37th Infantry Division, 129th Infantry 1943-1945

Looking for anything I can to make a timeline of where my father-in-law was during this time period. He recieved a Bronze Star but we know nothing about it. He's name is John J Lott Jr and his highest rank was a SSgt. We know he was in the South Pacific by June of 1943 and shipped out of San Fransico. I've already submitted for a DD-214 but am afaid I'll get the 'fire excuse'. Any info and help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Wow! I never thought I'd get some much info in one reply. Thank you so much. Hopefully somebody that is out there from NW Missouri and was at Camp Wolter, Mineral Wells, TX will have some info too. I feel like I have a 1000 peice puzzle and only have 8 peices to it! But I do keep gathering up pieces on at a time. Thanks again for the information.

 

Dear friends Polishmafia and Slipdigit:
Because the English isn't my maternal language, I am not apprecciated if this links offers by this machine are interesting. I am supossed that yes but visit this pages all you judge that question:
http://www.dtic.mil/dodsrch/search?...y+Division,+129th+Infantry+&submit=Search+All

 

Dear friends Polishmafia and Slipdigit:
Because the English isn't my maternal language, I am not apprecciated if this links offers by this machine are interesting. I am supossed that yes but visit this pages all you judge that question:
Defense Technical Information Center: Search

 

I want to thank both of you. You have given me so much more to research. Hopefully will help me find some kind of hard copy records.
Patricia

 

You are welcome, Patricia!
and........

 

I realize this thread is a year old, but thought I would post to it anyway. My Dad, Ceburn Jay Swinden serverd in Company A of the 129th IR within the 37th ID, and he too trained at Camp Wolter in Mineral Wells, Tx. He was from Austin, TX. In the early 1980's his Company A had their first reunion in Missouri, I cannot remember the city. Before Dad died in 1988, he was able to attend a few of their reunions. Unfortunately, I can add nothing else as Dad rarely discussed the war, and when he did it was in general terms. I too got the fire explanation from the military when I tried to get his service records. Whatever records he personally had, along with any medals and memorabilia were lost in a flood in 1981. Since he rarely talked about the war, most of his history in it is now lost. I don't even know which medals he earned as he never displayed them. And most of his brothers in arms have are now gone too.

 

The hotel you are referring to is the Radisson Hotel in Branson, Missouri.
Their address is:120 South Wildwood Drive, Branson Missouri 65616. I had
the privalage of attending a convention there in 2007 and was amazed to find
the numer of WW II units and organizations that hold their annual reunions
there. You walk the hall on the convention hall level and it is lined with pictures
(old and new) of people who served in WWII. I spent an hour looking at these photos and never came close to seeing them all. My dad was a glider pilot in the war ( who survuved and went on to fight in Korea and later in Viet Nam. LIke you father, he rarely spoke about what he did during the war. About 10 years ago, the frame of his glider from Operation "Market Garden" was discovered on a farm in Belgium. It had been used all these years as a chiken coop. (It was identified by the serial # on the frame, almost everything else had rotted away). The frame was taken by a group that restores old WWII aircraft and restored Its now an display in their wharehouse in Belgium

 

Sorry you lost your dad's stuff from the war. My dad was also in the 129th. Luckily I have a tremendous amout of his memoirs. I have put scans of his stuff on a web site it you would like to view mine. It might bring back some memories.

129thinfantrypage.com

Dad did not attend any reunions. I wonder if they allow family members at the reunions. I would love to attend one.

Jim

 

wow
what a great honor to have such informations on that !
im a normal reader like to read history,politics,wars and etc
but these real stories have made my arms hairs standup with joy,courage and fearless emotions
i salute to all the solders and their kids

 

My father, Laird Wilcox, Jr., Company I, 129th Infantry Regiment, arrived in the Philippines in March 1945. He was wounded at Bayombong in the Cagayan Valley on 7 June 1945. I haven't been able to find as much stuff as I had hoped. Anyone knowing anything about that location and time period would be very helpful if they would contact me. Laird M. Wilcox: lwilcox3@aol.com

 

Sorry, I know this thread is really old, and you may have tried this, but I just wanted to add something that you may want to try. My Grandfathers discharge paperwork was filed with the County recorders office in his hometown in Wisconsin. You may want to try a courthouse near the location your Dad was living in upon discharge. It may work. Just a suggestion, try the County Recorders office I know when I was discharged they stressed doing this, and some (including my grandpa) did.

 

I have a regimental history book for the 129th Infantry Regiment which covers the WWII period. It has a complete roster of those who were in the 129th during the War. I would be happy to help out anyone who is trying to research their relative's service. I also have the division history for the 37th, but it does not provide personal info except for KIAs and MIAs.

 

Well, as a matter of fact there are one or two guys from Bougainville. See PM. Thanks-
And you came through big time Tom!

 

I would like for you to look up my father's name and see if he was in the 129th. Dad was in the 37th Inf Div and said even though he was from Ohio, he was in an Illinois unit, so I'm thinking the 129th. He was a transfer from the 104th Inf Div. I'm not sure when he transferred to the 37th. HIs name is Lt. Lewis H. Butler. He was an anti-tank unit commander. Dad was wounded in the Battle of Manila. My mother has misplaced the Valentines card he had received from his mother just before he was wounded. His unit information would be on the envelope. This reply should be for TD-Tommy776

 

I would like for you to look up my father's name in the 129th. Lt. Lewis H. Butler. He was a transfer from the 104th Inf Div. after he completed OCS. Dad was with the 37th awhile before going to Manila. He was wounded in the Battle of Manila. Dad said even though he was from Ohio, he was in an Illinois unit, so I'm thinking the 129th. My mother has misplaced the pocket which contained all his personal affects that the medics cut off his BDU's. In it was a Valentines card he had received from his mother just before he was wounded. The envelope would have his unit information on it.