Connecticut men, 35th - Santa Fe - Division, October 1945. Vol. 1, no. 17

              CONNECTICUT MEN
35th - Santa Fe - Division
October 1945 35th DIVISION COMES HOME
Bringing home the millionth soldier to reach the U. S. since V- E Day, the 35th ( Santa Fe) Infantry Division arrived in New York aboard the super- liner Queen Mary, Sept. 10. The main body had been preceded by one of its units, the 137th Infantry Regiment, which landed at Com­monwealth
Pier, Boston, August 31.
Her sides covered with gaudy banners, the Queen Mary was far from her usual prim self as she steamed into New York. She carried men of the 134th and 320th Infantry Regiments; the 127th, 161st, 216th, 219th Field Artillery Battalions; the 60th Engineer Battalion; the 110th Medical Battalion; the 35th Cav. Recon. Troop; the 35th CIC Detachment; the 194th P. I. Team; Hq. Btry., 35th Artil­lery.
Also aboard the Queen Mary were the 35th Med. Co., Q. M. Co., Signal Co., the 735th Ord. Mtn. Co., MP Co., and Headquarters and Special Troops.
The 137th Regiment, after landing at Boston, staged through Camp Myles Standish, near Taunton, Mass. From there Connecticut men were sent to Fort Devens, Mass.
The main body arriving on the Queen Mary was sent for staging to Camp Kilmer, New Brunswick, N. J., from where Connect­icut
troops were routed to Fort Devens.
The point score for discharge was low­ered
while the division was enroute to the United States. Consequently, at Fort Devens the men went through a screening process. Those with high point scores were prepared for discharge. The remainder were granted their 30 day furloughs, which were to expire from Oct. 4 to 15.
The 35th, as President Truman's old Division, received a gala reception in New York. On hand to serenade the fighting men were Tommy Dorsey and his or­chestra
and singing star Martha Raye, as well as a service band.
Aboard the Queen Mary on the trip across the Atlantic was a group of British dignitaries, headed by Fleet Admiral Sir James Somerville, chief of the British military mission to the U. S., and General Sir Hartings Ismay, personal military ad­viser
to Prime Minister Clement Atlee.
In contrast to the time required by slow- moving transports, the Queen Mary made the voyage from Southampton to New York in four and a half days.
Under plans originally announced by the Army, the 35th Division was to re­assemble,
after the men had completed their furloughs, at Camp Breckinridge, Ky.
CONNECTICUT SERVICEMEN'S COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET
Vol. I Oct. 1, 1945 No. 17
CARLETON B. CLYMA, Editor
This booklet on the homecoming of the 35th ( Santa Fe) Division from the European war was prepared for the men by the Office of the Governor, as an addi­tion
to the souvenirs and memorabilia of those who served in the European Theater of Operations.
The courtesies and assistance of public relations officers, at the ports and at the Fort Devens' Reception Station greatly facilitated the gathering of the material for this booklet. The group pictures are from Signal Corps photographs. The cover picture is from the New York Daily News. The Battle Log herein was prepared by the Office of Technical Information, Army Ground Forces.
A limited number of copies are available for distribution to Connecticut men of the Division. They can be secured by written request to the Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Hartford.
Reproduction of original material is permissible only with written authorization.
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35th DIVISION FACTS
Nickname — Santa Fe, name given it in World War because its members, from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska descended from pioneers who blazed old Santa Fe Trail.
Shoulder Patch & Origin — Santa Fe Cross, employed in the old days for markers along Santa Fe Trail; patch com­posed
of white cross within outer circle of blue, divided into quarters, and inner circle of white.
Source of Division — National Guard ( Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska).
History — Division originally formed August, 1917 from units whose traditions date back to 19th Century and Indian War. The division was organized for World War at Ft. Sill, Okla., from National Guard units of Missouri and Kansas. First element arrived in France May 11,1918. After train­ing
in France; during Meuse- Argonne offen­sive,
the division attacked from Sept. 26, to Oct. 1, 1918, taking towns of Vauquois, Varennes, Cheppy, Charpentry and Baul ¬ ny. In October it was relieved by 1st In­fantry
Division and proceeded to Vavin ¬ court Area, relieved 15th French Colonial Division in Sommedieue, and later relieved 8lst Infantry Division. Returned to U. S. April 20, 1919.
When the 35th was fighting in France during the World War, it had as a Field Artillery officer, Capt. Harry S. Truman. Just 27 years afterward, President Tru­man
stopped in Antwerp, enroute to a Berlin parley with Prime Minister Church- hill and Marshall Stalin, and inspected a guard of honor of his old outfit, the 137th Infantry.
Reactivation Date — December, 1940. Training — After training at Camp Robinson, Ark., division took part in
Louisiana maneuvers, then was assigned to guard Southern California. Under Second Army it was reorganized as a triangular division March 1, 1942; it was assigned to Army Ground Forces in January, 1943, under II Armored Corps, San Luis Obispo, Cal., assigned to the III Corps, Camp Rucker, Ala., from April to November, 1943, then participated in Tennessee ma­neuvers
and later moved to Camp Butner, N. C. with XIII Corps.
Left This Country — May, 1944 for ETO.
Commanding General— Maj. Gen. Paul W. Baade ( then Brig. Gen.) Jan. 1943.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
President Truman sent a radiogram of congratulations to his old outfit, the 35th Infantry Division, as it neared New York on its homeward trip.
The President said:
" Slightly over twenty- six years ago the original 35th Division returned to the United States after doing what we knew was a good job and a permanent one. The country acclaims the present 35th Division as it acclaimed the original. You have earned the everlasting gratitude of us all. God grant that we may make better use of this crusade than we did of the other."
Major General Paul W. Baade, Com­mander
of the 35th, replied:
" The officers and men of your old Division join me in expressing their appreciation for your message. We, too, pray that the suffering and bloodshed endured by our comrades shall not have been in vain."
