28th Inf Div - MILFORD E MATTHEWS
#1

From an email I received in the past week:

 

-----------

 

Looking for any combat reports, after combat reports,maps or anything that will show where the 3rd bn. was between 23rd Sep 1944 and 07 October 1944? The division is not confident of finding the area after so long. I am still awaiting the answere from 110th. I read your site and you had combat maps of the 5th corp. I think this group was in Belgium at this time. Thanks in advance for all.

PERRY F HARKER

 

----------

 

Later....

 

----------

 

This is for a friend that lost his father in this action.His name was Sgt. Milford E. Matthews. My friends mother had nothing to do with the family after this, so all he has are old medals and no answeres. I do thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you need more info let me know.

PERRY F HARKER

 

------------

 

Later after I sent another email to him....

 

----------------

 

He was a sgt. in k company of the 110th regiment 28th division. He was killed somewhere near the westwall.They were chasing germans and the 88s started to fire and hit k company and the germans started to the west against the k company. My problem is that the 110th third battalion is not really listed in any combat reports from Luxembourge to the Huertgen. I am wondering where Sgt MILFORD E MATTHEWS was. If i can find out where the unit is i canfigure close to where he was killed. Medals, the only one i can figure was the purple heart and maybe belgium and luxemburge and franc. The picture in paris is the 2nd battalion of the 110th, if what i am given to understand.

PERRY F HARKER

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#2

Here are some links for you (and other info). This should get you started. Not a bad beginning. I will keep you posted.

 

Marion

--------------------------------------------

 

http://www.28-110-k.org/main.html

 

http://www.bcs-pa.com/pa/28th/

 

http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_bookl...s/28thinfantry/

 

http://www.bloodybucket.com/history.htm

 

This one is coming soon - http://www.bloodybucket.com/Service%20CO/S...0CO%20110th.htm

 

http://www.ddaymilitaria.com/28_div.htm

 

http://www.thehistorynet.com/wwii/blbuying...lge/index3.html

 

http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/Island_Farm_Camp.htm

 

---------------------------------

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Joel L. Carter" <cajoe@email.kcc.edu>

My father was in the 28th Infantry Division, I know, 110th Infantry Regiment, I believe. I am looking for information or contacts who might have known him or have been in the same service area. I believe he became a psychological casualty at Hurtgen Forest. Any and all information/contacts would be appreciated. My father died 26 years ago when I was 16 so I didn't really know him, much less anything about his World War II experience. Thanks.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Edward A Connors

Hamburg, NY United States

28th Infantry Division/Btry

United States Army

 

In December 1944 the 28th Division was in a rest area stretching from Wiltz to Eupen in Luxembourg, a distance of 25 miles. We had suffered heavy losses in the Hurtgen Forest after having relieved the 9th and 47th Infantry Divisions on October 26-27 and we were in this rest area awaiting the replacements that would bring us up to battle strength.

 

I was a machine gunner positioned in front of the 155 Howitzers. The weather was bitter cold and we were constantly looking through binoculars for any type of movement. The First Sergeant sent for me one day and said, "I'm sending you to guard the airstrip at Wiltz. There will be other gunners there too." He told me that I would stand guard duty only at night and that during the day I would be on my own. This assignment was to be for just one week. One gunner from each of the other batteries were to go with me. I told the Sergeant that I didn't like leaving the battery but he said it was only for a week, it would be a nice break and besides he said it was an order.

 

The next morning I was on my way to Wiltz with four other GIs. The airstrip was on a plateau half way up a large hill. Wiltz was down in the valley below and over the hill was a no man's land thick with trees. The machine guns were set up on raised tripods so that you had to stand up in order to fire them. Clearly not a good situation. No gunners during the day, only at night and no protection, not even a foxhole. When I questioned this, I was told, "this is a rest area, no action here."

 

The fog was too thick for any of the planes to use the strip but one of the pilots offered to give anyone a plane ride if the fog lifted before we moved out. The fog cleared in the afternoon of our last day there so one other guy and I got our airplane ride. The other fellow went first and came back in a short time, he got airsick. The pilot wanted to know if I'd get sick too and I told him no I wouldn't. I didn't know for sure but I really wanted that plane ride.

The pilot showed me where to place my feet so that they wouldn't interfere with the control cables and told me I could remove my helmet and set it on my knees just in case I got sick.

 

Well, we taxied down to the end of the uneven field, turned around, gunned the engine and took off down the airstrip and we were quickly in the air. What a thrill. We turned to the right and flew over the town of Wiltz. I could see the GIs below me grow smaller, what a different world it was from up in the sky. I was doing ok so the pilot asked if I'd like to fly over the so-called front lines. At that moment my Mother's image flashed before me and as much as I wanted to fly over the lines I said no thanks, "My Mother would kill me if we got shot down." He laughed and we circled around Wiltz a few more times. I really enjoyed that plane ride.

