Connecticut men, 43d - Winged Victory - Division, October, 1945. Vol. 1, no. 20

              CONNECTICUT MEN
43d - Winged Victory - Division
October, 1945 STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS HARTFORD
To The Men Who Came Home With The 43d?
To you, and through you, to all the men who sailed with you three long years ago, to those men who died that this, our homeland be spared the horrors of invasion and war, to those men wounded and sick who preceded you home, to those who having served the allotted time came earlier - I, on behalf of the, State of Connecticut, extend heartfelt appreciation and tender a sincere welcome home.
In the footsteps of your fathers and forefathers you have written more brilliant pages in the military history of this nation. As a son of Connecticut you have courageously and faithfully maintained the traditions of the State and Nation. You have added to that long list, started by the Connecticut men who fought at Bunker Hill, enduring names - Guadalcanal, Solomons, New Guinea, Luzon and Tokyo.
And to those men of the 169th Infantry In particular, who in World War II carried on the great tradition of that regi­ment
which dates back to 1739, the State pays particular honor. The record of your service warrants the highest accolade.
I know all the citizens of Connecticut join with me in expressing to you our pride and gratitude.
Yours very sincerely,
Governor
RAYMOND E. BALDWIN
43d DIVISION BATTLE LOG
Guadalcanal — Participation in four campaigns — Guadalcanal, the Northern Solomons, New Guinea and Luzon — mark the combat record of the 43d In­fantry
Division. The division landed late in 1942 in New Zealand, one combat team landing at Espirito Santo in the Hebrides. The division remained in New Zealand as strategic reserve for the pur­pose
of meeting a threatened Japanese in­vasion.
Later the 43d moved to New Caledonia and in Jan. 1943 moved to Guadalcanal just prior to the termination of the campaign there. In Feb. 1943 the Winged Victory men invaded the Russell Islands without opposition.
Rendova Island — The 43d was then organized as a task force and with ele­ments
of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps made the first assault on New Georgia at Rendova Island on June 30, 1943. There followed 81 days of con­tinuous
combat for the division, during which time it accounted for more than 4,000 Jap dead. Credit for playing a vital role in the capture of the Munda airfield on Aug. 5, 1943, went to the 43d. The campaign ended Sept. 21, 1943 and in Feb. 1944, the division left New Georgia and returned to New Zealand for rest and rehabilitation.
Aitape — The division struck next in June 1944 at Aitape, New Guinea, rein­forcing
other American units which were fighting there. It participated in the bloody battle of the Drinimuor River, cutting off a threatened Jap break out of the Wewak, New Guinea, trap.
Luzon — The Winged Victory outfit next went into action as part of the in­vasion
force which landed at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on Jan.
9, 1945. The division completed its mission of taking the left flank of the assault on Lingayen Gulf and securing the hill masses and road network so as to block off the Japanese in the mountains near Baguio. Throughout the initial 30 days of fighting on Luzon the division had con­stant
contact with the enemy and the number of Japs killed by the 43d equaled the number killed by all other divisions on Luzon during that period. The division moved into the Fort Stotsenberg area of Luzon, eliminated Jap pockets of re­sistance
in the Zambales mountains and then moved southward to crush the Shimbu line in the Antipolo- New Boso ¬ boso sector east of Manila. The division helped take Ipo Dam, main source of Manila's water supply, in May 1945, blasting the Shinshu fortress surrounding the dam. In June and July 1945, it was reported mopping up on Luzon.
Japan — The division embarked for occupation duties, landing at Yokohama, and was preparing for occupation duties at Kumagaya, northwest of Tokyo, when the announcement was made that the division was slated for return to the States.
Major Campaigns — Guadalcanal, Solomons, New Guinea, Luzon, Occupa­tion
of Japan.
Japanese Slain — Luzon, 16,852; New Georgia, 4,000; New Guinea, 500.
Japanese Prisoners — Luzon, 762; New Georgia, 23; New Guinea, 68.
Awards — Congressional Medal 2, Distinguished Service Cross 34, Dis­tinguished
Service Medal 1, Silver Star 551, Legion of Merit 56, Purple Heart 8,000, Soldier . Medal 22, Bronze Star 1413, Air Medal 13.
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THE 43d DIVISION STORIES
War correspondents of World War II frequently embellished and often overwrote the action stories of modest soldiers. The aggregate result pleased editors, made headlines, and, on occasion, embarrassed the soldiers. In retaliation, the correspondents and their victims were labelled, in characteristic G. I. language, " Joe Blow". Actually, the " Joe Blows" were few and far between in this Army. The purpose of these stories is to record without embellishment, the mood, the impressions, the exciting events, of the worst and best of the great days, before time blurs memories with resulting confusion as to events, dates and places. These are soldiers' stories, here recorded as near verbatim as possible in soldiers' words — The Editor.
Azary, John G., Pvt., 192d F. A. Bn., South Norwalk.
" After spending three years in the Pacific, the States — especially New England — seemed almost too good to be true. I served as an observer in a machine gun company, and I made most of the cam­paigns.
The whole New Georgia cam­paign
was tough with the Japs, the weather and the climate all acting against us. Many of my friends were lost there and many more were wounded. It was touch and go all of the time. I'll be glad to get back in civilian clothes."
Berkins, Richard C., S/ Sgt., Hq. Btry., 192d F. A. Bn., Norwalk.
" Rosario, in Northern Luzon — that was our worst. One night in January we got shelled by the Japs, who were using guns they captured from our troops when they took the Philippines in 1942. They poured it in for a half hour; it was a long half hour, and I'm not kidding! But we had no casualties — we were all good at digging."
Cassella, Alfred P., 2d/ Lt., Co. L, 169th Inf., New Britain.
" I wound up with three Purple Hearts before they sent me home on points, but the closest call I had was when three Nips caught me without my rifle while we were on Bangaa Island, off New Georgia. I was guarding a communications line when these three Japs came out of no­where
and there I was with no gun. They saw me and I saw them. I yelled and hit the ground. Some of the boys about 50
yards away fired in the direction of my voice and I got a chance to take cover when the Japs scattered. That was before I got my direct appointment."
