WWII 43rd Infantry Division
WWII 43rd Infantry Division
WWII 43rd Infantry Division
S T A T E
O F
C O N N E C T I C U T CHAMBERS
EXECUTIVE
HARTFORD R A Y M O N D E. BALDWIN
To The Men Who Came Home With The 43d? To you, and through you, to a l l the men who s a i l e d
w i t h you three long years ago, t o those men who died that t h i s , our homeland be spared the h o r r o r s of i n v a s i o n and war, to those men wounded and s i c k who preceded you home, t o those who having served the a l l o t t e d time came e a r l i e r - I , on behalf o f the, tender
State o f Connecticut,
extend h e a r t f e l t a p p r e c i a t i o n and
a s i n c e r e welcome home. I n the f o o t s t e p s o f your f a t h e r s have w r i t t e n more b r i l l i a n t pages and f o r e f a t h e r s you history of
i n the m i l i t a r y
t h i s n a t i o n . As a son o f Connecticut you have courageously and f a i t h f u l l y maintained the t r a d i t i o n s o f the State and Nation.
You have added to t h a t long l i s t , s t a r t e d by the Connecticut men who fought at Bunker Hill, enduring names - Guadalcanal, Solomons, New Guinea, Luzon and Tokyo. And to those men o f the 169th I n f a n t r y I n p a r t i c u l a r , who i n World War I I c a r r i e d on the great t r a d i t i o n o f t h a t r e g i ment which dates back to 1739, the S t a t e pays p a r t i c u l a r honor.
Governor
Azary, J o h n G . , P v t . , 192d F . A . B n . , South Norwalk. " A f t e r spending three years i n the Pacific, the States especially N e w E n g l a n d seemed almost too good to be true. I served as a n observer i n a machine g u n c o m p a n y , a n d I made most of the c a m paigns. T h e whole N e w Georgia c a m p a i g n was t o u g h w i t h t h e J a p s , the weather a n d the climate a l l a c t i n g against us. M a n y of m y friends were lost there a n d m a n y more were wounded. I t was t o u c h a n d go a l l of the t i m e . I ' l l be glad to get back i n c i v i l i a n clothes." Berkins, Richard C., S/Sgt., H q . B t r y . , 192d F . A . B n . , N o r w a l k . "Rosario, i n Northern Luzon that was our worst. One n i g h t i n J a n u a r y we got shelled b y the J a p s , w h o were using guns t h e y c a p t u r e d f r o m o u r troops w h e n they took the P h i l i p p i n e s i n 1942. T h e y poured i t i n for a half h o u r ; i t was a long half hour, a n d I ' m n o t k i d d i n g ! B u t we h a d no casualties we were a l l good at digging." Cassella, Alfred P., 2 d / L t . , Co. L , 169th Inf., N e w B r i t a i n . " I w o u n d u p w i t h three P u r p l e H e a r t s before t h e y sent me home o n points, b u t the closest call I h a d was w h e n three N i p s caught me w i t h o u t m y rifle while we were o n B a n g a a I s l a n d , off N e w G e o r g i a . I was g u a r d i n g a c o m m u n i c a t i o n s line w h e n these three J a p s came o u t of n o where a n d there I was w i t h no g u n . T h e y saw me a n d I saw t h e m . I y e l l e d a n d h i t the g r o u n d . Some of t h e b o y s about 50 4
y a r d s a w a y fired i n the d i r e c t i o n of m y voice a n d I got a chance to t a k e cover w h e n the J a p s scattered. T h a t was before I got m y direct a p p o i n t m e n t . " Conway, R i c h a r d F . , Sgt., D i v . H q . , New Britain. " P l e n t y of fellows saw tougher d a y s t h a n I d i d . T h e best d a y I h a d outside of the d a y I f o u n d out I h a d 101 points a n d o n l y needed 85 for discharge was w h e n we boarded a ship b o u n d for N e w Z e a l a n d a n d a rest after 17 m o n t h s i n the islands. E v e r y o n e was p r e t t y w e l l t i r e d out, p a r t i c u l a r l y the fellows i n the I n f a n t r y , a n d we were a l l a l i t t l e ' i s l a n d h a p p y . ' T h e N e w G e o r g i a c a m p a i g n was over a n d I figured t h a t a r e t u r n to c i v i l i z a t i o n w o u l d give us a n o p p o r t u n i t y to f i n d out again w h a t i t was l i k e to see w h i t e people." Deedy, R a y m o n d A . , P f c , C o . E . , 102d Inf., W a t e r b u r y . " E v e n t h o u g h t h e y took us a w a y , t e c h n i c a l l y , f r o m the 43d D i v i s i o n before we went overseas, we s t i l l feel t h a t the 43d is our outfit. T h e r e ' s a great t r a d i t i o n b e h i n d the 43d a n d we l i k e to feel t h a t we're p a r t of i t . F o r t y - t h r e e m o n t h s o u t there gave me a l l t h a t I ever w a n t to see of the P a c i f i c ; there i s n ' t m u c h difference between one i s l a n d a n d another, except for H a w a i i . I t was almost like c i v i l i z a t i o n w h e n we got there. I n the Society Islands a n d the N e w H e b r i d e s the weather was p r e t t y b a d , a n d often we h a d d a y after d a y of r a i n . W e were garrison troops a n d for the most p a r t i t was p r e t t y d u l l . "
