158th Field Artillery Battalion, distinctive insignia, WW2 160th Field Artillery Battalion, Distinctive insignia, World War II 45th Division Artillery, distinctive insignia, WW2

45th Division Artillery


photo gallery

 45th Division Artillery, distinctive insignia, WW2
171st Field Artillery Battalion, distinctive insignia
 189th Field Artillery Battalion, distinctive insignia, WorldWar II


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These photos are intended as a rememberance and memorial to those who served in the 45th Infantry Division Artillery units. Some of them were placed here by family members looking for information about thier loved ones wartime experiences. If you have any information that you can share or you would like to add someone to our photo-gallery please E-mail:
WWIIRA History Department.
Brigadier General Raymond Mc Lain
Description Brigadier General Raymond Mc Lain
LTC Arnote S-3, Brig. Gen. Meyers Comander, Col. Kinney Executive officer
Description LTC Arnote S-3, Brig. Gen. Meyers Comander, Col. Kinney Executive officer; Courtesy Linda Kleindeinst
45th Division Artillery staff
Description 45th Division Artillery staff, Mother's day 1945; Courtesy Linda Kleindeinst
Captain Kleindienst, Lt. Bissel
DescriptionCaptain Kleindienst, Lt. Bissel in front of the 45th Infantry Division HQ Munich 1945
Capt. Herman Grizzle
DescriptionCapt. Herman Grizzle, pilot flew 263 recon missions
Capt Ralph H. Mengel II
DescriptionCapt Ralph H. Mengel II
1Sgt. Bill M. Collins
Description 1Sgt. Bill M. Collins
Paul Christy Waddle
Description Paul Christy Waddle, died 06 November 1943
C
Description C
D
DescriptionD
E
DescriptionE
F
DescriptionF

158th Field Artillery Battalion

158th Field Artillery
Description 158th Field Artillery, Kingfisher Oklahoma upon activation 1940
Paul Reller 158th Field Artillery
Description Paul Reller 158th Field Artillery
Paul Reller and friend
Description Paul Reller and friend, Top hats and a Zundapp motorcycle
Paul Reller and friend, tophats again
DescriptionPaul Reller and friend, tophats again
Robert Albright 158th field Artillery
DescriptionRobert Albright 158th field Artillery
Francis Ligget
DescriptionFrancis Ligget POW ID
Robert Utzler
Description Robert Utzler, 158th Field Artillery, Battery B
Anzio article
Description Anzio beacghead article, 159th FA
PFC Anthony Valenzano
Description 30 December 1943.
"PFC Anthony Valenzano, New York City, Battery C, 158th FA Bn. builds his puptent with plenty of protection. Partly underground and surrounded by shell cases filled with dirt."
Venafro Area, Italy.
Photo by Lapidus, 163rd Signal Photo Company. SC 186877, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
men of B Battery, 158th Field Artillery Battalion
Description18 December 1943
men of B Battery, 158th Field Artillery Battalion, "take a break sitting around the natural rock cave in which they live." Pozzilli Sector, Italy, .
Photo by Bell, 163rd Signal Photo Company. SC 184724, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
Albert V. Williams
DescriptionAlbert V. Williams, member of Battery A, 158th Field Artillery Battalion
John L. Wilson
DescriptionJohn L. Wilson, along Moussolini canal Anzio, Italy
Joe Douthitt
Description Sergeant Joe Douthitt, Frank Douthitt Father Jack Douthitt Brother 11 January 1942 Comanche, Oklahoma. Later 1stSGT Joe Douthitt, C Battery, 158th Field Artillery Battalion. Personnel Roster, 3 January 1944.
B
Description B
C
Description C
D
DescriptionD
E
DescriptionE
F
DescriptionF

