109th Engineers 34th Division

Henry Sorenson

2011-09-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Henry Sorenson
Roslyn, South Dakota
Day County April 22, 1920 -- November 1, 1943
Died of Wounds in Italy
Awarded Silver Star for Heroism

Henry Sorenson was born on April 22, 1920, in Roslyn, South Dakota, to Albert and Julia Sorenson. He grew up in Roslyn with seven sisters: Gladys, Clarice, Irene, Sadie, Ellen, Evelyn, and Joan. He graduated from Roslyn High School in 1938. Prior to entering college, he entered the South Dakota National Guard. He attended college at Brookings until his junior year.

In 1941, during Henry’s third year of college, he was drafted into the army. He was at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, until February of 1942 when he left for Fort Dix, New Jersey, en route for overseas duty with an engineering unit.

He was stationed in North Africa. He spent four months in Tunisia and most of the summer in Africa. His first assignment was to the American 34^th Division, the first to cross the Atlantic in this war and victor at vital Hill 609 in Tunisia.

While in North Africa, Sgt. Sorenson sent home a letter to his sister, Mrs. Gladys Van Lissel. The letter was published in a Chicago trade magazine. Parts of the letter follow:

I was lucky to be about 200 miles back at special gunnery school when the boys were catching the worst at Fondouk. I left the night before they got shelled and got back a couple days after they had been strafed. I did sit in on some fairly close bombings, but I never had any close calls.

Some of my hazardous moments were spent during blackout driving in the mountains. It gives a fellow a funny feeling to be riding in the dark, knowing that if you get off theroad, it means a drop of several hundred feet. The fact that you’re carrying a cargo of dynamite, antitank mines, high explosive shells and plenty of ammunition add to the excitement. . . You’ll never be a war cripple if you’re an engineer—it’s none or all.

We spent a lot of time repairing and building roads, and when the roads were so wet, it was really an important job. The attacks, supply convoys, withdrawals and all must go through on schedule. Many times we worked all night to make that possible.

One night we were assigned to end of the road closest to the enemy for repair work to be sure our withdrawing division got out okeh. We had just built the road and we had to stay up there until everyone was out and then drive miles to safer positions. I was pretty tired that night and learned for the first time not to smoke when up so close.

From here we moved to a location where we helped clear the mines Jerry had planted so plentifully in the Kasserine Pass and valley near Sbeitla. We did a lot of mine planting and mine removal work and it is one of the most ticklish jobs a man can hope for. One mistake and you’re just a memory. ‘Jerry’ is very clever and ingenious when it comes to mine work and planting of anti-personnel traps. It’s a fast game of trying to outguess the enemy and hope that you’re right.

Work like that took place under all conditions—under fire, darkness, rain. We did have a lot of fun during the campaign, though and no one thinks much of the dangers at the time.

Sergeant Henry Sorenson died of wounds during active battle in Italy on November 1, 1943. He was commander of a half-track squad, and while engaged in action with enemy aircraft, he received wounds that resulted in his death. In a letter sent home to his parents, Commanding Lt. Co., C.E. Robert E. Coffey spoke highly of Sgt. Sorenson. “His courage and devotion to duty in the defense of his platoon has been an inspiration to all of us. You will be proud to know that his weapon was still pointing at the target when I visited the scene a short time later.”

Sgt. Sorenson was buried at the U.S. military cemetery in Carano, Italy. Five years later his remains were sent back to the United States and reburied at the Fron Lutheran Cemetery.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Jennifer Peck, 10^th Grade, Tiospa Zina Tribal School, Agency Village, SD, March 27, 2002, and by Anna Nietert, 11^th Grade, Langford High School, Langford, SD, January 21, 2002. Information for this profile was provided by Mrs. Ellen Kleven, Roslyn, SD, sister of Sgt. Sorenson.

Sgt. Henry Sorenson was a soldier full of courage and a sense of duty toward his country. He will be forever memorialized for his service to his country.

http://mva.sd.gov/sdwwiimemorial/SubPages/profiles/Display.asp?P=1792

_________________________________________________

During November 1943 Second Platoon of Company A was bombed and strafed by low flying German Fighter Planes. During this attack, Sgt Sorenson and Technician 5th Grade Wilford Weisse were firing at the planes with two 50 caliber machine guns mounted on a half track. Henry Coopman was in the half track with Sorenson and Weise helping with the machine guns.

The half track had been hit and set on fire. Sorenson and Weisse disregarded this and continued firing until an exploding bomb threw Sorenson and Weise from the half track causing their deaths. Henry Coopman was also killed.

Henry Sorenson was posthumously awarded a Silver Star Medal for his devotion to duty in the face of such grave danger.

Source Death Casualties Biographies - 109th Combat Engineer Battalion. (1942-1945)

Ernie Pyle

2011-08-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

Along with Bill Mauldin, Ernie Pyle was probably the most famous American war correspondent of World War II. His dispatches from the front were carried by over 300 newspapers. (Thanks to Tina McCann for sending in this piece.)

Ernie Pyle at Anzio, Italy 1944

Pyle loved the foot soldiers, the dogfaces, the grunts; he ate with them, tramped beside them under fire and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for writing about them. One column of his urged that combat infantrymen be given extra “fight pay,” just as airmen got “flight pay.” Congress responded by authorizing ten dollars a month, a princely sum in those days. The law was called “The Ernie Pyle Bill.”