Douchette, Wilfred A., lst/Sgt., H q . C o . , 3 d B n . , 169th Inf., N e w B r i t a i n . " T h e worst t i m e I h a d i n the A r m y covered five days w h e n the t h i r d b a t t a l i o n was sent out to A r t i l l e r y R i d g e . T h a t was at B i g ' T ' , below Ipo D a m w h i c h was a M a n i l a w a t e r s u p p l y , i n the L u z o n c a m p a i g n . W e were supposed to find out the s t r e n g t h of the J a p s . F o r five days a n d five nights we were o n t h a t ridge a n d the J a p s t h r e w e v e r y t h i n g t h e y h a d at us. O u r outfit h a d some t o u g h times b u t t h a t was the toughest a n d those of us who got out a l i v e figured we were p r e t t y l u c k y boys." Ehnat, J o h n T . , P f c , C o . E . , 103d Inf., Bridgeport. " I was first scout a n d m y job was to t r y a n d find out where the enemy was l o c a t e d a n d locate p i l l boxes a n d machine gun nests. One t i m e some of our m e n were w o u n d e d d o w n the b o t t o m of a h i l l . I was supposed to go d o w n a n d flank these m e n for t h e i r p r o t e c t i o n . I asked the sergeant whether there were a n y J a p s there a n d he s a i d no. A n o t h e r t h i n g , w h i l e I was going d o w n the h i l l I h e a r d some one y e l l ' C h a r l i e ' i n E n g l i s h so I t h o u g h t e v e r y t h i n g was i n order. W h e n I got u p the second h i l l , I y e l l e d ' W h e r e the hell are y o u guys?' A s I t u r n e d a r o u n d I l o o k e d r i g h t i n t o the face of a J a p . I pressed the trigger on m y g u n a n d i t d i d n ' t w o r k , so I h i t a b a n k a r o u n d the b e n d . I t o l d the B A R m a n to shoot over m y head so I c o u l d get a w a y , b u t his B A R didn't work. I t o o k a grenade out a n d t h r e w i t i n t o the J a p hole a n d m a n aged to k i l l h i m . K n o w i n g t h a t I h a d no chance, I got out i n a h u r r y . A s I r a n the J a p s shot a t me a n d k n o c k e d m y g u n r i g h t out of m y h a n d . " Embardo, Robert W . , P v t . , Co. E . , 102d Inf., W a t e r b u r y . " T h e natives i n the Society Islands h a d
quite a racket after we l a n d e d there the A r m y h i r e d the m e n to w o r k on r o a d a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n projects. Soon, however, t h e y a l l q u i t t h e i r jobs because t h e y f o u n d t h a t t h e i r wives were m a k i n g m u c h more m o n e y b y d o i n g l a u n d r y for the servicemen. T h e m e n received about seventy-five cents a d a y , while the w o m e n made f r o m five to six dollars a d a y a n d more for d o i n g l a u n d r y . F r o m t h a t t i m e on, the m e n sat b a c k a n d s m o k e d a n d enjoyed themselves, while t h e i r wives made more m o n e y t h a n t h e y h a d ever dreamed of h a v i n g . A l l i n a l l , those P o l y n e s i a n s were p r e t t y nice people. Overseas time? I had e x a c t l y 37 m o n t h s , 11 days. I k n o w t h a t figure b y h e a r t ! " Filon, Robert D . , L t . C o l . , 2d B n . , 169th Inf., H a r t f o r d . " I ' m p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o u d of the fact t h a t the Second B a t t a l i o n was one of the few t h a t saw a c t i o n i n the S o l o m o n I s l a n d s , N e w G u i n e a a n d the P h i l i p p i n e s , c o m p l e t i n g the job b y o c c u p y i n g J a p a n . I t was o r i g i n a l l y composed of members f r o m H a r t f o r d a n d v i c i n i t y , b u t replacements t h r o u g h the years came f r o m a l l p a r t s of the U n i t e d States. A t the close, a H a r t f o r d m a n was a n o v e l t y a n d a pleasure to see. Several H a r t f o r d m e n h a d t h e i r a b i l i t y recognized on the field a n d received direct a p p o i n t m e n t s as second lieutenants. A l l of these officers p r o v e d to be of superior caliber." Gilberto, Frank D . , S/Sgt., Co. F . , 169th Inf., H a r t f o r d . " L i v i n g i n a foxhole made us p s y c h i c . Y o u got to k n o w w h a t a m a n t h o u g h t by the t o u c h of his fingers i n the d a r k . T h a t famous T h i r d N i g h t o n the d r i v e t o M u n d a was the worst, the J a p s c o m i n g i n w i t h i n 25 feet, screeching, h o l l e r i n g a l l n i g h t , r o l l i n g their grenades. W e c o u l d n ' t t a l k ; a n d we c o u l d n ' t m o v e for fear the creak of the knee j o i n t w o u l d give us
a w a y . B y m o r n i n g we were 'frozen' we h a d to w o r k on each other's legs to get b a c k the c i r c u l a t i o n . W e t a l k e d i n the d a r k b y t o u c h system. E v e r y few days the signals were changed. One n i g h t we arranged t h a t one signal t a p m e a n t ' W a t c h the rear.' T w o was, ' A r e y o u awake?' T h r e e was, ' L i s t e n . ' F o u r was, ' T h e y ' r e c o m i n g i n . ' A grab a h o l d of the fingertips m e a n t , ' P u l l me over to y o u . ' E a c h foxhole made u p its o w n signals. One reason for signals was to m a k e sure the fellow next to y o u w a s n ' t a J a p . W e left our helmet straps u n h o o k e d for good reason. T h a t was after one of us was p u l l e d out of his hole b y his helmet, l i f t e d b y the strap under his chin." Gilmore, Maurice J . , T / 4 . , Co. D., 118th M . D . B n . , N e w L o n d o n . " M e , I met a f r i e n d f r o m N e w L o n d o n j u s t as we went ashore on D - D a y on S a n F a b i a n I s l a n d i n the P h i l i p p i n e s . H e was out of e q u i p m e n t a n d so was I , so we t r a d e d back a n d f o r t h u n t i l we were b o t h fixed u p . T h e shells were p o u r i n g i n on the beach f r o m the m o u n t a i n a n d a n L S T 200 yards a w a y blew up f r o m a direct h i t . W e h a n d l e d a lot of casualties that d a y a n d a lot of our dead the n e x t . " Golden, D a v i d R . , l s t / S g t . , C o . E . , 103d Inf., T h o m p s o n v i l l e . " I d o n ' t w a n t to say a n y t h i n g now t h a t i t ' s a l l over. I ' d feel good if I could get a job w h e n I get o u t . " Gurnee, W i l l i a m N . , S / S g t . , 169th Inf., New London. " T h e k i n d of fighting a n d the c o n d i tions under w h i c h we h a d to fight i n N e w G e o r g i a were about as b a d as a n y I have ever experienced. Besides the jungle a n d swamps, the J a p s were p r e t t y strong a n d aggressive. O n the M u n d a t r a i l we were caught w i t h o u t a n y food or supplies w h e n the J a p s severed our lines i n the rear. S
