combat engineers in Italy

[Walt's Daughter]

Well that is good news and the research is NEVER wasted because it helps all of us and those who come here in the future too.

 

Here's some info on the 88th, otherwise known as the Blue Devils

 

 

The 351st Infantry Regiment

 

Constituted in the National Army 5 August 1917 as the 351st Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 88th Division. Organized 30 August 1917 at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Demobilized 7 June 1919 at Camp Dodge. (88th Division demobilized 10 June 1919, relieving components from assignment; reorganized in 1921 in the Organized Reserves.) Reconstituted, allotted to the Organized Reserves, assigned to the 88th Division, VII Corps Area, 24 June 1921, and organized in October 1921. Ordered into active military service, less personnel, and organized 15 July 1942 at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, as an element of the 88th Infantry Division. Relieved of assignment to the 88th Infantry Division 1 May 1947. Withdrawn from the Reserves and allotted to the Regular Army in 1951.

 

Campaign Credits

World War I

Alsace

 

World War II

Rome-Arno

North-Apennines

Po Valley

 

 

Decorations

French Croix de Guerre with Palm embroidered CENTRAL ITALY (Department of the Army General Order 50-43)

 

All companies of the 2nd Battalion entitled to the Distinguished Unit Citation embroidered MT. CAPELLO, ITALY by authority of War Department General Order 46-43.**

 

All companies of the 3rd Battalion entitled to the Distinguished Unit Citation embroidered LAIATICO, ITALY by authority of War Department General Order 45-6. **

 

Service Company entitled to the Meritorious Unit Citation embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER by authority of 88th Infantry Division General Order 52, 1945.

 

Medical Detachment entitled to the Meritorious Unit Citation embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER by authority of 88th Infantry Division General order 98, 1945.

 

Motto

“Toujours Pret.†(Always Ready)

 

Distinctive Insignia

The shield is blue for Infantry. The Regiment was first organized in Minnesota, and the three stars are taken from the state flag of Minnesota, the “North Star State.†The large star at the top represents Polaris, the North Star. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the service of the organization in France during World War I.

 

Here's some links for this unit:

 

http://www.88infdiv.org/hist.html

 

http://www.mtmestas.com/Military/88th_InfD...88thInItaly.htm

 

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/...8thinitaly.aspx

 

http://members.aol.com/ItalyWW2/Division88.htm

 

Scott, thanks for being a kind heart. You will be rewarded for it. You have one happy vet smiling down from heaven and my dad is probably patting him on the back and saying, "See I told you someone would find you, now I'll hook him up with my daughter."