Click to read the article

Good Article on WWII

2011-08-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

Ten Things Every American Student

Should Know

About Our Army in World War II

Click to Read

Good article!! When Ernie Pyle wrote his article, the 36th was fighting the battle of San Pietro and my "trip" over the mountain from venafro was on their right flank although there may have been a "Special force" Bn between us. Lt Hummel was sent on a patrol by the I33 Inf Regt to try to Make contact with them. I asked if he wanted me to go with him and was greatly relieved when he said that I should stay and lead the rest of our platoon. I was very happy to see them come back after a few hours - no contact.

I figured I would be leading the search party if they didnt come back and had no idea of where they were going. We were on top of that big mountain and there no landmarks or trails on the maps to let us orient ourselves. He may have had a map but I hadn't seen it. The mule trains with the bodies showed us which trail lead back towards Venafro. This was about 2 weeks after Lt.Belensky was killed and I hadn't worked with Lt. Hummel before. he hadn't thought to show or tell me who or where was his contact with the 133rd so it would have been interesting so say the least.

Cliff Hullinger

Earl, Gene, and Jeff Minier

2011-08-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Clif Hullinger and Jeff Minier August 2011

Jeff is the grandson of LtCol Earl Minier of the 109th Engineers who passed away in 1989 and the nephew of Gene Minier of the 109th, killed near Anzio, Italy. Jeff was learning more about his Grandfather and Uncle and the 109th Combat Engineers.

Earl Minier and Gene Minier

Craig,

I just ran across your blog about the 109th Engineers. How exciting! My grandfather (Earl Minier) was a major for that unit (he retired as a Lt. Col, and passed away in 1989) -- and my uncle, Gene was also a member from 1939 until he was killed in 1944 near Anzio. Gene graduated from Brookings high in 1939 -- and joined the guard to serve in his father's unit before Pearl Harbor. I assume that Cliff is your father? Gene and Cliff would have to have known each other very well. And your father must have known my grandfather too.

I found the listing about Gene to be quite interesting -- (as we really don't know much about him. In fact I was unaware of him being carried out after being hit -- in fact, the story I always heard was little different ). Any documentation of service for both Gene and Earl ended up with my Aunts --so I don't know a lot of the details. (And I am guessing that most military records were destroyed in the St. Louis fire?) I would love to share what little I have with you. Are you still active with your blog? Can I submit information to you for posting?

Regards,

Jeff Minier

404-395-9421

__________________

Craig and Cliff,

Fantastic! I can’t wait to hear from you Cliff. My own father was born in 1939 – and has no memory of Gene. His sisters were a bit older – but as children, they really don’t have many interesting memories they can share with me about him – especially nothing about the 109^th/34^th division. My grandfather always told stories – mostly about politics in Brookings – but some about his time in WWII. At the time, I was really too young to know enough to pay attention and to listen carefully to what he said. I had hoped that one day, I would learn the entire chronology of the 109^th/34^thdivision, where the men went, what they saw, what they endured, but it’s been a bit difficult to find this information.
As for me, I can’t begin to describe the respect and love I feel for my uncle, my grandfather and the men of 34^th division. To be honest, I get a little teary-eyed already thinking about having the opportunity to correspond with you, Cliff.

I can’t wait.

Regards,
Jeff Minier

109th Combat Engineers

2011-01-14T18:05:00.001-08:00

The 109th Combat Engineers were a National Guard Unit, with most members from South Dakota. We were part of the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Infantry National Guard Division from the Dakotas, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Because we were part of the National Guard, we were mobilized soon after Pearl Harbor. We got into the “Ground Floor” of the war, and were among the first into Europe. We spent more days in combat as we worked our way through Africa and Italy than any other American Division. Our Division casualties at the close of WWII were officially counted at: 3,737 killed, 14,165 wounded and 3,460 missing in action - a total of 21,362 battle casualties for a Division that started the war with about 14,000 men. Our Combat Engineer Company casualties were not quite as bad as the infantry.

We comprised three companies - A, B and C. Each company normally supported one infantry regiment. Company A normally supported the 133rd, Company B the 135th, and Company C the 168th. Our mission was to do what ever was needed, which included building bridges under fire, constructing roads, setting mine fields, clearing enemy mine fields, patrolling, and fighting with small arms.

We are writing this account in the year 2010, 65 years after we won the war. Many of our members are no longer with us. We won the war, and then returned home to our families, raised children, and became part of the “Greatest Generation”. We don’t usually use that term, but our children do, so we gratefully if reluctantly accept it.

My detailed story at:

http://hullingerWWII.blogspot.com

Clifford Harlan Hullinger
Clifhul@gmail.com

Craig Harlan Hullinger
chullinger@gmail.com

Johnny Boyd

2010-09-25T05:46:00.000-07:00

I just became familiar with the blog.

Thanks for the information and the videos posted there.
My Dad, Johnny Boyd, was mentioned on the blog and video by Vernon Jackson. He also was mentioned in video by Clair Brich.

My Dad grew up in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, was drafted and for some reason placed in this unit. After the war he returned to the farm he was raised on and that is where I grew up as well.

My Dad passed away in 1991.

I had not thought about these stories my Dad used to share for some time.

Just wondering if either Vernon Jackson or Clair Brich are still alive and if so, do you have any contact information for them.

Thanks.

Stanley Clair Boyd

s.c.boyd@charter.net

________

Glad to hear from you. I forwarded this email to Vernon Jackson and my father Clif Hullinger. Vernon was at the last 109th reunion in September 2010 in Rapid City.

I will post this email on the blog. If you would like to write some more about your Dad or send some photos I would be glad to post them.

