37th Infantry Division, 129th Infantry 1943-1945

If you don't mind me asking where in the Philippines and when was your great uncle killed?

 

No, not at all. He was killed on January 30, 1945 during the Battle of Fort Stotsenburg. They had just taken Clark Field and the Fort was the next objective before taking the hill called "Top of the World" which overlooked the whole area. Pushing them off of TotW and into the hills to the south was critical to keeping the airfield free from harassment and protecting their supply line for the drive to Manilla.

 

arwalcker,

Here is a link to a map of Manila south of the Pasig River showing the positions of the 37th from 12 Feb 45 to 22 Feb 45. The 129th position was adjacent to one of the Japanese strongholds around the New Police Station (see upper right quadrant of map - click on map to enlarge).

If you wish to find out more about your great uncle's service during WW2, the first thing I would suggest (if you haven't done so already) is ask family members for any letters, photos or documents they may have. These can be a gold mine of information. Also, try to find his Army Serial Number. You should be able to request his service records which, at this point, are public record as I have been told. There are topics elsewhere on the forum which can help you with this process.

Keep checking back as more may be added to this and other threads in the future. You never know what may show up.

 

I contacted NARA and requested a copy of their index of documents that they have pertaining to the 129th Infantry Regiment. Here is what I just received from them:

View attachment 14034

I was disappointed that their records failed to include anything from the Philippines. Any thoughts as to why there is nothing at all in their records regarding such an important campaign as the retaking of the Philippines?

 

That is very strange as to why they would leave out such an important campaign. Leaves me baffled.

 

Hey, Arwalcker, I have tracked down your great uncle's Army Serial Number. It is almost a necessity if you are interested in doing more research on him and his service.

 

Thanks for looking for his serial number. I had also found it too. This was the website I found it on. Bottineau County, ND Genealogy and History Another of my great uncles is also on that list. 2nd Lt. Dougald A. McLean. Im in the process of filling out the standard form 180 for the records of both my great uncles. Would you happen to know if KIA personnel also had a DD 214 or not. Thanks again.

 

If not, they should have the equivalent, unless their records were destroyed in the 1973 fire. You should also request their IDPF (Individual Deceased Personnel File). I don't have the forum link and my fingertips, but just search for IDPF and you should find instructions on how to go about requesting one. The IDPF will have more info regarding the circumstances of their being KIA or DOW than the regular personnel file will have.

 

I found the post on requesting an IDPF. It may take some time to get a response and there will likely be a fee, though not necessarily.

 

There is a book thtled "The 129th Infantry in World war II" that has the complete story of the 129th. My father was in the Medical Detachment. i have a copy of the book and you step father is listed as Lott, John Jr S/Sgt, Sv Co Rte, 2 Halls, Mo.

Bob Hood

 

Hi, Bob. Welcome to the forum! You may want to make a formal introduction in the New Member section.

The member you are responding to has not been signed in to the forum since 2007. Not a problem, though, so no worries.

I'm sure that I am not the only one on the forum who would like to hear more about your father's service in the 129th. My great uncle was with the 129th and I always appreciate hearing anything regarding this fine regiment!

 

A week or two ago, I was searching the database at the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In in doing so, I came across the video of a gentleman who served in "L" Company of the 129th regiment. You can watch Cecil Earl Workman's video interview here.

Towards the end of the video, he reads a few lines that he wrote to express what he thought and felt about Sacrifice, Freedom and Duty. I liked it so much, I think it will be my new signature line. This is what he read:

God bless you Mr. Workman, and thank you.

 

Here is a letter my great grandma received from the commanding officer of Company "M" 129th Infantry on the death of her son my great uncle SGT Edwin C. Ziemann.


Dear Mrs. Ziemann:

Allow me to extend my heartfelt sympathy to you in your great loss. I realize there is nothing I can say or do to alleviate your grief. I wish to tell you the circumstances surrounding Edwin’s death, however, for I feel that such an account may be of comfort to you.
On February 15, 1945, during the battle for Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, Edwin, who had just been promoted to sergeant, was moving forward with his squad to a place where his machine gun was to support an attack. While they were passing through a narrow street the Japanese placed a heavy concentration of mortar fire on the street. Edwin was struck in the head by a piece of flying shrapnel. Although Edwin was given the very best of medical attention, he never regained consciousness; and died shortly thereafter.
Edwin was interred with full military honors in an American Cemetery here on Luzon, Philippine Islands, and burial rites were conducted by an Army Protestant Chaplain.
Edwin’s death was mourned by all his comrades. His record throughout his military career was exemplary and worthy of the highest standards of the American soldier.
The officers and enlisted men of this company also join me in expressing their deepest sympathy to you. Please feel free to write me for any additional information you may desire.
Sincerely yours,

MERTON R. DAY
Captain,129[SUP]th[/SUP] Infantry
Commanding Company “M”
View attachment 15329

 

Thank you for posting the text of that letter, arwalcker. You may be interested to read a memorial post I wrote for my great uncle. His mother received a similar letter, though I do not have the original.

PFC Glenn W. Halvorson, Oct 27, 1915 - Jan 30, 1945

 

I read these posts and had to join. My dad was William Matthew Smith from Greensburg, La. He was part of Company A, 129th Infantry, 37th Division. His friends from his company refered to him as "Bill". I would like to know anything that you have about his service. He did not talk much about the war until later years. He was able to attend a few reunions until his health got the best of him. He passed away in 1992. The post about Lewis Butler, my father was also wounded in Manila, fighting in the "Wall City". So much information is passed on through history as "Marine divisions" when it was both that were fighting in the same area. If you could find his name in the Regiment book, I can send my email address to you when you find it. Any and all information will be appreciated.

 

Welcome to the WW2 Forum, JW. I hope you will be a regular contributor. I took a quick look in the regiment book and your father is listed in the roster. It doesn't provide any more info than you mentioned already except for his rank, S/Sgt. I would not expect to find his name mentioned in the narrative of the book as relatively few individuals are mentioned.

The first thing you will want to do is find your father's discharge papers or his DD-214. These will provide you with the info you need to request his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). I would also recommend letting your family members know that you are looking for information on your father's service. Even if they don't know anything, they may eventually come across a letter he wrote to a family member or a photo he sent home.

If you want to get a sense of what he did and went through and are willing to do a bit of reading, I highly recommend two books which you can read online at HyperWar:

CARTWHEEL: The Reduction of Rabaul by John Miller, Jr. (In particular, Chapter XVII: Bougainville Counterattack)

Triumph in the Philippines by Robert Ross Smith

Both books are from the US Army in WWII series, usually referred to as "The Green Books". Unlike the actual books, the online version is free.

Also, keep involved in the forum. Things are being added all the time as information is found and new people join. Again, JW, welcome!

 

arwalcker,

Is that letter dated?

I wanted to use it as a reference and like to get details if I can.

THANKS~!

 

This is a post I have been meaning to do for some time. The following are pages from the regimental history, The 129th in World War II, which list members of the regiment that were killed during the war.

Officers: A - Z; Enlisted Men: A - Bie

View attachment 15420


Enlisted Men: Boe - Hal

View attachment 15421


Enlisted Men: Han - Maz

View attachment 15422


Enlisted Men: McC - Roj

View attachment 15423

 

Continued...


Enlisted Men: Rus - Tor

View attachment 15425


Enlisted Men: Tra - Z

View attachment 15426


(Unfortunately, there is at least one soldier, Sgt. Edwin E. Ziemann, who should be listed on these pages, but is not. However, he is listed in the "Roster of Personnel" section, which should only include members who survived the war. This error was made about 64 years ago, but I still don't understand how it could have happened.)