US 85th Infantry Division History and Action Reports from WWII

None. Sorry.

 

Thanks for checking, Steve. It was worth a try.

 

Thank you both for looking. My great-uncle passed away in 1984 and all of his sibllings (including my grandmother) have passed. However, I will take the information and tips that you have provided and do some more digging. I am also starting research on my wife's grandfathers who both served in WW2. Horace was Army and participated in the Pacific island hopping campaign. James was on a Navy LST (LST-993) and he was also in the Pacific. Thank you again, and I am glad that I have joined the forum.

 

I'm sorry we couldn't find more for you, but if you find more info on him let us know. Also keep following this thread. Someone down the line may post something useful.

I strongly encourage you to start separate threads for James and Horace. James might be easier since you have a ship designation. There were several Army units operating in the PTO, so whatever you can get on Horace will be helpful.

I wish you the best on your research and hope to be of greater assistance in the future.

 

Looking for this:

GO 15 HQ 85 Div Mar 5, 1945

 

I've uncovered quite a bit of information about my grandfather, Donald L Walker. However I could use some help in obtaining some o the Morning After reports and After Action Reports if anyone can be of help. Here's some info about him:

Name: Donald L Walker
DOB: 21 Jun 1922
Place of birth: Emporium, Pa
Date of Entry into Active Service: 10 Dec 1942

Served in the 338th Infantry Regiment, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 85th Division.
Rome-Arno North Appenines Po Valley Campaign GO#33 WD45

Decorations & Citations:
EAMET Service Medal Good conduct medal
Purple Heart Medal w/olc GO #13 Hq 338th Inf 20 July 44
Bronze Star Medal GO#47 338th Inf 24 Aug 44

Wounds received in action
EAMET -- 12 May 44 & 8 Oct 44

Any help would be greatly appreciated if someone could help me locate these general orders. From some information I found out he received the Bronze Star on the same day he was wounded on 12 May 44 but I am not certain. Any documentation on any companies of the 338th infantry would also be helpful with writing my book. I also have several photographs from when he was in Italy, especially Rome and he also kept the program to Irving Berlins 'This is the Army' show put on at the Rome Opera House. thank you.

 

You can try this link for GOs and SOs, though it might be a long shot. Not sure if you noticed that post #38 has a link to download the operations report of the 85th for the period Apr 1944 to Jul 1945. You also may want to contact the NARA at College Park to see what records they have for the 338th Infantry. That may be your best bet for finding AARs and/or journals for the 338th. If you strike out there, you could try contacting the Eisenhower Library archives regarding the file they have on the 338th in their US Army Unit Records collection. It is probably a relatively small file, but you never know.

Morning Reports are a different matter. Unless you get lucky and find someone who already has them for the unit and dates you need, you have two options: hire a researcher or go to the NARA in Saint Louis and search the records yourself.

I hope this helps.

 

I have been doing research for a gentleman about his father (John H. Marston) who was in the 85th Division during WW2. He said that his father always talked about a gentleman by the last name of Lamb. After much research, I have determined that it was James M Lamb. This gentleman would love to hear anything you have discovered about your great-uncle and would also love to share some of the few pictures that he has. Several of those pictures actually have James Lamb in them and have his signature on the back of the photo. It is such an honor to hear the stories of those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.

 

Welcome to the forum, NEES. Hopefully b.wldrp will see your post. Please let Mr. Marston's son know that he is welcome to share whatever he will about his father and his WWII service on the Forum. And, as for yourself, I hope you will make yourself at home here, too.

 

I appreciate everything I have read so far! I am early on into the search of anything on my great uncle. His name was Carl E. Pridmore from Alabama. What I have found out so far:

He was part of the 337th Infantry, 85 division and PFC. I believe it was HQ Co. 3rd Battalion. (the last part is if I have read the handwriting correctly) The enlistment date is June 1943 and he was killed in action on October 1, 1944 and received a purple heart.

At the time of death he was 22 years old.

If you guys have time and the want to, I would love to learn more of anything you have or know about him or his division. I would love to know what exactly was happening at the time of death. All my grandmother remembers / knows is that he was Killed in action in Italy.