Same holds true for any member of relative of a member of the 109th from World War II

Craig Hullinger

craighullinger@gmail.com

http://craighullinger.com

___

Holy mollie I'm excited! And I'm beginning to appreciate your blog, Craig.

Much to our regret after Johnny died we lost contact completely with the Boyd's. Clair and I felt very close to Johnny and via two visits I made to them in North Carolina, Pine Level, I believe as I recall, and their visits to a couple of 109th reunions and once here to California. I called Johnny, Clair and I the Three Musketeers. Johnny's influence on both Clair and I kept us out of a lot of trouble during the war and Clair even credits me with influencing him to go to college after the war.

At the reunion I learned that Clair's life expectancy now is about 3-6 months with cancer. It's a real heartbreak to me. Please, Stanley Clair, update me on the Boyds. I'll communicate with your namesake, the other Clair, Clair Brich. I suspect your name was chosen because of your folks regard for Clair.

Except for the bad news about Clair Brich, the reunion was wonderful. Eight of us made it, last year only four, plus mates and families, of course.

Apparently you, Stanley, must have access to my autobiography which includes some detail about Johnny. But I would be very happy to have a personal contact with you via email or phone number 805-550-3119. This is a happy day for me.

Vern

To: s.c.boyd@charter.net; Clif Hullinger <clifhul@gmail.com>; Vernon Jackson <varj@sbcglobal.net>

Committee for the Recognition of US Actions on Mount Pantano

2010-09-21T07:01:00.001-07:00

Hi,

I am the chairman and founder of C.R.A.M.P (The Committee for the Recognition of US Actions on Mount Pantano), the committee was formed in 2004 to inform, educate and advance the knowledge of this forgotten battle. We are currently lobbying for a substantial and permanent monument site to be placed at the foot of Mount Pantano honoring the 34th Division on the 70th anniversary of the battle in 2013.

Three weeks ago, a climbing team of committee members climbed Mount Pantano in southern Italy. Our mission, to place a small granite memorial plaque to honor the men of the 168th Regiment, 34th Division.

The announcement below details the outcome of this endeavor.

Many thanks,

Committee Chairman

Emilio Menchini (UK)

The Committee for the Recognition of US Actions on Mount Pantano would like to announce the placing of a memorial plaque on the summit of Mount Pantano (Knob 1) to honor the brave men of the 168th Regimental Combat Team (34th Division) who fought and died defending this peak from November 29th - December 4th 1943.

The mountain was climbed on August 14th. 2010 by Bill & Anita Mckinley (Madison WI) and Gino Valerio (Glasgow Scotland) on behalf of C.R.A.M.P.

Chairman Emilio Menchini (Wales UK) coordinated the attempt from the Valley floor via radio communication from the nearby villages of Filignano & Cerasuolo.

Bill Mckinley (vice chairman of CRAMP) read a poem on the mountain top written and published by his late father, Phil Mckinley (B company, 168th Regt.)

Mount Pantano

(by Phil Mckinley)

White clouds grazed like sheep across Pantano’s jagged crest,

Herded by the sheperd wind, nor did they wander,

For each kept his appointed course. Abreast

They nibbled at the Alpine peak, bleak and somber.

But that was yesterday.

Today, a regiment holds the rocky peak,

A battered regiment – bleeding and weak

But to Hitler’s bastards – defiant still.

The orders read: “ Take, secure, and hold this hill.”

Tonight the regiment lies cursing, dying

In mud and snow, but still defying.

Mount Pantano, this battle streamer reads.

To the battle flag, attach it well!

It represents four days in hell.

The C.R.A.M.P committee will continue to lobby and petition for a substantial and permanent monument honouring the 168^th & 135^th Regiments of the 34^th Division for their actions on Mount Pantano in 1943. For further information contact C.R.A.M.P at:

Braveheart25@hotmail.com

The Committee for the Recognition of US Actions on Mount Pantano
2010

Ben Kaiser

2010-09-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Vernon Jackson called me last night while on his way back west after the 109th reunion in 2010. He said there were about 10 guys at the reunion which is pretty good considering their ages!

He had stopped at the State Representatives office in Rapid City with your suggested write up and his story of the explosion and got the medal stuff started. He then drove to Huron to see Helseth and get his story and talk over the incident. He then passed that along to the Rep and says it is now "out of our hands".

There are a lot of amazing coincidents in this case. First Craig got the blog going on the 109th, then Al Kaiser read it and asked about Ben Kaiser which you passed along to me. I was able to find the death report on Ben which includes Helseth's name and his address from 3 years ago and he is still living.

Then Vern sent his story in to you and got into your blog and I read it and saw his reference to Ben Kaiser and was able pass it on. Craig said it deserved a medal and Vern got the process started. Hope it works out OK but if not, some of us a least now know the story. The guys at the reunion know it too.

We had a lot of casualties that spring and summer. "A" Company had lost all our officers and got new ones in the weeks before moving to Anzio. 1st Sgt Hollister left and I moved up to his spot on Anzio and then go had my appendix out and didn't come back until after Leghorn. By then all of our staff Sgts. Haug, Culver and Harding had been wounded and when I made 2nd Lt., all the non-coms were new at their jobs. I talked to Buster Nelson, Ist Sgt of B company, about what a 1st. Sgt should do when we were at Anzio but he was gone when got my commission so I don't know who would have made out 'B' Company reports of the mine explosion.