 

Well the next morning, December 16, we left to return to our outfits. Half way back we ran into heavy shell fire but that is another story. We later learned that a half hour after leaving the airstrip, the Germans came over the hill area where we had been, it was the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. We also found out that three of the four aircraft made it out safely. Sadly though the 28th Division Headquarters personal stationed in Wiltz suffered heavy losses.

 

To this day I regret the decision I made not to fly over the front lines that day for surely we would have seen the Germans preparing to attack the next day and maybe, just maybe we could have made a difference.

 

--------------------------

 

http://www.military.com/HomePage/UnitCreat...,100018,00.html

 

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/U...fantry-Division

 

http://www.military.cibmedia.com/main-sear...arch=28th%20inf

 

http://www.thehistorynet.com/wwii/blkommerscheidt/

 

http://www.89infdivww2.org/memories/hitleryouth.htm

 

-----------------------------

28th Infantry Division. "Keystone Div."

109th Infantry Regiment

110th Infantry Regiment

112th Infantry Regiment

107th Field Artillery Battalion

109th Field Artillery Battalion

229th Field Artillery Battalion

108th Field Artillery Battalion

728th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)

28th Quartermaster Company

103rd Engineer Combat Battalion

103rd Medical Battalion

28th Signal Company

726th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company

28th Band

28th Headquarters Company

28th Military Police Platoon

Attached

447th Anti-Aircraft Artillery AW Battalion (Mobile)

18th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group

321st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group

446th Anti-Aircraft Artillery AW Battalion (Mobile)

744th Tank Battalion

707th Tank Battalion

CC B, 9th Armored Division

2 Platoons, B Company, 709th Tank Battalion

777th Tank Battalion

113th Cavalry Group

85th Cavalry Recon Squadron, 5th Armored Division

32nd Cavalry Recon Squadron

D Company, 87th Chemical Battalion

86th Chemical Mortar Battalion

A Company, 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion

20th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1171st Engineer Combat Group

1340th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1171st Engineer Combat Group

146th Engineer Combat Battalion (less B Company)

44th Engineer Combat Battalion

209th Engineer Combat Battalion

1282nd Engineer Combat Battalion

1158th Engineer Combat Battalion

288th Engineer Combat Battalion

1286th Engineer Combat Battalion

18th Field Artillery Battalion

187th Field Artillery Battalion

A Battery, 987th Field Artillery Battalion

76th Field Artillery Battalion

687th Field Artillery Battalion

58th Armored Field Artillery Battalion

770th Field Artillery Battalion

73rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 9th Armored Division

20th Mule Company (French)

14th Mule Company (French)

283rd Field Artillery Battalion

494th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 12th Armored Division

495th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 12th Armored Division

773rd Field Artillery Battalion

253rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion

658th Field Artillery Battalion

761st Field Artillery Battalion

790th Field Artillery Battalion

12th CT, 4th Infantry Division

42nd Field Artillery Battalion, 4th Infantry Division

1st Platoon, B Company, 4th Engineer Combat Battalion, 4th Infantry Division

A Company, 801st TD Battalion

2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion

2nd Battalion, 2nd Military Region (French)

4th Battalion, 2nd Military Region (French)

6th Battalion, 2nd Military Region (French)

8th Battalion, 2nd Military Region (French)

9th Battalion, 2nd Military Region (French)

4th Battalion, 20th Military Region (French)

5th Battalion, 20th Military Region (French)

14th Battalion, 20th Military Region (French)

106th Infantry Company, 3rd Battalion (French)

302nd CT, 94th Infantry Division

356th FA Battalion, 94th Infantry Division

1 Platoon, B Company, 319th Engineer Combat Battalion, 94th Infantry Division

2nd Battalion, 13th Limburg Battalion (Dutch)

2nd Company, 22nd Fusilliers Battalion (Belgian)

4th Company, 22nd Fusilliers Battalion (Belgian)

146th Infantry Regiment (French)

630th Tank Destroyer Battalion

803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion

629th Tank Destroyer Battalion

741st Tank Destroyer Battalion

893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion

602nd Tank Destroyer Battalion

7th Tank Destroyer Group

B Company, 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion

A Company, 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion

B Company, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion

630th Tank Destroyer Battalion

-----------------------------------------

http://www.jeroenkoppes.com/ww2/units/28th...h%20Inf.Div.asp

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/histor.../w/ww2eto6b.asc

 

http://www.ehistory.com/world/library/book.../bulge/0008.cfm

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#3

Dave Shaw of the Battle of the Bulge Association may be able to help.

Reply
#4

Thanks Jiggs!

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply




Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)