E v e r y t h i n g we received f r o m then on for about a week h a d to be d r o p p e d b y plane. I t was p r e t t y t o u g h t o w a r d s the end just before relief a r r i v e d . " Handleman, W i l l i a m J . , P f c , 169th F. A . B n . , Hartford. " J u s t as soon as I get back home I a m going to t a k e off for a f a r m m y f a m i l y has u p i n V e r m o n t a n d get one l o n g rest. T h r e e years i n the P a c i f i c as a cannoneer for a 105mm h o w i t z e r f r o m G u a d a l c a n a l to the P h i l i p p i n e s has t i r e d me out. I t has been so l o n g since I have seen the folks t h a t I a m getting nervous n o w w h e n I t h i n k I shall be seeing t h e m i n j u s t a few hours. T h e roughest a c t i o n I experienced was on N e w G e o r g i a w h e n our c o m m a n d post was a t t a c k e d a n d we h a d to l a y d o w n a concentration of fire to relieve the pressure on t h e m . T h e J a p is a p r e t t y good soldier a n d t h e i r t r a i n i n g seems to specialize i n i n f i l t r a t i o n tactics at n i g h t w h i c h we h a d p l e n t y of experience w i t h i n the j u n g l e s . " Higgins, John J . , 1 s t / L t . , Sv. Co., 169th Inf., N e w B r i t a i n . " M a r c h 10, 1945, stands out as p r e t t y rough. I was l e a d i n g a s u p p l y p a r t y of F i l i p i n o carriers near C l a r k F i e l d on L u z o n to a f o r w a r d c o m p a n y t h a t w a s isolated. W e were a t t a c k e d b y a n enemy force a n d p i n n e d d o w n . Some of us circled a r o u n d a n d managed to break the block, k i l l i n g four J a p s a n d c a p t u r i n g considerable enemy e q u i p m e n t . W e reorganized i n a h u r r y a n d c o n t i n u e d on our w a y . W e delivered the supplies as s c h e d u l e d . " Jeffries, James, C p l . , B t r y . B . , 192d F . A . B n . , Stamford. " M y most pleasant m e m o r y of the Pacific is the d a y we l a n d e d i n N e w Z e a l a n d i n October 1942. I t was the nearest t h i n g to home t h a t we saw i n the three years over there. T h e worst place we s t r u c k was N e w C a l e d o n i a , where we
spent t w o m o n t h s i n 1943. W e were t h a t far f r o m c i v i l i z a t i o n t h a t i t was p a t h e t i c . W e h a d a lot of dealings w i t h the F r e n c h over there, a n d w h e n t h e y were d o i n g business w i t h our boys t h e y were n o t h i n g but clip artists." Leonard, William, P f c , Btry. A., 192d F . A . B n . , E a s t N o r w a l k . " T h e rottenest spot was the Solomons. T h o s e islands were the lousiest area i n the Southwest P a c i f i c . W e spent 14 m o n t h s there. I t ' s no k i d d i n g t h a t t h e y were the longest 14 m o n t h s I ever hope to see. T h e r e was a l w a y s the heat a n d the bugs, a n d the t r o p i c a l diseases, a n d the s t i n k i n g N i p s . W h a t i t a l l adds u p to as we saw i t , y o u w o u l d n ' t p u t i n p r i n t . " Mangan, Joseph J . , C p l . , C o . M . , 169th Inf., N e w B r i t a i n . " T h e longest 13 hours I ever spent i n m y life were on J u l y 14, 1943, w h e n we were on Seven D a y H i l l on M u n d a i n N e w G e o r g i a a n d I got h i t . T h e going h a d been p r e t t y tough u p u n t i l t h a t t i m e b u t i t got worse. A f t e r I got h i t , I l a y there f r o m 7 o'clock t h a t n i g h t u n t i l 8 o'clock the next m o r n i n g . J i m m y H o w e a n d J i m m y M a t u r a n o h e l d a t o u r n i q u e t on me all t h a t t i m e a n d the hours dragged. J i m m y H o w e , a swell guy, was k i l l e d later on L u z o n a n d so was his brother, F r a n c i s . " Marchesseault, Norman H., Pfc, Sig. Co., D a y v i l l e . " W h a t I ' l l remember is the 15 minutes after 4:20 a.m. on a F e b r u a r y d a y i n 1943. W e were enroute to G u a d a l c a n a l on a n L S T , just entering T a l o g i B a y , when we were a t t a c k e d b y six J a p torpedo planes. T h e crew, to clear the deck for a c t i o n , ordered us a l l below, but w i t h a few others I stayed on deck to w a t c h the show w h i c h I saw f r o m a spot b e h i n d a lifeboat s t a t i o n . T h e N a v y went to w o r k o n t h e m , a n d there were tracers f l y i n g a l l a r o u n d . T h e a t t a c k lasted j u s t fifteen
10
m i n u t e s , we got one J a p plane, a n d h a d no c a s u a l t i e s . " Montesi, Wilson J . , P f c , Btry. B., 192d F . A . B n . , D a n b u r y . " T h e F o u r t h of J u l y i n '43 was hot, a n d I d o n ' t m e a n the weather! T h a t was our first fight, at R e n d o v a , N e w G e o r g i a . I t came o n us s u d d e n l y . A l l at once hell broke loose. I j u m p e d for a foxhole, a n d it was half f u l l of water a n d a l l full of eight guys. E i g h t e e n J a p bombers were c o m i n g over, b u t none of t h e m got back where t h e y s t a r t e d f r o m . " Murray, W i n t h r o p S., P f c , C o . L . , 169th Inf., N e w H a v e n . " N e w G e o r g i a was as b a d as a n y t h i n g because we weren't f u l l y equipped a n d we h a d to fight w i t h w h a t we h a d . T h e supplies r e a l l y h a d n ' t gotten i n l i k e t h e y s h o u l d have. T h e nights w i t h the J a p s i n f i l t r a t i n g , the