Need Help identifying Photo

Veteran Bernard Charles Felber from Wisconsin - Found photo in the house when we were cleaning it out to get ready to sell - He never ever spoke of The war - recently however has started sharing more - apologizing for killing people - everytime I visit him. Unfortunately feels like death bed confessions - has onset of alzheimers - would really like to learn more - What unit was he in? Branch? Says he was in France, England, Holland and Germany but then when I ask more he shuts down get tearful and says I don't want to talk about it. If you could view the photo anything would be helpful
http://www.hornetcountryspiritwear.com/rightmind.html
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I would guess that this is probably a barracks photo before leaving for over seas. Based on the uniform and the identifier on the building, could be England. If he was in Holland likely served in 9th army under Hodges. How old is he? that could help

 

Lou, if that is the 4 Infantry unit identifier, the 4th US Infantry was garrisoned in Alaska before the war. One battalion (1st) participated in the Attu Campaign, while the rest of the regiment stayed behind in defensive positions in Alaska proper. In January of 1944 the 4th was re-assigned to Ft. Benning, Ga., where it became part of the Army Replacement School Command. Men and material were assigned as replacements to the 4th US Infantry Division at Camp Butner, NC. The 4 ID then moved to England before participating in the Normandy invasion.

Here's the 4th Infantry Regiment's crest.

 

People tend to forget the 4th Infantry Regiment being in Alaska. They were sent up there immediately before Pearl Harbor. An arduous task for only a Regiment. The "T" on the building means Temporary, as opposed to the brick and mortar buildings built by the engineers. You can see the gaps in the panel boards. Also, the 4th Infantry was one of the few units to use a cloth DUI. The cloth was folded into the crease, right hand side as worn, of the garrison cap. Cloth insignia were folded into loops and fastened to the shoulder epaulets. I can't make out the rest. In the second photo, looking to the left hand side, their right, is a soldier wearing a brassard. The Staff Sergeant or Sergeant First Class, upper right/their left looks to have a Forces Command patch on his left shoulder. Again, too grainy to discern. When the unit went to Alaska, they were a rather larger regiment: having artillery, trucks, engineers, and signals. It would be great to find out about those specialties, too. Then they became a cadre for the national guard unit filtering into the Theater. They built Ft Richardson, home of the Army Arctic training center and a rather large joint base now.

The unit was split up by companies and battalions, some moving on to shore up units heading to Europe. The rest folded into the 25th Infantry Division and occupation duty in Japan.

So if you can get his service number and DOB, you'll be able to find his records. He'll have very lucid moments for the war, as early experiences and memories come to the surface in Alzheimer patients. Bless you for talking with him. He should then have quite a rack of ribbons. Starting with Alaska if he was there with two ribbons for Home Defense and the Pacific Theater, then another for METO with battle stars. Very unique as not many organizations, let alone soldiers, saw more than one theater of operations.

Getting to Alaska was quite the ordeal, then to move up the center from Anchorage either by train or truck. Rough, truly the experience.

Here is their association home page: http://www.fourthinfantryregiment.org/

I don't think the 4th Regt had a metal insignia until Viet Nam. But am not certain. The 4th has a very long sustained, continuous history in the US Army. Very distinct.--Ray

 

Obviously not the 4th Infantry Regiment, if the unit was in England, France, Holland and Germany. All I can see in the shoulder patch is what looks like a white upper half. That could be many regiments.

Here is a list of infantry regiment crests: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coats_of_arms_of_U.S._Infantry_Regiments

Of course, there are armor and cavalry regiments also...

I think you'll have to get additional clues before anyone can help you. Is there a family member you can ask?