CONNECTICUT MEN

of the 44th Division

AUGUST 1945
 44th DIVISION BATTLE L O G
First Action: T h e 44th first went i n t o crossing back. E v e n t u a l l y , however,
the line i n a n area east of L u n e v i l l e , persistent effort resulted i n a crossing
F r a n c e , a n d took p a r t i n the S e v e n t h a n d penetration of two miles. D u r i n g
A r m y drive to secure the Vosges the l a t t e r p a r t of J a n . 1945, the d i v i s i o n
passes. S i x days after being i n c o m b a t was h o l d i n g lines below the Saar.
the d i v i s i o n held b a c k a counterattack
b y G e r m a n forces after its front line Austria: D u r i n g the months w h i c h f o l -
h a d been pierced. lowed the 44th cashed i n on the general
deterioration of the G e r m a n A r m y a n d
The Vosges: Q u i c k l y recovering f r o m sped on i n t o A u s t r i a . B y the end of the
this blow, the 44th b y m i d - N o v e m b e r , w a r i t h a d occupied large areas of
1944, h a d b r o k e n t h r o u g h the v i t a l G e r m a n t e r r i t o r y a n d finally p u l l e d u p
Vosges M o u n t a i n s i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h at I m s t , A u s t r i a .
the 2d F r e n c h A r m o r e d D i v i s i o n . A d -
vance i n this area was slow, however,
a n d the enemy was persistent i n his
SERVICEMEN'S
defense of every i n c h of ground. I t was
COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET
, d u r i n g this period t h a t the 2d B a t t a l i o n ,
VOL. I August 24, 1945 N o . 10
114th I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t , probably
CARLETON B. CLYMA, Editor
saved the entire d i v i s i o n f r o m e l i m i n a -
t i o n as a n effective fighting force. T h e T h i s souvenir of the 44th D i v i s i o n '
action t o o k place N o v . 25, 1944, n o r t h return from the E u r o p e a n war was pre-
pared for the men b y the Office of T h e
of Schalbeck, F r a n c e . C h a r g e d w i t h the
Governor. I t is believed that i t will make a
defense of a front a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4000 welcome addition to the souvenirs and
y a r d s wide, the b a t t a l i o n held ground memorabilia of those who participated i n
i n the face of a G e r m a n onslaught w i t h the defeat of the once great G e r m a n W e h r -
macht.
n u m e r i c a l l y superior t a n k a n d I n f a n t r y
T h e courtesies and assistance of public
units. T h e b a t t a l i o n ' action was credited relations officers, at the ports and at the
w i t h h a v i n g kept f r o m j e o p a r d y friendly F o r t Devens Reception Station, greatly
troops east of the Vosges M o u n t a i n s as facilitated the gathering of the material
well as protecting the division itself. for this booklet. Some of the group pictures
are from Signal Corps photographs. T h e
December, 1944, found the d i v i s i o n ship pictures are from Press Association. T h e
well able to cope w i t h determined factual materials herein were prepared by
e n e m y thrusts i n the Vosges M o u n t a i n s the Office of Technical Information, A . G . F .
area. A l i m i t e d number of copies are available
for distribution, to Connecticut men of the
D i v i s i o n only. T h e y can be secured by
The Saar: O n N e w Y e a r ' s D a y , 1945, written request to the Office of the G o v -
the 4 4 t h a t t e m p t e d to cross the Saar ernor, State C a p i t o l , H a r t f o r d .
R i v e r ten miles southeast of Saar¬ Reproduction of original material is
brucken. Six attempts were made, but permissible only w i t h written authorization.