Conway, Richard F., Sgt., Div. Hq., New Britain.
" Plenty of fellows saw tougher days than I did. The best day I had — outside of the day I found out I had 101 points and only needed 85 for discharge — was when we boarded a ship bound for New Zealand and a rest after 17 months in the islands. Everyone was pretty well tired out, particularly the fellows in the In­fantry,
and we were all a little ' island happy.' The New Georgia campaign was over and I figured that a return to civiliza­tion
would give us an opportunity to find out again what it was like to see white people."
Deedy, Raymond A., Pfc, Co. E., 102d Inf., Waterbury.
" Even though they took us away, technically, from the 43d Division before we went overseas, we still feel that the 43d is our outfit. There's a great tradition behind the 43d and we like to feel that we're part of it. Forty- three months out there gave me all that I ever want to see of the Pacific; there isn't much difference between one island and another, except for Hawaii. It was almost like civilization when we got there. In the Society Islands and the New Hebrides the weather was pretty bad, and often we had day after day of rain. We were garrison troops and for the most part it was pretty dull."
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Douchette, Wilfred A., lst/ Sgt., Hq. Co., 3d Bn., 169th Inf., New Britain.
" The worst time I had in the Army covered five days when the third battalion was sent out to Artillery Ridge. That was at Big ' T', below Ipo Dam which was a Manila water supply, in the Luzon cam­paign.
We were supposed to find out the strength of the Japs. For five days and five nights we were on that ridge and the Japs threw everything they had at us. Our outfit had some tough times but that was the toughest and those of us who got out alive figured we were pretty lucky boys."
Ehnat, John T., Pfc, Co. E., 103d Inf., Bridgeport.
" I was first scout and my job was to try and find out where the enemy was located and locate pill boxes and machine gun nests. One time some of our men were wounded down the bottom of a hill. I was supposed to go down and flank these men for their protection. I asked the sergeant whether there were any Japs there and he said no. Another thing, while I was going down the hill I heard some one yell ' Charlie' in English so I thought everything was in order. When I got up the second hill, I yelled ' Where the hell are you guys?' As I turned around I looked right into the face of a Jap. I pressed the trigger on my gun and it didn't work, so I hit a bank around the bend. I told the BAR man to shoot over my head so I could get away, but his BAR didn't work. I took a grenade out and threw it into the Jap hole and man­aged
to kill him. Knowing that I had no chance, I got out in a hurry. As I ran the Japs shot at me and knocked my gun right out of my hand."
Embardo, Robert W., Pvt., Co. E., 102d Inf., Waterbury.
" The natives in the Society Islands had
quite a racket after we landed there — the Army hired the men to work on road and construction projects. Soon, however, they all quit their jobs because they found that their wives were making much more money by doing laundry for the service­men.
The men received about seventy- five cents a day, while the women made from five to six dollars a day and more for doing laundry. From that time on, the men sat back and smoked and enjoyed themselves, while their wives made more money than they had ever dreamed of having. All in all, those Polynesians were pretty nice people. Overseas time? I had exactly 37 months, 11 days. I know that figure by heart!"
Filon, Robert D., Lt. Col., 2d Bn., 169th Inf., Hartford.
" I'm particularly proud of the fact that the Second Battalion was one of the few that saw action in the Solomon Islands, New Guinea and the Philippines, com­pleting
the job by occupying Japan. It was originally composed of members from Hartford and vicinity, but replacements through the years came from all parts of the United States. At the close, a Hartford man was a novelty and a pleasure to see. Several Hartford men had their ability recognized on the field and received direct appointments as second lieutenants. All of these officers proved to be of superior caliber."
Gilberto, Frank D., S/ Sgt., Co. F., 169th Inf., Hartford.
" Living in a foxhole made us psychic. You got to know what a man thought by the touch of his fingers in the dark. That famous Third Night on the drive to Munda was the worst, the Japs coming in within 25 feet, screeching, hollering all night, rolling their grenades. We couldn't talk; and we couldn't move for fear the creak of the knee joint would give us away. By morning we were ' frozen' — we had to work on each other's legs to get back the circulation. We talked in the dark by touch system. Every few days the signals were changed. One night we arranged that one signal tap meant ' Watch the rear.' Two was, ' Are you awake?' Three was, ' Listen.' Four was, ' They're coming in.' A grab ahold of the fingertips meant, ' Pull me over to you.' Each foxhole made up its own signals. One reason for signals was to make sure the fellow next to you wasn't a Jap. We left our helmet straps unhooked for good reason. That was after one of us was pulled out of his hole by his helmet, lifted by the strap under his chin."
Gilmore, Maurice J., T/ 4., Co. D., 118th M. D. Bn., New London.
" Me, I met a friend from New London just as we went ashore on D- Day on San Fabian Island in the Philippines. He was out of equipment and so was I, so we traded back and forth until we were both fixed up. The shells were pouring in on the beach from the mountain and an LST 200 yards away blew up from a direct hit. We handled a lot of casualties that day and a lot of our dead the next."
Golden, David R., lst/ Sgt., Co. E., 103d Inf., Thompsonville.
" I don't want to say anything now that it's all over. I'd feel good if I could get a job when I get out."
Gurnee, William N., S/ Sgt., 169th Inf., New London.
" The kind of fighting and the condi­tions
under which we had to fight in New Georgia were about as bad as any I have ever experienced. Besides the jungle and swamps, the Japs were pretty strong and aggressive. On the Munda trail we were caught without any food or supplies when the Japs severed our lines in the rear.
Everything we received from then on for about a week had to be dropped by plane. It was pretty tough towards the end just before relief arrived."
Handleman, William J., Pfc, 169th F. A. Bn., Hartford.
