D-day officers of 16th Inf. 1st
Division landed at Omaha-East. Left to Right: Cptns. Larry Bour Adjt, Bob Irvine
H-Co, and (Rear), Joe Dawson who penetrated up the bluff into the area of
the present US cemetery. "D-day" by Stephen Ambrose, (photo, LTC-ret. Larry Bour)
Aug. 26, 1944.
Cpl. David Green during battle of
St. Lo. (YANK-Aug. 1944). Brothers Harry and David Green with brother-in-law Pfc.
John F. Boose were with 110th field Arty on D-day to V-E day and returned home
in summer of 1945.
L-4 Piper Club,
Bodmin, England - May 1943, SGTS Left to Right: Norman Zimmerman, Loring Yingling
and Harry Green of Westminster, Md. (Baltimore Sunpapers photo)
Harry Green
(93) died on 5 January 2009. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Navy Lt. William A. Bostick of Bingham Farms MI, had the very
important mission of designing TOP SECRET - BIGOT maps of Omaha & Utah Beaches.
On board the USS Ancon from Dec. 1943 through May 1944 as a member of Task Force
122.
Photo taken on D+1 inside bunker. Lt. Bostick is on the left, looking
up. Notice the Special Engineer at the table.
Identity of Officers
is as follows: 1st Row: L-R. Lt Cochran, Lt Hofman, Maj. Gillespie, Col.Sheppe,
Capt Spry, Capt. Lawson, Capt. Fowler 2nd Row:L-R: Lt Ungerleider, Lt MugavinLt
Hopewell,Capt. Wilkins(104 Medics),Lt Szelewa, Capt. Hille,Lt. MacLaurin, Capt.
Jones, Lt Dryden, Lt Moore, Lt Lepecier(helmet) Lt Garrison, Lt Hagstrom Standing:
Lt Harris, Lt Ford, Lt Quigley,Lt Stull, Lt Miller, Lt Pennell, Lt Kaczmarcyk,
Lt Lintleman, Lt Newberry, Lt Garbe, Lt Sturtevant. Not in the picture as far
as I can remember are: Capt Tawes, Capt Laborde, Lt Luther, Lt Luther, Lt Duval.
This picture was taken at Fort Tregantle near Plymouth, England in late May 1944,
not long before departure to Easy Red Sector, Omaha Beach. (ctsy: Dick Ford)
Non Commissioned
Officers of 3/115th Infantry, 29th Division Front Row: L-R: Lt Quigley, Sgt
Skinner, ? ? Sgt. Walker, Sgt. Massey, Capt. Hile, Sgt. Ringold, Sgt. Healey,Sgt.
willoughby, ?. 2nd row: L-R: Lt Mugavin, ?,Sgt Blunt, Sgt Entrikin, Sgt Hammond,
Sgt. Boys, Sgt Stevens, Sgt Phillips, ?, ?. Rear Row:L-R: 1st Sgt Jester, Sgt
Harrington, Sgt Wallace, Sgt Connolly, Sgt Nachtman ? Sgt Turner, Sgt. Shortall,
Cpl Leins, ?. This evidently isn't allthe non-coms as there doesn't seem to be
any Coporals. I remember a Cpl Wallace that isn't in this picture. Photo ctsy:
Dick Ford
Captain
William C. Smith was a forward observer with the 1st Division at Omaha Beach.
In preparation for D-Day, he and 9 other men were trained to call fire from the
Battleships that were part of the invasion force. He was awarded the Bronze
Star with a "V" for "valor".
First wave at Omaha Beach. Harley Reynolds 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st I. D. had
already seen action in N. Africa and Sicily prior to being one of the first men
through the wire in Easy Red Sector of Omaha-East. Recent photo taken at 60th
anniversary.
L to R : S/Sgt.
Fred Culbreath - Mrs Clara Blight - T5 Dick Rankin - Mr Jack Blight. Because
of the shortage of barracks in England, these two members of the 2nd Ranger Battalion
were billeted with the Blights at Bude (Cornwall) while training at the cliffs
nearby. Fred Culbreath was Dick Rankin's squad leader (mortars section) in the
2nd platoon, A company, 2nd Ranger Battalion. Photo ctsy : Julie Fulmer
Arthur
"Dutch" Schultz was a member of an Anti-Aircraft unit at the outbreak
of WW2. His mother was happy about this, as she didn't want him involved in combat.
"However" he volunteered for airborne duty and would end-up in C-Company
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He's portrayed
in the movie "The Longest Day" winning more money then he'd ever seen
in his life. Opening up a letter from his mom, he noticed the rosary beads she
sent him. He then decided it was bad luck to have the money and gambled it off!
Later he's with a group of paratroops going along a wall and glancing over his
shoulder at the soldiers passing by. They were german! He would fight at the "Battle
of La Fiere" and after Normandy he made the Holland jump. In December 1944
he participated in the "Battle of the Bulge". He returned home in 1945
with more points then needed and missed the NYC Parade with the 82nd. Photo
provided by daughter, Carol.
SGT
Fred Infanger (E co 508 PIR) and his Pathfinder stick (#17) taken at 2200 hrs,
5 June 1944. 2nd row, 5th from the left. (with the watch cap on) [The man on his
right with his arm on his shoulder, incidentally, is CPL Ernest King, who was
KIA on June 6th.They were good friends. Photo provided by his grandson who
was also a member of the 82nd Airborne in Iraq. James Infanger was one of many
family members that served in the ranks of the airborne.
