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78th Infantry Division at Roer River

Discussion in 'Weapons & Technology in WWII' started by kerrd5, Jan 24, 2010.

  1. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    I found this last weekend. I thought it was a very cool photo.

    Caption reads:

    "Infantrymen of the 78th Division move up to clear the
    Germans from a sector near the Roer River.

    "311 Inf. Regt., 78th Inf. Div., XIX Corps, 9th U.S. Army."

    Date: 30 January 1945.

    Photographer: Sgt. G.W. Herold, 167.

    III-SC 337933, Credit NARA.


    Dave
     

    Attached Files:

    kerrd5, Jan 24, 2010
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  2. Djjo host

    Djjo host New Member

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    I sit back in awe that I came across this. I just received a letter my dad wrote about himself and WWII.

    This picture and the 78th Infantry was my dad's infantry in which he sustained many injuries. He actually went in as a scout to find his company here at the Roer River when he met an enemy machine gunman. He survived in that frigid cold for three hours--playing dead with the gunman not more than 20 yards away from him. Bleeding from severe injuries, he prayed to God to comfort his family. God is good in that that frigid cold kept him from completely bleeding to death. I am so proud of my dad and so thankful that God led me to your post.

    Dawn Johnston
    Daughter of Martin L. Hurst
     
    Djjo host, Jan 22, 2014
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  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Hi Dawn. Welcome to the forum. Is your father still alive? Perhaps you could introduce yourself here http://www.ww2f.com/forum/27-%E2%98%86%E2%98%86-new-recruits-%E2%98%86%E2%98%86/
    It would be nice if you could post a picture of him, as well. If you have any paperwork, that would be a bonus. Your dad sounds like a great man.
    By the way, I found these two records at NARA. Is one of them your father? http://aad.archives.gov/aad/display-partial-records.jsp?dt=893&sc=24994%2C24995%2C24996%2C24998%2C24997%2C24993%2C24981%2C24983&cat=WR26&tf=F&bc=%2Csl%2Cfd&q=&as_alq=&as_anq=&as_epq=&as_woq=&nfo_24994=V%2C8%2C1900&op_24994=0&txt_24994=&nfo_24995=V%2C24%2C1900&op_24995=0&txt_24995=Martin%23L%23Hurst%23%23%23%23&nfo_24996=V%2C2%2C1900&cl_24996=&nfo_24998=V%2C3%2C1900&cl_24998=&nfo_24997=V%2C4%2C1900&cl_24997=&nfo_24993=V%2C2%2C1900&op_24993=0&txt_24993=&nfo_24981=V%2C1%2C1900&cl_24981=&nfo_24983=V%2C2%2C1900&op_24983=0&txt_24983=
     
    LRusso216, Jan 22, 2014
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    Djjo host likes this.
  4. Earthican

    Earthican Member

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    From the official history, the division is unidentified but the location is possibly near the Roer (Rür) River headwaters or anywhere in the Ardennes.
    http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Last/index.html

    [​IMG]

    The jeep is modified to carry two litters over the "warm" hood. In the back of the jeep are the four litter-bearers -- or infantrymen since they do not have medical markings on their helmets -- who have to reach the front line where the jeep cannot go. For a long carry, four litter-bearers are required on each litter so they have to make two trips. The passenger could be a medical NCO that knows how to reach the rifle companies or he could be a walking-wounded patient.

    The passenger is also seated kind of high as if sitting on something or someone. I can almost see two, maybe three, more soldiers through the wind-screen in the middle of the jeep and the litter-bearers seem seated far to the outside.
     
    Earthican, Jan 23, 2014
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  5. Djjo host

    Djjo host New Member

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    Djjo host, Jan 23, 2014
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  6. Djjo host

    Djjo host New Member

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    Yes! The 2nd Martin L. Hurst is my father. I matched the number and the birthdate. This is becoming a new world to me and I am fascinated learning more about the conditions my father was under this time of his young life. Thank you for sharing the information and directing me to even more avenues.

    Dawn
     
    Djjo host, Jan 23, 2014
    #6
  7. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I'm glad we could help. Let us know what else we can do.
     
    LRusso216, Jan 23, 2014
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  8. Earthican

    Earthican Member

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    This original member of the 78th ID has a fascinating story -- online -- from enlistment to the Rhine.
    Crossing the Rhine The Hard Way: 1944 - Allen Baker
    http://www.oletimer.net/?p=923
     
    Earthican, Jan 24, 2014
    #8
  9. DevonMcC

    DevonMcC New Member

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    DevonMcC, Sep 21, 2016
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  10. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    TD-Tommy776, Sep 21, 2016
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