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FLASH
INTRO -Turn on your sound. When it starts hit the F11 key
on/off for full screen. |
88TH
INFANTRY
DIVISION |
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88th
Anti Tank Co. |
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88th
Band |
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88th
Mil. Police Co. |
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88th
Q'master Co. |
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88th
Recon. Troop Co. |
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88th
Signal Co. |
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913th
Field Art'y Bn. |
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788th
Ordnance Co. |
UNITS
TEMPORARILY
ASSIGNED
TO THE 88TH |
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442nd
Infantry Reg. |
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752nd
Tank Reg. |
88TH
INFANTRY
DIVISION
INFORMATION |
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88th
Infantry Division
Assoc. Newsletters |
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AUDIO |
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BATTLES |
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San
Pietro |
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Santa
Maria Infante
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CAMPAIGNS |
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Naples-Foggia |
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DISTINGUISHED
UNIT
CITATIONS |
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GENERALS |
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Mark
Wayne Clark |
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Dwight
D. Eisenhower |
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James
C. Fry |
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Paul
W. Kendall |
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Bryant
E. Moore |
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Benard
Montgomery |
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George
S. Patton |
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John
E. Sloan |
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Lucious
Truscott |
MAGAZINES
ARTICLES |
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MAPS |
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Strategic
WW2 Maps |
MEDALS |
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Identification |
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Bronze
Star |
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Combat
Infantryman |
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Distinguished
Service Cross |
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Distinguished
Service Medal |
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Legion
of Merit |
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Medal
of Honor |
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Purple
Heart |
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Silver
Star |
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Soldier's
Medal |
MESTAS
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLES |
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Mestas'
Sister
Nurse At Buckley |
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Renaming
Official |
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MT.MESTAS |
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Geology
Report |
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Mt.
Mestas Pictures |
MT.MESTAS
MEMORIAL
MONUMENT |
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Memorial
Day
Dedication Speach |
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Monument
Pictures |
MUSIC |
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NEWSPAPERS |
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The
Blue Devil |
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Stars
and Stripes |
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Yank |
NEWSLETTERS
88TH DIVISION
ASSSOCIATION |
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1970s |
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1980s |
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1990s |
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2000s |
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2010s |
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Operation |
PICTURES |
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88th
Infantry Div. |
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349th
Infantry Reg. |
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350th
Infantry Reg. |
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Other
88th Units |
PRISONERS
OF WAR |
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88th
POWS |
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German
POW Camps |
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German
POWs |
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US
POWs in Italy |
RESEARCH |
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Links |
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Finding
Records |
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Replacing
Medals |
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Searching
for Vets. |
SICILY |
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Invasion |
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Operation |
VIDEO |
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"Battaglia"
Trifecta
Film Winner 2007 |
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Battle
of San Pietro |
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Camp
Gruber 1942
88th Basic Training
Documentary |
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349th
Infantry Reg.
1944 Combat Film
Cornuda, Italy |
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88th
Infantry Div.
Prisoners of War
German Newsreel |
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88th
Infantry Div.
Veteran Interviews |
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More> |
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Silver Star |
PFC
Felix Belois Mestas, Jr.
Company
G
350th Infantry Regiment
88th Infantry Division
Blue Devils
Died
in Battle
September 29, 1944
Monte Battaglia, Italy
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Aug.
23, 1921
Sep. 29, 1944 |
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PFC Felix B. Mestas, Jr.
The Unknown Hero
of Battle Mountain
"September,
1944. The Appenine mountains in Italy were
misted with the first of winter's chill
as members of Company G of the 350th Infantry
struggled up the muddy slopes of Mount Battaglia.
Company G was about to face its bloodiest
confrontation of World War II. There would
be only three survivors and they would live
because of one soldier's sacrafice."
Source:Mt.Mestas
- The Hero Behind The Mountain |
Private First Class Felix B. Mestas,
Jr. died a hero's death on an Italian battlefront
in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II on
29 September 1944, just a month after his 23rd birthday.
His bravery that day was reported but for a time his
identity remained a mystery, lending him the title
of "The Unknown Hero of Battle Mountain". Soon after,
the complete story came out.
The
Battle
Mountain Regiment
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The
350th Infantry Regiment was
awarded the Distinguished
Unit Citation for Monte Battaglia
and took the nickname "The
Battle Mountain Regiment".
--->Read Citation. |
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There
were only 442 Medal of Honor
citations in all of WW2.
