Seeking Roster for 45th Inf Division WW2

Question

Short version, I know that my father was transferred from the Army Air Corps to the infantry, I don't know to what division, in the winter of 1944, when the Allies were lined up along the Rhine.

His discharge papers list him as part of HQ & HQ Company 290 Infantry, which, if I'm right was part of the 75th Division, but they were farther to the north, involved in the Bulge. His old dress uniform has a 3rd Infantry Division shoulder patch.

Dad told us he was at Dachau. Just that, no other details. I know that the 45th, the 42nd, and the 3rd Divisions swept down through that area. The 3rd Division was not directly involved in the liberation of Dachau, but Dad, if he was with the 3rd Division, could have been sent over to see the camp. Eisenhower wanted as many as possible to witness the camps.

In his effects was a hard cover book, similar to school year books, of the 180 Infantry, 45th Division, published in Munich,1945. Dad's photo or name is not in the book. Circumstance may have prevented that. Possibly because he had enough points to be shipped home. I have to wonder why he would have that particular book.

Primarily I'm looking for a roster of the 45th Division, but also interested in the same for the 3rd Division.

I look forward to any and all replies.

Thank you.

Dave Kerr · Answer

Hi, Sam. 
 I can indeed confirm that your great-grandfather, Wilfrid Dube, was a member of B Company, 120th Engineer Combat Battalion. B Company usually supported the 179th Infantry Regiment. 
 Attached is a screenshot of the 3 January 1944 B Company Roster, 120th ECB, with his mis-spelled first name. 
 He is also listed in the 29 June 1945 Division Roster, still a T/5.

Lisa Sharik · Answer

Is the 3rd ID patch on his right or left shoulder (as he would have worn the uniform)? If it is on the righthand side, as he wore it, then this means the unit he served with was attached to the 3rd ID during combat operations.

The 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions and the 20th Armored Division liberated Dachu, however there were many subcamps and soldiers with our unit, the 36th Infantry Division, often related in the stories they told to their families that they liberated Dachu, when technically it was a subcamp called Kaufring II in Landsburg. However, everyone at that time had heard of Dachu so it is what stuck in people's minds. So he might have actually meant one of the subcamps which would increase the number of possible units.

One story I often share to illustrate how we have to look at the stories left by soldiers and their families helps illustrate the problem. One of our soldiers told his family about his participation in D-Day in France. They assumed he meant the more well known D-Day in Northern France in June 1944, but what he was actually talking about was the D-Day in Southern France in August 1944. So the stories that came down through the family where all about dad or grandpa's taking part in the D-Day landings on Normandy because they'd never heard about the ones in Southern France. I had to show them his records, with our unit to prove that he was nowhere near Normandy in June 1944.

Your relative might have been told at the time that his unit was liberating a Dachu camp and it just stuck that it was "the" Dachu camp instead of one of its many sub camps.

Good luck with your search.

Respectfully

Lisa Sharik

Texas Military Forces Museum

Dave Kerr · Answer

Bruce C. Hardiman, ASN 37470411, member Service Battery, 189th FA Bn. 
 PVT in the 3 January 1944 battery roster. 
 T/5 in the 29 June 1945 division roster. 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

Hi, Garret. 
 I found a PFC James A. Lynch, ASN 38010898, in the 29 June 1945 
 Roster of the 45th Infantry Division. 
 He belonged to B Company, 120th Engineer Combat Battalion. 
 Screenshot is attached. 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

Jack, 
 I can confirm that Thomas L. Ivey was a member of the 160th Field Artillery Battalion, 45th Infantry Division. He was a member of C Battery. 
 According to my General Orders' Worksheet, he was awarded the Purple Heart per GO 113, HQ, 45th, dated 22 May 1944. 
 Attached is the screenshot of the C Battery Roster, dated 3 January 1944, showing Thomas Ivey.

Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

Hi, Alfred. 
 Your dad was a member of M (Heavy Weapons) Company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 
 according to the 29 June 1945 Division Roster. Screenshot below. 
 
 And he was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart (Oak Leaf Cluster) 
 per my General Orders' Worksheet. I have transcribed all of the 764 extant General Orders 
 issued by HQ, 45th. 
 
 We'd love to see those photos if you can find them. By the way, LTC Felix Sparks 
 would have been his Battalion Commander when 3rd Bn, 157th, - and elements of the 
 42nd Infantry Division - liberated Dachau on 29 April 1945. 
 This is my Facebook Group dedicated to the 45th: 
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1377024265874978/ 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

While looking for Donald Thompson today, 11 December, I spotted his name. 
 PFC Rusling E. Boone, Sr., ASN 32750042, was a member of I Company, 180th Infantry Regiment. 
 He received the Good Conduct Medal per General Orders, 52, HQ, 180th, dated 15 December 1944 
 (Image 1275, 26 June 2009).

Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

According to the 29 June 1945 Division Roster, SSgt. Thomas R. Hay 
 was a member of the 45th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (CRT). Screenshot attached. 
 
 In the 3 January 1944 Roster, his rank is T/5. 
 My General Orders' Worksheet shows he was the recipient of the Bronze Star 
 per GO 261, HQ, 45th, dated 30 June 1945. 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

Jon, 
 722P is the "Type of Organization Code." 
 In this case, it refers to the three Infantry Regiments of the 45th. 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

No record of Vincel Fritch in the 29 June 1945 Division Roster nor in my General Orders' Worksheet. 
 