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35th DIVISION BATTLE LOG
Omaha Beach — 35th Division sailed from England July 4, 1944 and from July 5- 7 its troops poured into Omaha Beach, near Collevill- sur- Mere, mission being St. Lo, gateway to French interior. Just before dawn July 11, following barrage by 200 division guns, the doughboys drove forward. Close in- fighting resulted until La Meauffe was reached, then deeply en­trenched
Nazis' defense stiffened. How­ever,
Yank artillery and doughboys finally drove Germans from town. Elements pushed on to " Purple Heart Corner" and took key defense town of Chateau St. Gilles.
St. Lo— Elements launched drive north of St. Lo, immediate objective being tall, forbidding Hill 122, dominating the town. Drive carried to Emilie which fell in house- to- house combat. Between July 15- 17 Nazis counterattacked 12 times, netting only 100 yards. July 18 division launched fierce, coordinated assault with air power and tanks on Hill 122. At day's end, 35th controlled Hill 122, road to St. Lo was open and 134th Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon entered city. Division plunged across Cherbourg penin­sula
and threw back counterattack which threatened Avranches. To east it recaptured ground near Mortain and rescued 30th Division's famed " lost battalion".
Across France — Division took long string of towns in drive spearheaded by 4th Armored Division. Still streaking across France, it crossed Loing, Seine, Loire, Marne and Meuse Rivers and by middle of September took Nancy. On Dec. 5 it sent its first shot into Germany,
following day it took Saargeumines and crossed Saar. Advance ended when Von Rundstedt launched Battle of Bulge.
Bastogne — Plunging into action Dec. 27, it beat off attacks by four divisions and wiped out threat to right flank of Bastogne highway. Division swung to South where bulge break threatened and helped to stem it, then outfit sped 292 miles north to join Ninth Army. On reaching Rheinberg, the 35th became last of Ninth Army elements to reach Rhine, later crushing Nazis pinned in Wesel pocket and driving into Ruhr. After 13- day assault, it crushed Villers, Lutrebois fell after fierce five- day fight and Lutremange was taken Jan. 11.
Holland — Division then sped to Al­sace
to help tighten defense; from there it jumped non- stop nearly 300 miles to Maastricht, Holland, relieving 155th Brit­ish
Brigade February 6 and taking posi­tions
in Germany along Roer River from Annendall south to Kraudorf.
Germany — Jump- off for Rhine came Feb. 23, unit crossed Roer at Hilfarth and rolled 30 miles along flank of Siegfried Line in less than a week, taking 23 towns in two days. Division converged on Drupt; by March 11, the 35th completed reduc­tion
of Wesel Sector and stood before Wesel Bridge and the Rhine. Thus the task of spearheading Ninth Army to final crush­ing
of Germany fell to a crack Infantry outfit that had traveled 1300 miles through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland and into Germany. The division took Recklinghausen April 3 and a week later Herne fell. Following capitulation it was on duty in the Mayeh area, June 23.
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35th DIVISION STORIES
EDITOR'S NOTE: Memories of the European experience will blur with the passing of years. Accuracy will diminish. Details will become vague and half forgotten. To record, in black and white here and now, the mood, the impressions, the exciting events of the worst days and the best is the purpose of these stories. Connecticut men of the 35th were asked for their own stories and in their own words they are here so recorded:
Anderson, Arnold W., Cpl., Co. G., 320th Inf., Hamden.
" The German girls living near Koblenz lined up along the streets early in the morn­ing
when we left to see us off. They were sorry to see us go. But I think that was mainly because the French were coming in to take over the town."
Anderson, Richard K, T/ 5, 320th Inf., Bridgeport.
" I didn't think much of the French. They seemed to be backward. They were slow to rebuild. But we could get good cognac and wine there."
Arciola, Carmen J., Pfc, Co. A., 134th Inf., Westport.
" I found out the reason why we beat the great German Army one day in France. It was on the 8th of October in Fasseux, about 40 miles from Nancy. We went up there to relieve the 137th Infantry. The town was supposed to have been secured. For some reason the Krauts wanted it back. They counterattacked four days in a row. Four of their tanks entered the town and captured one of the platoons and cut off our CP which was getting ready to sur­render.
Somehow through the guts and will of the men we fought them off and held the town. Then one of our tank destroyers came up and knocked out three tanks and we finally disorganized them. Then we were relieved. The platoon which was captured was rescued by the tank destroy­ers."
Armstrong, George E., Pfc, Co. M.. 137th Inf., Waterbury.
" I was thrilled when I stood guard for the President last July at Brussels. I saw the President, although he didn't get close by me. Even though I stood guard five hours, I didn't mind it a bit; it was a pleasure. I saw General Eisenhower and all his staff."
Berkins, Paul D., T/ 4, 35th Sig. Co., Mt. Carmel.
" St. Lo was the worst, because we were green. The Germans had more planes, men and material in there than they ever had later on. We didn't have a hell of a lot of land and they could easily have pushed us back into the water."
Brunet, Joseph A., T/ 5, 35th Sig. Co., Meriden.
" There was one night when I really thought I was going to get it. I was driving across the bridge over the Rhine river in March. A Jerry plane came over and our ack ack hit a barrage balloon. The gas in the balloon exploded and lit up the whole bridge area and gave away our convoy which was supposed to be secret. Then the Jerries raised hell with us. I was scared as hell. I really thought I was going to get it that night."
Callahan, James E., Pvt., Anti- Tank Co., 320th Inf., Hartford.
" The precision bombing of our Air Force impressed me more than anything T H E SS C R I S T O B A L , D O C K I N G AT B O S T O N , A U G U S T 31, 1945
else over there. One town we went through which was about the size of Hartford was levelled in fifteen minutes by 700 bombers, according to what the people told us there. The German people's homes were much cleaner than any other country in Europe. The Germans treated the GI better than the French— maybe it was because they were conquered. I never saw a tomato or an ear of corn grow in Germany."