160th Field Artillery Battalion

2Lt. E. Diamond
Description 2Lt. E. Diamond, next to 105mm Artillery shells, Hampton Roads port of embarkation 24 May 1943
Italian Flag
Description Italian Flag belonging to Peter Rombaut HQ btty 160th Field Artillery
close up of signatures
Description close up of signatures on the Italian flag
Clarence Harper
DescriptionClarence Harper
Lester O. Rhodes
DescriptionLester O. Rhodes
Walter Mc Clatchey
DescriptionWalter Mc Clatchey
Gilbert Wailes and Robert Biggs,
Description Gilbert Wailes and Robert Biggs, A battery 160th Field Artillery
Roy Cluck, A battery forward observer
Description B
Buster
Description Buster, A battery
George Mathys and unknown Captain
DescriptionGeorge Mathys and unknown Captain
C battery 160th field Artillery
DescriptionC battery 160th field Artillery
Captain Little
DescriptionCaptain Little, Anzio
Joe K. Bush
Description Joe K. Bush, C battery 160th field Artillery next to 105mm howitzer
Joe Bush and 7.5-CM LIGHT INFANTRY HOWITZER
Description Joe Bush and German 7.5-CM LIGHT INFANTRY HOWITZER
Joe Bush
Description Joe Bush and German 7.5 cm rounds
Italy I think
DescriptionAnyone recognize the blurry building?
E
DescriptionAnyone recognize the blurry building?
PFC Charles H. Poynor/ Uncle Catfish
DescriptionDave Kerr
PFC Charles H. Poynor, ASN 35109102, member of B Battery, 160th Field Artillery Battalion, according to the 29 June 1945 Division Roster.
Went over seas with the Division June1943 all the way to Germany 1945. Was wounded by a landmine and had a steel plate in his head.
Catfish and buddies
Description Catfish and buddies B battery, 160th field Artillery Battalion
Frank Mayans , A battery 160th Field Artillery
Description Mr. Mayans was drafted into the army and sent to Fort Stewart, Georgia for basic training in anti aircraft. In 1943, he was sent via troopship to Casablanca. He was assigned to the 45th Infantry Division and sent to Sicily a few days after D-Day. His division was sent to Anzio where they encountered heavy shelling. At this time, Mr. Mayans was assigned to the job of assistant forward observer. They moved on to Rome and then into France and on to Germany. He received a Bronze Star for the fighting there.
160th FA propaganda shells
Description 7 February 1945.
"Three men examine propaganda shells addressed to the Nazi 6th SS Mt. Division, containing leaflets to be fired into German lines." Hochberg area, France. Battery C, 160th Field Artillery Bn. Photo by Kohl, 163rd Signal Photo Company.
SC 259583, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
Schnapps
DescriptionPrivates Albrecht (Carl J.) and Klamczynski belonged to B Battery, 160th Field Artillery Battalion,
45th Division News, 1 November 1944.
propaganda leaflets
Description7 February 1945.
"Two members of Battery C, 160th Field Artillery Bn., set the time fuse to a shell containing propaganda leaflets addressed to Nazi 6th SS Mt Division, around Reipertswiller, within the German lines. The fuse will burst in air over its target, and the leaflets will float to the ground."
Hochberg area, France.
Photo by Kohl, 163rd Signal Photo Company.
SC 257059, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
PFC. Mario Riva
Description30 December 1943
'PFC. Mario Riva, Taunton, Mass., 160th F.A. Bn. Battery A using Pasioramic sight of 105mm Howitzer.'
Pozzuli area, Italy. .
SC 278531, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
PFC Billie R. Hatley
Description 30 December 1943.
"PFC Billie R. Hatley, Sacima, Okla., 160th F.A. Bn. Btry. A using direct fire sight on 105mm Howitzer,
located near Pozzilli, Italy."
SC 278530, Credit NARA.
Dave Kerr
PFC. Herman E. Babbit,PFC Joseph Chodakowski, PVT. Thomas M. Nash, and PVT. Gardner B. Moore
Description 8 December 1943
"PFC. Herman E. Babbit, Hannah, Okla., Clubmobile driver for ARC., PFC Joseph Chodakowski, N.Y., N.Y., and PVT. Thomas M. Nash of Arcadia, Fla., sample doughnuts to be distributed by the ARC, as PVT. Gardner B. Moore, Detroit, Mich., Bty C., 160th F.A. Bn., 45th Div., keeps on making them."
Vairano Sector, Italy.
SC 329141, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
Gardner B. Moore
Description 8 December 1943.
"Men in the forward combat areas not far distant will eat doughnuts from this ARC Red Cross machine cooker operated by PVT Gardner B. Moore, Detroit, Mich. of HQ-HQ Battery, 160 FA, 45th Div and Chas W. Petty, Clinton, N.C., ARC, clubmobile supervisor." Vairano Sector, Italy.
SC 312363, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
D
DescriptionD
E
DescriptionE
F
DescriptionF