 Sorry. 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

Hi, Dave. 
 Maynard A. Pearce, sailed overseas on 23 January 1944 according to the 
 PA Veteran's Compensation Application File. 
 
 Probably assigned to the 157th in February 1944. 
 Assigned to M Company, 3rd Battalion, 157th. 
 Awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge per General Orders 9, 
 HQ, 157th, dated 13 July 1944, effective date 1 March 1944 
 (Image 6044, 22 August 2008).

Captured at Reipertswiller, France, on 21 January 1945 according to the 
 157th Adjutant's MIA list. 
 
 POW at "S talag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08?" 
 
 Liberated Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945, according to the article in 
 the Allentown Morning Call dated 21 April 1945.

Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

I found a Sgt. Herman M. Elliott, ASN 20832809, who was the recipient of the Bronze Star for meritorious service per General Orders 207, HQ, 45th Infantry Division, dated 8 June 1945 (Image 8907, 27 September 2008), 
 He was from Hominy, Oklahoma, and was a member of Battery A, 171st Field Artillery Battalion, one of the four organic artillery battalions of the 45th. 
 
 He is listed as a T/4 in the 3 January 1944 company roster, so we know he served with the 171st from at least 3 January 1944 to the end of the war in May 1945. 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

I found a PFC David C. Dennis, ASN 44035577, who belonged to H Company (Heavy Weapons), 2nd Battalion, of the 180th Infantry Regiment, according to the 29 June 1945 Division Roster (screenshot attached). 
 
 The 180th Infantry Regiment did not liberate KZ Dachau but 2nd Battalion was assigned guard duty of the camp in May 1945. 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

I found a photograph of your grandfather in 1st Platoon, H Company. 
 
 It is from the pictorial history of the 180th which can be downloaded from Bangor Public Library: 
 https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/48/ 
 I also recommend you buy Flint Whitlock's Rock of Anzio, which is the definitive history of the 45th in WW II. 
 You are also welcome to join our Facebook Group: 
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1377024265874978/ 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

PFC George E. Genova, K Company, 157th Infantry Regiment, KIA near Fallon, France, on 17 September 1944.

Dave Kerr · Answer

Member 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. 
 From the incomparable Hugh Foster: 
 "PVT in E Company upon induction as a member of the CO National Guard. 
 "PFC in E Company at Pine Camp, NY (he's on the 1942 Christmas menu). 
 "July 1944: Transferred from E to Service Co on 12 July (per Morning Report of 12 July). 
 "July 1944: ASGD to SV Co 12 July with MOS of 521 per SV Co MR. 
 "August 1944: EVAC SK to 11th Evac Hosp 25 August, Transferred to Detachment of Patients, Seventh Army same date, per MR same date. 
 "November 1944: EVAC SK LOD 26 November to 56th Evacuation Hospital & EVAC to DofP Seventh Army same date per SV Co MR same date. 
 "December 1944: Reassigned and joined from 71st Replacement Battalion 8 December, per MR same date. 
 "May 1945: Promoted to T-5 from PFC on 26 May 1945 per MR of same date; Transferred to 2nd Reinforcement Depot 28 May with MOS of 345 for trans-shipment to Ft. Logan, CO, for discharge. 
 "MOS 521: Cook's helper. 
 "MOS 345: Light truck driver." 
 My records: 
 Induction Roster, Colorado National Guard, WW II, 1940-1941

3 January 1944 Roster, E Company, 157th Infantry Regiment. 
 
 According to General Orders 1, HQ, 157th Infantry Regiment, dated 24 April 1944, PFC Lester W. Wyllys, w/INCORRECT ASN 35099568, was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, effective 1 January 1944, for "exemplary conduct in action against the enemy" (Image 9607, 13 March 2009). 
 
 Hospital Admission Card data has four entries for him: 
 October 1944 (Malaria). 
 November 1944 (Fever of unknown origin). 
 April 1945 (Malaria). 
 June 1945 (Malaria) . Screenshot below.

Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

I found a Robert L. Ford, ASN 33047285, who belonged to HQ/HQ Company, Second Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment. 
 His rank is PFC in the 3 January 1944 company roster. 
 
 By 29 June 1945, he had been promoted to SGT. 
 
 My General Orders' Worksheet contain a Bronze Star Award for Robert L. Ford of the 157th, GO 177, dated 25 July 1944. 
 
 Dav

Dave Kerr · Answer

The 157th was a Colorado National Guard unit. It formed part of the 45th Infantry Division, one of the first four national guard divisions to be federalized. 
 The 45th, when it embarked in June 1943 for North Africa, contained men from nearly every state as it had filled its ranks, so an EM from Virginia is not at all unexpected. 
 The history of the 157th has been digitized and can be downloaded from the Bangor Public Library. 
 https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/223/ 
 
 Dave

Dave Kerr · Answer

Captain Fred C. Barrell received the Bronze Star Medal per General Orders 101 of 1945, HQ, 42nd Infantry Division, per Brandon T. Wiegand's "Index to the General Orders of the 42nd Infantry Division." 
 He belonged to Battery C, 392nd Field Artillery Battalion.

Dave Kerr · Answer

According to General Orders 398, HQ, 45th, dated 30 November 1945, he belonged to HQ, 2nd Bn, 179th.

Did you know that the history of the 179th has been digitized? It can be found here: 
 
 https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/34/ 
 
 Dave

Seeking Roster for 45th Inf Division WW2

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