Cusano, Emmiddio C, Sgt., Co. E., 134th Inf., Hamden.
" We were trying to keep the road to Bastogne open on New Years Day. There were two other companies, G and E, and we came up over this bald hill. It had been snowing. The hill was white with bodies making silhouettes on the horizon. The
Jerries were dug in the woods about 200 yards beyond. As we came up over the crest of the hill they opened up on us and everybody hit the snow. A lieutenant made motions to me to take the company down along the right flank where there was plenty of cover. So I jumped up and started to yell and run down the flank and every­body
got up and followed me. We cleared out the woods and we lost contact with part of the other companies. Captain Ireland asked me to take a contact patrol and establish contact with the other com­panies.
We made contact with the com­panies
and got both parties together and dug in. On the morning of the 3rd, I took a patrol out and killed three Kraut para­troopers.
On that patrol we found out
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where the Jerry machineguns and mortars were and zeroed in our artillery on them. Next morning we attacked and wiped out the Jerries in the woods. I was hit in the hand and went back to the hospital. They gave me the Silver Star for those three days of action."
Dobeck, Frank, Pfc, 35th MP Platoon, Kensington.
" They brought us up to the front lines as infantry replacements, but when we got there they made us MP's. We thought we were getting a good deal. They took three of us new fellows and put us guarding a bridge with six of the older MP's and six engineers. During the day we heard shells coming in. The corporal, who we figured knew all about it, told us they were landing about two miles away and there was noth­ing
to worry about. That night all the older guys went to sleep in the culverts and fox holes. But one of the new guys and I went to sleep in a shed and the other guy was still guarding the bridge. Pretty soon — about 12 or 1 o'clock— there was a hell of a blast. ' Hey, did you hear that?' I said to the guy with me. ' Yeah,' he said, ' but don't worry, the corporal said they're landing two miles away.' Pretty soon there was another blast. By that time the corporal was looking for us. He found us and told us to get the hell into the culvert. The next morning we saw fifty shrapnel holes in the shed. Lucky we were laying down on the floor!"
Fabian, Nicholas A., Pfc, Hq. Co., 1st Bn., 134th Inf., Fairfield.
" The best time in my life was walking up the gangplank at Southampton, England, to come home."
Foster, Hollis J., Capt., M. D., 137th Inf., New Britain.
" It was in the Ruhr Pocket that I had one of the most unusual injury cases. The
boy should have been dead but was only slightly hurt. A bullet from a German burp gun went into his helmet at the middle of his forehead and came out through the helmet at the back of his head, but the bullet didn't go through his head. Deflected going in, it went around the right side of his head. He had a grazing wound of the scalp, recovered, and lived to fight another day."
Funicella, Saverio, Pfc, Co. D., 320th Inf., Stamford.
" I was in the Bastogne deal in the Bulge battle in January. I never saw so many dead Jerries before as I saw during that battle. The bodies were partly covered by the snow. Those of some of our men were in the same snow, too."
Gorfain, Alex A., Pfc, M. D., Co. F., 137th Inf., New Britain.
" About 1800 yards in front of the lines in Gramecy Forest we could see a wounded man. We had some new men in the lines at the time. By morning, through glasses, it still looked like a Yank. They called for volunteers so I went out. It was down a hill toward the enemy and across an open field to get to him. I thought they would get me on that down hill, but we held fire and they did. I guess they knew. When I got to him it was a Kraut, both legs broken by shrapnel. While I was fixing him up, a Kraut aid man came out and helped. He wanted to give up and come over to our lines with the wounded man but two SS men came and made him go back with them. They wouldn't take the wounded man back to their lines. I said I needed half an hour to get him to ours and it was agreed. I went back, got help, improvised a litter and we took him in and sent him back to a hospital. He lived okay. It's true I refused a citation but that's because they didn't give one
s O N T H E SS C R I S T O B A L , BOSTON, A U G U S T 31, 1945
to the men who brought him in with me. They were in just as much danger. We couldn't trust those Krauts."
Hansen, Edward, T/ 5, Regtl. Hq., 320th Inf., Springdale.
" Those large towns over there in Germany and France were pretty well beaten up. Under the conditions they were living, the French people did pretty well. I saw more snow in the Vosges mountains that I had ever seen in New England. The muddiest hell- hole I ever saw was France."
Hansen, Martin A., Pvt., Co. F., 134th Inf., Waterbury.
" The 88' s impressed me most while I was there. They fired direct fire at us and they were fast. They weren't as accurate as they were fast, though. They didn't have to be very accurate because they threw a lot of it at us. Their 120 mortar is a pip, too."
Hoffman, Oswald E., Pfc, Btry. B., 161st F. A., New Britain.
" I was on detached service for a short while at a ' DP' ( Displaced Persons) camp in Marienthal, Germany, and it was the most interesting work I had ever done in the Army. The DP's were rolling along the roads and clogging them up, hindering our troops. We got them all into the camp— about 7,000 of them. They were about the sorriest things I saw there. None of them knew what was going to happen to them next. They used to gang up on Germans, looted their homes and killed their cattle for food. They liked us very much. I was in the military government for a while, too. They came to me with their complaints and I had to be a Mr. Anthony to solve some of their problems."
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Kingsbury, Harry W., Pfc, Anti- tank Co., 137th Inf., New Britain.
" About midnight one night we pulled out of St. Hilaire. I hopped on one of the last trucks. German planes had been bombing us for several nights. Down the road at a Y- fork traffic was jammed, a mix- up over the right road to get to bivouac areas. I hopped off, got some correct directions for our company and they moved out. Nobody was around to take care of outfits that kept coming so I just took care of them, giving them the dope on where to go even though it wasn't my job. I did that about four hours until MP's showed up and took over. Days later I hear I'm being recommended for a Silver Star for gallantry, for not seek­ing
shelter and for resourcefulness. I don't believe it until one day I get the citation and later the medal. Because I won a medal I get picked to give a broad­cast
to New England, but I can't find anybody who heard it that Christmas Day. Later I was in the outfit picked as honor guard for President Truman when he came over. I took some good photos. None came out. German film."
