may need to save chiming in for memorable historic dates ahead of the troops at this time. But, you may find something here to comment on.
I can tell you that it was raining today where the field artillery was -- and presumably where the infantry was, too. They could not have been far apart. "More and More rain..." Not welcome...
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Post by connie on Feb 13, 2009 11:05:29 GMT -5
Tuesday 13 February, 1945
The reports of continuous rain were naturally followed by a report of deep mud today...
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Post by connie on Feb 16, 2009 3:17:34 GMT -5
16 February, 1945
It seems important to note here that those who were now listed as "missing" had not been forgotten by those who remained behind.
By now, at least in some parts of the division, network of officer's wives had connected with each other. I don't know who else had established contact. But these women were keeping each other posted, and inquiries and information flowed from them to the men who remained free to continue the battle.
All waited for any scrap of information they could get on the fate of the missing. Learning that someone was a POW would not seem like great news. But, when the fate of so many was unknown, this was news that was preferred to the alternative...
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Post by connie on Feb 21, 2009 11:03:16 GMT -5
21 FEBRUARY, 1944
Those in the division who remained free to wage war, continued to do so. But, they were now advancing.
And, around this time some people began to get leaves to places like Paris. It would be interesting to hear reflections on these leaves. It's a wide open topic... I have no idea how they chose whose turn it was for a leave... did they transport groups by truck or train?... Did it feel disorienting after months of combat and few baths to approach civilized living again? Where did you stay in Paris? Where there other places you were sent? For those back home, do you remember gifts found on these R&R leaves? I've seen photos taken in Paris... How did they gather you for these? Many had lost dress uniforms, etc. in the Bulge. Was finding something to wear/ pack a trick? How long did these leaves usually last? You get the idea. The questions are unlimited. If you have anything to share, it will answer questions -- asked and yet unasked.
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Post by floydragsdale on Apr 11, 2009 21:11:35 GMT -5
Hello:
I don't recall that any of us had a pass to Paris, London, or anywhere until the war ended.
In fact, late in February, I received two telegrams giving the news that my Mother had died and another one that same month, about a week later, stating that my father had died. - - - Duty went on as usual.
I went to our Company Command Post to see what my options were. There were none!
I returned to the foxholes to worry and wonder about how things were back home.
Finally, a third telegram came, in March, stating that my mother was alive; it was my father who had passed away. What a screwed up mess that was.
When we were guarding German prisoners, after the War ended, people in our Company began to get passes to Paris.
A Soldier could'nt go to Paris in his fatigue clothes, so new dress uniforms were issued. Yet, where and how I don't remember.
Floyd
2nd Btn. 424th Infantry
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Post by connie on Apr 13, 2009 12:29:50 GMT -5
I can only begin to imagine how helpless you felt in the midst of the deluge of bad news and confusion. And then not being able to go home and help or do your own grieving. The war took its toll in ways most of us had not even imagined.
It seems a bit mundane after this to return to the subject of passes to Paris. But, I know that they happened for some. Recently a medic informed me that he believed that at this time some of the units were given a few 3-day passes for which they held some kind of lottery type draw.
Your note on the issuing of new dress uniforms makes sense. I hadn't even been thinking about dress uniforms -- just clean clothes after living in the same ones throughout the Bulge. If dress uniforms were required, that would have been a trick. I know that many who avoided captivity to fight again, escaped with only the clothes on their backs.
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Post by connie on May 9, 2009 12:16:14 GMT -5
Here we are. May 8, 2009 -- 64 years after VE day May 8, 1945!
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Post by connie on Jun 6, 2009 10:07:35 GMT -5
JUNE 6, 1944 -- D-Day
It's hard to miss this date today. It is 65 years after the D-Day storming of the beaches in France.
Most of the men of the 106th listened to the news from Camp Atterbury in Indiana. It would be 6 months before the division would reach France as a division. But, many who started out in the 106th would be sent as replacements for divisions.
I cannot begin to imagine the mingling of emotions as the news of that day reached home...
As, on Memorial Day, I remember those we lost that day. Victories come with a huge price tag. Our gratitude to the men who fought this day and to those who followed them and who faced the German Counter- Offensive can never be adequate... But, I hope it helps in some small way to know that there is a generation beyond you that remembers what you did and what you endured and thanks you.
