The history of the 43d Infantry Division, 1941-1945 PDF
Preview The history of the 43d Infantry Division, 1941-1945
CHINA FORMOSA MARIANAS IS . MARSHALL IS . PHILLIPPINE ISLANDS GUAM MINDANAO • PALAU IS. CAROLINE IS . GILBERT IS. fi Go ELLICE IS. SOLOMON IS . NEW GEORGIA GROUP NETHERLANDS1NDIES SANTA CRUZ IS. FIJI ISLANDS NEW HEBRIDES NEW CALEDONIA NEW ZEALAND W ~ THE HISTORY OF THE 4 3D INFANTRY DIVISION 1941-1945 By JOSEPH E. ZIMMER Colonel, Infantry (Retired) Published by: THE ARMY AND NAVY PUBLISHING CO., Baton Rouge, La. Contributions by: COLONEL HAROLD C. MARDEN COLONEL SIDNEY P. MARLAND, JR. COLONEL WILLIAM H. NAYLOR COLONEL ELMER S. WATSON MAJOR JEFFERSON D. HOPKINS Text based on Official War Department Historical Documents Photographs by: U. S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS DEC 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I 9 II 11 III 12 IV 14 V 16 VI 18 VII 21 VIII 32 IX 33 X 36 XI 40 XII 42 XIII 44 XIV 48 XV 62 XVI 66 XVII 76 XVIII 83 XIX 85 New Georgia Campaign Photo Section 87 ^Dedicated to the Officers and Men Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice With This Gallant Division." MAJOR GF.NFRAL LEONARD F. WING Leonard Fish Wing was born in Ira, Vt., on Nov. 12, 1893. He graduated from Rutland High School in 1914. He studied law in the office of the late George E. Lawrence, and was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1917. In World War I, he enlisted at Fort Ethan Allen, Vt., May 4, 1917. His grade was a wagoner until June 11, 1917, when he became Regimental Supply Sergeant. He was attached to the Supply Company of the 1st Vermont Infantry until Jan. 5, 1918; 16th Company, 2d Inf. Replacement Regt., at Camp Gordon, Ga., until discharged to accept a commission. As an officer, he served in the 2nd Inf. Repl. Regt. and the 15 3rd Dcp. Brigade and was Honorably discharged at Camp Dix, N. J., on Dec. 21, 1918. He enlisted in the Vermont National Guard June 2 5, 1919, in Company A, 172d Infantry, and was commissioned 2d Lt. July 9, 1919; 1st Lt. Inf., Sept. 13, 1919; Capt. Inf., Feb. 5, 1920; Major, 1st Bn., 172d Inf., May 18, 1921; Lt. Col., Inf., Dec. 28, 1929; Colonel, Inf., Feb. 16, 1933; Brig. General, 86th Brigade, July 2, 1938; Assistant Com mander 43rd Division 1942. He was inducted into Federal service with the 43rd division on Feb. 24, 1941. He left Vermont in March, trained at Camp Blanding, Fla., and Camp Shelby, Miss., until Sept., 1942, when the 43rd division went to the South Pacific. He was promoted on the field at New Georgia, Solomon Islands, to Major General, Army United States, Oct. 7, 1943, and as Commander of the 43rd division he returned to the United States Oct. 8, 1945. BRIGADIER GENERAL HAROLD R. BARKER Enlisted Battery A.R.I.N.G.—March 13, 1913 Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant—October 15, 1915 Mexican Border Campaign—1916 Commissioned 1st Lieutenant—January 18, 1917 Commissioned Captain—June 19, 1917 WORLD WAR I Captain Commanding Battery A 103rd F. A. 26th Div. Commissioned Major—October 20, 1918 Chemin-Des-Damcs, Toul, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel-Meuse-Argonne Commissioned Lieutenant Colonel—July 8, 1922 Commissioned Colonel—May 12, 1926 Commissioned Brigadier General—February 19, 1937 WORLD WAR II Brigadier General Commanding 68th F. A. Brigade 43rd Div. Brigadier General Commanding 43 rd Division Artillery All engagements 43d Infantry Division DECORATIONS Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster Bronze Star Air Medal World War I Victory Medal with 6 Stars. World War II Victory Medal with 4 Stars and Bronze Arrowhead r CHAPTER I This is the story of the 43d "Winged Victory" Division division. The 86th Brigade, which included the 103d and whose memorable record in World War II will stand forever 172d Infantry Regiments, was commanded by Brigadier as an inspiration to all freedom-loving Americans. It is the General Leonard F. Wing of Rutland, Vermont, and the 8 5 th story of valiant men who dedicated their lives to preserve Brigade, which included the 102d and 169th Infantry Regi all in life that is precious and coveted. While the story of the ments, was