Many of you know that I am reading Gen Bradley's book, A Soldiers Story. This morning I want to share some disturbing and haunting facts that give you a real feel for the part a rifle platoon played in the war. The next two paragraphs are taken directly from Bradley's book and show you why the CIB is so cherished amongst the infantry. Sobering facts boys and girls.
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Previous combat had taught us that casualties are lumped primarily in the rifle platoons. For here are concentrated the handful of troops who must advance under enemy fire. It is upon them that the burden of war falls with greater risk and with less likelihood of survival than in any other of the combat arms. An infanty division of World War II consisted of 81 rifle platoons, each with a combat strength of approximately 40 men. Altogether those 81 assault units comprised but 3.240 men in a division of 14,000.00. In an army of 350,000, fewer than one of out seven soldiers stood in that front line. This does not mean, of course, that none of the other seven fought. Many of them did, but as machine gunners, artillerymen, engineers, and tankers. And in Theater the proportion declined at an even more precipitous rate: one man with a rifle for each 15 men behind him.
Prior to the invasion we had estimated that the infantry would incur 70 percent of the losses of our combat forces. By August we had boosted that figure to 83 percent on the basis of our experience in the Normandy hedgerows. The appalling hazard of an infantryman's life in combat was illustrated at St-Lo where in 15 days the 30th Division sustained 3,934 battle casualties. At first glance those casualties would seem to imply 25 percent losses for the division. That figure, however, is deceptive. Because three out of every four of those casualties occured in a rifle platoon, the rate of loss in those platoons exceeded 90 percent.
Received these letters this week. Was able to hook Robert up with Al Kincer. Below are Robert's letters to me and Al's reply including two photos. These are great, especially the WEDDING photo.
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Hello:
I am Robert Tisovich from Ely Minnesota. Rudy Tisovich would have been my uncle.
Only one sister of Rudy's is alive.
She would like some information on Rudy.
Please email back what ever information you recall about Rudy.
What is the "Just Marrried" sign about?
You can go to my webb site to learn about Rudy's family. www.tisovich.com
Most appreciative on the info you put on the webb.
Sincerely,
Robert Tisovich
July 25, 2005
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I just did a search on my site and came up with a Tisovich on my buddy Al Kincer's page. Is this the Tisovich you are referring to? If so I can contact Al and ask him.
Marion
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Yes that's Rudy. That is how it was communicated he died, but a plane was to have dropped a bomb on the truck.Now there is first hand knowledge, thank you.
Bob
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Dear Robert:
I am Alfred Kincer, I commanded Co. B of the 48th Engineers. At one time I was the Bn. Motor Officer. That is where I knew Rudy & all of the fellows in the motor pool. Rudy was a mechanic, that is where we got to be good friends. I left the motor pool in October of 1943. I was very sad when I learned of the deaths of Kantz & Rudy. They were great soldiers.
My wife & I were married at Camp Gruber in October 1942. The G.I's of the motor pool made the sign, put it on a GI truck & rode us around the camp when the wedding was over. I will try to find more picturesif you like. Please reply.
Wow, what great week. Saturday evening I get a call from John (540th) and Evelyn MacDonald and then tonight my phone rings and it's the daughter of Herbert Sherman of the 540th.
Pat called to say that she received my package this week and it made her look through all the things at their house (her dad passed away and her mom is living with a sibling). She has kindly agreed to make copies of everything that I don't have. More treasures for our site and for my book. My how I've been blessed.
She said she has learned so much this week from everything that I mailed to her and she wished, as so many others have stated, that she would have been more interested in his history while he was still alive. Ah, I guess so many of us are having those same feelings and longings.
In the book The Battered Bastards of Bastogne By George Koskimaki - Casemate Publishing 2003 the author is speaking about a man called Webb that could be John Webb.
We would like to contact the author in order to get more information or to know if he can tell us more about John Webb if he is the man that he is speaking about.
Could you please give us the e-mail (preferabily) or the address of George Koskimaki so that we can write to him. Another solution is that you forward this mail to Mr Koskimaki of course, asking him if he agrees with our request.
Thank you very much for your help and sorry for the trouble.
Yours, sincerely,
Claude
Claude Marchal
Administrator of the sites :
BADGES & PATCHES OF THE BELGIAN POLICE (Referential for collectors)
