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1

Home

Our collage of 45th Infantry Division past and present; original and reenacted. Also short introduction to the 45th ID.

2

Who We Are

A brief explanation of who the World War II Recreation Association is, as well as the 45th Infantry Division Reenactors.

3

Volunteers wanted

Information for people interested in helping the Association, Venturing Crew, Veterans History Project and 45th Infantry Reenactors.

4

Venturing Crew 1941

An explanation for youths and adults about the Boy Scouts of America, World War II Venturing Crew sponsored by the WWIIRA.

5

Living History at Fort Miles, Delaware as the 261st Coast Artillery

The 1st US Infantry Division, the 33rd Signal Construction Battalion and the 45th US Infantry Division reenactors have come together to bring Fort Miles, Delaware alive, as the 261st Coast Artillery Regiment, Delaware National Guard Living Historians.

6

45th Reenacting Resources

Getting started in World War II reenacting can be confusing. There is a lot of things you should know. This section has some of what the 45th Infantry Division Living Historian needs to know.

7

Schedule of Events

A list of events relevant to the WWIIRA, and affiliated groups.

8

45th Division History

Main history page that ties together, Division Organization, Congressional Medal of Honor Citations;personal stories from veterans of the 45th; Summaries of the Campaigns and Battles the 45th Infantry Division participated in; and the recommenced reading list.

9

45th Infantry Division Organization

(Under Construction) Explains the relationship and composition of the individual units that make up the 45th Infantry Division.

10

Congressional Medal of Honor Citations

Medal of Honor citations for the eight members of the 45th Infantry Division who were awarded this honor: Van T. Barfoot, Ernest Childers, Almond E. Fisher, William J. Johnston, Jack C. Montgomery, James D. Slaton, Jack L. Treadwell, Edward G. Wilkin.

11

Personal Histories of Members of the 157th Infantry Regiment

Remembrance's of Veterans of the 157th Infantry Regiment; including a brief Combat history of the regiment.

12

World War II Combat History of the 157th Infantry Regiment

A Brief Combat History of the 157th Infantry Regiment, compiled by LTC Hugh Foster III (U.S.Army Ret.)

13

Letters home from John W. Kendall Jr. (H Company, 157th Infantry Regiment)

John W. Kendall was drafted in February 1941 and assigned to H Company, 157th Infantry Regiment. He makes it to the end of the war with the regiment.

14

Interview of Murray Levine (G Company, 157th Infantry Regiment)

Murray Levine of New Hempstead, NY, passed away in 1999. He was a veteran of the 45th Infantry Division and a former prisoner of war. He was captured by the Germans at Anzio. In 1998 he was interviewed by Aaron Elson.

15

The Story of Ray H. Drullinger (F Company, 157th Infantry Regiment)

Ray volunteered for service in the United States Army, being the second Washington County man to enlist for such service. He was not inducted, however, until January 16, 1941. Ray was assigned to F Company, 157th Infantry Regiment, a Colorado National Guard outfit.

16

An Interview With Bill Shaw (K Company, 157th Infantry Regiment)

This is a transcript of a recorded interview present are Bill Shaw, his wife, daughter and son-in-law. It covers the events of his wife from meeting his wife through the war.

17

Newspaper Article About General Felix Sparks (3rd Battalion Commander)

General Sparks describes how an incident on Easter Sunday, 1944, strengthened his resolve to build within this nation a more highly trained Reserve.

18

Newspaper account of Stephen Burbage Jr. (K Company, 157th Infantry Regiment)

Stephen Burpage Jr. was a Browning Automatic Rifleman in K Company, 157th Infantry Regiment from May 1944 till taken out of the line with Trench Foot in December 1944.

19

Memories of Dr. Peter Carl Graffagnino ( 2nd Battalion Surgeon)

Dr Graffagnino joined up with the 157th Infantry Regiment at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He was captured at Anzio, Italy.

20

Gerald Hall Photo Collection (Mechanic, 157th Infantry)

A collection of photos that belonged to Gerald Hall, a mechanic in the 157th Infantry Regiment; from Italy through Germany. There is also an article written by his son about his Dad.