job we h a d getting our w o u n d e d out under sniper fire a n d the fact t h a t the coral formations made foxholes almost impossible to d i g , a l l added u p a n d made i t r e a l l y t o u g h . I w o u l d n ' t give a t h i n dime to go t h r o u g h it again b u t I w o u l d n ' t take a m i l l i o n for the experience a n d the chance to see the w o r l d . " Pagliuca, A l f r e d , P f c , C o . C , 103d Inf., N e w H a v e n . " T h e J a p s were on another h i l l about 300 yards f r o m us a n d i t was a fire a n d d u c k affair. O u r machine gunner opened u p a n d after a short burst the gun j a m m e d . T h e N i p s surmised w h a t h a d happened a n d threw e v e r y t h i n g at us i n c l u d i n g p l e n t y of knee m o r t a r fire. A shell exploded i n a n e m p t y foxhole just alongside me. W e w o r r i e d m o s t l y about the beer some natives managed to get up to us the d a y before. W e gave the signal for the field a r t i l l e r y to open fire a n d t h e y d i d a n excellent job of i t . W e j o k i n g l y referred to t h a t spot as the ' S h o o t i n g G a l l e r y ' for at n i g h t the J a p s were silhouetted against
the m o o n l i g h t a n d w h e n t h e y m o v e d we c o u l d p i c k t h e m off l i k e c l a y pigeons." Peet, Eldridge P., S/Sgt., Btry. B., 103d F . A . B n . , N e w M i l f o r d . " N e a r Rosario on L u z o n i n January, we r e a l l y t o o k i t . F r o m 10 a . m . to 10 p . m . we sat there, w i t h the stuff c o m i n g i n i n a l l sizes f r o m a l l directions. O u r colonel h a d his h e a d b l o w n off b y a direct h i t . W e were a n F O p a r t y w i t h the I n f a n t r y . A b o u t 10 a . m . a b u n c h of J a p s w i t h some h o r s e - d r a w n a r t i l l e r y came d o w n the r o a d a n d opened u p o n us. W e fought i t o u t a l l n i g h t . N e x t m o r n i n g we c o u n t e d 523 dead J a p s . " Riley, Joseph J . , J r . , Sgt., H q . , B r i s t o l . " O n e of the things I ' l l remember is r u n n i n g i n t o a fellow f r o m B r i s t o l i n M a n i l a . I h a d n ' t seen h i m for four years. Because we h a p p e n e d to meet i n f r o n t of the R e d Cross a n d we were short of pesos we settled for d o u g h n u t s a n d coffee. I h a d been b a c k to the States a n d was able to give h i m a report o n his folks, his g i r l a n d the ' B e l l T o w n ' . " Rizza, P a u l J . , T / 5 , C o . C , 118th M . D . B n . , Bridgeport. " E v e r y d a y t h a t we were out there was p r e t t y hot. I was a l i t t e r bearer i n the N e w G e o r g i a c a m p a i g n . W e carried m e n b a c k f r o m the b a t t a l i o n a i d s t a t i o n to our collecting company. T h a t was done t h r o u g h swamps a n d jungle a n d a l w a y s w i t h J a p s s n i p i n g at us a l l a l o n g the w a y . I was p r e t t y l u c k y as four other fellows of m y u n i t d i d get h i t . " Root, E d w a r d E . , T / S g t . , H q . B t r y . , 192d F . A . B n . , N o r w a l k . " I ' l l remember longest the F o u r t h of J u l y i n 1943 at M u n d a , N e w G e o r g i a , w h e n 16 ' M i t z i - b i t z i s ' came over a n d I t h o u g h t t h e y were o u r o w n planes. T h e y got r i g h t on t o p of us w h e n our a n t i aircraft opened u p a n d shot t h e m a l l down."
Valeriano, Primo J . , Cpl., Co. M . , 169th Inf., N e w B r i t a i n . " I t ' s a toss-up on the toughest d a y . B a d as a n y was t h a t at M o u n t A l a v a i n L u z o n . T h e J a p s were d u g i n caves a l l over the place a n d h a d e v e r y t h i n g , i n c l u d i n g a r t i l l e r y . T h e y gave us a w o r k i n g over a n d a lot of the fellows never came out. W e were l u c k y to get out ourselves. I was o n m y w a y w h e n I h e a r d someone c a l l i n g for help. I went back a n d f o u n d one of the fellows w o u n d e d a n d brought h i m out. T h e y gave me the S i l v e r S t a r , b u t being a l i v e was the best p a r t of i t a l l . " Walker, A r t h u r L . , P f c , S v . B t r y . , 192d F . A . B n . , N e w L o n d o n . " I drew outpost d u t y , on R e n d e l l Isl a n d , g u a r d i n g the entrance to B r o c k e t t S t r a i t , i n N e w G e o r g i a , for 151 1/2 days, J u n e t h r o u g h October. I t was a n observat i o n d e t a i l of t w e l v e m e n . W e were on our o w n no officers, a n d no cooks. W e l i v e d o n K - r a t i o n s a n d n a t i v e fruits a n d vegetables. T h e natives b r o u g h t us sweet potatoes, paupaus, egg p l a n t , m a n g o e s . " Winialski, R a y m o n d E . , 1st/Lt., C o . H . , 169th Inf., H a r t f o r d . " I n the toughest spots there was a l w a y s the G I h u m o r . I t saved the s i t u a t i o n . One g u y on L u z o n was b a d l y h i t b y a 40m m shell. ' G o d d a m n i t , t h e y use .25 caliber on e v e r y b o d y else,' he s a i d , 'but t h e y have to take a 40 m i l l i m e t e r for me.' H u m o r keeps t h e m going. W h e n the going was b a d there was a l w a y s the wisecrack, or perhaps j u s t a w o r d , to relieve the tension. W e needed i t , p a r t i c u l a r l y at M u n d a w h i c h was the most n e r v e - w r a c k i n g . O n D - D a y at L i n g a y e n G u l f we crossed a r a i l r o a d t r a c k . I t r a n t h r o u g h open c o u n t r y between rice paddies, b u t i t was a r a i l r o a d t r a c k . A G I got d o w n a n d hugged one of the r a i l s ; t h a t was his w a y of s h o w i n g he was c o m i n g b a c k to civilization."