" Just as soon as I get back home I am going to take off for a farm my family has up in Vermont and get one long rest. Three years in the Pacific as a cannoneer for a 105mm howitzer from Guadalcanal to the Philippines has tired me out. It has been so long since I have seen the folks that I am getting nervous now when I think I shall be seeing them in just a few hours. The roughest action I ex­perienced
was on New Georgia when our command post was attacked and we had to lay down a concentration of fire to relieve the pressure on them. The Jap is a pretty good soldier and their training seems to specialize in infiltration tactics at night which we had plenty of experience with in the jungles."
Higgins, John J., 1st/ Lt., Sv. Co., 169th Inf., New Britain.
" March 10, 1945, stands out as pretty rough. I was leading a supply party of Filipino carriers near Clark Field on Luzon to a forward company that was isolated. We were attacked by an enemy force and pinned down. Some of us circled around and managed to break the block, killing four Japs and capturing consider­able
enemy equipment. We reorganized in a hurry and continued on our way. We delivered the supplies as scheduled."
Jeffries, James, Cpl., Btry. B., 192d F. A. Bn., Stamford.
" My most pleasant memory of the Pacific is the day we landed in New Zea­land
in October 1942. It was the nearest thing to home that we saw in the three years over there. The worst place we struck was New Caledonia, where we
S spent two months in 1943. We were that far from civilization that it was pathetic. We had a lot of dealings with the French over there, and when they were doing business with our boys they were nothing but clip artists."
Leonard, William, Pfc, Btry. A., 192d F. A. Bn., East Norwalk.
" The rottenest spot was the Solomons. Those islands were the lousiest area in the Southwest Pacific. We spent 14 months there. It's no kidding that they were the longest 14 months I ever hope to see. There was always the heat and the bugs, and the tropical diseases, and the stinking Nips. What it all adds up to as we saw it, you wouldn't put in print."
Mangan, Joseph J., Cpl., Co. M., 169th Inf., New Britain.
" The longest 13 hours I ever spent in my life were on July 14, 1943, when we were on Seven Day Hill on Munda in New Georgia and I got hit. The going had been pretty tough up until that time but it got worse. After I got hit, I lay there from 7 o'clock that night until 8 o'clock the next morning. Jimmy Howe and Jimmy Maturano held a tourniquet on me all that time and the hours dragged. Jimmy Howe, a swell guy, was killed later on Luzon and so was his brother, Francis."
Marchesseault, Norman H., Pfc, Sig. Co., Dayville.
" What I'll remember is the 15 minutes after 4: 20 a. m. on a February day in 1943. We were enroute to Guadalcanal on an LST, just entering Talogi Bay, when we were attacked by six Jap torpedo planes. The crew, to clear the deck for action, ordered us all below, but with a few others I stayed on deck to watch the show which I saw from a spot behind a lifeboat station. The Navy went to work on them, and there were tracers flying all around. The attack lasted just fifteen
minutes, we got one Jap plane, and had no casualties."
Montesi, Wilson J., Pfc, Btry. B., 192d F. A. Bn., Danbury.
" The Fourth of July in ' 43 was hot, and I don't mean the weather! That was our first fight, at Rendova, New Georgia. It came on us suddenly. All at once hell broke loose. I jumped for a foxhole, and it was half full of water and all full of eight guys. Eighteen Jap bombers were coming over, but none of them got back where they started from."
Murray, Winthrop S., Pfc, Co. L., 169th Inf., New Haven.
" New Georgia was as bad as anything because we weren't fully equipped and we had to fight with what we had. The supplies really hadn't gotten in like they should have. The nights with the Japs infiltrating, the job we had getting our wounded out under sniper fire and the fact that the coral formations made fox­holes
almost impossible to dig, all added up and made it really tough. I wouldn't give a thin dime to go through it again but I wouldn't take a million for the exper­ience
and the chance to see the world."
Pagliuca, Alfred, Pfc, Co. C, 103d Inf., New Haven.
" The Japs were on another hill about 300 yards from us and it was a fire and duck affair. Our machine gunner opened up and after a short burst the gun jammed. The Nips surmised what had happened and threw everything at us including plenty of knee mortar fire. A shell ex­ploded
in an empty foxhole just alongside me. We worried mostly about the beer some natives managed to get up to us the day before. We gave the signal for the field artillery to open fire and they did an excellent job of it. We jokingly referred to that spot as the ' Shooting Gallery' for at night the Japs were silhouetted against
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the moonlight and when they moved we could pick them off like clay pigeons."
Peet, Eldridge P., S/ Sgt., Btry. B., 103d F. A. Bn., New Milford.
" Near Rosario on Luzon in January, we really took it. From 10 a. m. to 10 p. m. we sat there, with the stuff coming in — in all sizes from all directions. Our colonel had his head blown off by a direct hit. We were an FO party with the Infantry. About 10 a. m. a bunch of Japs with some horse- drawn artillery came down the road and opened up on us. We fought it out all night. Next morning we counted 523 dead Japs."
Riley, Joseph J., Jr., Sgt., Hq., Bristol.
" One of the things I'll remember is running into a fellow from Bristol in Manila. I hadn't seen him for four years. Because we happened to meet in front of the Red Cross and we were short of pesos we settled for doughnuts and coffee. I had been back to the States and was able to give him a report on his folks, his girl and the ' Bell Town'."
Rizza, Paul J., T/ 5, Co. C, 118th M. D. Bn., Bridgeport.
" Every day that we were out there was pretty hot. I was a litter bearer in the New Georgia campaign. We carried men back from the battalion aid station to our collecting company. That was done through swamps and jungle and always with Japs sniping at us all along the way. I was pretty lucky as four other fellows of my unit did get hit."
Root, Edward E., T/ Sgt., Hq. Btry., 192d F. A. Bn., Norwalk.
" I'll remember longest the Fourth of July in 1943 at Munda, New Georgia, when 16 ' Mitzi- bitzis' came over and I thought they were our own planes. They got right on top of us when our anti­aircraft
opened up and shot them all down."
Valeriano, Primo J., Cpl., Co. M., 169th Inf., New Britain.
" It's a toss- up on the toughest day. Bad as any was that at Mount Alava in Luzon. The Japs were dug in caves all over the place and had everything, in­cluding
artillery. They gave us a working over and a lot of the fellows never came out. We were lucky to get out ourselves. I was on my way when I heard someone calling for help. I went back and found one of the fellows wounded and brought him out. They gave me the Silver Star, but being alive was the best part of it all."