Knudsen, Frederick H., T/ 5, M. D., 134th Inf., Hamden.
" I'll always remember the children of Europe. They had nothing. They were dressed in rags. They were dirty and hungry, and lived in pig pens. None of them knew what a bar of candy looked like until we came over there. You wouldn't want to raise children over there. American children should be thankful they are over here, not over there."
LaFauci, Eugene C, Pfc, M. D., 137th Inf., Waterbury.
" I found that most GI's talk mostly about women and the other people they see. That was true in the year and a half
I was in France, Holland, Luxembourg and Germany."
Lopresti, Joseph V., Sgt., Cannon Co., 320th Inf., Bridgeport.
" There's a lot of things to remember and there's a lot of things you want to forget. What always amazed me was the way they can move an army around as fast as they do. No sooner you get from one place to another, right away you are right in there. St. Lo was really rough, and that hedgerow fighting was plenty rough."
Maran, Edward C, Pfc, Hq. 3rd Bn., 134th Inf., Norwich.
" I saw fence posts moving during the night in a Belgian village near Bastogne for six nights. I was outposted near a cemetery for that long and the fence posts were walking and every monument in that cemetery seemed to be a standing fort for the German army. Throughout the days and nights, there was a continuous barrage of artillery from both sides. Our artillery made a very nice picture when it burst in the tree tops."
Marchan, Raymond J., Pfc, Co. I., 134th Inf., Bristol.
" I remember one time when I was glad my rifle jammed. We were going through these woods right after crossing the Rhine. There were two of us in the lead, as lead scouts. We spotted four German squads digging in their machinegun nests. Appar­ently
they didn't hear us coming. When we spotted them, we spread out. We came upon one squad. The fellow with me made a noise— I guess he broke a branch, or something. When they heard that, they swung their machinegun around and aimed it at us. But they didn't fire. We threw our rifles up to fire. Mine jammed. So, the five Germans gave up! Maybe if my rifle did go off they would have fired. I'm just as glad it didn't go off!"
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Marinelli, Charles C, S/ Sgt., Co. B., 320th Inf., Southington.
" The work our planes and artillery did over there was terrific. The towns of Mun­ster
and Wesel didn't have a building standing when we got there. As a matter of fact, there was hardly a wall standing in either place."
Marszalek, Stanley F., Pvt., Co. G., 134th Inf., Wauregan.
" What I enjoyed was the German coun­try
along the Rhine. It's beautiful there. I didn't have much to do with the Ger­mans
at any time, but I saw a lot of them. We had rounded up thousands and thou­sands
of them into a prison camp which stretched along the Rhine. We saw them there and went right along. We ignored them."
Matusko, John, Pfc, Co. M., 134th Inf., Bridgeport .
" I'll never forget what we saw at the Gardelen atrocity camp near Hanover, Germany. Retreating before the advance of our armies the Germans were herding hundreds of civilian slave laborers, mostly Russians, ahead of them to prevent us from liberating them. But we came on too fast and to get rid of the slaves the Germans crowded hundreds of them into a big barn, covered them and the barn with benzine and set them afire. Maybe there were thousands of them in there, and those who got out of the burning barn and ran for it were mowed down with point blank machinegun fire. That's the way it must have been anyway; it looked like that when we got there about 48 hours after it happened. We saw the half- burned bodies laid out in long rows. The Germans had buried them in pits, and the first American troops that came in made the Germans dig them out again and give them a decent burial. At the time I saw it all I felt that I could shoot every German I saw."
Morgio, George A., Pfc, Anti- Tank Co., 134th Inf., West Haven.
" While laying minefields near Metz on September 28, the Germans opened up on us with their 88' s and I was hit in the shoulder and leg. Just as I was leaving to go to a hospital in the rear, the Jerries broke through. They didn't gain much though. Our men checked them before they got very far."
Moseley, Anthony J., Cpl., Co. B., 320th Inf., New London.
" The thing which made the biggest impression on me was our homecoming in New York harbor. Just seeing our Stat­ue
of Liberty again and knowing better now what it stands for and the reception we got in the harbor was a thrill I'll never forget."
Nally, George P., Pfc, Co. A., 134th Inf., New Haven.
" Those Germans sure are liars. Last winter in Luxembourg, during the Bulge battle we were being bothered by sniper fire, so our sergeant, three other guys and I went out to try to find them. We finally spotted them laying down. One had a burp gun and the other had a rifle. We captured them. The guy with the burp
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gun said he just got out of the Air Force and he never shot any Americans. The other guy said he wasn't a sniper. He was just lost from his outfit, he said. Boy, are they lying son- of- a- guns!"
Openchofski, Henry J., Pfc, Co. L., 134th Inf., Jewett City.
" Just before crossing the Ruhr River in February, the Germans were shelling the east bank of the river. When the bar­rage
started, I was walking along toward the bank to get on a boat to take us across. I hit the dirt when it began, but I got hit in the arm while laying there. After staying in a town near the Elbe for a few days where they patched me up, I returned to my outfit and took part in the occupation of Hanover for a while before coming home."
Ourfalian, Peter, T/ 5, Serv. Btry., 219th F. A., Bridgeport.
" A shell fragment hit an ammunition truck in Mortain, France, on August 10 during an air raid. A gas can at the rear of the truck started to burn. We were in fox holes when it happened. So we jumped out of the holes and put the fire out before it reached the ammunition. We had to take that chance because if we didn't the ammo would have exploded and we probably would have been killed anyway. They gave me the Bronze Star medal for that."
Pacia, Edward J., Pfc, Co. D., 320th Inf., Milldale.
" Our outfit was one of the closest Ameri­can
units to Berlin. We met the Russians there. They seem to be good fighters and are very friendly."