21

Newspaper Article About Private Bob Sheridan

An article from New York's NewsDay, a human interest piece about Bob Sheridan and his wife and his bronze star medal.

22

Remembrance's from Cpl. Paul Butler

Paul Butler Volunteered in 1941, and was assigned to the Anti-Tank Company, 157th Infantry Regiment. He made it all the way to the end with the 157th.

23

Article about Douglas Studebaker (I&R Platoon)

An article from the 45th Division News about an incident with members of the 157th's I&R platoon.

24

Vere Williams Autobiography (K Company)

Vere Williams was activated with the 157th Infantry Regiment Colorado National Guard and served with them into France. He received 6 Purple Hearts and the Silver Star.

25

State's 'unsung heroes' of W.W.II

Article in the Denver Post on the 157th Infantry Regiment, published at the time of the 2001 Reunion.

26

Louis "Cody" Wims, Autobiography

He was a member of G Company 157th Infantry Regiment. From Ft. Devens, MA. to Reipertsviller, France where he was taken POW through his liberation.

27

BG Russel Weiskircher's memories of WWII

He arrives on the scence at Anzio, gives Ike his Long Johns and is boosted over the wall at Dachau by Lt Col Sparks.

28

YOUNG AND DISCIPLINED -THE LIFE STORY OF A SOLDIER WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR ii

29

Personal Histories of Members of the 179th Infantry Regiment

Remembrance's of Veterans of the 179th Infantry Regiment; including a brief Combat history of the regiment.

30

World War II Combat History of the 179th Infantry Regiment

A Brief Combat History of the 179th Infantry Regiment,(Under Construction)

31

Memoirs of William "Bill" Prince (L Company)

Bill was a replacement to L Company, 179th Infantry Regiment in Fall 1943. He served till May 1944 where he received wounds due to German Grenade.

32

Newspaper Account of Paul J. Joulwan (H Company)

Article about Paul Joulwan who arrived as a replacement in H Company, 179th Infantry Regiment. In September 1943. He was captured at Anzio, Italy and ultimately survived Stalag VII-B near Memmingen, Germany.

33

34

Leonard L. Neely (Anti-tank Company)

Recollections from joining the National Guard, through getting wounded near Maximeau.

35

Remembrance's from Pfc. Cordino Longiotti (D Company)

Assigned to the 179th Infantry Regiment as a replacement in Sicily, he was captured at Anzio. Spent time at Stalag VII-B, but volunteered for farm duty.

36

Wartime Journals of Private Paul Brown (Service Support Company)

A member of 179th Infantry regiments Graves registry section, journal entries from 8 Sept. 1943 till 30 May 1944.

37

A brief biography of Gen. Micheal Shannon Davison (1st Bn Commander)

An article originally printed in Assembly Magazine; Association of West Point Graduates July/August 1997 Issue.

38

The Story OF Floyd Dumas (Company unknown)

Went overseas with the 179th regiment and was captured near Anzio, Italy and later Escaped.

39

Personal Remembrances from SSG Emmet Elden Davis (I Company)

An original member of the mortar platoon, Item Company, 179th Infantry Regiment; and served with the 45th through September of 1944.

40

A Memorial of Brig Gen. George M. Donovan (H Company)

started as a private in the 179th in Sept., 1940 and received a battlefield commission in France 1944. He also served in the post war 45th ID.

41

Lynn Randels (Anti-tank Company)

A favorite pin up of some members of the 179th Infantry Regiment.

42

Lynn E. Gerber Remembers September Eleventh (company unknown)

Lynn Gerber, 179th Infantry regiment remembers a September 11th; 60 years before.

43

Recollections of Dominic Moscarelli (B Company, 179th Infantry Regiment)

Assigned to B Company in late 1944 and served as a scout through Munich and Dachau.

44

The Diary of Ray Sherman (K Company, 179th Infantry Regiment)

Covers his induction, training, waiting at replacement depot, His arrival just before Anzio, His capture and time as a POW, till May 1945

45

SSG Arville Weldon Littleton (A Company, 179th Infantry Regiment)

Assigned to the 45th Division, 179th Infantry, Company A and went overseas to war. He saw action in North Africa, Italy, and France. Killed in Action 12 September 1944.