Walker, Arthur L., Pfc, Sv. Btry., 192d F. A. Bn., New London.
" I drew outpost duty, on Rendell Is­land,
guarding the entrance to Brockett Strait, in New Georgia, for 151 1/ 2 days, June through October. It was an observa­tion
detail of twelve men. We were on our own — no officers, and no cooks. We lived on K- rations and native fruits and vegetables. The natives brought us sweet potatoes, paupaus, egg plant, mangoes."
Winialski, Raymond E., 1st/ Lt., Co. H., 169th Inf., Hartford.
" In the toughest spots there was always the GI humor. It saved the situation. One guy on Luzon was badly hit by a 40- mm shell. ' God damn it, they use .25 caliber on everybody else,' he said, ' but they have to take a 40 millimeter for me.' Humor keeps them going. When the going was bad there was always the wisecrack, or perhaps just a word, to relieve the tension. We needed it, particularly at Munda which was the most nerve- wrack­ing.
On D- Day at Lingayen Gulf we crossed a railroad track. It ran through open country between rice paddies, but it was a railroad track. A GI got down and hugged one of the rails; that was his way of showing he was coming back to civilization."
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43d DIVISION FACTS
Nickname — Winged Victory Divi­sion.
Division received its nickname dur­ing
the campaign on Luzon, formed from the name of its commanding general, Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing, and the ultimate goal of the unit in this war.
Shoulder Patch — The patch is a black grapeleaf imposed on a red quatre ¬ foil background. The patch is khaki- bordered. The grapeleaf represents the fact that the four States whose National Guard troops originally made up the division — Maine, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island — were once called Vinland, so named by the Scandinavian explorer, Lief Ericson, because of the abundant wild grapes he found there. The four globules of the quatrefoil repre­sent
these four states.
Induction Date — Inducted into federal service Feb. 24, 1941.
Training — Upon induction the divi­sion
was assigned to Camp Blanding, Fla. In July 1941, it took part in Louisiana maneuvers under the Third Army and the following November went to the Carolinas for maneuvers which were held under the IV Corps. The 43d remained at Camp Blanding until Feb. 8, 1942, when it moved to Camp Shelby, Miss. On Mar. 9, 1942, it came under Army Ground Forces. In August 1942 it moved again, this time to Fort Ord, Calif. On the Pacific coast it received intensive amphibious training.
Left this Country — October 1942 for the Southwest Pacific Theater of Opera­tions.
Commendations — The 1st Battalion of the 169th Infantry Regiment received the Distinguished Unit citation for action from Jan. 15 to 17, 1945, at Pozorrubio,
Luzon, P. I., for heroic action in establish­ing
a road block. The 2d Battalion of the 169th Infantry Regiment received the Distinguished Unit citation for action on Jan. 20, 1945, at Seison, Luzon, P. I., for securing a junction. The 3d Battalion of the 169th Infantry Regiment received the Distinguished Unit citation for action on Mt. Alava, Seison, Luzon, P. I., Jan. 20, 1945, when it attacked that elevation. The 2d Battalion of the 172d Infantry Regiment received the Distinguished Unit citation for action at Ipo Dam, Luzon, P. I., on May 7, 1945, when it seized a strategic hill.
Commanding General — Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing was born in Ira, Vt., on Nov. 12, 1893. He enlisted for service in the World War and served as a private and sergeant until June 1918 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of infantry. He received an honorable discharge from the Army in Dec. 1918 and returned to Vermont where he began the practice of law. In 1919 he enlisted in the Vermont National Guard as a private and that same year was com­missioned
as a second lieutenant. He re­mained
a member of the Vermont Nation­al
Guard during the years that followed, being promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1919, to captain in 1920, to major in 1921, to lieutenant colonel in 1929, to colonel in 1933 and to brigadier general in 1938. In 1941 he was mustered into federal service with the 43d Infantry Division and in Feb. 1942 was named as assistant division commander. He became commanding general of the 43d in Aug. 1943 and the following month was promoted to major general. At the time he went into service he was senior partner of a law firm.
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43d DIVISION COMES HOME
The 43d Division came home during October 1945. The veterans and survivors of the earlier campaigns and most of the original National Guardsmen had pre­ceded
the division home by some weeks or months. The division came home through the Golden Gate at San Francisco in six transports: the U. S. S. General John Pope, U. S. S. General L. M. Hersey, U. S. S. Kenton, U. S. S. Grundy, U. S. S. Neshoba and the U. S. S. Etolin.
The Pope docked on October 8, with the 172d Infantry and part of the 169th. The Hersey on October 9 brought part of the 103d Infantry, the 118th Medical Battalion, the Band, Headquarters and Special Troops. The Kenton on the 10th brought other units of the 103d, the 152d Field Artillery and the Ordnance Com­pany.
The Grundy came in October 19 with units of the 103d, 169th and 192d Field Artillery Battalions, Headquarters and Special Troops. The Neshoba on October 23 brought the 118th Engineers, Military Police, Quartermaster Company, Reconnaissance Troop and Division Head­quarters
personnel. The Etolin brought part of the 169th, and part of the 103d, 169th and 192d Artillery Battalions, docking at San Francisco on October 29.
San Francisco port authorities provided a well arranged welcome, with music, cheers, and Red Cross coffee. Newsmen recorded that the men had difficulty dis­embarking,
heavily laden with souvenirs — rifles, swords, pistols, daggers, bolts of silk and flags.
The Hersey, with the Division Com­mander,
Major General Leonard F. Wing, was greeted by the roar of a 13 gun salute from Fort Mason, and the crowded deck resounded with those familiar soldier
shouts for sheets, and milk, and food, and sleep, and — exclamations on the first sight of " white women with shoes on."
General Wing joined the welcome of the third contingent aboard the Kenton, and more music and more cheers from shore were there for the three transports that followed several days later.