s t r o n g enemy counterattacks beat the

2
 HOME FOR FURLOUGHS
T h e 44th D i v i s i o n was the t e n t h combat the last u n i t s coming d o w n the gang
d i v i s i o n to come home for furloughs, i n p l a n k at 4 a.m. S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g .
the course of the redeployment of 42
F r o m the P i e r after Red Cross
divisions from the E u r o p e a n T h e a t e r of
doughnuts a n d coffee the men boarded
Operations to the Pacific.
ferries for the t r i p across the H u d s o n ,
I t was the first to e m b a r k as a u n i t f r o m to the Jersey shores, where t r a i n s for
E n g l a n d , a n d the first to m a k e the A t - C a m p K i l m e r , the staging area near N e w
lantic crossing on one transport. T h e B r u n s w i c k , N e w Jersey, were ready. O n
Queen E l i z a b e t h , huge B r i t i s h L u x u r y the average i t was a t w o hour t r i p f r o m
liner, w i t h the entire D i v i s i o n , save for gangplank to K i l m e r B a r r a c k s .
the advanced detachments, docked on
T h e n came orientation for the next 48
F r i d a y , J u l y 20, at Pier 90, N o r t h R i v e r ,
hours at a camp theater, a n d the " h o m e
New York.
c o m i n g " m e a l , topped w i t h steaks a n d ice
T h e A r m y ' s port authorities p r o v i d e d cream w i t h fresh m i l k as a n added a t -
the s t a n d a r d welcome w i t h the en- t r a c t i o n . C l o t h i n g issues a n d baggage dis-
thusiastic W A C b a n d f r o m F o r t H a m i l t o n posal were on the p r o g r a m , a n d m a n y
serenading the m e n aboard the transport. m e n took the o p p o r t u n i t y to m a k e t h a t
T o i t was added the spontaneous welcome l o n g a w a i t e d phone call to the folks at
of the people of N e w Y o r k a n d N e w home. T h e processing was completed w h e n
Jersey b y the thousands, who l i n e d the the u n i t s were d i v i d e d b y areas, the C o n -
piers, buildings a n d other vantage points necticut m e n , w i t h those of N e w E n g l a n d ,
to greet the 44th because m a n y of its boarding the trains for the t r i p to the F o r t
units were o r i g i n a l l y of the N a t i o n a l Devens R e c e p t i o n S t a t i o n .
G u a r d of those states.
A t F o r t Devens a more i n v o l v e d p r o -
A n d the weather m a n cooperated, p r o - cessing, i n c l u d i n g o r i e n t a t i o n , c l o t h i n g
v i d i n g s u n n y skies, the first of a r a i n y issue, p a y r o l l call, a n d more, was h a n d l e d
week. T o p p i n g i t a l l off M a r l e n e D i e t r i c h , speedily enough to meet the 24 hour
film actress, who was once n a m e d a l i m i t a t i o n on length of s t a y there. T h e n ,
" d a u g h t e r of the 71st I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t , " finally, came the special orders for f u r -
was on the pier w a v i n g her shapely legs lough, a n d the last leg of the t r i p home-
at the thousands of 44th men who lined ward.
the piers of the great liner. M a r l e n e got a
T h e C o n n e c t i c u t men's furloughs expire
t h u n d e r i n g welcome f r o m the troops.
on A u g u s t 24, and soon thereafter, along
F i r s t off the gangplank were R e d Cross w i t h the N e w E n g l a n d m e n , t h e y w i l l
a n d U S O personnel, a n d then came M a j o r entrain for C a m p Chaffee, A r k a n s a s .
General W i l l i a m F . D e a n , the D i v i s i o n s ' T h e D i v i s i o n h a d been scheduled for re-
C O , a n d his staff. I t took about twelve t r a i n i n g at C a m p Chaffee a n d s h i p m e n t
hours to disembark the d i v i s i o n , w i t h to the Pacific theater of operations.

3
 44th DIVISION PICTURES
The Queen Elizabeth — M e n of the men of the 71st I n f a n t r y photographed at
44th c r o w d the rails, portholes a n d every F t . Devens, J u l y 23rd, picture Page 5.
available i n c h of space on deck as the Nineteen m e n of the 324th I n f a n t r y at
giant liner docks at Pier 90, N o r t h R i v e r F t . Devens, picture Page 6. T w e l v e m e n
on July 20th, p i c t u r e d on the Cover. of the 114th I n f a n t r y at F t . Devens,
picture Page 7.
At Bournemouth, England, — Hun-
dreds of m e n of the 44th h a d a chance to The Artillery — N i n e m e n of the 44th
get i n a little recreation, prior to their D i v i s i o n ' s artillery at F t . Devens, picture
embarkation for home. Photograph on Page 8.
Page 4 shows a large contingent on their
a r r i v a l at the Resort. The Queen — T h e prow of the great
ship looms large as tugs nudge her into the
The Infantry — Eighteen Connecticut slip, picture Page 12.

4
 44th DIVISION STORIES
E D I T O R ' S N O T E : Memories of the European experience will blur with the passing of
years. Accuracy will diminish. Details will become vague and half forgotten. T o record, i n black
and white here and now, the mood, the impressions, the exciting events of the worst days, and
the best is the purpose of these stories. Connecticut men of the 44th were asked for their own
impressions. I n their own words they are here recorded:

Barrow, C h a r l e s A . , P v t . , C o . G . , 324th the toughest deal we h a d . T h e 17th S S

Inf., A n s o n i a . P a n z e r h i t our lines. T h e y h a d us s u r -
" I made some v e r y good F r e n c h friends rounded u n t i l our 4 t h A r m o r e d came
i n Compiegne. I spent m a n y evenings t h r o u g h a n d drove t h e m back, s a v i n g the
w i t h t h e m a n d i t was just l i k e being one d a y for our o u t f i t . "
of the f a m i l y . T h e y w o u l d go out of their
Farrenella, R a l p h V . , P f c , C o . A . , 324th
w a y even w i t h as little as they h a d , insist-
i n g on serving refreshments. T h e y went to Inf., G r o t o n .
great pains to show me a l l their h i s t o r i c a l "On the w a y to t a k i n g the t o w n we h a d
sights. M o s t G.I.s meet a l o w t y p e of the to take the woods. T h e y needed two m e n
F r e n c h a n d few G.I.s h a d a n o p p o r t u n i t y as guides a n d they p i c k e d on me. W e
to meet o t h e r s . " went back to the edge of the woods a n d
the H e i n i e s started t h r o w i n g a barrage.
Finer, W i l l i a m H . , S / S g t . , H d q . B t r y . , T h e first shell h i t near us a n d we t o o k to a
D i v . A r t i l l e r y , Shelton. d i t c h . T h e next one k i l l e d a m a n right i n
" T h a t L e i h e i n deal near Saarebourg was front of me a n d wounded two more.