Clif Hullinger
2320 W 113th Place
Chicago, IL 60643
773 253 5426

clifhul@gmail.com

Medal Request PFC Benjamin Kaiser WW II

2010-09-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

September 6, 2010

The Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
343 Quincy Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Re: Medal Request PFC Benjamin Kaiser WW II

Dear Congresswoman Sandlin:

I respectfully request your assistance in recognizing the heroism of PFC Benjamin Kaiser during World War II in Italy. After his untimely death In the course of heavy action north of Rome no one had the time to recognize and document his heroism.

I served with the South Dakota National Guard 109^th Combat Engineers during World War II. I have attached a proposed citation. The following is excerpted from my memoirs as I remember the action.

" A Lieutenant took Joe Pauley and me to a beach somewhere north of Rome. It was a lovely sand beach a hundred or so yards long, with trees at the north end and buildings and a long pier at the south end.

The trouble with the beach was a continuous series of tank mine patterns for its full length. Each pattern was about 30 yards long by 10 yards deep. They were Italian mines — wooden, canvas and with mostly plastic detonators and probably sixty mines in each pattern, four rows with mines six feet apart.

They were not hard to find because some were exposed by blown away sand. By noon Joe and I had exploded probably three hundred mines, ten at a time with a block of TNT on each with detonators wired in series. Then the pattern changed and between each anti tank mine was an anti personnel mine — the dreaded “Bouncing Betty” S mines.

We had gotten well into one such pattern when the Lt. came back, I guess to see if we’d blown ourselves up. His reaction was, “This job is too big for two men. I’ll get a line platoon out to help.” Forty men to replace two men!

The Lt. left and when the platoon (about forty men) arrived we introduced two key GIs, Ben Kaiser and John Machnic, to the mine pattern where we had been working. Both were fully capable and experienced with mines, so Joe and I left and went to the far end of the beach and started working back, leaving them and their NCOs to plan their work.

In about thirty minutes we heard a big bang and saw body parts flying. Something had triggered an S mine. I suspect it was booby trapped or a “hang fire” (partially activated detonator).

In the four to seven seconds that Ben Kaiser had to think — between the detonator activation “pop” and the S mine coming out of the ground — he must have decided to try to keep the mine in the ground with his own body.

It cost Ben his life. John Machnic was also killed. Two other men were wounded by S mine pellets. We had a 4 x 4 weapons carrier (pickup truck) and hauled the two wounded, Ken Helseth and Ray Franz, to a field hospital. We returned to find we still had the job of reassembling Ben and taking his and John’s bodies to grave registration.

Somehow even death can seem routine in some circumstances. At the time, his heroism wasn’t obvious. Decades later, when I was reviewing explosions that contributed to my hearing loss, I finally recognized the heroic act by Ben. He spared his platoon buddies from many casualties. If his platoon hadn’t taken over, Joe and I perhaps would have been the casualties.

Since recognizing his very heroic action I’ve contacted Benny’s relatives in South Dakota and a brother and nephew in California who were most thankful to have knowledge beyond the simple military notice and especially of the almost certain act of heroism."

I appreciate your effort to recognize the heroism of Benjamin Kaiser. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Vernon Jackson

PFC BENJAMIN KAISER

109^th ENGINEERS, 34^th INFANTRY DIVISION

SOUTH DAKOTA NATIONAL GUARD WW II

Citation to accompany the award of the Bronze Star Medal with V Device

FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY, WHILE SERVING AS A COMBAT ENGINEER DURING OPERATIONS NORTH OF ROME, ITALY IN WORLD WAR II WITH THE 109^TH ENGINEER BATTALION OF THE 34^TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PFC KAISER WAS CLEARING A LARGE MINE FIELD NORTH OF ROME, ITALY. THE WOODEN ITALIAN MINES WERE BOOBY TRAPPED WITH THE “BOUNCING BETTY S MINES, MAKING THE MINE CLEARING OPERATION VERY HAZARDOUS. IN THE FOUR TO SEVEN SECONDS THAT BEN KAISER HAD TO THINK FROM THE DETONATOR ACTIVATION “POP”AND THE S MINE COMING OUT OF THE GROUND PFC KAISER DECIDED TO KEEP THE MINE TO THE GROUND WITH HIS OWN BODY. HE THUS GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF HIS COMRADES. PFC KAISER'S PERSONAL COURAGE, TACTICAL EXPERTISE, AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS PLATOON’S OVERALL SUCCESS AND SURVIVAL AND FOR THE SURVIVAL OF OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS PLATOON. HIS LEADERSHIP AND BRAVERY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE 109^TH COMBAT ENGINEERS, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

Benjamin Kaiser, Kenneth A Helseth and Roy T Fran

2010-08-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Kaiser was killed in Italy in World War II. His brother is looking for information about his death.

Kenneth A Helseth and Roy T Fran were with him when he was wounded.

__________________

On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 4:31 PM, Al and Carol Kaiser renorph@charter.net wrote:

Dear Mr. Hullinger:

My name is Al Kaiser and I am a brother to Benjamin L. Kaiser who was killed some where near Anzio Beachhead. I am trying to find any information about the death of my brother. From what I understand they were clearing mines when one was detonated. One other died with my brother, and 2 were wounded.

Kenneth A Helseth and Roy T Franz were wounded and I was wondering if any of these soldiers are still alive today or if you have any information about these 4 soldiers. My brother was in the National Guard in Hot Springs, South Dakota when they were deployed. If you have any information about the death of my brother, please get in touch with me.

My e-mail is: renorph@charter.net

Thank you.

‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

Hi Al:

Yes, I knew Ben Kaiser but not very well. He was mobilized with D company from Hot Springs and was moved to B Company when the Division was reorganized into the "triangular" structure just before we went overseas in Jan. 1942.