From the docks the men went to Camp Stoneham at Pittsburg, California, for the initial processing and regrouping for the cross country trip to the Fort Devens Separation Center.
The first contingent, fourteen men in all, arrived at Fort Devens on October 17.
The division was officially inactivated at the California staging camps; thus closing a page of Connecticut military history on which the first entry, induction into Federal Service, was written on February 24, 1941.
THE 43d DIVISION PICTURES
The U. S. S. General John Pope, a Navy transport, just after coming through the Golden Gate is pictured on the cover.
The U. S. S. General L. M. Hersey, an Army transport, is pictured with her deck- load of men of the 103d and other units on Page 9 ( upper).
The U. S. S. Grundy, an Army transport, is shown ( lower) with a deck load of cheering servicemen on one of her first trips to the States after V- E Day with high- point dischargees from the Pacific Theater.
Six group pictures taken aboard the General Pope and on the docks at San Francisco are shown on Page 5. The six group pictures on Page 7 were taken aboard the Hersey and at the docks.
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THE 43d DIVISION IN ACTION
The first assignment overseas of the 43d Infantry ( New England) Division was a tour of duty in New Zealand at a time when it seemed likely that the country might be invaded. The division then ship­ped
to New Caledonia for a brief stay and arrived on Guadalcanal in time to help mop up the Japs on that island.
A month later the New Englanders began the war in earnest. Their first mission as a unit was the invasion of the Russell Islands, which they accomplished without opposition. Then, with elements of the Army, Navy and Marines, the 43d stormed ashore on Rendova Island in New Georgia.
For 35 days of what experts have called the dirtiest, roughest campaign of that year, the 43d fought for the Munda air­port.
Relatively inexperienced in the ways of jungle warfare, opposed by crack Jap troops, the New Englanders had to learn the hard and bloody way. They broke the Jap resistance and achieved their ob­jective
— capture of the vital Munda strip.
New Guinea was the next stop. At Aitape and the Drinimuor River, the 43d became expert in the art of killing Japs.
They landed at Lingayen Gulf in Luzon on D- Day. Fighting their way into the hills, the New Englanders battled in the toughest possible terrain against an enemy dug deeply into cave positions. For the first 30 days, the division was in constant combat with the enemy.
As its final brilliant contribution to the Philippine campaign, the New Englanders captured a mountainous dam vital to Manila's water supply.— From a syndi­cated
article in the New Haven Register.
Source of Division — National Guard troops from Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Casualties — The division's wounded totaled over 8,000. The division lost over 1,500 killed in action. The division was in the line for 9,192 hours.
Component Units — ( as of date of departure from U. S.) 103d, 169th and 172d Infantry Regiments; 103d, 152d and 169th ( L) and 192d ( M) Field Artillery Battalions.
Successive Commanding Generals— Maj. Gen. Morris B. Payne from Feb. 1941 to Aug. 1941; Maj. Gen. John H. Hester from Aug. 1941 to July 1943; Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing from Aug. 1943.
CONNECTICUT VETERANS COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET
Vol. 1 October 31, 1945 No. 20
CARLETON B. CLYMA, Editor
This booklet on the return of the 43d ( Winged Victory) Division from the Pacific Theater of War, is published by the State of Connecticut, through the Office of the Governor, as an addition to the souvenirs and memorabilia of those who participated in the defeat of the Japanese armies.
The Battle Log, History and Facts were prepared by the Office of Technical In­formation,
Army Ground Forces. The cover and group pictures, provided by the AGF Liaison Office at San Francisco, are Army Signal Corps photographs.
A limited number of copies are available for distribution to Connecticut men of the Division. They may be secured by writing to the Veterans Booklet Division, Office of the Governor, Room 503, State Capitol, Hartford.
Reproduction of original material herein is permissible only on written authorization.
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STATE AIDS AND BENEFITS
The laws of the State of Connecticut provide for many forms of aid, benefits and preferences for veterans, and for their next of kin in varying degrees. The following digest is designed to inform of the aids, benefits and preferences, and to designate the local or state agency charged with providing full information to veterans. There are thirty- four full- time and eight part- time Veterans Centers operating which serve 86 of the 169 cities and towns in the State. In some smaller towns the Town Clerks act as a " Veterans Center".
Tax Exemptions — File discharge with your Town Clerk; notify local assessors and collector.
Local Taxes — Any veteran is exempt from taxes on real or personal property up to $ 1,000 in valuation. Disabled veterans are exempt up to $ 3,000, according to disability ratings. This ex­emption
is in part valid for veterans' wives, and next of kin, as specified by the Statutes. See Local Tax Collector.
Local Business Taxes — ( Personal property) on stock, fixtures and equipment of new businesses established by veterans, for three years. See Local Tax Collector.
Old Age Assistance Taxes — Servicemen are exempt, during active service in armed forces, and veterans may secure refund if they paid while in active service. See Local Tax Collector.
State Unincorporated Business Taxes — On new businesses established by any veteran, good for three years. See Tax Commissioner, State Office Building, Hartford.
Free Business Licenses — Most licenses are free; renewals usually unnecessary for varying periods. See your Town Clerk.
Professional Licenses — Qualified veterans can be admitted to the practice of law or chiropractic without examination in most cases. Contact your county Bar Association, or the Board of Chiro­practic
Examiners, State Office Building, Hartford.
State Employment Preference — Veteran pas­sing
state civil service examination has five points added to score; ten, if he has a disability rating. Names placed on list of eligibles in the order of such augmented score.
The State's general policy on veteran's job preference, which has not the effect of law, was established by the 1945 General Assembly, with passage of the following:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representa­tives
:
" 1. That it shall be the policy of the State, acting through the Connecticut Veterans Reemploy­ment
and Advisory Commission, to encourage Connecticut employers to voluntarily set aside a minimum of 25 per cent of post- war jobs for veter­ans
of World War II.
" 2. That it shall be the policy of the State until July 1, 1950, to give preference to veterans of World War II in all State positions outside the classified service of the merit system act and in all positions involving contractual services and part time services and in all cases where compensation is paid by the State whether on a fee basis or otherwise.