LIke I said, I'm early on in my research. I would appreciate anything.

Thanks!
Leslie

 

Welcome to the Forum, Leslie. I believe you can get a reasonably priced reprint of the 85th Division history through online sites like Ebay or Amazon. You can also probably check with your local library. In the mean time, I found a great website for the 337th Infantry Regiment. They have downloadable PDFs of the regimental operations reports from Jan 1944 to April 1945, other miscellaneous reports, and a lot of other interesting info. I've added it to my bookmarks/favorites for later downloading & reading.

You should also request your great uncle's IDPF (Individual Deceased Personnel File). Read thru the previous link for how to go about submitting a request.

 

my grandfather was in the 3rd battalion 338th. his name was Lawrence(larry) Streif. he was in either M company or HQ company, does that even make sense?

i was hoping there was any sort of info or action reports regarding either company.

he said he saw his platoon sargeant Ishmael Driver killed by a sniper and then he became the new communication sargeant., also said his company commander Colvin was seriously wounded.

thank you very much for your time.

 

I found this history of the 3rd Bn/338th IR listed here: http://www.worldcat.org/title/history-of-the-3rd-battalion-338th-infantry-regiment-85th-infantry-division-world-war-ii/oclc/3214892

Take the title, publisher, date of publication, etc. (or print it out) to your local library, they will look it up and find the same listing you're seeing here, and they can have the book sent to them from one of the libraries which have a copy. Usually seems to take about a week and a half. You'll be able to check it out at your library and keep if for a couple weeks, as I remember. I've done this several times and it works well.

It may not have the detail you're looking for but it's a start.

Steve

 

Is it possible anyone remembers my father, Louis Edison (Buck) Linder from Posey County, Indiana (near Evansville) who fought with the 339th infantry regiment of the 85th division? He was in Company F and was with the same regiment from the time training began at Camp Shelby, Mississippi (spring 1942) until the division was deactivated August 1945 in northern Italy. He started as a Private and eventually became a S/SGT. He was wounded by mortar shrapnel March 30, 1944 near Minturno, Italy and returned to the front line in time to be part of the troops taking Rome June 4, 1944 (two days before the Normandy landings in France).

From what I have read, everyone in his company (F) were killed or captured a few days after operation Diadem began May 11, 1944. His
company was charged with taking the "Intermediate Ridge" near Tremensuoli. Only the fact that he had not been released from the Field Hospital yet probably saved his life. He would never discuss his war experience, a forbidden topic at our house, and I would think it is because he lost nearly 2/3rds of his unit during this single battle (company G only had about 10 men left according to a taped interview of one of them men who fought with this unit in this battle and which you will find on the University of Kentucky taped archives via internet).

Some research I gleaned from the internet which may help place my father is attached.

My sincere appreciation goes to all of you who participate in exchanging information on this website and for your relatives service, sacrifices, and tremendous suffering they endured during a period of time we needed their service to protect our liberties and freedom and destroy the evil that was attempting to take over the world.

Sincerely, Jim Linder (Bella Vista, AR) Email:,Jim_Linder@sbcglobal.net

 

I presume you have already come across the 339th Infantry Service Record online. The Battle of Tremensuoli. is covered on Page 3. The Italian campaign was a brutal one.

 

Yes sir, thanks. I also have the detailed write up of this battle from Regimental Headquarters to 5th Army Commander Mark Clark dated
August 1944. My copy was reproduced by the Polar Bear Association in 1964. It is a document I bought off the internet several years ago.

Let me know if you would like me to make you a copy. Jim

 

To Whom it May Concern:

I am trying to find out more about my Father; Bruno J Hallmann, PFC then Corporal. Military Service number 36-877-125. I know he was in the Custer Division and was a Expert Rifleman. He was captured in Italy in October 1944 in a barn with cobble stone walls part way up so the German forces started shooting the cows which fell and crushed many of the service men in the barn. The he and rest were captured and set by train to Munich Stalag 7 A. I will post again with additional info once i figure out how to post pictures.

Any help would be appreciated.
Sincerely
Bill