5
T h e y were wiremen who were w o r k i n g Hudak, Peter, P v t . , C o . D . , 324th Inf.,
there. W e t r i e d to get back to the C o m - Shelton.
p a n y b u t w h e n we got out of the woods, " T h e best d a y I h a d over there was o n
we c o u l d n ' t find t h e m . W e l a n d e d up i n a 33 hour pass i n B o u r n e m o u t h , a s u m m e r
B C o m p a n y a n d stopped w i t h t h e m near resort on the E n g l i s h coast. I t was a good
a b u i l d i n g where the G e r m a n s h a d stored time, we went s w i m m i n g , h a d a l i t t l e
a lot of G e r m a n 8 8 M M shells. J u s t about beer a n d b r a n d y , a n d y o u felt free for a
t h a t t i m e , G e r m a n t a n k fire set off the day."
stored shells. W e got a w a y f r o m there i n a
Insley, W i l l i a m s S., P v t . , B t r y B . , 217th
h u r r y , a n d out of the b u i l d i n g came a
H e i n i e about 40 years old. W a s he sur- F.A., Old Lyme.
prised! W e took h i m prisoner a n d a little ( E d . N o t e : H e r e is a page f r o m P r i v a t e
while later found our w a y back to our Insley's E u r o p e a n d i a r y ) .
own c o m p a n y . " T o m o r r o w , we leave this unforgetable,
lovely A u s t r i a n v a l l e y . T h e y tell us we
Godfrey, J o h n F . , P f c , C o . K . , 324th are going back to the States a n d f r o m
Inf., D a n b u r y . there to the S o u t h Pacific. H o w e v e r even
" I h a d a t o u g h d a y when we crossed the the prospect of a t r i p to the States is
D a n u b e R i v e r near U l m , i n assault boats, d i m m e d b y a tinge of nostalgia on l e a v -
spearheading the 10th A r m y . T h e Heinies ing this place for this v a l l e y is now at
gave us quite a reception. B y l u c k we h a d peace a n d to me seems like home. I t has
no casualties b u t the Heinies had p l e n t y . " given me more peace of m i n d t h a n a n y
other place I have ever been. Its m y s t e r - loves of freedom, religion, music, flowers
ious mountains a n d its fields of w i l d a n d laughter. D o not allow these righteous
flowers a n d grain give to me a sense of occupants of a newer f a s t e r - l i v i n g race to
ease, c h a r m , a n d security t h a t no c i t y despoil this l a n d of r u r a l l i v i n g , a n d let
anywhere can h o l d . me come again to this l o v e l y place of age
T o n i g h t I took w h a t m a y be m y last o l d rustic things, — A m e n .
w a l k down to the snow rivers in the
Kutcher, A n t h o n y J . , P f c , C o . G . , 324th
m i d d l e of the v a l l e y . A s I stood there on
Inf., H a r t f o r d .
the h i g h b a n k o v e r l o o k i n g the swift l i t t l e
" T h e r e were a couple of days in southern
stream a thought came to me. S a y a
A u s t r a l i a when we r a n u p against machine
p r a y e r for myself to remember:
guns t h a t I remember well. W e were s u p -
D e a r G o d , Peace has come again to this
posed to take four towns t h a t d a y b u t we
A u s t r i a n v a l l e y . F r o m its T y r o l e a n hills
were p i n n e d down b y these machine
a n d scornful peaks, austere i n the evening
guns a n d lost 6 men k i l l e d a n d 26
s u n , to the m y r i a d s of w i l d flowers w h i c h
wounded. I t was the sharpest fight I was
cover every earthen spot, no voice is
in."
h e a r d except the voice of peace a n d h a p p y
t h o u g h t . Please keep this peace, no more Lennon, Eugene T . , P f c , C o . F . , 324th
let these hills resound w i t h other t h a n the Inf., T h o m a s t o n .
t i n k l e of a cowbell or the H a l l o of a t y r o l " I was over there 7 months. I t don't
f r o m the peaks. K e e p safe w i t h i n these seem t h a t long now b u t i t was. I remember
walls a l l those sheltered thoughts a n d best the N e c t a r R i v e r i n S o u t h G e r m a n y .

7
A f t e r we crossed the river a n d c l i m b e d the boat over, we lost the machine gun, a n d
b a n k s we came u p against a c o m p a n y of h a d to s w i m for i t . W e were p u l e d out
H e i n i e s c o u n t e r - a t t a c k i n g . W e opened u p b y the i n f a n t r y . W e stayed over on the
on t h e m a n d our A r t i l l e r y came i n nice. I t other side for awhile i n our wet clothes
lasted about 40 minutes. J u s t w h a t I d i d then captured some H e i n i e prisoners a n d
t h a t 40 minutes, I d o n ' t remember, b u t I took their d r y clothes to wear back. A s
d i d p l e n t y of shooting w i t h m y B . A . R . " we h a d lost our weapons we were t o l d
to go back across the r i v e r a n d we h a d to
Minto, Joseph A . , P f c , C o . M . , 71st
Inf., B r i d g e p o r t . crawl along across this long bridge on t w o
" I t h i n k the E l l e r R i v e r crossing was rails while they shelled us b a d . A f t e r -
the toughest going I saw. F i r s t there was a wards we got a couple of days r e s t . "
canal to cross, w i t h the bridge gone a n d
Mayette, F r a n c i s W . , P f c , C o . M . , 324th
t h e n a wide open space. T h e bridge over
Inf., S t a m f o r d .
the r i v e r was w i r e d to b l o w a n d the
"Poverty and war conditions have
d y n a m i t e was s t i l l i n place. W e sent a
dozen riflemen across above i t on a h e a v y made I t a l y a d i r t y place. T h e streets a n d
wire a n d they made it h a n d over h a n d . m a n y homes are d i r t y . M a n y of the people
T h e n came our machine g u n section. W e don't have what it takes to be clean. B u t ,
started across i n assault boats a n d the there are nice people there a n d I met some
swift current i n the r i v e r t u r n e d our of t h e m . "

