"FAMILY TRIBUTES AND THOUGHTS" (Post #116)

2nd Division (Strike)
15th Field Artillery Battalion

'Allons/Lets Go'

On 10 October 1940, the 15th Field Artillery Regiment was reorganized at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. It was ordered to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin on 16 October 1942, for intensive training with the 2nd Infantry Division. Movement overseas came on 8 October 1943, when the Battalion sailed from New York on board the SS Hawaiian Shipper for Belfast, Northern Ireland, where it trained for several months.
Embarkation for Porthcawl, Wales, followed on 17 April, 1944. As part of the 9th Regimental Combat Team (consisting of the 9th Infantry Regiment and 15th Field Artillery Battalion), the Battalion landed at Omaha Beach near St. Laurent-Sur-Mer, France, on D Day +1 (7 June 1944). The Battalion fought for 73 straight days in support of the 2nd Infantry Division throughout Normandy without a break. Their first break in the combat action came on 19 August 1944. After the break the Battalion was ordered to move 220 miles and occupy firing positions for the battle against the German fortress at Brest, France. The battle that ensued was bloody and hard fought by all elements of the 2nd Infantry Division including the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. On 26 September 1944, 5 officers and 42 enlisted men of the Battalion were presented Bronze Star Medals, by the Division Commander, for their actions since D Day +1.
Following this, a 770 mile road march began on 27 September 1944 and carried the Battalion to Schoenberg, Belgium. By 4 October 1944, the Battalion crossed into Germany and opened fire on elements of both the 2nd and 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Divisions. On 17 December 1944, the Battalion fought as an integral part of the 2nd Infantry Division's attack on the Siegfried Line near Elsenborn. The time from December 1944 through January 1945 became known as the Battle of the Bulge and the 2nd Infantry Division was an integral part in the Allies victory of that extensive battle. By 1 February 1945, the area known as Heartbreak Crossroads was taken after a multi-divisional battle. On 21 March 1945, the 15th Field Artillery Battalion crossed the Rhine River into Germany on a pontoon bridge near Remagen, and took up firing positions near the town of Leutesdorf. After several heavy engagements, the Battalion moved to new firing positions at the town of Vaake, near the Weser River, arriving there on 7 April 1945. Throughout the remainder of April 1945, the Battalion moved many times and even had to engage the enemy with direct fire from its howitzers. By 5 May 1945, the 2nd Infantry Division moved into Czechoslovakia along with the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. The war in Europe was officially over on 8 May 1945.
As their contribution to help defeat Nazi Germany and to win WWII, the 15th Field Artillery Battalion was in combat for 336 days and fired 151,000 rounds while providing direct fire support to the 2nd Infantry Division and general support to several other divisions. For their efforts and sacrifices the Battalion was awarded streamers for 5 major campaigns during WW II including: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace; and Central Europe. Additionally, the Battalion was awarded the Belgian Fourragere, and was cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for extraordinary combat action in the battle of the Ardennes and Elsenborn Crest. Individual decorations awarded to members of the Battalion during WWII included: 6 Silver Star Medals; 91 Bronze Star Medals for Gallantry; 83 Bronze Star Medals for Meritorious Service; 20 Air Medals, and 168 Purple Hearts.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-15fa.htm

Others KIA have been discovered recently

We have looked at my uncle's story about the war through the blog "World War II in the Words of My Uncle". As with any story, whether through letters, diaries, books, pictures, videos, oral conversations or other documentations; it was only able to give a snippet of the vast impact of World War II through out the world. An impact that still reverberates into our present society. A war that killed more people than any other war.

The soldiers, military leaders, and politicians impacted by WW II had a variety of reasons being involved in the war. We must not forget that millions of civilians were also impacted by the war. The death toll, injuries, lost of homes, towns, and jobs just scratches the surface of the varieties of damages done to physical property, human minds, human bodies and human souls. 

We are grateful for all Allies and Resistant Groups that fought to destroy the evil ideology of such countries as Germany, Italy and Japan. We, however, must admit with sadness the Allies were also involved in atrocities during and even after the war. Some actions were done due to the form of war brought on by Germany and those fighting with them. The Allies, as an example, did many air raids that destroyed innocent lives, but the raids were required if the Allies were to win the war. 
It is sad to say some members of the Allies did atrocities with full knowledge that their actions went beyond the need to win the war or to resolve issues after the war.

As we review the numbers of death etc. listed at the end of this post, we must never forget each number represents a human being just like you and me. Each person who had their own hopes, dreams, families and friends wanting to live a life as best as they could have managed in peace. Unfortunately, since we are all born with a sinful nature, we can find some very evil members in our society. They stand out in history and are written about in books. However, let us remember and never forget the wrongs we all have done never written in a history book but will still have an impact on other people's lives as well as our own. Though not written down in the books of mankind, they are still written down by our Creator God and unless we allow God to forgive and change us, those actions of our sinful nature will impact us for all eternity.

TRIBUTE TO MY FAMILY

Uncle Charlie's headstone


14 members of my family in alphabetical order who have served our country since 1900 PLUS my Uncle.

STATISTICS OF THE WAR

Lonestar - I'm Already There (Soldiers Tribute)

I wish to thank many individuals for helping me along the way to understand, clarify, appreciate, get in contact with others, get information in context and the list goes on. I will not list you by name because I am sure I will forget a person or group. To each of you I give you my deepest gratitude and appreciation. Thank you so much! Many of you have become friends though we never met in person, we shared many great moments even if the topics were sad at times. 
I will begin a new blog in the future describing the extensive training of nearly a year Uncle Charlie went through at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. Again in his words from nearly 90 letters he wrote in 1942 and 1943.