Info on the 226th FA in Leyte.

Woohoo 5th post!!!!!!

 

Here is a photo of my grandfather(on the left) and I'm guessing a few people he served with

 

Here is another picture of my grandfather (Top row middle above barrel) with more people

 

whats the date on these pics? thanks

 

I don't have any dates. My family is notorious for taking LOTS of pictures but never labeling them with dates or people

 

It's been a long time but I finally found some info!! Thank you to Slipdigit for pointing out that this was a non-divisional unit, which got me to thinking who or what were they attached to at the time in question!

Anyway, here is what I found!

During the night of 24 October, the 226th Artillery Battalion was attacked by about 35 Japanese equipped with automatic weapons, explosive charges, magnetic mines, and grenades. Part of Battery A was temporarily neutralized, and one piece was disabled by an explosive charge. After a heavy exchange of fire the enemy force was scattered. The Japanese left 26 dead around the battalion sector. Remnants of this patrol evidently remained in the swamps around the battalion for some time, and for the next few nights sniping on the artillery position continued.

Found on this page: HyperWar: USMC Operations in WWII: Vol IV--Western Pacific Operations [Chapter IV-2]

This is the night/day of Jim's Father being shot and killed while trying to rescue his buddy. It Seems Harold ran out to bring his friend back to cover, after he was shot, and upon doing so both were shot again, neither survived. What a heroic effort to save his buddy.
Just wanted to share this with all of you, and the two who were looking for more info on the 226th.

If you follow that link, it seems they were attached to the 35th or 6th Army at this time, but were working directly with the Marines.

 

Thanks Slip!
Jim was very happy to receive this info! It took a while to find, but I'm very glad to have helped in this small way.

 

Hey Wildstorm---did you ever get to see/transfer the films your grandfather took over to DVD?

 

I wanted to bump this to see if wildstorm is still around to answer this question?

I'm still looking for info on Jim's Father. He has been told that al the paperwork on this unit and many others was destroyed in a fire in the 60's?, or something like that. I would think there must be an archive somewhere that would have AAR's or something!

Any help here is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

Sorry about not being on for awhile.
No, I haven't got them done yet. I have been contacting a few places but most will not deal with them unless they are free from mold. I am currently in contact with one company that will clean them and transfer them. I have to figure out how many I have to get a quote.

I just received notice that from the gov. that I will be receiving replacement medals and ribbons for my grandfather. I also am getting his US Army ceremonial sword framed for display. Once I get his medals and ribbons I will be framing those also. I am currently in the search for his casket flag which is somewhere in a box with three shells used at his funeral.

Also since I am on here, does anyone know where I can get a 226th Field Artillery battalion pin. My mother says she has some that are superglued to glasses that I guess my grandfather made but I didn't want to break the glasses. I guess I will have to if I can't locate a pin.

 

OK I got more of the story.

My grandfather lied about his age and joined the 104th F. A., Hq. and Hq. Btry., 52nd F. A. Brig., New York at age 16 to work with the horses. The 104th was a horse-drawn artillery battalion. He then went to school to learn the "new" towed artillery with the 105th. After school he was sent to the 226th and sent to California, then Maui to wait until he was sent to the Pacific Theater. Funny story, if anyone in his battery could come up with a new recipe, (all they had to eat was Spam and Pineapple) would get a day pass.
When he finally got to the theater, he served as the forward observer for the Marines who were being trained on the new 105mm guns. He hated the Marines! He hated them because the marines would only worry about their target they are aiming at and never "watch their asses." They would just get mowed down.

He worked his way up the ranks and got out of the Army as the CO of the 226th as a Lt. Col. George A. Rollins when it was disbanded.

He would tell stories of flying in the ?recon/spotter? planes.

 

I've been looking for a pin as well, the only thing I came up with is someone that will make one for me. But that's cost prohibitive. If I find anything, I'll let you know.

Also, I mad a contact with my cousin, and he is going to look through all the old letters and see if he can find any useful info. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for getting back to here, don't worry about the speed with which you reply, I'm not on as often as I'd like either.

Scott

 

I have some good news! My uncle is sending me a pin he has. He is sending me everything he has including some other pins and a knife that my grandfather had, supposedly from a Japanese soldier. I will know more once I get it.

Also, Woodster, if i give you my email can you send me the photos?

 

Now I just need to locate a 104th and 105th pin.

 

Hello Wildstorm,
I would be more than happy to send you some photos, just give me your e-mail address.

Jake

 

Please check out this video of the 226th that someone made.

YouTube - Forget the War; Remember Me

I have been in contact with her for awhile. She is currently doing a thesis about her father in the 226th. Her address is at the end of the video. I am sure that she would not mind you contacting her with stories.

She is currently also planning to write a book about the 226th. So if you get a chance contact her. She has boatloads of pics that she will be happy to share.