S
McHugh, Donald J . , S/Sgt., H d q . Btry. those i n the U n i t e d States. Of course the
D i v . Artillery, Bristol. G e r m a n towns a n d farms d i d n ' t look so
" O n c e I got separated f r o m our D i v i - good when we got t h r o u g h w i t h t h e m . "
sion a n d w o u n d u p i n the 99th. I h a d to
Rauscher, Ludwig P., T / 5 , H d q . Co.,
h i t c h h i k e back. T h e y were w a y u p n o r t h
2nd B a t t a l i o n , 324th Inf., M i l f o r d .
i n the F i r s t A r m y a n d I h a d to go t h r o u g h
" T r y i n g to l a y wire across the D a n u b e
the T h i r d A r m y to the S e v e n t h . I t was
gave me a b a d hour. T h e y were t h r o w i n g
about 350 miles the w a y I went, a n d i t
a lot of a r t i l l e r y at us a n d there were
took me three days a n d three nights to
p l e n t y of snipers. There were a lot of
m a k e i t . T h e first n i g h t I slept i n a hotel
close ones. T h e y even k n o c k e d off one of
i n Liege a n d the next n i g h t on the floor of
the H e i n i e prisoners we h a d p i c k e d u p . I t
a n a m m u n i t i o n warehouse i n V e r d u n . I
took us about 12 hours to get the wire
j o i n e d u p w i t h our outfit again just i n t i m e
across.
for the counterattack i n the b r e a k t h r o u g h .
T h a t t r i p was tougher t h a n fighting.'' Rougeot, M a y n a r d , E . , T / 5 , Serv. C o . ,
71st Inf., T o r r i n g t o n .
O'Brien, N o r b e r t F . , P f c , C o . G . , 324th
" S a a r e b o u r g was the worst. I t is the first
Inf., W i n d s o r L o c k s .
t i m e I was under fire a n d i t was never
" T h e best three days I h a d i n E u r o p e
that b a d a g a i n . "
were the three days on leave i n P a r i s .
Oh! Boy!"
Russell, W i l l i a m N . , T / S g t . , C o . I.,
Perrotto, W i l l i a m , P f c , M P , D i v . H d q . , 324th Inf., N e w H a v e n .
Bridgeport. " I have the S i l v e r Star, the B r o n z e
" I saw thousands of liberated Russians Star w i t h clusters a n d the P u r p l e H e a r t
a n d D . P . s . T h e Russians h a d been t h r o u g h w i t h clusters. T h e S i l v e r S t a r was for m y
a hell of a lot. If y o u went into their part i n t a k i n g three machine guns at
camps y o u could see t h a t . T h e y h a d no H a g e n e a u , near B i t c h e , i n December.
clothes, no s a n i t a r y facilities a n d not T h e r e were three of us a l l p i n n e d d o w n
m u c h of a n y t h i n g else, b u t t h e y a l l w a n t e d b u t I was firing i n the off-hand position
to work. T h e y were good workers. T h e y a n d k n o c k e d out two of the guns t a k i n g
w o r k e d harder t h a n a n y other people b o t h of t h e m back to our own lines f r o m
I saw i n E u r o p e . " where I directed m o r t a r fire to get the
last gun. D e a t h was surely near there
Pratt, John L . , P f c , Anti-tank Co., every m i n u t e . A n o t h e r b a d spot was near
324th Inf., R o c k v i l l e . R i n l e u near the G e r m a n border, w i t h 17
" T h e difference between F r a n c e a n d men I h i t the spearhead of a G e r m a n
G e r m a n y lays i n w h a t the G e r m a n s d i d attack. W e k i l l e d seventeen, wounded
to F r a n c e . E v e n the s m a l l villages were four a n d took about a h u n d r e d prisoners."
battered t e r r i b l y ; the f a r m l a n d s were
r u i n e d b y foxholes, trenches a n d shellfire. Rybezyk, Anthony F., P f c , Q M B n . ,
W h e n we got i n t o G e r m a n y , the standards Middletown.
of l i v i n g there as compared w i t h those of " I spent most of m y time in E u r o p e as
ruined F r a n c e , were so m u c h better t h a t an M P i n Brussels a n d I made out swell.
it wasn't f u n n y . G e r m a n houses were T h e eats were good a n d there was p l e n t y
better made a n d a lot of t h e m looked like of beer. I was there four months. I got