Private
Nicholas V. Battiste - 508 PIR Company A. 10/01/22 - 06/08/44 Killed in Normandy,
buried at Long Island National Cemetery. Looking for anyone that knew him.
(photo provided by Kathe Cooper).
Julius
Eisner a member of Company D, 505th PIR was walking down the company street about
3 weeks prior to D-Day and was "selected" for "special training".
He was sent with other paratroopers to an airfield and learned he would be with
some of the first Americans to land in Normandy as a Pathfinder. His Group departed
England on 5 June between 1030 and 1130PM. They jumped at DZ O about 1:21AM Continental
time. TOP ROW: L to R, John Whitee, Daily, Osisky. Next 3 are unknown. These
6 men were all killed in Normandy and Holland. Bottom Row L to R, Shelby Irwin,
Julius Eisner, George Morris, McKouch. Fellow to right near tent is MaGroth.
(Photo of D-Company men taken in Quorn in Spring 1944 provided by Julius Eisner).
Cpt.
John C. Raaen landed at Dog Red Sector of Omaha Beach with his Hq's Company, 5th
Ranger Infantry Battalion on D-Day. He'd left the engineers to be an Army Ranger.
Fighting up the bluffs and around the town of Vierville-sur-Mer, would later be
part of the force that would relieve the 3 Ranger companies of the 2nd Battalion
at Pointe du Hoc and continue their mission to knockout the enemy positions at
Grandcamp-les-Bains and Maisy. Now both of his maps are in the 'Special
offer'.
Wheatley
"Chris" Christensen: Chris was working on diesel submarine engines and had
a deferment to keep him out of the military. He joined in spite of this and became
a paratrooper in G-505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division. He made all 4 combat jumps
with the 82nd during the war and earned many awards including the Bronze Star
and Purple Heart. Prior to his death on 10 December 2006, he had helped form the
"Family And Friends of the 505th PIR" on the internet, and it has turned
in to a wonderful fellowship. In June 2006, the organization had their first overseas
meeting in St. Mere Eglise, with a large showing. Chris will not be forgotten
for his achievements!
Billy
Hahnen also a member of G-505th was a member of Chris Christensen's platoon and
made all 4 combat jumps during the war. He also earned many awards including the
Silver Star in St. Sauveur le Vicomte with another member of his bazooka team.
He was seriously wounded during operation "Market-Garden" in Holland
and would be sent home and miss the Battle of the Bulge.
Almon
"Pete" Boland was also a member of Billy Hahnen's bazooka team and would
receive the Silver Star for the same action at St. Sauveur le Vicomte. Unfortunately,
we have little information on Pete and what happened to him after the war. the
photos were taken by a camera that these men found in Normandy.
Howard
Huebner During WWII, Howard Huebner was member of the 507th PIR. He was 21
when he parachuted into Normandy. After d-day the 507th war assigned to the 17th
A/B Div. When the war ended he didn't have enough points to go home so he was
placed into the 505 and sent to Berlin for occupation duty. He was discharged
in 1946. You can read Howard's
memoirs about d-day.
Bill
'Porky' Brown Bill was a member of the Col. Reuben Tucker (CO of the 504 PIR,
WWII) Chapter of the 82nd ABN. Div. Assoc. He was in D Co., 1st Bn. 505 PIR in
WWII. He served 1942 - 1945 and made three combat jumps; Sicily, Salerno and Normandy.
At his wake in Westminster, four Col. Tucker Chapter members (Bob Farver, Keith
Householder, Richard Bader and Michael St George), held a short ceremony on behalf
of our chapter and the Division Assoc.
1st
Platoon, H-Company 501st PIR, 101st Abn Division
- Front row, left to right:
McMullen, Keim, Metcalf, Beachy, McKnight, Keiser, Cover. - Second row, left
to right: Herbert, Cassada, ?, Maxwell, Wychkoff, Pariseau ?, Shumate, Lein, Logril,
Mueler, - Third row, left to right: Houston R.J (author of "D-Day to Bastogne"),
Dale Q. Gregory, Kinzer, Houston W.P., Alexander, Bennett, Bonifay, Ramsey.
Dale
Q. Gregory Member of 1st platoon - H Co - 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Dale parachuted into Normandy with the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day, 6 June
1944. You can read the
memoirs of Dale Q. Gregory on D-Day
T/Sgt. Joe Farinholt of Westminster, Maryland.
Only enlisted member of the US Army to receive 4-Silver Stars. Landed
D+1 at St. Laurent-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach). Later request for upgrade
to Congressional Medal of Honor was disapproved.
Joe was later Tim's Boy Scout Master of Troop 321. Learn
more about Joe Farinholt
George J. Rajner
George joined the army in 1942 and trained with E-506th at Camp
Toccoa, Georgia. He made the famous march to Atlanta, 3 days and
100 miles prior to attending parachute training. Sent with EGB 448
to North Africa where he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne's 505th
Regiment. He made 3 combat jumps Sicily, Salerno and Normandy. Was
killed in combat with D-505th PIR in July 1944.
George Fotovich and George J. Rajner - Garibaldi square - Naples
- 1943
Big Red 1 (G-2) First Division Intelligence
TS Richard E. Bitzer US Army 1st Div G-2.
He was at Gibraltar after the North Africa campaign and went to
England for the D-day planning.. He had Bigot Clearance and I believe
he worked on many of the maps for d-day.
Photo taken at 1st Division HQ G-2 in Blandford, England. Bitzer
would arrive on D+1 in Easy Red Sector of Omaha Beach.
Photo provided by his son, S. Scott Bitzer of Wright-Patterson AFB