Carr, Russell Robert PFC

[connie]

I am posting a message sent me by Russell Carr's son:

Hi Connie

I am Jeff Carr and looking for anything about my father PFC Russell Robert Carr (died 1969) I came to you because of this e-mail I got from the 255th Inf:

Jeff: I found your grandfather, Pfc Russell R. Carr, 36373276. He was assigned to K Company 255th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division on 28 August 1945. He came from the 106th Infantry Division and was assigned to the 63rd for movement back to the US. Our records show K Company rather than I Company. Other than that I have no further information about his service in WWII. Perhaps you can contact the 106th Infantry Division Association and they may have something. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance. Fred Clinton Webmaster 63rd Infantry Division.

And this is what I know of his history before the 106th

I have two pictuers of my father during the war. On one of them he is standing with two other soliders, one of the soliders you can make a patch. After taking a good look with lots of light I could make out what looked like a trangle. I looked at a web site of WWII patches and found a match. It was a 7th "Army" patch. I know that Army groups changed during the war often, but was the 106th ever in the 7th army? and if yes does this help and does it fit my time line of when I think he went to the 106th. Or could it lead me back to a earlier time? Also on his separation papers it list his military occupational as "operator 636-514, observer Intelligence Radar. Any clue as what this is. Also his Decorations are listed "European African Middle Eastern Theater ribbon w/4 Bronze Battle Stars, 5 overseas service bars. Does any of this help. Also central europe and the rhineland.

I also know he was in Sicilian and Rome Arno from his discharge papers and I think he came to the 106th in very late 1944 because he spoke of the battle of the bulge.

My father had Red hair was 5 foot 9 in. and came from chicago
any help you give would be of great help. It would something if someone know him or at else anything about his time in the 106th and where was he before, so that I could look there also.

Thank you very much
Jeff Carr

[connie]

Jeff,

Many of the records from the 106th Infantry Division were destroyed during the war. Much of what is known has been pieced together. Questions and bits of information like you have sometimes lead to answers.

Do you know the date your father first entered the service?

Do you have any letters from him during his time in the service?

Return addresses don't give the division name but the division is easily found from the unit within the division. Those are a part of the return address.

It sounds like you believe that your Dad was in another unit (?) before being transferred to the 106th and that in August of 1945 he was transferred from the 106th Infantry Division to the 63rd Infantry Division. You have some detail on unit assignments within the last division. (I'm assuming that these were on the discharge papers.) But you are looking for information on his time with the 106th Infantry Division (and possibly on the unit he was with before being assigned to the 106th.)

I hope others will join in on exploring the clues you have. Others may know the specific job description you have listed.

I have only speculation on two bits of info. The fact that his assignment after the 106th was within an Infantry Regiment, leads me to guess that he may have been assigned to an Infantry Regiment within the 106th. If this is the case, the fact that he was around in 1945 for reassignment leads me to believe that the highest probability is that he was within the 424th Infantry Regiment. The bulk of the division's other 2 infantry regiments were taken captive during the war.

Connie



note: I have also posted a link to this thread in the section under Unit Specific Discussions that deals with "After the 106th": 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=unit&thread=633&page=1#2233

[Jim West - Indiana Military Or]

If you can scan and send me a copy of your Father's photo, I'll add it to his record in the 106th Roster.

Jim West