9
along well w i t h the Belgians. T h e y were repair a jeep. I just got t h r o u g h w i t h i t
okay — swell." a n d p i c k e d up m y tools a n d headed for
the cellar when a shell came i n a n d
Scaheen, Joseph P . , P f c . , C o . D . , 71st
smashed the jeep I h a d been w o r k i n g on.
Inf., D a n b u r y .
T h e same shell or p a r t of i t ricocheted
" G e r m a n y impressed me most of a l l
into the cellar a n d k i l l e d the mother a n d
the countries we saw. T h e people were
two k i d s , 5 a n d 7 years o l d . T h a t was the
clean a n d h a r d w o r k i n g a n d l i v i n g con-
closest I ever h a d . "
ditions were better t h a n those in F r a n c e ,
E n g l a n d or A u s t r i a . T h e people, no — it Stephens, H a r r y D . , P f c , H d q . Co.,
is w h a t they believe i n , I d i d n ' t go f o r . " 324th Inf., B r i s t o l .
" T h e r e is no c o u n t r y i n E u r o p e w h i c h
Senetcen, A l e x , S / S g t . , H d q . B t r y . , 156th
stands comparison w i t h the U n i t e d
F . A . , Forestville.
States, — i n cleanliness, l i v i n g conditions
" A t G o p p e g i n , i n G e r m a n y , I met a
a n d standards or f r i e n d l y people, b u t I
cousin of mine, P a u l Senetcen. H e h a d
w o u l d l i k e to go back a n d see P a r i s some
been a G e r m a n prisoner of war for four
day."
years, a n d was i n p r e t t y b a d shape, a n d
had suffered b a d wounds f r o m machine Stevens, G e r a l d O., P f c , H d q . B t r y . ,
gun fire. I got h i m into our dispensary 217th F . A . , H a r t f o r d .
where he was h a n d l e d as an A l l i e d p r i s o n - " I spent 11 m o n t h s i n E n g l a n d . T h a t is
er. H e was c e r t a i n l y glad to see me after where I met m y wife i n a l i t t l e t o w n i n
we got things u n t a n g l e d . W e t a l k e d about N o r t h W a l e s . W e were m a r r i e d on the
our relatives a n d our war experiences." 12th of M a y a n d I don't expect to see her
again u n t i l I get back f r o m the Pacific. If
Siegel, J u l i a n A . , P f c , C o . G . , 324th Inf. 1

she is not i n the U . S. b y then, I a m going

New Haven.
over to get h e r . "
" O u r regiment was a task force a t -
tached to the 10th A r m o r e d D i v i s i o n Summers, Raymond L., T / 5 , Btry. C ,
a r o u n d C r a i l s h e i m , G e r m a n y . A f t e r we 156th F . A . , P u t n a m .
got t h r o u g h m a k i n g an a t t a c k our s q u a d " T h e best d a y I h a d at the front was
ended up i n a H e i n i e c o m p a n y b y mistake when I helped cook our C h r i s t m a s D i n n e r .
about 600 yards out i n front of our o w n W e w o r k e d a l l night a n d i t was the best
lines. W e just got m i x e d u p i n our direc- m e a l we h a d overseas — T u r k e y a n d the
tions. W e thought t h e y were our o w n whole works. C h r i s t m a s D a y was k i n d of
m e n u n t i l we asked t h e m w h a t c o m p a n y quiet a n d we a l l enjoyed i t . "
they were f r o m . T h e y were about 20
yards a w a y f r o m us a n d when they Wilkos, M a r s h a l l A . , P v t . , C o . A . , 324th
answered i n G e r m a n , we took off m u c h Inf., H a r t f o r d .
fast." " A u s t r i a next to the U . S. is the most
beautiful c o u n t r y I ever saw. I n the T y r o l
Spinato, J o h n S., T / 4 , C o . C , 71st Inf., region, we were near L a n d e c k located i n a
New Haven. v a l l e y nestled a m o n g the m o u n t a i n s . T h e
" U p i n A l s a c e - L o r r a i n e at W e i s v i l l i e r people were f r i e n d l y , their homes were
we r a n i n t o some h e a v y shelling a n d w i t h nice a n d t h e y seemed to like A m e r i c a n s .
another fellow I took cover i n a cellar W h e n the war ended we h a d a swell t i m e
w i t h a f a m i l y of four. I h a d to get out to — just like a v a c a t i o n . "
10
 44th DIVISION FACTS
Slogan: Prepared I n A l l Things. of I n f a n t r y i n the R e g u l a r A r m y . P r o m o t e d
to major general M a r c h 19, 1945. B e t w e e n
Shoulder Patch: A circular p a t c h con-
1923 a n d 1929 he served w i t h I n f a n t r y
t a i n i n g two A r a b i c 4's, back to back. The
units i n this c o u n t r y a n d the P a n a m a
4's are of blue, on a field of orange a n d the
C a n a l Zone. W a s graduated from the I n -
entire p a t c h has a blue border. T h e colors
f a n t r y School at F o r t B e n n i n g i n 1932 a n d
are those of the H o u s e of N a s s a u , under
i n 1933 was assigned to C i v i l i a n C o n s e r v a -
w h i c h the D u t c h settled what is now N e w
t i o n C o r p s d u t y i n R e d d i n g , C a l . I n 1936
Y o r k a n d N e w Jersey.
he was graduated from C o m m a n d a n d
Source of Division: National Guard General Staff School at F o r t L e a v e n w o r t h ,
units from N e w Y o r k a n d N e w Jersey. K a n s . , a n d was t h e n assigned to H a w a i i
where he remained u n t i l 1938. I n 1939 he
Training: A c t i v a t e d September, 1940,
completed the course at the A r m y I n d u s -
at F o r t D i x , N . J . , the d i v i s i o n received its
t r i a l College i n W a s h i n g t o n D . C . a n d
i n i t i a l t r a i n i n g at t h a t post a n d m o v e d i n
was assigned to the C h e m i c a l W a r f a r e
N o v . 1941, to F i r s t A r m y maneuvers w h i c h
School at E d g e w o o d A r s e n a l , M d . H e was
were conducted i n the C a r o l i n a s . I n J a n .
graduated from t h a t school i n Sept. 1939
1942, the d i v i s i o n m o v e d to C a m p C l a i -
and from the A r m y W a r College i n W a s h -
borne, L a . , a n d a short t i m e thereafter to
ington, D . C . i n J u n e , 1940. H e t h e n was
F o r t L e w i s , W a s h i n g t o n . I n J a n . 1943, i t
assigned to the W a r D e p a r t m e n t G e n e r a l
came under control of A r m y G r o u n d Forces.
Staff a n d i n J a n . 1941 was appointed
F r o m F e b . to A p r i l , 1944, i t p a r t i c i p a t e d
assistant to the secretary of the G e n e r a l
i n maneuvers i n L o u i s i a n a under the
Staff. I n A u g . 1942 he became Assistant
T h i r d A r m y , a n d at conclusion of the m a -
Chief, Requirements Section, at H e a d -
neuvers m o v e d to C a m p P h i l l i p s , K a n s .
quarters A r m y G r o u n d Forces, a n d i n O c t .
Left this Country: September, 1944, 1943 was n a m e d as C h i e f of the section.
for E u r o p e a n T h e a t e r of Operations. I n F e b . 1944 he was n a m e d assistant
division commander of the 44th I n f a n t r y
Overseas Training: Brief t r a i n i n g on
D i v i s i o n a n d the following J a n u a r y
arrival i n France.
assumed c o m m a n d of the d i v i s i o n .
Awards: 2d B a t t a l i o n of the 114th
Heroes: P F C J i m Y . T a z o i of G a r l a n d
I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t awarded the D i s -
U t a h , was awarded the D i s t i n g u i s h e d
tinguished U n i t C i t a t i o n for a c t i o n n o r t h
Service Cross for action i n F r a n c e on O c t .
of Schalbeck, F r a n c e , N o v . 25, 1944.
28 a n d 29, 1944. B u r d e n e d w i t h a 40
Commanding General: Major Gen. p o u n d radio as well as other equipment he
W i l l i a m F . D e a n was b o r n in C a r l y l e , destroyed a n enemy machine gun nest,
Illinois, A u g . 1, 1889. W a s graduated from charged six snipers a n d , w i t h his comrades,
the U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a i n 1921 a n d k i l l e d or wounded a l l of t h e m , a n d assisted
was commissioned a second lieutenant i n i n destroying a second machine gun nest.
the Officers' Reserve C o r p s . I n J u l y , 1923, H i s efforts p a v e d the w a y for relief of a
he was. commissioned a second lieutenant "lost b a t t a l i o n " .