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Post by connie on Jun 6, 2009 10:18:07 GMT -5
I'll add some links. The Army has an excellent D-Day site with a list of links to other sites, photos, an Eisenhower address, and a 9 minute clip with actual film with men who were there remembering their experience in the narration that put with this footage. If your computer is like mine, it takes forever to download this film clip with those long annoying pauses between little bits of film and narration. I recommend starting the process and going off to polish your car or fold laundry for a bit. I think that when you return you should be able to hit replay and get a smooth viewing without the pauses. www.army.mil/d-day/The caption on the army site below the link to the film clip has these words: "June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded -- but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler." |
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Carl W.
Active Member
Administrator
The Golden Lions
Posts: 265
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Post by Carl W. on Jun 6, 2009 14:08:52 GMT -5
In between studying I have been following the reports from Normandy today and have thought alot about the brave men and women who 'did D-Day in 1944'.
Check out some of the videos here if you get the chance:
note; 2020. Sorry, this link no longer works. You had to be here when it was news!
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Post by connie on Oct 9, 2009 12:16:46 GMT -5
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Post by connie on Oct 9, 2009 12:56:58 GMT -5
OCTOBER 9 - 11, 1944(I've seen it reported as October 9 & 10 or 10 & 11 but sometime around this date...) On this date in division history, the 106th Infantry division left Camp Atterbury in Indiana bound for a secret destination which turned out to be the embarkation camp known as Camp Myles Standish near Taunton Massachusetts. There are a couple of links to info on the destination at 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dates&action=display&thread=140Any packing/ travel/ arrival memories to share?
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Post by connie on Dec 1, 2010 12:48:47 GMT -5
December 1, 1944
On the 30th of November my father and the members of the 590th Field Artillery Battalion left their quarters near Gloucester England and moved to ships and shore facilities near Portland Harbor on the Isle of Portland (across from Weymouth.)
Today, December 1, 1944 was when they set out on LST's to cross the English Channel, heading for France.
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Post by connie on Apr 3, 2011 11:20:44 GMT -5
April 1
According to the list in The Cub of the Golden Lion Passes in Review of Outstanding Dates and Command Locations:
15 March 1945 division command moved to St Quentin, France, when the division was pulled back for R & R
1 April command moved to Rennes, France as it began training reconstituted units and watching the Germans in the by-passed ports.
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Post by connie on Oct 16, 2011 12:16:31 GMT -5
October MovesNo matter what unit in the 106th Infantry Division someone was in, there were moves in October of 1944. Around the same time in early October that the Advance Parties were headed for the ETO the rest of the division made their way to Camp Myles Standish in Massachusetts. The division's infantry also left Massachusetts for the ETO in October. Tomorrow, the 17th of October marks the anniversary of that day in 1944 when the first batch of these infantry troops shipped out. The division's artillery units, medics, band, and special forces made only one move in October -- to Camp Myles Standish. They would not ship out until November. For More info on the Atlantic Crossings, check out the Voyages under this "Dates and Places in Division History." 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dates
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Post by connie on Nov 17, 2011 19:09:23 GMT -5
November 17, 1944 - Wakefield landingOn this date in 1944, the last of the 106th Infantry Division troops arrived in England, landing in Liverpool. 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dates&action=display&thread=138Early on in my search, it felt like a big discovery to learn, with the help of current division historian John Schaffner, that this was the ship that my father (with the division artillery and others) sailed on after leaving Camp Myles Standish. It was pretty common knowledge at the time but new and exciting info to me. In post censorship accounts written by Dad, our "discovery" was confirmed. I am grateful to all those in the division who helped me with my early questions and never thought a question too basic to ask. Connie
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Post by connie on Nov 5, 2014 11:59:58 GMT -5
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Post by connie on Jan 2, 2016 19:37:41 GMT -5
January 1, 1945
On this date the 589th Field Artillery Battalion and the 590th Field Artillery Battalion officially ceased to exist (until their reconstitution in April). Those who remained from these two units had cobbled themselves together early in the Bulge. These men were officially transferred to slots in the 591st and 592nd Field Artillery Battalion beginning January 1, 1945.
Most of the members of the 590th (in Headquarters, A, B, and C Batteries) had been trapped on the Schnee Eifel with members of the 423rd Infantry Regiment and were surrendered around the same time. A few members of the Service Battery of the 590th were also trapped there after a 2nd ammunition run on the 16th of December. Members of the 590th Service Battery had joined up with the remnants of the 589th outside St. Vith on the 17th. Some of them were with the members of the 589th who defended Parkers Crossroads. Some continued to supply the remainder of the 589th through the rest of December.
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