46

T/Sgt. Llewellyn Chilson

A member of the 179th Infantry regiment one of the most decorated soldiers of World War II. (Under construction)

47

LT Robert M. Barnhart

Fall of 1944 Joined the 179th Infantry Regiment of the Thunderbirds.
During the last week of September 1944, I became the Platoon Leader of the 3rd Platoon of Baker Company.

48

Personal Histories of Members of the 180th Infantry Regiment

Remembrances of Veterans of the 180th Infantry Regiment; including a brief Combat history of the regiment.

49

World War II Combat History of the 180th Infantry Regiment

A Brief Combat History of the 180th Infantry Regiment,(Under Construction)

50

Brief Biography of Col. Jack Treadwell (G Company, 180th Infantry Regiment)

A compilation of three speeches given by Colonel Jack Treadwell.

51

Autobiography of Ray McAllister (C Company, 180th Infantry Regiment)

Was assigned as a replacement to the 180th Infantry, while in the winter line, Italy. Was made a platoon Medic till just short of Germany.

52

Grandson tells of Howard Aldrich (D Company, 180th Infantry Regiment)

Spent three weeks in Combat in March 1945, till wounded.

53

Tom Mathews Former POW (E Company, 180th Infantry Regiment)

Sent to Anzio as a replacement for the 45th ID, was captured in September 1944 and spent 7 1/2 months as a POW.

54

Personal Histories From Elsewhere in the Division

Personal stories of men from Division HQ, Support units, or we have not yet identified thier unit.

55

Bill Mauldin (120th QM, 180th IR., 45th Division News, Stars and Stripes)

A brief Biography of the artist who brought us Willie and Joe.

56

Angelo Casertano (Unit unknown)

A news paper article about Angelo Casertano meeting relatives in Italy.

Wilson Kale (Unit unknown)

An article about Wilson Kale and other members of his Chickasaw family that served in World War II.

Herb Alexander, excerpts from letters to his daughter

Served in the 120th quartermaster from activation through Germany

59

Interview with Eloy Bacca

Served in C Company 120th Engineer Battalion

60

Interview with Ernesto Padilla

Served in F Company 120th Engineer Battalion

61

"Soldier's Prayer" By Allan Osbourne Sr.

62

History of COMPANY B 120th MEDICAL BATTALION

History of B Company 120th Medical Battalion, from activation to Munich, Germany. B Company primarily supported the 179th Infantry Regiment.

63

Personal Histories From Division Artillery

Personal memories of the members of the Artillery staff and the four Artillery Battalions

64

The Letters of Captain Harold F. Kleindienst

Letters written home from Harold Kleindienst, a forward observer for the 189th Field Artillery Battalion and latter on Divarty Staff.

65

Captain Kleindienst's Forward Observer notebook

Contains notes and instructions for the time frame of the Break out at Anzio

66

A skein of recollections by James R Bird

Mr Bird was with A Battery, 160th Field Artillery Battalion from Virginia through Germany.

67

189th Field Artillery Band

Some photos and documents from Archie Grubb a member of the band.

A Brief Combat History of the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Highlights from the Combat record of the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

69

The Letters home of Sgt. Frank Hromadka

70

Combat Load of the Average Infantryman

A short reference to the equipment used by the infantrymen of World War II

Battles and Campaigns of World War II

An Introduction to the Battles and Campaigns the 45th Infantry Division fought in during World War II

Sicily 9 July - 17 August 1943

This brochure was prepared in the U.S. Army Center of Military History by Andrew J. Birtle and gives an overview of the entire Sicily campaign.

DIARY OF THE SICILIAN CAMPAIGN [removed at families request]

BY BRIGADIER GENERAL RAYMOND S. McLAIN ,45th INFANTRY DIVISION ARTILLERY COMMANDER

10 JULY TO 28 JULY, 1943
CAMPAIGN ENDED ON 19 AUGUST 1943

Naples - Foggia 9 September 1943 - 21 January 1944

This brochure was prepared in the U.S. Army Center of Military History by Col. Kenneth V. Smith and gives an overview of the entire Naples-Foggia campaign.