I had been in A Company but was in the hospital at that time. However I have a copy of a hardcover book, " South Dakota in World War II" which lists the men mobilized with the 109th guard units and Ben Kaiser is listed on page 67 "23 Kaiser, Benjamin L. - Killed in action near Vara Italy on June 21, 1944 T/5.”

He is pictured with D Company on page 68. Then on Page 198 and 199 is the following: "The next few days were to witness a series of casualties in or near the neighborhood of Leghorn.

Leghorn was one of the best seaports in Italy and quite essential to the progress of the American Army further north and area about Leghorn had been abundantly mined. On the 20th of July Ben L. Kaiser of Hot Springs and Machnik were killed, and Kenneth A Helseth, Huron, and Roy T. Franze, were wounded by the explosion of an S-mine on the beach one-half mile south of Vada." That reference to Franze and Machnik is the only mention of them in the book !!! Also the Vara and Vada are the spellings in the book and not my typo!!

We have had reunions in Rapid City for many years but I doubt that anyone will make it this year. Sorry I can't help more.

Clif Hullinger

_____

Clif Hullinger:

Thank you for answering my e-mail and giving me what information you know about Ben. I do have the hard copy of South Dakota in World War II. I was hoping that I may be able to make contact with Kenneth A. Helseth and Roy T Franz if they are still alive. They were on the same mission as Ben and were wounded when trying to clear that mine field.

Is there any way you can put the word out to see if either are still alive? Maybe there is some one else out there that might remember that particular tragedy 1/2 mile south of Vada, Italy.

I really do appreciate all your efforts in trying to get this documented.

Thanks again:

Al Kaiser

______________

We will put the word out on the109th Engineers Blog and on the 34th Infantry Division Facebook Page.

Craig Hullinger
_____________

Success: And interesting that this connection was made on the 65th anniversary of the end of WW II in Europe.

Hi Al and Carol: I have just received and forwarded (I hope !) history of Vernon Jackson's experience in "our war". The title is misleading since it reads like it is from Lorraine Gear but it is a very good history of Vernon Jackson's experiences. We were in the same company and I can vouch for his general accuracy although almost 70 years have slipped by and there has been some other "slippage" too! However he includes the details of Ben Kaiser's death that you will be very interested in.

The German S-mine was a very effective antipersonnell device. When tripped, a small charge blew a cannister with a larger charge surrounded by many ball bearings or shrapnel would explode and kill people for many yards around. There are very few seconds between the two explosions but there is time for someone to throw himself on the mine and minimize the effect of the second explosion. He says that Ben's body was broken up which suggests that might have happened. You can e-mail Vern at the above address or call him in CA at 805-474-4104.
--
Clif Hullinger
2320 W 113th Place
Chicago, IL 60643
773 253 5426

______________

Ben Kaiser and John Machnic

Excerpted from Vernon A. Jackson's remembrances of World War II

Written July 2010

http://vernonajackson.blogspot.com/

"Then there is my own private terror, again not in combat. A lieutenant took Joe Pauley and me to a beach somewhere north of Rome. It was a lovely sand beach a hundred or so yards long, with trees at the north end and buildings and a long pier at the south end. I guess someone wanted to go swimming there.

The trouble with the beach was a continuous series of tank mine patterns for its full length. Each pattern was about 30 yards long by 10 yards deep. They were Italian mines—wooden, canvas and with mostly plastic detonators and probably sixty mines in each pattern, four rows with mines six feet apart.

In about thirty minutes we heard a big bang and saw body parts flying. Something had triggered an S mine. I suspect it was booby trapped or a “hang fire” (partially activated detonator). In the four to seven seconds that Ben Kaiser had to think—between the detonator activation “pop” and the S mine coming out of the ground—he must have decided to try to keep the mine in the ground with his own body.

It cost Ben and John Machnic their lives. Two men were wounded by S mine pellets. We had a 4 x 4 weapons carrier (pickup truck) and hauled the two wounded, Ken Helseth and Ray Franz, to a field hospital. We returned to find we still had the job of reassembling Ben and taking his and John’s bodies to grave registration.

Vernon Jackson

WW1 and WW2 era helmets

2010-07-12T18:31:00.001-07:00

Hello Gentlemen,

I collect WW1 and WW2 era helmets and militaria. When I removed the liner frame(it didn't have a liner) from a recently acquired US M1917A1 helmet, I found some black markings inside the helmet that appear to read "109 ENG.". There are other markings but unfortunately time has worn them away. I posted pictures of my new helmet in one of my favorite military forums, and a kind gentleman there pointed me to your blog. I've enjoyed what I've read of your blog and I thought you may be interested in my helmet's markings. Does this helmet look like a lid from the 109th? I've attached the pictures that I have.

Thanks for your time.

-Jason Jensen

Clif Hullinger

Hi Jason: I joined the 109th Engineers, a National Guard unit in South Dakota in 1939. We had the old WW-I uniforms and helmets at that time. The wrap leggings, broad rim campaign hats and the whole bit. We still had the same equipment when we mobilized in Jan. 1941 and went to Camp Claibourne, LA. During the summer we started getting WW-II clothing and I think were issued the new helmets in the fall of 1941 about the time of Pearl Harbor but I am not sure of that. They were a lot more useful and a big improvement and we were glad to get rid of the old ones. Better protection for the back of the neck and ears etc. We could use them as a seat when in mud or snow and could take out the liners and make a fair washbasin out of the metal part. By time we got to North Africa, we had a string mesh over them which supposedly served to soften the outline or reflection but probably did more for our morale than for our safety!