" 3. That until July 1, 1950, it shall also be the policy of the State that appointing officers of the State, as defined by Sec. 2049 of the General Statutes, shall, other conditions being equal, give preference to veterans of World War II in filling State positions from registers of eligible candidates furnished by the State Personnel Department."
Educational Aids — With satisfactory cre­dentials,
a veteran can secure free a grammar school or high school diploma from the State Board of Education, State Office Building, Hartford.
Free instruction in secondary subjects ( high school courses) will be furnished by the State Board of Education if your town can't do it. See your local school officials.
Financial aid for college educations for children, 16 to 23, of servicemen killed in service. Consult the State Board of Education.
Aid for Needy Veterans — If you are being cared for under legal direction of the Veterans Home Commission, your children under 16, husband, wife or widowed mother can receive weekly finan­cial
assistance up to $ 10. for an adult and $ 6. for a child. Apply to the Commission, through the Veterans Home, Rocky Hill.
If you need temporary financial assistance because of a service disability, contact the Veterans Home Commission, Rocky Hill.
Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund — Many of the veterans' aid benefits set out above are pay­able
from the income produced by this fund which is to be augmented by a portion of the Connecticut tax on cigarettes until the principal of the fund reaches $ 15,000,000. Disbursements of these funds to carry out aid provisions to veterans, and certain relatives and next of kin of veterans pursuant to statute, are through the State Treasurer of the American Legion, State Office Building, Hartford.
15
THE 43d DIVISION HISTORY
The division was organized as one of two National Guard divisions in the I Corps Area following the World War. It came into being on March 21, 1925.
The 103d Infantry Regiment — dates back to 1861 when volunteer militia companies in the general area of Bangor, Me., formed the 3d Maine Infantry Regiment which fought in the Civil War. Many of the regiment's companies date their origin back over 100 years, the oldest being Company C from Norway, Me., which was formed in 1800 under the laws of Massachusetts, 20 years before Maine became a State. The regiment fought in the Spanish- American War, served on the Mexican Border and fought in the World War as part of the 26th Infantry Division.
The 169th Infantry Regiment — dates back to 1739. The unit's 205 years of continuous history includes service
for the Colony of Connecticut, the State of Connecticut and for the United States in the French and Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish- American War, World War I and World War II. The regiment's motto is " Armis Stant Leges," —" Laws are maintained by force of arms."
The 172d Infantry Regiment — dates back to ten years before the Revo­lutionary
War when Vermonters, known as the " Green Mountain Boys," banded together under Ethan Allen to protect their land grants from encroachment by the Crown State of New York. Units which were the precursors of the regi­ment
fought in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish- American War, along the Mexican Border and in the World War it was assigned to the 26th Infantry Division.
THE 43d DIVISION ROSTER
The following roster was compiled from lists provided by the AGF Liaison Officer at San Francisco and by personal interviews at Fort Devens and in Connecticut. Those names marked with an asterisk were compiled by personal interview. Any attempt to compile complete lists of all Connecticut men who served with the 43d Division was impossible for this souvenir booklet due to time and other limitations.
ABRUSCATO, Joseph P. Sgt. 13 Donovan St., Norwalk
ACKIE, George W. 2d/ Lt. Bristol
ALVORD, Harold H. 1st/ Lt. 73 Furnace St., Danielson
ANSTETT, Charles H. Pvt. 488 High St., Torrington
* AZARY, John G. Pvt. 69 Norton St., South Norwalk
BAKER, Raymond W. Pfc. 429 Bostwick Ave., Bridgeport
BEERBAUN, Alfred W. Sgt. RFD 4, Wolcott
* BERKINS, Richard C. S/ Sgt. Grumman Ave., Norwalk
BERNIER, Thomas J. T/ Sgt. 30 Arch St., Waterbury
BIASI, Joseph Pfc. 23 Suburban Ave., Cos Cob
BILL, Frank H. 1st/ Lt. 19 Frederick St., Hartford
BLOCH, Stephen P. T/ 5 25 Central Ave., Waterbury
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BOHNER, Holm T/ 4 946 Forest Ave., Stamford