265 of them were awarded
to U.S. Army persons. Two
were awarded to men of the
88th.
On
June 21, 2000, 22 World
War II Asian American veterans
and others of Asian descent
were awarded the Medal of
Honor for a total 464 WW2
medals.
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Captain
Robert E. Roeder
Company G
350th Infantry Regiment
PFC
Mestas' company
commander, Capt.
Roeder, received
a Medal of Honor
for his actions
at Monte Battaglia
27-28 Sep. 1944. |
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Second Lieutenant
Charles W. Shea
Company F
350th Infantry Regiment
Second
Lieutenant Charles
W. Shea received
a Medal of Honor
for his actions
near Mount Damiano,
Italy, 12 May 1944. |
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Private
First Class
Felix B. Mestas
Company G
350th Infantry Regiment
PFC
Mestas was investigated
for a Medal of Honor
citation. Some think
that possibly he didn't
receive one because
of his Hispanic heritage.
He was postumously
awarded the Silver
Star Medal.
Read
"Silver Star or Medal
of Honor?" Col.
Edwin Todd Wheatley,
Jr.'s, story about
advocating for a Mestas
Medal of Honor upgrade. |
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Mt.Mestas
Mt.
Baldy, a nearby mountain that had
been Junior's favorite place for
all his life, was renamed Mt.Mestas
in his honor.
See Congressional
Record --->
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The Mt.Mestas
Memorial Monument was erected at
a highway turn-out atop the mountain's
La Veta Pass highway. Made of Colorado
rose granite taken from the mountain
itself, it was engraved with the
names of 63 men of Huerfano County
who died in World War II.
See
Memorial page --- >
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88th
Division
Route Map Poster
of World War II
This 88th Infantry
Division World War 2 Route
Map poster was sold by
the 88th Infantry Division
Association at their 50th
Anniversary reunion in
1992. Only 1700 copies
were printed. This rare
poster has only appeared
on Ebay once in the last
15 years and it sold for
$90.
I have half size
11x17 reprints of the
original of this poster
is for sale for $20 plus
$7 s/h. Combined shipping
on multiple orders.
Ordering:
CLICK
HERE
For other payment
methods contact me at
Hello@MtMestas.com
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The
88th
Infantry Division
In Words and Pictures
The Invasion of Italy is one of the least
documented areas of the
War.
We are trying to recreate the 15,000
man roster of the 88th Infantry
Division through pictures
for a Pictures and Bios
CD. We're looking for any
bios, stories or World War
II photos of the 88th Infantry
Division in the U.S. or
any photos of the 88th in
the USA, Africa or Italy
during World War II or from
the Triest Occupation period
1945-47. If you would like
to contribute please email
us at Hello@MtMestas.com. |
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The
88th Infantry Division
"Blue Devils"
The 88th Infantry
Division was the first organized Reserve Division
to go overseas, and also the first to enter combat.
During the time it was in combat, from March 4 1944
to May 2 1945, the Blue Devils suffered over four
thousand battle casualties, of whom twelve hundred
were killed in action.
Statistics
Activated: |
15
July 1942 |
Overseas: |
6
Dec 1943 |
Campaigns |
Rome-Arno |
North Apennines |
Po Valley |
Days
of combat: |
317
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Killed
in Action: |
2,137
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Wounded
in Action: |
8,248
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Missing
in Action: |
521
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Captured |
379
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Total
Casualties |
11,258
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Awards
Medal
of Honor: |
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2 |
Distinguished
Service Cross: |
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40
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Distinguished
Service Medal: |
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2
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Silver
Star: |
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522
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Legion
of Merit: |
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66
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Soldier's
Medal: |
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19
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Bronze
Star Medal: |
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3,784
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Combat
Infantryman's
Badge: |
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Regiments cited for outstanding
performance of duty in action. |
Laiatico,
Italy
9 - 13 July 1944
3rd Battalion
351st Infantry Regiment
The 3rd Battalion,
351st Infantry Regiment, is cited
for outstanding performance of duty
in action during the period 9 to
13 Jnly 1944 in the vicinity of
Laiatico, Italy.
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Monte
Battaglia, Italy
27 Sep - 3 Oct
1944
2nd Battalion
350th Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Battalion,
350th Infantry Regiment is cited
for outstanding performance of duty
in action during the period 27 September
to 3 October 1944 at Mt. Battaglia,
Italy.