Your Model 1917 helmet is probably one of those we dumped in 1941. Or it could have been excess equipment left behind in the SD National Guard units when we mobilized.

--
Clif Hullinger
2320 W 113th Place
Chicago, IL 60643
773 253 5426

34th Infantry Division Association Newsletter

2010-07-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

34th Inf Div Assn 'Home Page'

SiteMap

National Association Council Bluffs Chapter Des Moines Chapter Tri-State Chapter

*** Assistance in Locating a Veteran's Records ***

Affiliated website: Military History Network

News, Notes, and Updates

Current Forces News

The 'Ryder Brigade Combat Team' - otherwise known as the 2/34 BCT of the 34th Infantry Division and the Iowa National Guard - is NOW preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Two of its units you well remember from World War II: the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry and the 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry.

They are now publishing the Ryder Dispatch newsletters online. PDF downloadable files are available for March and April-May 2010.JUN

Red Bull Veterans Search Forum

The message forums which supported searches for our veterans have been taken offline. It has become an impractical task to proper edit and organize entries for such a search directory in this one-man operation. 2010.JUN

Newsletters

The Summer 2010 National Association Newsletter is now online and downloadable as a PDF file. It includes the membership form and registration/program information for the 9th-12th September reunion in Iowa. 2010.MAY

You will also find below new sections of information for the Council Bluffs Chapter and Des Moines Chapter and registration/program information for the 12th-16th July Tri-State ChapterChapter reunion. 2010.JUN

Featured Items

135th Infantry Regiment in World War II

A new collection of the 1941-1945 histories of the 135th Infantry Regiment is now online and presented in our history section. 2010.JAN

168th Infantry Regiment in North Africa

A report by Col. Thomas Drake, commanding the 168th Infantry Regiment in Tunisia, was recently uncovered at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum. This was his official report of the actions leading up to the capture of much of the Regiment in February 1943. It is now available here as a PDF file, 6.5 MB, Tunisian Operations, 168th Infantry.

In accepting Col. Drake's report, Major General Charles Ryder wrote on 1 May 1945:
"Knowing the conditions, I can only marvel at the gallantry of the 168th Infantry and yourself in the face of overwhelming odds. You and you alone were fighting the entire German armored force of General Rommel and the delay you caused saved the Allied Forces in Southern Tunisia from disaster. Both of you wrote a page in American history for which you can be well proud. The blame for your defeat can only be layed on the shoulders of those who completely failed to come to your support as had been planned."

Taps, Again: Troops in Harm's Way

Too many of our own soldiers - the 34th Infantry Division "Desert Bulls" - have died in the U.S. Central Command theater. We know, from our own experiences in World War II, what it means to lose a fellow Red Bull. To their families, their friends, their comrades of this generation, we present this small remembrance in their honor, in your honor.

We have 'tuned' a prior listing of the casualties of our 1st Brigade Combat Team in Iraq 2006-2007, and added information on the losses within or assigned to our Division Headquarters in Iraq 2009 while in command of the Coalition Force's MultiNational Division South at Basra.

That latter webpage uses text and images from a former website of Div HQ while it was deployed in Iraq.

"May they have no more hills to climb,
nor cold, nor rain, nor mud, nor enemy fire,
and may they now rest in Peace."

National Association
Communications • News • Notices

President: Pat Skelly
Secretary: Russ Bierl

•  Summer 2010 Newsletter (PDF File) 2010.MAY
•  Winter 2010 Newsletter (PDF File)
•  Fall 2009 Newsletter (PDF File)
•  Winter 2009 Newsletter (PDF File)
•  Fall 2008 Newsletter (PDF File)
• April 2008 Newsletter (PDF File)
• January 2008 Newsletter (PDF File)
• November 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)
• May 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)
• April 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)

The association's postal address is:
34th Infantry Division Association
Iowa Gold Star Museum, Bldg A-9
7105 NW 70th Avenue
Johnston IA 50131-1824

Council Bluffs Chapter
Communications • News • Notices

President: Robert E Wege
Secretary: Leslie L Jerome

This chapter, with about forty members, does not publish bulletins. Their members meet at monthly luncheons or dinners. They also host an annual Christmas Dinner.

The chapter's postal address is:
Council Bluffs Chapter
34th Infantry Division Association
208 Sylvan Dr
Council Bluffs IA 51503

Des Moines Chapter
Communications • News • Notices

President: Herman Poggensee
Secretary: Ken Andresen

• 2010-2011 Meetings Calendar (MS Word file)
• June 2010 Meeting Announcement and Report (Text file)
• April 2010 Meeting Announcement and Report (Text file)
• March 2010 Meeting Announcement and Report (Text file)
• February 2010 Meeting Announcement and Report (PDF file)
• 2010 National Reunion Assignments (MS Word file)

The chapter's postal address is:
Des Moines Chapter
34th Infantry Division Association
7105 NW 70th Ave, Camp Dodge
Johnston IA 50131-1824

Tri-State Chapter
Communications • News • Notices

President: John Minotti
Secretary: Rebecca Snyder Phillips

• 2010 Reunion (PDF File) 2010.JUN
• 2010 Membership (PDF File) 2010.JUN
• March 2009 Newsletter (PDF File)
• April 2008 Newsletter (PDF File)
• December 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)
• August 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)
• June 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)
• May 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)
• March 2007 Newsletter (PDF File)
• Standing Rules of the Chapter

The chapter's postal address is: 2010.JUN
Tri-State Chapter
34th Infantry Division Association
3439 Midvale Ave
Philadelphia PA 19129-1405

Principal Directory of Contents

If you have problems using these 'pull-down' menus, please let the Webmaster know; you may find it easier to use the SiteMap at the top of this page.
This Directory section is being redesigned, so don't expect perfection ... yet. Thanks.

