39th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery A

Fairgan · #1 (**permalink**) March 6th, 2009, 08:38 PM

Hello everyone...

My brother, Tech 4 Nelson E Poyfair, served with this unit in WW II from April, 1943 - December, 1945.

Some of you, on the "Newbie" forum, have been helping me learn what his awards were and what they meant. I've certainly appreciated the help, and this is a continuing process.

If any of you out there know anything about this unit - or have relatives that were actually a part of it - I would love to hear from you.

I have a collection of about 100 photos and many of them have soldiers in them. Perhaps one of them belongs to you or your family...

Thanks so much for your help...

Fairgan

LRusso216 · #2 (**permalink**) March 6th, 2009, 08:59 PM

Here's a bit of history for the battalion:

Quote:

1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery Regiment (MLRS)
"Speed in Action"

1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery Regiment (MLRS), was originally constituted on 5 July 1918 in the National Army as Battery A, 39th Field Artillery, as an element of the 13th Division. The Battalion was first organized on 9 August 1918 at Camp Lewis, Washington, and was demobilized 26 February 1919 at Camp Lewis, Washington.
The Battalion was reconstituted again on 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as Battery A, 39th Field Artillery. The Battalion was activated at Fort Lewis, Washington, on 1 October 1940, as an element of the 3rd Division (later redesignated as the 3d Infantry Division). The Battalion saw its first action in Algeria and French Morocco. It stayed with the 3rd Infantry Division through out the remainder of World War II, fighting in Italy, across southern France and into Central Europe earning a total of 10 campaign streamers.

1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery Regiment (MLRS)

Fairgan · #3 (**permalink**) March 6th, 2009, 09:23 PM

Hey, guy... You really get around !! That's beautiful...Thanks so much...

I have just added a Public Album - it only has 3 photos, but I wanted to see if I could make it happen. The album is called "Nelson E. Poyfair"... Let me know what you think...

Fairgan/Sandra

LRusso216 · #4 (**permalink**) March 7th, 2009, 12:05 AM

Glad you liked it. I've been doing a bit of research on my father's experience in Italy from Salerno to the Po Valley, but he was an antiaircraft gunner who became an infantryman, so it's been hard to trace.

Liked the pics. I'm hoping to get some of my father's pcis from my mother soon, and I'm planning on posting them.

Happy hunting.

Fairgan · #5 (**permalink**) March 7th, 2009, 01:23 AM

Hi, Lou
I just added a new "cover" photo to the album... And you and your help are very much responsible for the results... Let me know if I should do something differently... Many thanks...

Fairgan

LRusso216 · #6 (**permalink**) March 7th, 2009, 02:15 PM

Looks like you are doing fine. I like your new avatar. Keep up the good work. Hope to see more soon.

Fairgan · #7 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2009, 05:01 PM

Thanks, Lou... I wanted something that represented Nel - not me - and because of the information I have received here, this avatar came to mind.

I have received Nel's discharge paper and probably tomorrow I'm faxing a request for whatever other records they may have. There may be nothing else, but it's sure worth trying.

Sandra