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THE
43d DIVISION IN A C T I O N
Source of Division N a t i o n a l G u a r d troops f r o m M a i n e , C o n n e c t i c u t , R h o d e Island and Vermont. Casualties The division's wounded t o t a l e d over 8,000. T h e d i v i s i o n lost over 1,500 k i l l e d i n a c t i o n . T h e d i v i s i o n was i n the line for 9,192 hours. Component Units (as of date of departure f r o m U . S.) 103d, 169th a n d 172d I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t s ; 103d, 152d a n d 169th ( L ) a n d 192d ( M ) F i e l d A r t i l l e r y Battalions. Successive Commanding Generals M a j . Gen. M o r r i s B . Payne from Feb. 1941 to A u g . 1941; M a j . G e n . J o h n H . H e s t e r f r o m A u g . 1941 to J u l y 1943; M a j . G e n . L e o n a r d F . W i n g f r o m A u g . 1943.
CONNECTICUT COMMEMORATIVE Vol. 1 VETERANS BOOKLET N o . 20
Editor
T h e first assignment overseas of the 43d I n f a n t r y ( N e w E n g l a n d ) D i v i s i o n was a t o u r of d u t y i n N e w Z e a l a n d at a t i m e w h e n i t seemed l i k e l y t h a t the c o u n t r y m i g h t be i n v a d e d . T h e d i v i s i o n t h e n s h i p p e d to N e w C a l e d o n i a for a brief stay a n d a r r i v e d on G u a d a l c a n a l i n t i m e to help m o p u p the J a p s on t h a t i s l a n d . A m o n t h later the N e w E n g l a n d e r s began the w a r i n earnest. T h e i r first mission as a u n i t was the i n v a s i o n of the R u s s e l l Islands, w h i c h t h e y accomplished w i t h o u t o p p o s i t i o n . T h e n , w i t h elements of the A r m y , N a v y a n d M a r i n e s , the 43d s t o r m e d ashore on R e n d o v a I s l a n d i n N e w Georgia. F o r 35 d a y s of w h a t experts have called the dirtiest, roughest c a m p a i g n of t h a t year, the 4 3 d fought for the M u n d a a i r p o r t . R e l a t i v e l y inexperienced i n the w a y s of jungle warfare, opposed b y crack J a p troops, the N e w E n g l a n d e r s h a d to l e a r n the h a r d a n d b l o o d y w a y . T h e y broke the J a p resistance a n d achieved t h e i r o b jective capture of the v i t a l M u n d a strip. N e w G u i n e a was the next stop. A t A i t a p e a n d the D r i n i m u o r R i v e r , the 4 3 d became expert i n the a r t of k i l l i n g J a p s . T h e y l a n d e d at L i n g a y e n G u l f i n L u z o n o n D - D a y . F i g h t i n g t h e i r w a y i n t o the hills, the N e w E n g l a n d e r s b a t t l e d i n the toughest possible t e r r a i n against a n enemy d u g deeply i n t o cave positions. F o r the first 30 days, the d i v i s i o n was i n constant c o m b a t w i t h the enemy. A s its final b r i l l i a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n to the P h i l i p p i n e c a m p a i g n , the N e w E n g l a n d e r s c a p t u r e d a m o u n t a i n o u s d a m v i t a l to M a n i l a ' s water s u p p l y . F r o m a s y n d i cated article i n the N e w H a v e n Register.
T h i s booklet on the r e t u r n of the 43d (Winged V i c t o r y ) D i v i s i o n from the Pacific Theater of W a r , is published b y the State of Connecticut, through the Office of the Governor, as a n a d d i t i o n to the souvenirs and memorabilia of those who participated i n the defeat of the Japanese armies. T h e B a t t l e L o g , H i s t o r y a n d Facts were prepared b y the Office of T e c h n i c a l I n formation, A r m y G r o u n d Forces. T h e cover and group pictures, provided b y the A G F L i a i s o n Office at S a n Francisco, are A r m y Signal Corps photographs. A l i m i t e d number of copies are available for d i s t r i b u t i o n to Connecticut men of the D i v i s i o n . T h e y m a y be secured b y w r i t i n g to the Veterans B o o k l e t D i v i s i o n , Office of the Governor, R o o m 503, State C a p i t o l , Hartford. R e p r o d u c t i o n of original material herein is permissible only on w r i t t e n authorization.
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A B R U S C A T O , Joseph P . A C K I E , George W . A L V O R D , Harold H . A N S T E T T , Charles H . *A Z A R Y , J o h n G . B A K E R , Raymond W. B E E R B A U N , Alfred W . * B E R K I N S , Richard C. B E R N I E R , Thomas J . B I A S I , Joseph B I L L , Frank H . B L O C H , Stephen P .