171st Field Artillery Battalion

SSG Murphy Mc Intosh
Description SSG Murphy Mc Intosh, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation 4 June 1943
CJ Barnes
Description Clayton Barnes, HQ battery 171st field Artillery 10 January 1945
Card game Italy
Description Card game Italy
Fred Knowles and C.J. Barnes
DescriptionFred Knowles and C.J. Barnes, 26 August 1944
Murphy and C.J. Barnes
DescriptionMurphy and C.J. Barnes
C.J. Barnes and Lewis Mc Clary
DescriptionC.J. Barnes and Lewis Mc Clary, 16 January 1945
Carl E. Blue
Description Carl Blue, forward observer 171st field Artillery
Matthew Tichenor
Description Matthew Tichenor, B battery 171st field Artillery
Elmo Travers
Description Elmo Travers
Cpl. James W. Pauley
DescriptionCpl. James Pauley, wounded Anzio, Italy 27 May 1944
C battery 171st field Artillery
DescriptionC battery 171st field Artillery, Munich March 1944
George Sampson
DescriptionGeorge Sampson, 171st FA, Sicily 1943
George Sampson
Description Captain George Sampson, Munich 1945
© WWII Veterans History Project
Pete
Description While in Germany near the end of the war, Sampson heard the cries of a hungry puppy coming from a nearby barn. George rescued the dog, named him Pete, and had a friend for the rest of the war.
© WWII Veterans History Project
George and Pete
Description George and Pete
© WWII Veterans History Project
Harry, George Sampson, Al
DescriptionHarry, George Sampson, Al May 10th 1945 VEday Munich
© WWII Veterans History Project
Edward F. Good
DescriptionPfc Edward F Good. He served with the 45th Infantry Division, 171st Field Artillery Battalion. He enlisted on 6/30/1941 and served across N. Africa, Sicily, Italy (landed at Anzio), S. France, and Germany. He was KIA on 4/25/1945
Pfc Nathan Mitchell, Pfc George Terzian, and Sgt. Raymond Rhode
Description23 December 1944,
"Members of a field artillery unit prepare to send a Christmas greeting to Hitler on a 105mm howitzer shell about to be fired in Germany, Left to right, are : Pfc Nathan Mitchell, Philadelphia, Pa., Pfc George Terzian, Cambridge, Mass., and Sgt. Raymond Rhode, Muskeges, Okla." 171st FA., 45th Div., Wingen Area, France.
SC 198220, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
members of C battery 171st Field Artillery
Description Members of the 4th gun section of C Battery, 171st field Artillery Battalion taking a photo break Sicily 1943
Photo courtesy of the 45th Division Museum
Robert Langley Simpson
Description February 1940 to June 1945 MSgt Robert Langley Simpson belonged to the 171st Field Artillery, 45th Infantry Division
PVT Victor C. Russo,
Description 3 January 1944.
"PVT Victor C. Russo, New Haven, Conn., of Headquarters Battery, 171st Field Artillery Battalion, repairs telephone line broken by snow and wind storm near Demanio, Italy." Pozzilli Area, Italy. Photo by Bell, 163rd Signal Photo Company.
SC 184480, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
D
DescriptionD
E
DescriptionE
F
DescriptionF

