Does anyone has any information on this unit? the only thing I could find (on the internet) is that this was an unit with African American soldiers.

Activated at Camp Swift, Texas. Transferred to Camp Clairborne, Louisiana. Staged at Camp Shanks, New York.

Two of the unit are buried at Margraten, both KIA on 31 March 1945.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA

Stevin

SomeRelevantQuotations: “Old soldiers dream of old battles because, with the sliding of years, memory of terror fades and what remains is the fond recollection of intensified life, of moments so electric, so bursting that everything after is thin porridge.â€

Lawrence Sanders

“Some men go skimming over the years of existence to sink gently into a placid grave, ignorant of life to the last, without ever having been made to see all it may contain of perfidy, of violence, and of terror. Joseph Conrad

“I answered the call as I heard it" Nelson Bryant

“There is no greater feeling of exhilaration for a young man than to be shot at - to no result.â€

Winston Churchill

“The whole affair has the strong odor of Gallipoli - and we have the same coach on the bench.â€

(About the Anzio Beachhead. Reference is to Winston Churchill)

“There are not enough Huns anywhere to drive us off this beach.â€

Lt. Gen. John Lucas

“It was an introduction to adult life marked by outrunning death every day. It was the most selfless work I ever did. The experience was dreadful, sobering and maturing, but when you survived it, it was elevating.â€

Unknown

“As a result of my wartime experiences, I have always felt that I was living on time which I’d been given. What all of us have come to realize is that that really was the climax of our lives.â€

Unknown

“There is no loneliness to equal that of an Infantry soldier in a foreign country in wartime, separated from his home and loved ones by a continent and an ocean, with no hope of returning soon, if ever.†Russell W.Cloer

Hello everyone.

I am trying to trace surviving US troos that passed thru Merkwiller during December 1944. I have since 1997, been researching the 8th Air Force bombing mssion of this important oil target, it was bombed August 3rd 1944.

Having this part Of the story almost complete, I am interested in hearing from anyne that recalls this Village and the refinery. Curious to learn what the place looked like, wha if any German defences were encountered? How were the residents upon your arrival etc.

As part f my researching so far I have visited Merkwiller and walked over what remains of the refinery. It was rebuilt in 1945-49 to almost same design as it was before it was bombed in '44. I also have a few pictures of US troops oming through, Beleived to be 103d Infantry? Additionally I have other photos taken by French residents immediately after bombing and the post war rebuild.

I'm missing any personal comments from US Troops that passed thru this place, and so if any one can help then I'd be very grateful!!!

What little I have I'm happy to share.

Regards Ian White

305th BGMA England

Bill was the kind of friend every one should have. If you needed any thing he was there. We worked for Friden Calculator and T. R. W. for 40 years, never seen him mad. Here is B-24 tail gunner Bill Duncan. (1923--2005)

Kellogg’s All-Bran and WW2

I have a friend who was WW2 tail gunner in a B-24 in England. He had a hearty breakfast of Kellogg's All-Bran before a mission over Germany. On the mission the All-Bran started to work. He was not going to fill his pants so he left his tailgunner position and went to the bomb bay doors and relieved himself. When they got back to their base he really got chewed out by the pilot. All I can think about is the German soldier looking up and plop! he gets it right in the face and said American secret weapon but it stinks.

No More Milk

This same friend, B-24 tail gunner ,returning from a mission and flying low. He was told to shoot up all hay stacks because German’s hide there tanks under them. He comes up-on a hay stack so he starts shooting at it and just as he started shooting, a cow comes walking around the corner of the hay stack. Bang, bang no more milk, no more cow.

cadetat6 Art

Comment-allez-vous?

Upon entering high school in the 1930s, we had to choose one of 3 curricula, College, General, or Commercial. For financial reasons, college seemed out of the question then, so I took the General course, like the majority of others. It offered quite an assortment of electives. (I remember taking two years of bookkeeping, typing and shop, among others).

My grades were good and after two years, a guidance counseller took me aside to point out that unless I elected more college entrance required subjects (including a foreign language), I would be unable to enter college, if and when the opportunity arose. I took her advice, despite my reservations, and took 2 years of French and more math. I graduated first in my high school class and won a competitive full tuition scholarship to Rutgers University. Room and board, I paid through part- time and summer jobs.

When I graduated in May1943, (having been an ROTC student), I was sent to Infantry OCS and commissioned 2nd Lt. Inf. on Sept. 20, 1943. I was then shipped out as an Infantry 2nd LT. and assigned to the 3rd Inf Div, 7th Inf Reg't, in January 1944. I spent about 3 months on the Anzio Beachhead and the road to Rome, after which we trained briefly for the amphibeous assault landing in Southern France.

D day was August 15, 1944 at Cavalaire-sur-mer. We fought our way north and then east to enter Germany on March 15, 1944 We fought for 7 months in France and my ability to speak fluent French was a valuable and pleasurable asset which I had thought I would never use! The French people welcomed us with open arms, not to mention champagne and other goodies such as the company of grateful young ladies. We called it the Champagne Campaign. Enemy resistance stiffened as we approached their homeland, but the Champagne Campain (and being able to speak fluent French), brighten my memories.

Russ Cloer - 3_7_I_Recon