Peal, William A., Pvt., Co. D., 320th Inf., Waterbury.
" The best day in Europe for me was the day they told us we were coming home."
Pinchera, Henry T., Sgt., Co. B., 134th Inf., Hartford.
" It was pretty rugged. One thing I'll never forget was when I was shot at by a machinegun about 25 feet away. I was first scout and went into a building in Bastogne. As I opened the door I dis­covered
it was full of Krauts. I slammed the door and stayed in the doorway. I saw a German peering around a curtain in the window and he was getting ready to shoot me. So I pulled out a grenade and threw it into the window. As I started to run toward the other building where the rest of my outfit was, the machinegun up in the second floor started to pump away at me. I zigzagged across the street. When I got back there, we called up Co. Charlie and they waited until nightfall. At that time they flanked the building and attacked. The Jerries gave up. At dawn they found eight dead Germans in the building who were killed by the hand grenade I threw in there. I got the Bronze Star Medal for that one."
Rubinowski, Victor J., Cpl., Anti- Tank Co., 320th Inf., Bristol.
" The long Rhine River is what impressed me most over there. The towns of Koblenz and Niewied in Germany were nice, clean towns and either would be nice to live in because they're along the river and are very pretty. They make champagne and wine there. The best wine is made there."
Santi, Albert, Pfc, Co. C, 110th Med. Bn., Bridgeport.
" It's pretty rough up in the front lines. I went across the Rhine by ambulance one day. The Jerries were shelling the bridge. I thought I was going to get it that day. I'll tell you what I think about the Ger­mans
in their own language—' They're nix goot.' I don't like their way of living and the way they treated people."
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Sobolewski, Anthony, S/ Sgt., Co. A., 134th Inf., Hartford.
" We came pretty close to being crushed to death by German tanks one day after the Jerries had captured us. It was in Fasseux, France, near Nancy on October the 8th. Their tanks overran our positions while we were holding out in the town and they captured our platoon. They lined us up on a high ridge. There were about 15 of us. One Kraut was going to take a tank and run over us. As he came up to us, we ran behind a tree. Just then one of our tank destroyers sneaked up and knocked out the three tanks. It all happened within a half hour after we were captured. It was just like in the movies."
Spring, Lawrence R., T/ 4, Co. I., 134th Inf., East Lyme.
" The day I got hit is the day I remem­ber
best. It was Nov. 10, in the Gramecy Woods, near Nancy, France. We were going in on attack and coming up along side a wooded area under heavy artillery fire. It was accurate fire, and it came in heavy for about 20 minutes, and 20 minutes of that is a long time. I got hit in the legs and two of my buddies got it. We lost half the company before the barrage lifted. I was in the hospital for three months. I'll give those nurses all the credit in the world. There are no words to express how good they are to you."
Stojak, Joseph S., Pvt., Co. M., 134th Inf., Branford.
" I thought much better of the German people as far as their habits of personal cleanliness and sanitation were concerned than I did of the other European peoples. Germany has beautiful, well kept farms and gardens, but as far as I am concerned I prefer Connecticut."
Tommasi, Michael G., Pfc, Co. C, 134th Inf., Middletown.
" I remember the time we caught a couple
of chickens and decided to fry them. We went into a cellar of a house in Marvey, near Bastogne. That was sometime in December of last year. Just as soon as we were ready to eat them, an 88 landed and there was chicken all over the place. That was the first chicken which flew in more directions than one at the same time after it had been cooked. So, we settled for another can of C- Rations."
Tretiak, Stephen A., Pfc, M. D., 320th Inf., Ansonia.
" I was impressed by the conditions among the Germans' Russian slave laborers when we liberated them at Glabauch in Germany. The camp was filthy— too dirty to talk about. There were no sanitary facilities. Plenty of the Rus­sians
had T. B. A lot of them had been beat up; all of them were mistreated. The food was bad and there was nowhere near enough of it. They were jammed in to the barracks and their condition was more pitiful than I can tell you about. After seeing that camp, I don't think the Ger­mans
are human beings."
Tucker, Alvin F., S/ Sgt., Co. A., 137th Inf., East Hartford.
" We thought the French town of St. Jean would be easy to take, but there were 400 Germans in it near the German border. They counterattacked, getting all
13
but 26 of the 90 men of A and C Compa­nies
that went in. Only one lieutenant was left with us. We hid in a barn. The only thing that saved us after that was the fall of darkness, coming just in time. I was so sure I'd be taken that I threw away two German pistols— we heard they shot prisoners carrying German arms. They returned with tanks, firing 88' s, grenades and bazookas into the build­ings.
When night fell we went out the back door and got away as they came in the front.
" That was Thanksgiving Day of last year, the best Thanksgiving there ever was. Next day the cooks warmed over the roast turkeys from the day before— there was plenty of everything with so few to eat it, all the fixings from cran­berry
sauce to candy. The chaplain, who always came round after an action, spoke to us. I'll never forget it."
Turner, Albert J., Pfc, Co. B., 134th Inf., Wallingford.
" On the 15th of July, we jumped on Hill 122 near St. Lo. We were running into heavy mortar and artillery fire and it pinned us down for about three and a half hours. We moved about 300 to 400 yards a day. Finally we got to the top of the hill with about one- third of the company left. That was the worst four days we had over there. I'm sure glad to be back home again."
Yates, George F., Pfc, M. D., 320th Inf., Stamford.
" I will remember longest the suffering of our infantry— the conditions under which they had to live, the terrible weather, the long intervals when K- Rations was the only food. How hard it was for them to sleep and how often and how steadily they were under fire. I was with the 106th
Division until July. They took an awful shellacking in the Battle of the Bulge where we lost two regiments."
Zajac, Francis A., Pvt., Anti- Tank Co., 320th Inf., Meriden.