BOUDREAU, Leo J. S/ Sgt. 16 Hopkins St., Hartford
BOYCHEW, Charles T/ 4 67 Hanford Ave., Bridgeport
BOZZUTO, Ludovico P. T/ 5 22 Norton St., Waterbury
BRAULT, Robert C. CWO 8 Park St., Bristol
BUSH, Allan K. T/ Sgt. 501 Huntington Rd., Bridgeport
BUTEAU, Montcalm R. Capt. Danielson
BYWATER, Robert E. Pfc. 291 So. Quaker Lane, West Hartford
CABLES, Leonard F. Pfc. Gilbert Home, Winsted
CASEY, Maurice B. S/ Sgt. 123 North St., Bristol
* CASSELLA, Alfred P. 2d/ Lt. 64 Dudley St., New Britain
CAYA, Maurice A. Pfc. 38 Jackson Place, Willimantic
CHAMBERS, William F. 1st/ Lt. 459 Keeney St., Manchester
CHATTERTON, Robert S. Pfc. 52 Arch St., Greenwich
CHERUBINI, Peter T/ 5 51 St. Margaret Ave., Waterbury
CIPOLIA, John T/ 5 188 Triangle St., Danbury
COBURN, Warren F. Pfc. 68 Chestnut St., Bridgeport
COCO, Joseph S. Pvt. 348 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford
COFRANCESCO, Vincent C. Pfc. 124 Frost Rd., Waterbury
COGSWELL, James S. Maj. 84 Smith St., Putnam
* CONNORS, William P. Cpl. 50 Hill St., Stamford
* CONWAY, Richard F. Sgt. 194 North St., New Britain
CORTEZ, Salvatore R. Pfc. 14 Rose Park Ave., Stamford
DALY, Kieran M. 1st/ Lt. 92 Harwich St., Hartford
DAVIDSON, Robert S/ Sgt. 247 Walnut St, Waterbury
* DeCARLO, Joseph S. S/ Sgt. 529 So. Main St, Naugatuck
DEEDY, Raymond A. Pfc. 147 Savings St, Waterbury
* DeFOREST, Charles W. Cpl. 6 Liberty Plaza, Middletown
DEMERS, Adrian J. 1st/ Lt. 43 Ashwell Ave, Rocky Hill
DEYORIO, Pasquale 1st/ Lt. 109 Spruce St, Manchester
DIZINSKI, Theodore Sgt. 127 Red Mountain Ave, Torrington
DONOVAN, Louis W, Jr. Pfc. 127 Smith St, Bridgeport
* DOUCHETTE, Wilfred A. 1st/ Sgt. 55 Pike St, New Britain
EDGAR, Earl M. Pfc. 129 Hillcrest Ave, So. Meriden
EDWARDS, George R. M/ Sgt. 148 Meriden Ave, Southington
EHNAT, John T. Pfc. 522 Jane St, Bridgeport
EININGER, Herbert M/ Sgt. 296 Bedford St, Stamford
ELSOVSKY, Andrew 1st/ Lt. 597 Zion St, Hartford
EMBARDO, Robert W. Pvt. 66 Beech St, Waterbury
EWANKIEWICZ, Matty P. Pfc. 64 Anderson St, Union City
* FAUST, Fred T/ Sgt. 25 E. Burnham St, Hartford
FAZZINO, Sebastian Pfc. Portland
FERGUSON, Theodore H. Pfc. Scribner Ave, So. Norwalk
FILON, Robert D. Lt. Col. 363 Blue Hills Ave, Hartford
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FINKLE, Jack D. Pfc. 165 West St., Seymour
FOTIVE, James P. Pvt. 89 South St, Waterbury
FREDERICKSON, Carl G. Pvt. 126 Clinton St, New Britain
FRENIER, Theodore T. Pfc. 24 Ballou St, Putnam
GALYA, William J. Capt. 2263 Hillside Rd, Fairfield
GANCARZ, Joseph J. T/ 4 32 Ives St, Willimantic
GARLOCK, Charles D, Jr. S/ Sgt. Colony St, Ansonia
GENTILE, Anthony Sgt. 45 Harpers Rd, Waterbury
* GILBERTO, Frank D. S/ Sgt. 81 Tredeau St, Hartford
* GILMORE, Maurice J. T/ 4 17 Cliff St, New London
GIROUARD, Arthur W. Pfc. 152 Woodbine St, Waterbury
GODEK, Joseph J. T/ 5 1520 No. Main St, Hartford
GOL, John J. Sgt. 17 Palmer Ave, Stamford
GOLDEN, David R. 1st/ Sgt. 46 Highland Park, Thompsonville
GRIFFIN, Henry W. 1st/ Lt. 15 Grand St, Forestville
GRIFFITH, John R. T/ 5 145 Cleveland Ave, Hartford
GUMAN, Frank T/ 5 583 Berkshire Ave, Bridgeport
* GURNEE, William N. S/ Sgt. 58 Morgan St, New London
HALLORAN, Joseph D. Pfc. 563 Winthrop Ave, New Haven
HANDLEMAN, William J. Pfc. 31 Enfield St, Hartford
HANOPHY, James F, Jr. Pfc. 221 Newington Rd, West Hartford
HAWLEY, Richard K. 1st/ Lt. Box 964, Middletown
HIGGINS, John J. 1st/ Lt. 42 Devens St, New Britain
HIGGINS, Lawrence H. Capt. 411 Sherman St, New London
HOLDWRIGHT, Lawrence E. Pvt. 23 Broadway, New Haven
HULL, Ralph E. S/ Sgt. 30 Maple St, Seymour
HUMBER, Russell Pfc. 911 Main St, Stamford
HUTCHINGS, George H. Pfc. 491 Fairfield Ave, Stamford
JASPERSOHN, Howard J. Cpl. 49 Silver St, Branford
* JEFFRIES, James Cpl. 33 Broad St, Stamford
JOHNSTON, John W. Pfc. RFD 1, Thomaston
* KARAKO, Frank W. Sgt. 294 Fort Hale Rd, New Haven
KEENEY, John M. 1st/ Lt. 895 Bronson Ave, Fairfield
KING, Walter E. Pfc. 19 Bank St, Portland
LABBE, Leonard J. T/ 5 Box 145, Southington
LaHAYE, Raymond L. M/ Sgt. 112 Warren St, Meriden
LANE, Warren J. Pfc. 4 Price Blvd., West Hartford
LaROSA, Edward S/ Sgt. 1877 Baldwin St, Waterbury
LARSON, David Pfc. 83 Priscilla St, Bridgeport
LaTORRE, Joseph J. 2nd/ Lt. 228 Front St, Hartford
* LEONARD, William Pfc. 26 Myrtle St, East Norwalk
LIAPES, James T. Pfc. 31 Governor St, East Hartford
LONG, Thomas B. 1st/ Sgt. 152 Brook St, Hartford
LONGOBARDI, Nicholas A. T/ 5 138 Poplar St, New Haven