commanded by Brigadier General Thomas E. Tro division may be recorded for posterity only on the printed land of New London, Conecticut. The 68th Field Artillery page, its days of tragedy and comedy, adversity and pros Brigade, which included the 103d, the 152d and the 192d perity, famine and feast, combat and rest, labor and recrea Field Artillery Regiments, was commanded by Brigadier tion, are eternally engraved on the souls of thousands of red- General Harold R. Barker of Providence, Rhode Island. The blooded Americans who fought, conquered, died in the name 118th Quartermaster Regiment was commanded by Colonel of justice, humanity, and freedom. George E. Cole of West Hartford, Connecticut. The 118th Medical Regiment by Colonel Charles W. Comfort of New The 43d Infantry Division was organized following World Haven, Connecticut. The 118th Engineer Regiment by War I, and was made up of National Guard troops from the Colonel Frederick S. Skinner, of Providence, Rhode Island, and New England States—A4aine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Special Troops, 43d Division were commanded by Major Connecticut. Many of the organizations, particularly the Arthur V. Williams of Putnam, Connecticut. During the Infantry Regiments and the Field Artillery Battalions had early stages of the national emergency, the United States World War I records, and some have histories dating back Army Fligh Command decided to "streamline" Infantry Divis to the days of the Revolutionary War. Upon induction into ions in order to make them more wieldy for swift, mobile federal service on February 24, 1941, the officers and men ccmbat. In so doing, the 43d Division was reorganized into a were citizen soldiers—professional men and laborers, farmers "triangular" division, retaining the 103d, the 169th and the and tradesmen, employers and employees, schoolmasters and 172d Infantry Regiments, the 103d, the 152d and the 192d students—representing a cross-section of the New England Field Artillery Battalions. The 169th Field Artillery Bat of 1941. From the potato acres, sea and shore fisheries, the tallion was activated to complete the division artillery. The pulp and textile centers of Maine, the stone quarries and dairy Engineer, Quartermaster and Medical Regiments were reduced farms of Vermont, the diversified industrial life of Rhode in strength to Battalions. Island, and the tobacco farms, rolling hills, and insurance centers of Connecticut, came the citizenry of America to The division arrived at Camp Blanding on March 19, 1941. bear arms against the enemy. Soon the accents of other Immediately a thirteen weeks' training program was initiated, citizen soldiers from all other sections of these great United culminating in tactical problems ranging from small units States mingled with those of the New England "Downeasters," to brigade versus brigade. During this period both officers French Canadians, Poles, Jews, and Hungarians. The division and enlisted men were permitted to spend week-ends with originally was inducted into federal service for the purpose their families residing in Gainesville, Starke, Jacksonville, of training for one year, but was held in service until inactiva Green Cove Springs, St. Augustine, Palatka, and Keystone tion on November 1, 1945, after having contributed greatly Heights. to the defeat of the enemy in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Up until this time the division was below authorized Operations. strength. Camp Wheeler at Macon, Georgia, was directed to Major General Morris B. Payne of New London, Connecti furnish the division with additional men from Selective cut, was in command of the division upon its induction when Service sources. By coincidence, the class of Selective Service it was ordered directly to Camp Blanding, near Starke, men from Camp Wheeler assigned to the 43d Division was Florida. At this time the division was made up of two in composed largely of men originally from New England. These fantry brigades and an artillery brigade, or a so-called "square" selectees were among the first in the United States to com
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