11
 CITATION - 2 Bn., 114 Inf.
T h e official statement accompanying i n f a n t r y m e n c l u n g to their positions, a n d
the c i t a t i o n : w i t h rifle fire forced the enemy to w i t h -
draw. N o t o n l y d i d the men of the 2d
" C h a r g e d w i t h the defense of a front
B a t t a l i o n refuse to give w a y i n the face
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4,000 yards wide, against
of this fierce onslaught, b u t t h e y forced
a n enemy a r m o r e d counter-attack, the
the a t t a c k at every o p p o r t u n i t y .
2d B a t t a l i o n m o v e d into position under
cover of darkness a n d w i t h o u t the benefit " B y its determined s t a n d , the 2d B a t -
of reconnaissance. t a l i o n repulsed a counterattack w h i c h , if
it h a d succeeded, w o u l d have e l i m i n a t e d
"Because of the w i d t h of the front a n d
the 44th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n as an effective
the fact t h a t a large part of the d i v i s i o n
fighting force a n d w o u l d have jeopardized
h a d been c o m m i t t e d east of the Vosges
all f r i e n d l y troops east of the Vosges
M o u n t a i n s , no defense i n d e p t h was pos-
Mountains.
sible a n d the line was necessarily t h i n .
T h e nature of the terrain, moreover, pre- " T h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y heroism a n d devo-
vented the m e n from digging in deeply t i o n to d u t y displayed b y the m e n of the
since foxholes w o u l d soon fill w i t h water. 2d B a t t a l i o n , 114th I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t ,
" T h e enemy launched its onslaught are i n keeping w i t h the finest t r a d i t i o n s of
against the h a s t i l y prepared defensive the m i l i t a r y service."
positions w i t h a n u m e r i c a l l y superior force
of i n f a n t r y and a p p r o x i m a t e l y t w e n t y -
two M a r k I V and M a r k V tanks.
" I n the fierce fighting w h i c h followed,
enemy t a n k s overran the b a t t a l i o n ' s
positions a n d fired machine guns a n d 88-
M M guns into the foxholes at p o i n t b l a n k
range.
" D e s p i t e the ferocity of the a t t a c k , the
m e n of the 2d B a t t a l i o n h e l d their ground.
W i t h rifle a n d automatic-weapons, they
k i l l e d , dispersed, or routed the G e r m a n
i n f a n t r y who were r i d i n g on top of the
tanks or following i m m e d i a t e l y b e h i n d .
A l l o w i n g t a n k s to pass over their foxholes,
t h e y i m m e d i a t e l y arose a n d continued to
annihilate a n y G e r m a n s who t r i e d to ac-
c o m p a n y the armor.
" E v e n when bazooka fire bounced off
the h e a v y armor a n d the b a t t a l i o n ' s
machine guns h a d been k n o c k e d out of
action or h a d r u n out of a m m u n i t i o n , the

12
 THE CONNECTICUT MEN
T h e names of the officers a n d men f r o m the D i v i s i o n were compiled f r o m available
official records a n d b y personal interview. Omission of the names of some men is, re¬
gretably, possible despite every effort made to secure complete rosters:

A N D E R T , Irving I. Pvt. Eastford

A R C H A C K I , L u c i e n S. T/5 264 G r o v e St., N e w B r i t a i n
A V R O C H , Milton Pfc. 119 P l a i n f i e l d St., H a r t f o r d