Anzio 22 January - 24 May 1944

This brochure was prepared in the US Army Center of Military History by Clayton D. Laurie and gives an overview of the entire Anzio campaign.

Rome - Arno 22 January - 9 September 1944

This brochure was prepared in the US Army Center of Military History by Clayton D. Laurie and gives an overview of the entire Rome - Arno campaign.

Southern France 15 August - 14 September 1944

This brochure was prepared in the US Army Center of Military History by Jeffrey J. Clarke and gives an overview of the entire Southern France campaign.

Rhineland 15 September 1944 - 21 March 1945

This brochure was prepared in the US Army Center of Military History by Ted Ballard and gives an overview of the entire Rhineland campaign.

Ardennes - Alsace 16 December 1944 - 25 January 1945

This brochure was prepared in the US Army Center of Military History by Roger Cirillo and gives an overview of the entire Ardennes - Alsace campaign.

Central Europe 22 March - May 11 1945

This brochure was prepared in the US Army Center of Military History by Edward N. Bedessem and gives an overview of the entire Central Europe campaign.

Winterline, Italy November 1943 to January 1944

A reworking of Center for Military History Publication 100-9 covering the actions of the 45th Infantry Division.

SUMMARY OF THE FIGHT AT REIPERTSWILLER, JANUARY 1945

The following summary of the Battle of Reipertswiller was written by, and is used here with the permission of, LTC.(Retired) Hugh Foster III. Mr. Foster is in the process of writing a book devoted to this battle, which almost decimated the 157th Infantry Regiment.

Recommended Reading list

This website will never contain all that there is to know about the 45th Infantry Division, but we have a list of books that can help you learn more.

45th Separate Infantry Brigade Iraqi Freedom

1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment providing security for Patriot Missile batteries In Kuwait.

Veterans, Now and Then photo gallery

Photographs of the Chain of command, and Thunderbirds from Division Headquarters, Support units, and those whose unit I do not know; from during the War and after.

Veterans, Now and Then 157th Infantry Regiment

Photographs of Thunderbirds from the 157th Infantry Regiment

Veterans, Now and Then 157th Infantry Regiment page two

Photographs of Thunderbirds from the 157th Infantry Regiment

Veterans, Now and Then 179th Infantry Regiment

Photographs of Thunderbirds from the 179th Infantry Regiment

Veterans, Now and Then 179th Infantry Regiment page two

Photographs of Thunderbirds from the 179th Infantry Regiment

Veterans, Now and Then 180th Infantry Regiment

Photographs of Thunderbirds from the 180th Infantry Regiment

Veterans, Now and Then Division Artillery

Photographs of Thunderbirds from the Division's Artillery units; 158th Field Artillery Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Battalion, 171st Field Artillery Battalion, and 189th Field Artillery Battalion.

Gilbert Wailes Photo gallery (A Battery, 160th Field Artillery)

Photographs taken by Gilbert Wailes a member of the 160th FA Bn. donated by his son William Wailes.

Lewis Long Photo Gallery (C Battery,171st FA Bn.)

Photographs taken by Lewis Long a member of the 171st FA Bn.near the end of the war through boarding the ship for the USA.

Veterans , Now and Then 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Photographs of the members of the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Photos from Sicily and Italy

Photographs from the Sicily and Italy where the Thunderbirds tread.

Photos from France

Photographs from France where the Thunderbirds tread.

Photos from Germany

Photographs from Germany where the Thunderbirds tread.

Living Historian Photo introduction

Reenacting Photos

Photos of the WWIIRA's Reenactors and displays.

Reenacting Photos FIG 2004

Photos from the reenactment/living history at Fort Indian Town Gap 2004

45th Veterans Reunion information

presently information on a past 157th reunion; page is under renovation for update.

Main Links page

From this page you will have a choice of 45th Infantry Division related websites; W.W.II history websites; Reenacting websites; Military Associations websites; Boy Scouts and Community websites; W.W.II suppliers websites.

45th Infantry related website links

Contains links to websites related directly to the 45th Infantry Division; including the Museum in Oklahoma City, modern National Guard units, Personal websites of W.W.II Veterans, and Korean War websites.

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