Sgt. 2d/Lt. 1st/Lt. Pvt. Pvt. Pfc. Sgt. S/Sgt. T/Sgt. Pfc. 1st/Lt. T/5 16
B O H N E R , Holm T/4 B O U D R E A U , Leo J . S/Sgt. B O Y C H E W , Charles T/4 B O Z Z U T O , Ludovico P. T/5 B R A U L T , Robert C. CWO B U S H , Allan K . T/Sgt. B U T E A U , Montcalm R. Capt. B Y W A T E R , Robert E . Pfc. C A B L E S , Leonard F . Pfc. C A S E Y , Maurice B. S/Sgt. * C A S S E L L A , Alfred P. 2d/Lt. C A Y A , Maurice A . Pfc. C H A M B E R S , William F. 1st/Lt. C H A T T E R T O N , R o b e r t S. Pfc. C H E R U B I N I , Peter T/5 C I P O L I A , John T/5 C O B U R N , Warren F . Pfc. C O C O , Joseph S. Pvt. C O F R A N C E S C O , Vincent C. Pfc. C O G S W E L L , James S. Maj. *C O N N O R S , W i l l i a m P . Cpl. *C O N W A Y , R i c h a r d F . Sgt. C O R T E Z , Salvatore R . Pfc. D A L Y , Kieran M . 1st/Lt. D A V I D S O N , Robert S/Sgt. * D e C A R L O , Joseph S. S/Sgt. D E E D Y , Raymond A. Pfc. *D e F O R E S T , Charles W . Cpl. D E M E R S , Adrian J . 1st/Lt. D E Y O R I O , Pasquale 1st/Lt. D I Z I N S K I , Theodore Sgt. D O N O V A N , Louis W , J r . Pfc. *D O U C H E T T E , W i l f r e d A . 1st/Sgt. E D G A R , Earl M . Pfc. E D W A R D S , George R . M/Sgt. E H N A T , John T. Pfc. E I N I N G E R , Herbert M/Sgt. E L S O V S K Y , Andrew 1st/Lt. E M B A R D O , Robert W . Pvt. E W A N K I E W I C Z , Matty P. Pfc. *F A U S T , F r e d T/Sgt. F A Z Z I N O , Sebastian Pfc. F E R G U S O N , Theodore H . Pfc. F I L O N , Robert D . L t . Col.
946 Forest A v e . , S t a m f o r d 16 H o p k i n s S t . , H a r t f o r d 67 H a n f o r d A v e . , B r i d g e p o r t 22 N o r t o n S t . , W a t e r b u r y 8 P a r k St., Bristol 501 H u n t i n g t o n R d . , B r i d g e p o r t Danielson 291 So. Q u a k e r L a n e , W e s t H a r t f o r d Gilbert Home, Winsted 123 N o r t h S t . , B r i s t o l 64 D u d l e y S t . , N e w B r i t a i n 38 J a c k s o n Place, W i l l i m a n t i c 459 K e e n e y S t . , M a n c h e s t e r 52 A r c h S t . , G r e e n w i c h 51 S t . M a r g a r e t A v e . , W a t e r b u r y 188 T r i a n g l e S t . , D a n b u r y 68 C h e s t n u t S t . , B r i d g e p o r t 348 Wethersfield A v e . , H a r t f o r d 124 F r o s t R d . , W a t e r b u r y 84 S m i t h S t . , P u t n a m 50 H i l l S t . , S t a m f o r d 194 N o r t h S t . , N e w B r i t a i n 14 Rose P a r k A v e . , S t a m f o r d 92 H a r w i c h S t . , H a r t f o r d 247 W a l n u t S t , W a t e r b u r y 529 So. M a i n S t , N a u g a t u c k 147 Savings S t , W a t e r b u r y 6 Liberty Plaza, Middletown 43 A s h w e l l A v e , R o c k y H i l l 109 Spruce S t , M a n c h e s t e r 127 R e d M o u n t a i n A v e , T o r r i n g t o n 127 S m i t h S t , B r i d g e p o r t 55 P i k e S t , N e w B r i t a i n 129 H i l l c r e s t A v e , So. M e r i d e n 148 M e r i d e n A v e , S o u t h i n g t o n 522 Jane S t , B r i d g e p o r t 296 B e d f o r d S t , S t a m f o r d 597 Z i o n S t , H a r t f o r d 66 B e e c h S t , W a t e r b u r y 64 A n d e r s o n S t , U n i o n C i t y 25 E . B u r n h a m S t , H a r t f o r d Portland Scribner A v e , So. N o r w a l k 363 B l u e H i l l s A v e , H a r t f o r d
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F I N K L E , Jack D . Pfc. F O T I V E , James P . Pvt. F R E D E R I C K S O N , Carl G. Pvt. F R E N I E R , Theodore T . Pfc. G A L Y A , William J . Capt. G A N C A R Z , Joseph J . T/4 G A R L O C K , Charles D , J r . S/Sgt. G E N T I L E , Anthony Sgt. * G I L B E R T O , Frank D. S/Sgt. * G I L M O R E , Maurice J . T/4 G I R O U A R D , Arthur W. Pfc. G O D E K , Joseph J . T/5 G O L , John J . Sgt. G O L D E N , David R. 1st/Sgt. G R I F F I N , Henry W. 1st/Lt. G R I F F I T H , John R. T/5 G U M A N , Frank T/5 * G U R N E E , William N . S/Sgt. H A L L O R A N , Joseph D . Pfc. H A N D L E M A N , William J . Pfc. H A N O P H Y , James F , J r . Pfc. H A W L E Y , Richard K . 