B A R R O W , Charles A . Pvt. New Haven Ave., Ansonia

B E C I A , Andrew D . Pfc. 3 S o u t h M a i n St., P l a i n v i l l e
B E L L E R I V E , Marcel C. Pfc. 11 B a t t e y St., P u t n a m
B I S H O P , Woodrow W . Pfc. 17 H o m e Place, W i n s t e d
B O R J E S O N , George A . Pfc. 539 F e r n S t . , West H a r t f o r d
B R A N D T , John E., Jr. Pfc. 22 B a l d w i n St., M e r i d e n
B R O G A L S K I , Frederick Pvt. 27 H i l l St., Shelton
B U D N I K , Edward P. Pfc. 212 C u r t i s St., N e w B r i t a i n
B Z A N , George Pfc. 117 M y r t l e A v e . , S t a m f o r d

C A R G O S , C o n s t a n t i n e S. Pfc. 1386 C h a p e l St., N e w H a v e n

C A R L S O N , Herbert E . , J r . Pfc. 69 E a s t St., P l a i n v i l l e
C A R S O N , Vernon L . Pfc. 56 Beech St., B r i s t o l
C A T H C A R T , John G. Pfc. M a i n St., Sharon
C H E R N O F F , Maxwell 2nd L t . 80 2nd St., H a m d e n
C O D I A N N E , Francis H . Pvt. 44 E a s t L i b e r t y St., W a t e r b u r y
C R E A S E R , Ray N . Pfc. 55 P i e r p o n t St., N e w H a v e n

D A M B O W S K Y , Victor R. Pfc. 80 O a k St., W a t e r b u r y

D E L L A C A M E R A , Angelo Pvt. 78 H u d s o n St., N e w H a v e n
D E M I N G , Herbert E . Pfc. 2 Marshall Rd., Hamden
D O W D , John H . , Jr. Cpl. 147 K e e n e y A v e . , W e s t H a r t f o r d
D O W L I N G , Robert J . Sgt. 34 N o . H o a d l e y St., N a u g a t u c k

E N G L E R T , Francis J . Pfc. 41 C o n l i n S t , B r i s t o l

F A R I N E L L A , Ralph V. Pfc. 13 L e d y a r d A v e , G r o t o n
F E D E , V i n c e n z o S. Pfc. 44 T a r i f f S t , T h o m p s o n v i l l e
F E R R O N , Daniel F. Pfc. 15 M a p l e S t , Danielson
F I N E R , William H . S/Sgt. 23 Forest A v e , Shelton
F L I S , Albert P , Jr. M/Sgt. 215 B u r r i t t S t , N e w B r i t a i n
F O N T E N A U L T , Paul E . Pfc. 68A Norwich S t , Hartford
F O R T E , Richard J . T/5 1767 M a i n S t , B r i d g e p o r t 4

G I N T Y , Vincent T. Pfc. 5 Foster S t , D a n b u r y

G O D F R E Y , John F. Pfc. 120 Rose H i l l , D a n b u r y

13
G O L D F I E L D , Jerome Pfc. 8 Florence St., H a r t f o r d
G R I F F I N , Gerald B . Pfc. 25 E d g e w o o d A v e , G r e e n w i c h
G U L Y A S , Stephen G . Pfc. M a r i n a Village, Bridgeport

H A C K , Robert C. Pfc. 105 A l b a n y A v e , H a r t f o r d

H A E S C H E , William Capt. 27 B e v e r l y R d , H a m d e n
H A I N S , Nelson T . Pfc. 4 Tolles St., W e s t H a r t f o r d
H E W K O , Edward W. Pfc. P . O . B o x 165, T h o m a s t o n
H I C K E Y , John J . Pfc. Stamford
H U D A K , Peter Pvt. 235 M i t c h e l l St., G r o t o n

I N S L E Y , W i l l i a m S. Pfc. O l d L y m e Stables, O l d L y m e

J O H N S O N , Samuel G . Sgt. 363 O l d Post R o a d , F a i r f i e l d

J O H N S O N , Walter Pfc. 184 H a r b o r V i e w A v e , B r i d g e p o r t

K A R P I E J , Stanley D . Pfc. 110 B r o a d S t . , N e w B r i t a i n

K O Z A K , Henry H . Pfc. 155 W e l l s R o a d , Wethersfield
K R A G I E L , Lucian J . T/5 65 B i r u t a St., N e w B r i t a i n
K R A M E R , William R. Capt. Danbury
K U T C H E R , Anthony J . Pfc. 8 Olds Place, H a r t f o r d
K U Z I E L L O , Raffaelle Pvt. 9 Wooster Place, H a r t f o r d

L E A V I T T , Walter D . Pfc. 118 L y o n s S t , N e w B r i t a i n

L E H N , Charles R . Pvt. 1804 State S t . , B r i d g e p o r t
L E N H A R D , Roy A. Pvt. R F D 3, B o x 286, B r i d g e p o r t
L E N N O N , Eugene T . Pfc. Thomaston
L I N K U S , Edward L. Pfc. 61 P e a r l St., N o r w i c h
L I V E T E N , Benjamin D . Pfc. 54 Shelby S t . , Worcester
L Y N C H , Eugene T , J r . Pfc. 148 P l y m o u t h St., N e w H a v e n