Who Were We?
WW II Order of Battle - 34th Infantry Division

Headquarters, 34th Infantry Division
133rd Infantry Regiment
100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) [assigned Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno]
135th Infantry Regiment
168th Infantry Regiment
168th Commandos
442nd Regimental Combat Team [attached Rome-Arno]
   442nd Infantry Regiment
      100th Infantry Battalion
   232nd Engineeer (Combat) Company
   442nd Medical Detachment
   522nd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
34th Division Artillery
   34th Division Artillery Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
   125th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
      (normally in support of the 133rd Inf. Regt.)
   151st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
      (normally in support of the 135th Inf. Regt.)
   175th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
      (normally in support of the 168th Inf. Regt.)
   185th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
34th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
109th Engineer (Combat) Battalion
109th Medical Battalion
34th Division Special Troops
   Headquarters, Special Troops, 34th Division
   34th Infantry Division Headquarters Company
   34th Infantry Division Band
   Military Police Platoon, 34th Division
   34th Counter-Intelligence Detachment [attached]
   34th Quartermaster Company
   34th Signal Company
   734th Ordnance (Light Maintenance) Company

Other Attached Units

Jewish Infantry Brigade (attached Occupation)
A Company, 2nd Chemical Warfare Battalion (attached Naples-Foggia)
35th Quartermaster War Dog Platoon (attached North Apennines)
38th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon (attached Occupation)
72nd Signal Company (Special) (attached Naples-Foggia)
84th Chemical Mortar Battalion (attached North Apennines)
100th Chemical Mortar Battalion (attached North Apennines, Po Valley)
105th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self-Propelled) (attached Naples-Foggia)
107th Coast Artillery Battalion (AAA Automatic Weapons) Battalion (attached Tunisia)
A Company, 191st Tank Battalion (attached Naples-Foggia)
2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment (attached North Apennines)
432nd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion (attached North Apennines)
435th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self-Propelled) (attached Anzio)
443rd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self-Propelled) (attached Tunisia)
751st Tank Battalion (attached Tunisia)
752nd Tank Battalion (attached Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley, Occupation)
753rd Tank Battalion (attached Rome-Arno)
757th Tank Battalion (attached North Apennines)
776th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached Naples-Foggia)
804th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached North Apennines)
807th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached North Apennines)
813th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached Tunisia)
894th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached Rome-Arno)

and still other units which remain to be found, confirmed, and listed here.

Special Notes

The 100th Infantry Battalion (Nisei)(Separate), which stood in for the 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry, from September 1943 through May 1944, and the 442nd Infantry Regiment (Nisei) which was attached to our Division from June 1944 through August 1944, have an especially honored place in our memories and history. We are pleased and likewise honored that many of their veterans have come to look upon the "Red Bull" as their 'home' division. That Battalion is now deployed to Iraq!

The 1st Ranger Battalion, though not a part of the 34th Inf Div, was activated in 1942 with 80% of its personnel coming from this Division.

I'm delighted to report that I'm finding references to more units which were attached to the Division as I'm transcribing our narrative history documents; they all get recognized above. Please be aware, though, that attachments were often for periods of days or weeks, not for an entire campaign.

PDF (Portable Document Format) files may require Adobe Acrobat software for viewing. Please click on the image to the right if you need to load it on your system.
Updated 2010 June 26. Design Copyright © 2002-2010 Patrick Skelly, for the 34th Infantry Division Association. For further Website information, contact Pat Skelly, Webmaster. For further Association information, contact Russ Bierl, Secretary.	Member, Army Historical Foundation. Member, Army Herit

1st Lieutenant Robert O. Giroux

2010-06-04T03:11:00.000-07:00

Jun 2, 2010 Lance Giroux wrote:

My name is Lance Giroux. I live in Petaluma, California. My brother is Frank Giroux (Kearny Arizona), and my sister is Charlotte (Giroux) Johnson (Phoenix Arizona). Our father's name was Robert O. Giroux. During WWII he served as a lieutenant in the 109 Engineer Battalion, 34th Infantry Division. I just found his name mentioned twice in a blog posting with your email addresses listed.

Dad died October 15, 1981 in Kearny, Arizona, at the age of 60. I understood that he was medically retired from the Army as a result of injuries received in Italy at the Battle of Casino. After the war he married my mom, they moved to Tucson where my brother was born in 1946. Dad completed his college education at the University of Arizona. He then went to work as a mining engineer at the Ray Mine owned by Kennecott Copper Corporation. Except for a couple of years in the early 1950 when we lived in Kingman, Arizona, he lived all of the rest of his life in Ray AZ and then the small town of Kearny (near Ray) that grew in 1958 as a result of the mine's expansion.

From what I read in the blog, I am assuming that you knew him. The blog shows a Lt. Giroux was a platoon leader. In the blog near the mentioning of "Lt. Giroux" it also references a Lt. Belinski who died. "Mike Belinski" was a name my dad mentioned a lot as being his friend who was killed. If you or anyone else who may have served with him have any memories and photographs of my father please let me know, as my brother, sister and I would appreciate hearing from you. The impact of his experiences in the war greatly affected him for his entire life, and as a result affected everyone in our family. Anything that you can share with me that you feel OK about discussing with me/us would be much appreciated - from what platoon and company he served with, to what you knew of him when you served together, to what he was like ... anything at all, no matter what.