189th Field Artillery Battalion

Harold Kleindienst, Benevento, Italy 1943
Description Harold Kleindienst, Benevento, Italy 1943
forward obsdrver section
Description forward obsdrver section, Benevento, Italy 1943
Anthony Monda
Description Anthony Monda, C battery 189th field Artillery
David Yoder
DescriptionDavid Yoder C battery 189th field Artillery switch board operator
William Richard Keeley
DescriptionWilliam Keeley, C battery 189th field Artillery
Bomb W. Lin
DescriptionBomb Lin, Hampton Roads Port of Embarcation 3 June 1943
Charles Jones
Description Charles Jones, KIA 10 October 1943
Reunion photo of Lewis Brown
Description Reunion photo of Lewis Brown
1986 reunion
Description 1986 reunion
1984 reunion Lewis Brown
Description1984 reunion Lewis Brown
Lewis Brown reunion 189th
DescriptionLewis Brown reunion 189th
Lewis Brown and 2 buddies
DescriptionLewis Brown and 2 buddies
Lewis Brown to the right
Description Lewis Brown to the right
Lewis Brown, barracks Schwabmohlhausen, Germany
Description Lewis Brown, barracks Schwabmohlhausen, Germany
unknown 189th FA soldiers
Description unknown 189th FA soldiers
189th unknowns
Description189th unknowns
Chaplain Franklin E. Rector
DescriptionSC 128189
Protestant Comunication Service, Dec. 14, 1941, 189thth F.A. Camp Barkley, Texas. Chaplain Franklin E. Rector officiating
Courtesy Dave Kerr
Doughnuts for Gis
Descriptionthe GI kneading the dough is identified as PVT Jack B. Allen, ASN 20833959 "Btry C, 189th Inf Regt". The woman is Mary Ann Landis, Mechanicsburg, PA. Vairano Sector, Italy. 8 December 1943.
SC 312362, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
10 August 1944 Bagnoli, Italy
Description 10 August 1944.
"Day and night, without letup, men and equipment are loaded aboard waiting landing craft for the big invasion of southern France. Here, men of the 45th Division, with 155 howitzers and jeeps, form an endless procession as they board the LSTs."
Bagnoli, Italy.
The jeep on the left belonged to the 179th, and the truck with the howitzer was 189th FA Bn, to be loaded upon LST 318.
SC 193362, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
Capt. Beavers
Description 13 February 1944.
"Capt. Beavers (center) sits on the roof of the command post of Battery C, 189th Field Artillery Battalion, and receives fire orders from the first sergeant Clyde T. Sodowsky, ASN 20833951. The command post is 'dug in' below the ground."
Nettuno Area.
Photo by Bonnard, 163rd Signal Photo Company. SC 256332, Credit NARA and Digital History Archive.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
Lt.. Irving Kern and Pvt. Harold Larrabee
Description 13 February 1944.
"Lt.. Irving Kern, (left) of Trenton, N.J., receives fire orders form command post, as Pvt. Harold Larrabee writes down the positions. They are dug in below the ground near a gun emplacement of Battery C, 189th Field Artillery Battalion."
Nettuno Area.
Photo by Bonnard, 163rd Signal Photo Company. SC 258303, Credit NARA and Digital History Archive.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
propaganda leaflets
Description7 February 1945,
"In preparation for shell-shooting of propaganda leaflets into German lines around Reipertswiller, France, two American artillerymen examine 'free conduct' passes before putting them into the shells." Hochberg area, France. Co. C, 189th FA Bn., 45th Div. The "free passes" are addressed to Nazis 6th SS Mt. Div.
SC 200656, Credit NARA.
Courtesy Dave Kerr
unknown soldier and jeep
DescriptionJeep 'ONNEIL' S-2 189th FA HQ
F
DescriptionF

last revision