M A Y E T T E , Francis W . Pfc. 44 T o m m u c k L a n e , S t a m f o r d
M c D O N O U G H , John J . Pfc. 35 Stanley S t . , N e w H a v e n
M c H U G H , Donald J . S/Sgt. 43 B o a r d m a n R d , B r i s t o l
M c L A U G H L I N , James Pvt. 294 C o l e m a n S t . , B r i d g e p o r t
M C N A M A R A , James F . Pfc. 317 C o n n . A v e , B r i d g e p o r t
M E N Z E , R a m o n S. Pvt. 192 H a m i l t o n S t , N e w H a v e n
M E S H A M , Robert J . Pfc. 178 C h u r c h S t . , W e s t H a v e n
M I H A C I K , Steven, J r . Pfc. 90 B r y s o n A v e , S e y m o u r
M I N T O , Joseph A . Pfc. B o x 36, M a d i s o n A v e , B r i d g e p o r t
M U R D O C K , Henry G. Pfc. Pomfret Center

O ' B R I E N , Norbert F . Pfc. 68 C a b o t St., W i n d s o r L o c k s

P A R S O N S , Clifton L . Pfc. 71 C e n t r a l A v e , E a s t H a r t f o r d
P A T T E R S O N , Franklin E . Pfc. Brook S t , Noank
P A T T I , Dominic C. Pvt. 20 P r a t t S t , N e w L o n d o n
P E R R O T T O , William Pfc. 1089 B a r n u m A v e , B r i d g e p o r t

14
P I O T R O W S K I , Stanley Pfc. 2 5 B W i l l i a m s S t , Shelton
P R A T T , John L . Pfc. Rockville

R A U S C H L E R , Ludwig P. T/5 33 C e n t e r S t , M i l f o r d
R E I C H L I N , Saul Pfc. 195 H o l c o m b S t , H a r t f o r d
R O M A N I E L L O , Frank Pvt. 37 H i l l s i d e A v e , T o r r i n g t o n
R O S E , Vasco Pvt. 1002 E . M a i n S t , B r i d g e p o r t
R O U G E O T , Maynard E. T/5 R F D 3, B o x 585, T o r r i n g t o n
R U S S E L L , William N . T/Sgt. 216 F r a n k l i n S t , N e w H a v e n
R Y A N , Clement J . Sgt. 23 M e r r i a m S t , M e r i d e n
R Y B E Z Y K , Anthony F. Pfc. 52 W a l n u t S t , M i d d l e t o w n
R Y C H L I K , E d w a r d S. Pfc. 46 S h e r m a n S t , B r i d g e p o r t

S A Z A N O W I C Z , Joseph A . Sgt. 181 Prospect S t , P l a n t s v i l l e

S C H A F F H A U S E R , Steve Pfc. Pitcher S t , Norwich
S C H W A L L E R , William C. Pfc. R F D 1, Shelton
S E N E T C E N , Alex S/Sgt. 93 A r t i s a n S t , Forestville
S H A I N N I E , Joseph Pfc. 43 Stone S t , D a n b u r y
S H I N D E R , Bernard P. S/Sgt. 675 Wethersfield A v e , H a r t f o r d
SIBILIO, Tony T/5 40 W r i g h t S t , S t a m f o r d
S I E G E L , Julian A . Pfc. 179 E l l s w o r t h A v e , N e w H a v e n
S K A W I N S K I , John C. Pfc. 588 B e r k s h i r e A v e , B r i d g e p o r t
S M I T H , Frederick K . Pfc. B o x 27, B a l l o u v i l l e
S P A K , Alex, J r . T/5 R F D 2, A n d o v e r
S P I N A T O , J o h n S. T/4 22 A r m S t , N e w H a v e n
S T E P H E N S , G e r a l d O. Pfc. 76 M a d i s o n A v e , H a r t f o r d
S T E P H E N S , Larry D. Pfc. Bristol
S T E U C E K , Julius M . T/Sgt. 5 E z r a S t , Bridgeport
S U M M E R S , Raymond L . T/5 44 L i n c o l n S t , P u t n a m
S U M M E R T O N , Nelson L . 1st Sgt. L e R o y A v e , Darien
S U O Z Z O , John D . Sgt. 204 W a l n u t S t , W a t e r b u r y
S W E E N E Y , John J . Pfc. 23 F a i r l a w n A v e , H a z a r d v i l l e
S Z E L U G A , Robert Pvt. 86 Sisson A v e , H a r t f o r d
T E I K A , Ernest S/Sgt. 183 M a p l e t o n A v e , Suffield
T E T R A U L T , Ernest J . Pfc. 116 M a i n S t , N o r w i c h
T I M K O , Frank J . Pfc. 284 F a r m i n g t o n A v e , K e n s i n g t o n
T O M C Z Y K , Stanley C . Pfc. 83 M i l l R i v e r S t , N e w H a v e n
T R A C Y , Leonard G . Pfc. 42 W e l l s F a r m D r i v e , Wethersfield

W A D D Y , W i l l i a m S. J r . 2nd L t . 1842 B l v d . , W e s t H a r t f o r d
W I L K O S , Marshall A . Pvt. 599 C a p i t a l A v e , H a r t f o r d
W I R K U S , Lawrence A . T/5 122 So. F r o n t S t , N e w H a v e n
W O L F E , George C . Pfc. M a i n S t , Broad Brook
W O O D S , Edward J . 2nd L t . Kensington
W O R D E N , William J . Pvt. 17 B r i d g e S t , N e w M i l f o r d
W O Z D U S I E W I C Z , Peter J. Pfc. 66 Stone S t , S t a m f o r d

15