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Monte
Capello, Italy
27 Sep - 1 Oct 1944
2nd Battalion
351st Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Battalion, 351st
Infantry Regiment is cited for
outstanding performance of duty
in action during the period 27
September to 1 October 1944, near
Mt.Capello,
Itlay.
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Monte
Battaglia
Shall e'er
forgotten be Battaglia's
height, "Gainst which the trait'rous
Hun cast all his might? Where many
a noble Yank now sleeps at rest,
with Coldstream too, upon that castled
crest.
Shall be forgot
the Valmaggiore Trail, that path of
sticky mud and glutinous shine. Winding
its treacherous way o'er hill and
vale, shall we forget it ever in our
time?
Full many
a tiring mile we toiled and fell.
But ever up and onward to this hill
for hill it was when Jerry let things
fly and many a cherished son marched
there - to die.
Many a Hun
attack was launched in vain and on
the ground was left his bloody stain.
For Coldstream Guards, the Scots and
Welsh Guards, too, defended to the
death - and saw it through.
Noble and
proud the Castle stood on high; That
undefeated Watchtower, 'gainst the
sky. Stern by day, but somehow changed
at night, "Twas almost human
in the waning light.
Could it but
speak, a wondrous tale 'twould tell,
how on Battaglia's slopes men fought
and fell. In grim defence against
th'attacking Hun, and many a grave
was there when it was done.
American,
Coldstream, Welsh - aye, German, too,
lie scattered round the Castle, 'neath
the blue. And in our memories the
Guards still keep, the Castle, and
Battaglia's massive steep.
S.B. Hill - Italy
- 20 April 1945 |
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MtMestas.com
88th Infantry
Division
Blue Devils
Research Library
MtMestas.com
is dedicated to
establishing an
extensive research
library of
Documents, Photographs
and Resources for
continuing your
research of the
88th Infantry Division
in the Invasion
of Italy and the
TRUST phases of
World War 2. |
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Silver
Star
or
Medal
of
Honor
?
Silver
Star
Revisited
by
(Ret.)
Col.
Todd
Wheatley
|
Col.
Edwin
Todd
Wheatley,
Jr.,
was
a
bootcamp
bunkmate
of
Pvt.
Felix
B.
Mestas,
Jr.
and
spent
his
later
years
advocating
for
a
Medal
of
Honor
upgrade
for
his
friend.
Mr.
Wheatley
authored
the
article
"Silver
Star
or
Medal
of
Honor?"
about
this
work,
which
was
published
in
a
national
medal
collectors
magazine
he
was
associated
with
in
June
2003.
|
Read:
Todd
Wheatley
bio |
Col.
Edwin
Todd
Wheatley,
Jr.
7
Jul
1924
-
29
May
2004
|
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"Todd
Wheatley
was
well
respected
amoung
his
friends
and
several
have
expressed
how
much
he
cared
about
Felix
B.
Mestas,
Jr.
I've
been
told
that
he
would
have
been
happy
to
give
his
permission
for
the
reprinting
of
his
article,
and
especially
because
it
is
being
reprinted
on
a
website
of
a
relative
of
PFC
Mestas."
Source:
MtMestas.com
expresses
gratitude
to
Todd's
friend
Tom
E.
Kullgren
for
providing
the
magazine
and
bios
and
to
Dick
Flory,
JOMSA
Editor
for
permissiom
to
reproduce
the
Wheatley
article
here
on
the
website.
Thank
you.
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1942 |
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15
Jul - |
Activated
at Camp Gruber,
Oklahoma under
the command of
Major General
John E. Sloan. |
1943 |
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Jun- |
The
88th participated
in Third Army
Louisiana Maneuvers
#3. |
Aug- |
The
division moved
to Fort Sam Houston,
Texas. |
Nov- |
The
division stages
at Camp Patrick
Henry, Virginia. |
15
Dec- |
The 88th arrivived
at Casablanca,
French Morocco
from the Hampton
Roads Port of
Embarcation. |
26
Dec- |
An
advance party
of the 88th echelon
departed for Italy. |
28
Dec- |
The
Division moved
to Magenta, Algeria
and conducted
intensive training
for employment
in Italy. |
1944 |
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4
Jan- |
The
division went
into the line
as observers attached
to 3rd, 34th,
and 36th Infantry
Divisions, and
the British 5th,
46th, and 56th
Divisions. |
3
Jan- |
A member of this
advance echelon
became the 88th’s
first KIA when
Sergeant William
A. Streuli of
Paterson, New
Jersey (a forward
observer in B/339th
Field Artillery
Battalion) was
killed by fragments
from a bomb dropped
by a Luftwaffe
aircraft in the
34th Infantry
Division sector.