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LYMAN, Earl M. Pfc. RFD, So. Coventry
LYNCH, Harold O. S/ Sgt. 96 Washington Ave, West Haven
MAHONEY, Frederick L. T/ 4 60 Maple St, Manchester
MALLOY, Joseph T. S/ Sgt. 63 Cleveland Ave, Hartford
* MANGAN, Joseph J. Cpl. 1 Prospect St, New Britain
* MARCHESSEAULT, Norman H. Pfc. 19 High St, Dayville
MARKO, Michael Pfc. 85 William St, Bridgeport
MARRON, Benedict A. Pfc. 54 Brown Ave, Stamford
MASKA, Adam E. S/ Sgt. Putnam
MASTRACCHIO, Andrew T/ 5 50 Stevens St, New Haven
MAZZUCO, Domenico Pfc. 21 Perth St, Bridgeport
* McNAMARA, Joseph F. Sgt. Dyer Ave, Collinsville
McPHEE, Raymond S. S/ Sgt. 31 Bungalow Park, Stamford
MENNILLO, Carmine P. Pfc 7 So. Main St, Beacon Falls
MINER, Lewis E. Pfc. 28 Howard St, Hartford
* MONTESI, Wilson J. Pfc. 29 Comstock St, Danbury
MOODY, Malcolm N. S/ Sgt. Randolph Rd, Middletown
MOREHOUSE, Wilbert H. T/ 5 79 Stratford Ave, Stratford
MROZOWSKI, Theodore J. Pfc. 20 Maple St, Middletown
* MURRAY, Winthrop S. Pfc. 506 Whalley Ave, New Haven
MUSTARD, Robert H. Pfc. 222 Church St, Willimantic
NAHMIAS, Jack Pfc. 87 Benham Ave, Bridgeport
NEWMAN, Harold A. Pfc. 16 Cherry St, Naugatuck
O'BRIEN, John J. 1st/ Lt. 26 Main St, Winsted
OCCUZZI, John J. S/ Sgt. 90 Noble St, Stamford
PACKO, Andrew, Jr. 2d/ Lt. 230 Milford Ave, Stratford
PAGLIUCA, Alfred Pfc. 150 Filmore St, New Haven
PARENT, Rosaire L. T/ 5 128 Powhatten St, Putnam
* PAUL, Bernard V. T/ Sgt. 72 Lounsbury Ave, Waterbury
* PEET, Eldridge P. S/ Sgt. Wellsville Ave, New Milford
PELGRO, Sam, Jr. Sgt. 23 Barnum Court, Naugatuck
PERKOWSKI, Edward Sgt. 75 Henry St, Stamford
PERLMAN, Arthur T/ 5 36 Hoyt St, New Canaan
PIACENZA, Louis A. Pfc. 78 Virgil St, Stamford
PIEPER, Frederick C. T/ 5 289 Hope St, Glenbrook
POLLARD, Ernest B. Sgt. 30 So. Second Street, Taftville
PORTER, Warren A. Capt. 187 No. Quaker Lane, West Hartford
PRUE, Leonard L. 1st/ Lt. Box 61, Rockfall
QUINN, George K. Pfc. RFD, Broad Brook
RAIMONDI, Dominick T/ 5 1046 Sylvan Ave, Bridgeport
RAJEWSKI, Charles J. Cpl. 36 North St, Norwich
RANSLOW, Earl H. Sgt. 11 Bradley St, Naugatuck
RASULO, Charles T/ 4 25 Orchard St, Bristol
RICHARD, Henry A. Pfc. 196 McKinley St, Torrington
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RICHARDS, Aubry Pfc. Kent
* RICHARDSON, Harvey T/ 5 36 Whittlesey Ave, Waterbury
RIDEL, Edward J. S/ Sgt. 56 North St, Windsor Locks
RILEY, Joseph J, Jr. Sgt. 66 Pleasant St., Bristol
* RINALDI, Louis R. S/ Sgt. 542 Frost Rd, Waterbury
RIZZA, Paul J. T/ 5 60 Arch St., Bridgeport
* ROBBINS, Theodore A. Pfc. 74 Birch St, Manchester
ROBINSON, Kenneth E. Sgt. 28 Capitol Ave, Hartford
ROMA, Andrew J. Pfc. 46 Ridge Ave, Bridgeport
* ROOT, Edward E. T/ Sgt. 38 Aiken St., Norwalk
ROSSI, Matthew T/ 5 91 Columbus St, Stratford
RUBACHA, Maximillian J. Sgt. 96 North St., Manchester
RUBBO, Carmine S/ Sgt. 103 Division St., Waterbury
RYAN, Thomas M. T/ 5 Simsbury Hotel, Simsbury
SANTAGATE, Vincent J. Pfc. 3 West Main St, Norwalk
SCHWOLSKY, Robert Capt. 21 Bainbridge Rd, West Hartford
SLINK, Carl C. Cpl. 133 Valley Rd, Cos Cob
SMITH, William A. Lt. Col. 284 Pine St, Forestville
SMOLA, John F. Cpl. 72 So. Prospect St., Hartford
SNOW, Edwin W. Pfc. 90 Keeney Ave, West Hartford
STEWART, Calvin H. T/ 5 Main St, New Hartford
STIRLING, Thomas S. Capt. 160 Alden St, New Haven
SULLIVAN, Francis T/ 5 54 Nelton Court, Hartford
SUPRYNOWICZ, Frank A. Cpl. 99 Hotchkiss St., Middletown
SWANN, Frederick S/ Sgt. 177 Park St., West Haven
SWEENEY, James E. 1st/ Lt. 105 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich
SWEENEY, Lawrence W. Pfc. 54 Loundsbury St., Waterbury
TALAMINI, Hugo J. Pvt. 33 Church St, Stafford Springs
TAYLOR, Earl A. WOJG 10 Maple Ave, Bethel
THIERFIELD, Gunther Cpl. 1127 Albany Ave, Hartford
TWACHMAN, David M. Capt. Round Hill Rd, Greenwich
* VALERIANO, Primo J. Cpl. 198 McClintock Rd, New Britain
VALLERY, Anthony V. S/ Sgt. 32 Standish St, Hartford
VICTOR, Joseph S. T/ 5 115 Mulberry St., Plantsville
VINCI, Salvatore J. Sgt. 68- A Newfield St., Middletown
WAGNER, John H. Sgt. 98 Winchester Ave, New Haven
* WALKER, Arthur L. Pfc. 11 Huntington St., New London
WARZECKA, Walter P. Pfc. 52 Walnut St, Middletown
WILKE, Henry Pfc. RFD, Hop River, Columbia
WILLIAMS, Fred Pfc. 107 Osborne St, Danbury
WINIALSKI, Raymond E. 1st/ Lt. 77 Whitmore St., Hartford
WOJCIECHOWSKI, Edward A. Pfc. Wellsville Ave, New Milford
WYWODA, Anthony A. Pvt. 16 So. Leonard St, Waterbury
YATES, William H. Maj. 12 Arbor St., Hartford
20