My brother, Frank, served as combat engineer in Viet Nam, and on returning to CONUS from Viet Nam as a NCO drill instructor at Ft. Leonard Wood. I served in the Army with the 25th Infantry Division (1973-1977) at Schoefield Barracks. My sister's former husband retired from the Air Force as an aircraft engine mechanic, and one of their son's served as an aircraft mechanic in the Navy aboard an aircraft carrier. So we have all have personal relationships with military service beyond what our father left us with.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this email, and for considering my request.

Also, if my connection is correct that you did serve with my father, thank you for anything that you may have done for him or that may have kept him alive or healthy when you knew him. And thank you for all that you gave in your years of service to our country.

I am attaching a scanned picture of my mom and dad taken on their wedding day in September 1945. I hope it brings good memories. You are welcome to post this picture in the blog, along with my slightly altered text of email that I sent you yesterday. Please see below to the end of this email for the text to post on the blog.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

Lance Giroux

PO Box 931 Petaluma, California 94953

tel 707-769-0328 mobile 707-364-2900

email: AlliedRonin@aol.com

____________________________________

From: Clif Hullinger clifhul@gmail.com

To: Lance Giroux alliedronin@aol.com

Hi Lance: Yes, I knew your father very well. He probably came to the 109th in Ireland when we got several new officers while getting ready for the Nov 8 invasion of North Africa. While our A company was part of the task force that took Algiers, the rest of us came later, got reorganized and moved to Tunisia. One platoon of Co. C was captured in the Kasserine Pass counter attack along with most of their combat team but the rest of us were involved in the final conquest of Tunisia. I have a history of our involvement in the Tunisian campaign and a list of the officers and men as of Jan. 3, 1943.

He is listed as Giroux, Robert O. 2nd Lieut. 0-1102742 Specl Serv Officer so apparently he had not yet been assigned to a company. Two other officers had similar serial numbers so were probably in his same group. 2nd Lt. Mike Belensky (0-1102622) had my platoon, and Lt. Louis Bianchetti (0-1102627) was in "B" Co. Other 2nd Lts. were Glenn, Hanna, Hummel, Mangler, King, McCormick, Reoh, Robertson, and Weidle.

The 3 line platoons staff Sgts in Company A were myself, Lyle Haug, and Joe Culver. Lt. Belensky had had my platoon since Ireland. King and Weidle had the other platoons. As we approached the major German line in Cassino, their delaying action stiffened and we started losing people. We were just north of the town of Venafro when Belensky was killed and King who was now acting Captain was wounded by a mine. Lt Sheets was wounded along with many of the third patoon in an air attack. My platoon lost our weapons squad in another attack. I don't know when Lt. Giroux came to lead Haug's platoon but he may have been the senior (and only) officer in the Company for a short time till the Bn reorganized.

You probably read Lyle Haug's story where he mentions Lt. Giroux in Craig's blog. Lyle died a few years ago but wrote his story from memory. He was a very good friend of mine, but his memory is about like other old soldier's so he made a few mistakes! He doesn't say anything about Lt. Giroux injury. I vaguely recall hearing that the platoon was building a bridge, a small bailey or similar at night. Anyway I heard that Lt. Giroux got his hand smashed. I know how easy it would be for such an accident but I don't know any more that that. When someone goes to an the medics, they don't send back reports so we would have never heard how serious it was unless he wrote back the details

If you have any other questions, let me know.

George Parker

2010-03-12T05:35:00.001-08:00

Sketch of George Parker Made in Italy

News Clips and photos on the 109th collected by George Parker and submitted by his niece, Cheryl Gillies

Hi,

Yesterday, I began to go through some photos and a box of letters written to my aunt, from her husband, George Parker, who was with the 109th, 34th Redbull, during WW II.

German Half Track

Anzio Annie

More Photos on the link below:

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=1dfa847db5ff6e15&sid=8AbtHDZy3aM2Ww

More about George E. Parker at:

http://georgeeparker.blogspot.com/

109th Engineers 34th Division

Henry Sorenson

Ernie Pyle

Good Article on WWII

Earl, Gene, and Jeff Minier

Earl Minier and Gene Minier

109th Combat Engineers

Johnny Boyd

Committee for the Recognition of US Actions on Mount Pantano

Ben Kaiser

Medal Request PFC Benjamin Kaiser WW II

Benjamin Kaiser, Kenneth A Helseth and Roy T Fran

WW1 and WW2 era helmets

Clif Hullinger

34th Infantry Division Association Newsletter

News, Notes, and Updates

Current Forces News

Red Bull Veterans Search Forum

Newsletters

Featured Items

135th Infantry Regiment in World War II

168th Infantry Regiment in North Africa

Taps, Again: Troops in Harm's Way

President: Pat SkellySecretary: Russ Bierl

President: Robert E WegeSecretary: Leslie L Jerome

President: Herman PoggenseeSecretary: Ken Andresen

President: John MinottiSecretary: Rebecca Snyder Phillips

Principal Directory of Contents

Who Were We?WW II Order of Battle - 34th Infantry Division

Special Notes

1st Lieutenant Robert O. Giroux

George Parker

President: Pat Skelly
Secretary: Russ Bierl

President: Robert E Wege
Secretary: Leslie L Jerome

President: Herman Poggensee
Secretary: Ken Andresen

President: John Minotti
Secretary: Rebecca Snyder Phillips

Who Were We?
WW II Order of Battle - 34th Infantry Division