" The weather over there is terrific— it's always raining. It gave me a great satis­faction
to see Germany torn up. Another thing which stood out in my mind were the brick buildings there. I saw only one wooden house in Germany. Kids come out of a dirty house and are clean. They looked very cute. It made me homesick to see them because it reminded me of my little girl back home."
Zarrella, Dominick V., T/ 4, M. D., 320th Inf., Waterbury.
" Anybody who was in the medics will remember always our infantry soldiers' suffering. No matter how bad conditions were, our infantry did wonders. They always took their objectives. One of the rough spots was Gramecy Forest, near Nancy, in France. The Germans were firing point blank at our infantry and anti- aircraft self- propelled 88mm's. It was tough going for a while and we lost quite a few men, but we finally got through."
Zelski, Stephen J., T/ 5, M. D., 320th Inf., Waterbury.
" I'll always remember Bastogne and so will anybody else that was there. The weather was bitter cold, our men were living in foxholes, many of them suffered frozen feet. If you took off your shoes, you couldn't get them back on. It was hell getting the wounded out with heavy artillery and screaming meemies coming in. Those meemies coming in make a noise just like a siren. They are not as accurate as artillery, but it's the awful scream that gets you."
14
THE CONNECTICUT MEN
The names of the officers and men from the Division were compiled from available official records and by personal interview. Omission of the names of some of the men of the Division is possible despite every effort made to secure complete rosters:
AKOWSKI, Nelson J. T/ 5 4 Rose St., Norwich
ANDERSON, Arnold W. Cpl. 66 Gilbert Ave., Hamden
ANDERSON, Richard K. T/ 5 5030 Main St., Bridgeport
ANTICOLI, Florenzo H. S/ Sgt. c/ o Nresko, Watertown
ARCIOLA, Carmen J. Pfc. 45 Franklin St., Westport
ARMSTRONG, George E. Pfc. 1902 Baldwin St., Waterbury
AVOLETTA, Peter A. Pfc. 21 Spencer Ave., Waterbury
BARNES, Kenneth I. Pfc. Box 18, West Granby
BARTHOLOMEW, Clifford C. T/ 5 RFD 2, Branford
BARTONE, Nicholas F. Pfc. 100 Wood St., Waterbury
BATIGNANI, Serafino Pfc. 507 Front St., Hartford
BEARDSLEY, George J. Cpl. 147 East Ave., Bridgeport
BECKER, Elbert A., Jr. Pfc. 280 Park Ave., Torrington
BECKER, Peter O. Pfc. Amity Road, Bethany
BENEDETTO, Mennato T. Pfc. 32 Chestnut St., West Haven
BERKINS, Paul D. T/ 4 3154 Whitney Ave., Mt. Carmel
BESSETTE, William F. Pfc. Route 1, South Coventry
BIRMINGHAM, John R. Cpl. 60 Winship St., Hartford
BLANC, Felix H. B. Cpl. 60 Lovely St., Unionville
BOURNIVAL, Fernand J. Pfc. 376 Mill St., Waterbury
BOWEN, John J. Pfc. 61 William St., West Haven
BOYLE, Raphael W. 2nd Lt. 76 S. River St., Thompsonville
BRADLEY, Homer L. Pfc. 640 Tunxis Hill Rd., Bridgeport
BRANCHAUP, Raymond P. Pfc. 488 South St., Bristol
BRATT, Donald G. Cpl. West Suffield
BRICUGLIO, Leo Pfc. 135 Bedford St., Hartford
BROWN, Irving S. Cpl. 19 Arch St., Ansonia
BRUNET, Joseph A. T/ 5 42 Reservoir Ave., Meriden
BRUNOLI, Fred J. Pfc. Eddy St., Avon
BRUSICK, William Pfc. 4 Rod Road, Kensington
BUTLER, David C. 1st Lt. 122 Darby St., Bloomfield
CALLAHAN, James E. Pvt. 166 Kensington St., Hartford
CANFIELD, George M. Pfc. 32 Salem Rd., East Hartford
CARBONI, Samuel S. Pfc. 252 Spring St., New Haven
CAREY, George P. S/ Sgt. 39 Houston St., New Haven
CASSELLA, Michael Pvt. 144 Center St., Southington
CECCARELLI, Armand A. Pfc. 188 Old Stratsfield Rd., Bridgeport
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CEGELKA, Leo M. Pvt. 141 West St., Seymour
CHARRON, Donald Pfc. RFD 1, Oakdale
CIOLKOSZ, Frank L. Pfc. 92 Ridge St., Winsted
COPPOLA, Louis Pfc. 20 Old Turnpike Rd., Southington
CORMIER, Gerald R. Pvt. 60 Woodbridge Ave., East Hartford
COWLES, George F. Pvt. 118 Meriden Ave., Southington
CURRY, William E. Cpl. 288 Blue Hills Ave., Hartford
CUSANO, Emmiddio C. Sgt. 71 Thompson St., Hamden
CZAPLICKI, Stanley F. Pfc. 12 Main St., Pequabuck
DAVIS, Neil F. Pvt. State St., New Haven