1st/Lt. H I G G I N S , John J . 1st/Lt. H I G G I N S , Lawrence H . Capt. H O L D W R I G H T , Lawrence E . Pvt. H U L L , Ralph E. S/Sgt. H U M B E R , Russell Pfc. H U T C H I N G S , George H . Pfc. J A S P E R S O H N , Howard J . Cpl. * J E F F R I E S , James Cpl. J O H N S T O N , John W . Pfc. * K A R A K O , Frank W. Sgt. K E E N E Y , John M . 1st/Lt. K I N G , Walter E . Pfc. L A B B E , Leonard J . T/5 L a H A Y E , Raymond L . M/Sgt. L A N E , Warren J . Pfc. LaROSA, Edward S/Sgt. L A R S O N , David Pfc. L a T O R R E , Joseph J . 2nd/Lt. * L E O N A R D , William Pfc. L I A P E S , James T . Pfc. L O N G , Thomas B. 1st/Sgt. L O N G O B A R D I , Nicholas A . T/5
165 W e s t S t . , S e y m o u r 89 S o u t h S t , W a t e r b u r y 126 C l i n t o n S t , N e w B r i t a i n 24 B a l l o u S t , P u t n a m 2263 H i l l s i d e R d , F a i r f i e l d 32 Ives S t , W i l l i m a n t i c Colony S t , Ansonia 45 H a r p e r s R d , W a t e r b u r y 81 T r e d e a u S t , H a r t f o r d 17 Cliff S t , N e w L o n d o n 152 W o o d b i n e S t , W a t e r b u r y 1520 N o . M a i n S t , H a r t f o r d 17 P a l m e r A v e , S t a m f o r d 46 H i g h l a n d P a r k , T h o m p s o n v i l l e 15 G r a n d S t , F o r e s t v i l l e 145 C l e v e l a n d A v e , H a r t f o r d 583 B e r k s h i r e A v e , B r i d g e p o r t 58 M o r g a n S t , N e w L o n d o n 563 W i n t h r o p A v e , N e w H a v e n 31 E n f i e l d S t , H a r t f o r d 221 N e w i n g t o n R d , W e s t H a r t f o r d B o x 964, M i d d l e t o w n 42 D e v e n s S t , N e w B r i t a i n 411 S h e r m a n S t , N e w L o n d o n 23 B r o a d w a y , N e w H a v e n 30 M a p l e S t , S e y m o u r 911 M a i n S t , S t a m f o r d 491 F a i r f i e l d A v e , S t a m f o r d 49 S i l v e r S t , B r a n f o r d 33 B r o a d S t , S t a m f o r d R F D 1, T h o m a s t o n 294 F o r t H a l e R d , N e w H a v e n 895 B r o n s o n A v e , F a i r f i e l d 19 B a n k S t , P o r t l a n d B o x 145, S o u t h i n g t o n 112 W a r r e n S t , M e r i d e n 4 Price B l v d . , West Hartford 1877 B a l d w i n S t , W a t e r b u r y 83 P r i s c i l l a S t , B r i d g e p o r t 228 F r o n t S t , H a r t f o r d 26 M y r t l e S t , E a s t N o r w a l k 31 G o v e r n o r S t , E a s t H a r t f o r d 152 B r o o k S t , H a r t f o r d 138 P o p l a r S t , N e w H a v e n
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L Y M A N , Earl M . L Y N C H , H a r o l d O. M A H O N E Y , Frederick L . M A L L O Y , Joseph T . * M A N G A N , Joseph J . *M A R C H E S S E A U L T , N o r m a n H . M A R K O , Michael M A R R O N , Benedict A . M A S K A , Adam E. M A S T R A C C H I O , Andrew M A Z Z U C O , Domenico * M c N A M A R A , Joseph F . M c P H E E , R a y m o n d S. M E N N I L L O , Carmine P. M I N E R , Lewis E . *M O N T E S I , Wilson J . M O O D Y , Malcolm N . M O R E H O U S E , Wilbert H . M R O Z O W S K I , Theodore J . * M U R R A Y , W i n t h r o p S. M U S T A R D , Robert H . N A H M I A S , Jack N E W M A N , Harold A . O ' B R I E N , John J . 1st/Lt. O C C U Z Z I , John J . P A C K O , Andrew, Jr. P A G L I U C A , Alfred P A R E N T , Rosaire L . *P A U L , B e r n a r d V . *P E E T , E l d r i d g e P . P E L G R O , Sam, Jr. P E R K O W S K I , Edward P E R L M A N , Arthur P I A C E N Z A , Louis A . P I E P E R , Frederick C. P O L L A R D , Ernest B . P O R T E R , Warren A . P R U E , Leonard L . 1st/Lt. Q U I N N , George K . R A I M O N D I , Dominick R A J E W S K I , Charles J . R A N S L O W , Earl H . R A S U L O , Charles R I C H A R D , Henry A.
Pfc. S/Sgt. T/4 S/Sgt. Cpl. Pfc. Pfc. Pfc. S/Sgt. T/5 Pfc. Sgt. S/Sgt. Pfc Pfc. Pfc. S/Sgt. T/5 Pfc. Pfc. Pfc. Pfc. Pfc. S/Sgt. 2d/Lt. Pfc. T/5 T/Sgt. S/Sgt. Sgt. Sgt. T/5 Pfc. T/5 Sgt. Capt. Pfc. T/5 Cpl. Sgt. T/4 Pfc.