DeLUCO, Vincent J. Pfc. 74 Retreat Ave., Hartford
DEL VECCHIO, Alexander A. Pvt. 28 Gerrish Ave., East Haven
DeMARIA, John N. Pfc. 29 So. View St., Meriden
DESS, Frank A. Pfc. 87 Union St., Bristol
DOBECK, Frank Pfc. 198 Robbins Rd., Kensington
DRAPEAU, Gerald F. Sgt. 167 Ashley St., Hartford
DRYSGULA, Stanley W. Pfc. 1064 Broad St., Hartford
DUGAN, Edward T. Pfc. 34 Hobson St., East Haven
ELLINGWOOD, Harry L. T/ 4 20 Filley St., Windsor
ELOVITZ, Albert Pfc. 733 Madison Ave., Bridgeport
ERNST, Gustav Pvt. 52 Naubuc Ave., East Hartford
ESPOSITO, Salvatore . V Pfc. 257 Franklin St., New Haven
ESTICK, John F. Pvt. 253 Clinton Ave., Bridgeport
FABIAN, Nicholas A. Pfc. 26 Frank St., Fairfield
FAIELLA, Philip P. T/ Sgt. 47 Thompson St., Bridgeport
FARGEROGE, Eugene B. Pfc. 49 Clinton Ave., New Haven
FARKAS, John E. Pfc. 195 Wordin Ave., Bridgeport
FAULKNER, John H. Cpl. 119 Henry St., Norwich
FERRARO, Joseph J. Pfc. 52 Henry St., New Haven
FLEGERT, Arthur A. T/ 5 RFD 1, Willimantic
FOELL, Henry J. T/ 5 5 Stow Ave., Middletown
FOLEY, James O. Pfc. 27 Rose St., Burlington
FONTNEAU, Paul J. Pfc. 88 Main St., West Haven
FORYAN, John F. T/ 4 135 Plainville Ave., Unionville
FOSTER, Hollis J. Capt. 9 Vega St., New Britain
FOURNIER, Gordon C. S/ Sgt. 102 Spencer St., Winsted
FOWLER, David F. S/ Sgt. 24 Chatham Ave., Milford
FROSOLONE, Louis Pfc. 345 Munson St., New Haven
FUNICELLA, Saverio Pfc. 380 Elm St., Stamford
GORFAIN, Alex A. Pfc. 25 City Ave., New Britain
GUILMETTE, Paul E. Pfc. 270 Naubuc Ave., Glastonbury
HANSEN, Edward T/ 5 192 Knickerbocker St., Springdale
HANSEN, Martin A. Pvt. 70 Garden Circle, Waterbury
HENRY, Howard E. Pfc. 128 Richard St., New Haven
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HOFFMAN, Oswald E. Pfc. 213 Cherry St., New Britain
HOLMQUIST, Nils Pfc. 461 State St., Bridgeport
HOPPSTEIN, Melvin W. Pfc. James St. Ext., Danbury
HORNEY, Daniel J., Jr. T/ 5 Bridgeport
HUBETSEL, John Pfc. 724 Hancock Ave., Bridgeport
HULL, William F. Pfc. 73 Elton St., Torrington
HUNT, Allen L. T/ 5 37 Buena Vista Rd., West Hartford
JASON, Frank G. T/ 4 130 Haven St., New Haven
JOHNSON, Ernest A. Pvt. C- 233, Charter Oak Terrace, Hartford
KAPUSTA, Edward A. Pfc. 18 Hallock St., Derby
KARABIN, John M. Pvt. 28 Ledge Rd., Plainville
KELLEY, James J. Pfc. RFD 1, Norfolk
KINGSBURY, Harry W. Pfc. 42 Cedar St., New Britain
KIRK, Francis Pfc. 8 Prospect St., Bethel
KLOSKOWSKI, Eugene J. Pfc. 336 Kensington Rd., Kensington
KNUDSEN, Frederick H. T/ 5 68 North St., Hamden
KRIER, Stanley R. Sgt. 314 Skiff St., Hamden
KRUZEK, Frank S. Pfc. 221 So. Colony St., Wallingford
KUBISH, Julius S/ Sgt. 180 Hillcrest Ave., Newington
LACAVA, Nicholas J. Pfc. 39 Austin St., Danbury
LaFAUCI, Eugene C. Pfc. 37 Lamont St., Waterbury
LaFOUNTAINE, John T. S/ Sgt. North Grosvenordale
LaPOINTE, John A. Cpl. RFD 1, Mystic
LEWIS, Stanley B. Pvt. RFD 1, Higganum
LOPRESTI, Joseph V. Sgt. 55 Parallel St., Bridgeport
LUDWE, Walter J. Pfc. 36 Columbus Ave., New Haven
LYNCH, Stephen E., Jr. Sgt. 39 Kenneth St., Hartford
MANFORTE, Anthony P. S/ Sgt. Hecker Ave., Noroton Heights
MARAN, Edward C. Pfc. 5 Treadway Ave., Norwich
MARCHAN, Raymond J. Pfc. 15 Quaker Lane, Bristol
MARINELLI, Charles C. S/ Sgt. Queen St., Southington
MARSHALL, Leighton Pfc. 33 Crescent St., Shelton
MARSZALEK, Stanley F. Pvt. Wauregan
MARTEL, Lionel E. Cpl. 3 Walter Place, Forestville
MATUSKO, John Pfc. Bridgeport
McCANCE, Pressly F. Pfc. North St., Middlebury
McDONALD, Thomas J. 1st. Sgt. Ralsey Rd., Stamford
McLEAN, Charles S. 1st Lt. 110 Lafayette St., Norwich
MIKO, Andrew Pfc. 832 Beechwood Ave., Bridgeport
MILLER, Arthur R. Pfc. 66 Sheridan St., Bridgeport
MITCHELL, Joseph G. Pfc. 21 Russell St., Hartford
MORAN, Patrick W. Sgt. 64 Cornhill St., Bridgeport
MORGIO, George A. Pfc. 98 Admiral St., West Haven
MOSELEY, Anthony J. Cpl. 419 Montauk Ave., New London
NALLY, George P. Pfc. 165 Lamberton St . New Haven
17
NEUMANN, Howard R. Pfc. 93 Prospect Ave., West Hartford
NOE, Frederick J. Pfc. RFD 5, West Haven
NOLIN, Alphe H. T/ 4 RFD 3, Box 196, Bridgeport
NYSTROM, Harold E. Pfc. 54 Roosevelt Drive, Middletown
OKEN, Abraham Cpl. 400 Acton St., Hartford
O'LOUGHLIN, Charles J. Pvt. 74 Cabot St., Hartford
OPENCHOFSKI, Henry J. Pfc. Jewett City
OURFALIAN, Peter T/ 5 230 Holly St., Bridgeport
PACIA, Edward J. Pfc. Canal St., Milldale
PANKOWITZ, Walter A. Sgt. 40 Herbert St., Milford
PAPP, Joseph B. Pvt. 3 Franklin St., Wallingford
PEAL, William A. Pvt. 19 School St., Waterbury
PEELE, Oden B. Sgt. 101 McKinley St., Norwich
PERRONE, Anthony G. Cpl. 42 Russell St., Hartford
PETRELLA, Ercole Pfc. 17 Nichols St., Danbury
PETTIE, Peter F. Pfc. 83 Flax Hill Rd., So. Norwalk
PINCHERA, Henry T. Sgt. 177 Standish St., Hartford
PISCITELLI, Lucas F. Capt. 215 Bellevue Rd., New Haven
PIWASNUSKAS, Stanley Pfc. RFD 4, Box 193, Bridgeport
POOR, Joseph Pfc. RFD 1, Box 193, Bridgeport
PYRTEK, Ludwig J. Capt. 106 Edwards St., Hartford
RICHARDS, John E. Pvt. 104 Norwich Ave., Norwich
RILEY, Walter F. Pfc. 42 Jones St., West Haven 16
ROBB, Donald T. Pfc. 155 Overland Ave., Bridgeport
ROBERTS, John M. Capt. New Haven
ROMANIEC, Carl J. Pfc. Collinsville
ROOT, Walter R. S/ Sgt. 50 Lenox St., Devon
ROSS, Daniel W. Pfc. 580 Shelton St., Bridgeport
RUBINOWSKI, Victor J. Cpl. 538 No. Main St., Bristol
RUYACK, Andrew J. Pfc. 72 Van Block Ave., Hartford
RYCHLOVSKY, John A. Pfc. RFD 1, Colchester
SABLOSKY, Julian Pfc. 3310 Berlin Tnpke., Newington
SAKOWSKI, Nelson J. T/ 5 4 Rose St., Norwich
SANTANELLO, Charles D. Pvt. 11 Locust St., New Haven
SANTI, Albert Pfc. 90 River St., Bridgeport
SANTURO, Angelo Pfc. 34 Gilman St., Hartford
SCHIPRITT, Edward J. S/ Sgt. 782 E. Main St., Meriden
SEDAR, Charles J. S/ Sgt. 110 North Street, Windsor Locks
SESSA, Anthony J. T/ 5 421 George St., New Haven
SHAFFER, John E. S/ Sgt. 160 Chestnut Ave., Torrington
SHEA, Frank J. Pfc. 1403 Main St., East Hartford
SHERMAN, Harry E. Pvt. 25 Lake St., Norwich
SIENKIEWlECZ, Charles A. Pfc. 64 Mulberry St., Springdale
SILVER, Alfred Pfc. 32 Winthrop St., Hartford
SIMONEAU, Armand L. Pfc. 411 Aldridge Ave., Moosup
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SIVERT, Henry C. 1st Lt. 160 Williams Ave., Winsted
SOBOLEWSKI, Anthony S/ Sgt. 90 East St., Hartford
SPRING, Lawrence R. T/ 4 East Lyme
STAHOS, Peter S. Pvt. 456 Warren St., Bridgeport
STARNS, Raymond G. Pfc. 63 Branford St., Hartford
STEEVES, Lawrence Pfc. 81 Newton St., Hartford
STEVENS, Charles E. Pfc. 10 Flower St., Middletown
STOJAK, Joseph S. Pvt. 48 Elm St., Branford
SUCHY, Robert C. T/ 5 32 Cedar St., So. Norwalk
TAYLOR, Ronald A., Jr. 1st Lt. Elmwood District, Bethel
TELESCA, Thomas J. Pfc. 41 Pilgrim Ave., Waterbury
TENCZA, Andrew W. Pfc. 224 No. Elm St., Waterford
TETREAULT, Conrad Pfc. 333 Tatro Ave., Moosup
TOLMEI, Andrew F. Pfc. 873 Thompson Ave., New Haven
TOMASKOVIC, Frank J. S/ Sgt. 25 Albion St., Bridgeport 5
TOMMASI, Michael G. Pfc. 240 Cross St., Middletown
TORREY, John W. 2nd Lt. South Rice Rd., Storrs
TRETIAK, Stephen A. Pfc. 270 Broad St., Ansonia
TROVARELLI, Alfred Pfc. 130 Broadway Ave., Bridgeport
TUCKER, Alvin F. S/ Sgt. 92 School St., East Hartford
TURNER, Albert J. Pfc. 477 Center St., Wallingford
URBAN, Peter J. Pfc. 1281 Howard Ave., Bridgeport
VAN BUREN, Richard O. Pfc. 166 Nova Scotia Rd., Watertown
VELEAS, Peter T/ 5 184 Washington St., New Britain
VITALE, Merle J. Pfc. 162 Hartford Ave., New Britain
WAGNIS, George J. Pfc. 15 Seeley St., Bridgeport
WALKER, Johnson J. Pfc. 250 Noble St., West Haven
WARD, Frederick G. S/ Sgt. 502 High St., New Britain
WATSON, Norman J. Pfc. 2 Camp Terrace, Waterbury
WELLER, George R. Pfc. 131 Orchard St., Rockville
WENTSKOWSKI, Peter Pvt. 1 Wood St., Waterbury 9
WISNIEWSKI, William C. Pfc. 50 Spring St., Norwich
WRIGHT, Minturn T., Ill, T/ 4 25 Ledyard Rd., West Hartford
YATES, George F. Pfc. 24 Mill River St., Stamford
YOVANOVITCH, Alex T/ 5 449 Old Mill Road, Fairfield
ZAJAC, Francis A. Pvt. 333 Pratt St., Meriden
ZANIO, Francesco P. Pfc. 70 Kibbe St., Hartford
ZARRELLA, Dominick V. T/ 4 47 Wilson St., Waterbury
ZELSKI, Stephen J. T/ 5 14 Shelly St., Waterbury
19