R F D , So. C o v e n t r y 96 W a s h i n g t o n A v e , W e s t H a v e n 60 M a p l e S t , M a n c h e s t e r 63 C l e v e l a n d A v e , H a r t f o r d 1 Prospect S t , N e w B r i t a i n 19 H i g h S t , D a y v i l l e 85 W i l l i a m S t , B r i d g e p o r t 54 B r o w n A v e , S t a m f o r d Putnam 50 Stevens S t , N e w H a v e n 21 P e r t h S t , B r i d g e p o r t Dyer A v e , Collinsville 31 B u n g a l o w P a r k , S t a m f o r d 7 So. M a i n S t , B e a c o n F a l l s 28 H o w a r d S t , H a r t f o r d 29 C o m s t o c k S t , D a n b u r y Randolph R d , Middletown 79 S t r a t f o r d A v e , S t r a t f o r d 20 M a p l e S t , M i d d l e t o w n 506 W h a l l e y A v e , N e w H a v e n 222 C h u r c h S t , W i l l i m a n t i c 87 B e n h a m A v e , B r i d g e p o r t 16 C h e r r y S t , N a u g a t u c k 26 M a i n S t , W i n s t e d 90 N o b l e S t , S t a m f o r d 230 M i l f o r d A v e , S t r a t f o r d 150 F i l m o r e S t , N e w H a v e n 128 P o w h a t t e n S t , P u t n a m 72 L o u n s b u r y A v e , W a t e r b u r y Wellsville A v e , N e w M i l f o r d 23 B a r n u m C o u r t , N a u g a t u c k 75 H e n r y S t , S t a m f o r d 36 H o y t S t , N e w C a n a a n 78 V i r g i l S t , S t a m f o r d 289 H o p e S t , G l e n b r o o k 30 So. Second Street, T a f t v i l l e 187 N o . Q u a k e r L a n e , W e s t H a r t f o r d B o x 61, R o c k f a l l R F D , Broad Brook 1046 S y l v a n A v e , B r i d g e p o r t 36 N o r t h S t , N o r w i c h 11 B r a d l e y S t , N a u g a t u c k 25 O r c h a r d S t , B r i s t o l 196 M c K i n l e y S t , T o r r i n g t o n
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R I C H A R D S , Aubry Pfc. *R I C H A R D S O N , H a r v e y T/5 R I D E L , Edward J . S/Sgt. R I L E Y , Joseph J , J r . Sgt. *R I N A L D I , Louis R . S/Sgt. RIZZA, Paul J . T/5 *R O B B I N S , Theodore A . Pfc. R O B I N S O N , Kenneth E . Sgt. R O M A , Andrew J . Pfc. *R O O T , E d w a r d E . T/Sgt. ROSSI, Matthew T/5 R U B A C H A , Maximillian J . Sgt. R U B B O , Carmine S/Sgt. R Y A N , Thomas M . T/5 S A N T A G A T E , Vincent J . Pfc. S C H W O L S K Y , Robert Capt. S L I N K , Carl C. Cpl. S M I T H , William A. Lt. Col. S M O L A , John F. Cpl. SNOW, Edwin W. Pfc. S T E W A R T , Calvin H . T/5 S T I R L I N G , T h o m a s S. Capt. S U L L I V A N , Francis T/5 S U P R Y N O W I C Z , Frank A. Cpl. S W A N N , Frederick S/Sgt. S W E E N E Y , James E . 1st/Lt. S W E E N E Y , Lawrence W . Pfc. T A L A M I N I , Hugo J . Pvt. T A Y L O R , Earl A. WOJG T H I E R F I E L D , Gunther Cpl. T W A C H M A N , David M . Capt. *V A L E R I A N O , P r i m o J . Cpl. V A L L E R Y , Anthony V . S/Sgt. V I C T O R , Joseph S. T/5 V I N C I , Salvatore J . Sgt. W A G N E R , John H . Sgt. *W A L K E R , A r t h u r L . Pfc. W A R Z E C K A , Walter P. Pfc. W I L K E , Henry Pfc. W I L L I A M S , Fred Pfc. W I N I A L S K I , Raymond E . 1st/Lt. W O J C I E C H O W S K I , Edward A. Pfc. W Y W O D A , Anthony A . Pvt. Y A T E S , William H . Maj.
Kent 36 W h i t t l e s e y A v e , W a t e r b u r y 56 N o r t h S t , W i n d s o r L o c k s 66 Pleasant St., B r i s t o l 542 F r o s t R d , W a t e r b u r y 60 A r c h S t . , B r i d g e p o r t 74 B i r c h S t , M a n c h e s t e r 28 C a p i t o l A v e , H a r t f o r d 46 R i d g e A v e , B r i d g e p o r t 38 A i k e n St., N o r w a l k 91 C o l u m b u s S t , S t r a t f o r d 96 N o r t h S t . , M a n c h e s t e r 103 D i v i s i o n S t . , W a t e r b u r y Simsbury Hotel, Simsbury 3 West M a i n S t , Norwalk 21 B a i n b r i d g e R d , W e s t H a r t f o r d 133 V a l l e y R d , C o s C o b 284 P i n e S t , F o r e s t v i l l e 72 So. Prospect S t . , H a r t f o r d 90 K e e n e y A v e , W e s t H a r t f o r d M a i n S t , New Hartford 160 A l d e n S t , N e w H a v e n 54 N e l t o n C o u r t , H a r t f o r d 99 H o t c h k i s s S t . , M i d d l e t o w n 177 P a r k S t . , W e s t H a v e n 105 G r e e n w i c h A v e , G r e e n w i c h 54 L o u n d s b u r y S t . , W a t e r b u r y 33 C h u r c h S t , Stafford Springs 10 M a p l e A v e , B e t h e l 1127 A l b a n y A v e , H a r t f o r d R o u n d H i l l R d , Greenwich 198 M c C l i n t o c k R d , N e w B r i t a i n 32 S t a n d i s h S t , H a r t f o r d 115 M u l b e r r y St., P l a n t s v i l l e 68-A Newfield St., M i d d l e t o w n 98 Winchester A v e , N e w H a v e n 11 H u n t i n g t o n St., N e w L o n d o n 52 W a l n u t S t , M i d d l e t o w n R F D , Hop River, Columbia 107 Osborne S t , D a n b u r y 77 W h i t m o r e S t . , H a r t f o r d Wellsville A v e , New M i l f o r d 16 So. L e o n a r d S t , W a t e r b u r y 12 A r b o r S t . , H a r t f o r d
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