Lieutenant Elwin
Ricketts, Battery
B Executive Officer,
became the first
WIA when he was
wounded in the
same attack. |
6
Feb- |
The main body
of the 88th was
transported to
Italy in early
February and concentrated
around Piedimonte
d'Alife for combat
training. |
27
Feb- |
The first 88th
Division unit
into the line
was 2nd Battalion,
351st Infantry,
which relieved
elements of the
Texas Division’s
141st Infantry
Regiment near
Cervaro. |
28
Feb- |
The first artillery
round fired in
combat by an 88th
DIVARTY unit was
sent downrange
by Battery C,
913th Field Artillery
Battalion. It's
target was a registration
point at the Monte
Cassino Abbey,
the rubble of
which was occupied
by the Germans
after the Allies
bombed it. |
4
Mar- |
The entire Division
moved into the
line at 1000 hours. |
5
Mar- |
The division assumed
responsibility
for the sector
previously occupied
by the British
5th Division.
At the same time,
the 88th came
under the control
of the British
X Corps, and deployed
its three infantry
regiments on line
from the Mediterranean
into the foothills
to the east. Opposing
the 88th in the
strong fortified
positions of the
Gustav Line, were
the German 71st
and 94th Infantry
Divisions. The
Blue Devil infantry
spent the next
two months occupying
and improving
defensive positions
and patrolling,
while DIVARTY
fired harassing
and interdiction
missions at German
positions and
suspected and
known lines of
communication. |
11
May- |
At
2300 the Allied
front in Italy
began their last
attack on the
Gustav Line with
the the 88th.
In less than an
hour, the 350th
Infantry Regiment
captured Mt. Damiano,
key terrain overlooking
the flank of the
French units attacking
on the Division’s
right. |
12
May- |
In that action,
Staff Sergeant
Charles W. Shea
of F/350th took
charge of his
platoon after
the platoon leader
was killed and
the platoon sergeant
was wounded, and
led an assault
which knocked
the defenders
out of their well-prepared
positions. For
his actions that
day, Staff Sergeant
Shea became the
first Blue Devil
to earn the Medal
of Honor. |
11-14
May- |
The rest of the
Division also
pushed hard and
forced the stubborn
foe off the Gustav
Line. The 351st
Infantry stormed
into Santa Maria
Infante and engaged
in a particularly
bitter battle
with the German
defenders there.
After more than
two days of vicious
combat, the 351st
seized Santa Maria. |
11
May- |
The
88th drove north
to take Spigno,
Mount Civita,
Itri, Fondi, and
Roccagorga. As
the 349th Infantry
Regiment passed
through the 351st
and continued
the attack to
the north, the
88th’s operations
took on aspects
of a pursuit.
Through towns
like Itri, Fondi,
and Roccgorga,
the Blue Devils
drove on toward
Rome, effectively
destroying the
German 94th Infantry
Division in the
process. So badly
battered was the
94th that it had
to be withdrawn
to Germany for
reconstitution,
and did not return
to combat until
October. |
29
May- |
Elements of the
88th made contact
with Allied units
breaking out of
the Anzio beachhead,
reached Anzio
on 29 May, and
pursued the enemy
into Rome. |
4
Jun- |
Elements
of the 88th were
the first to enter
the Rome. After
the fall of Rome,
the 88th was pulled
out of the line
to refit and prepare
for subsequent
operations. |
11
Jun- |
After continuing
across the Tiber
to Bassanelio
the 88th retired
for rest and training. |
5
Jul- |
The Division went
into defensive
positions near
Pomerance and
relieved the 1st
Armored Division
in the vicinity. |
8
Jul- |
The
Division attacked
Volterra at 0500
with the 349th
and 350th Infantry
Regiments abreast,
with the 351st
in reserve. Intending
to envelop the
objective from
both sides, the
attack successfully
drove the defenders
of the veteran
90th Panzer Grenadier
Division from
their choice terrain.
Volterra was secure
by 2200 hours. |
9
Jul- |
While performing
security duties
on the Division’s
left flank, the
351st Infantry
Regiment unexpectedly
ran into a hornet’s
nest near Laiatico
on 9 July. Here,
the regiment encountered
Grenadier Regiment
1060, an element
of the recently-disbanded
92nd Infantry
Division now attached
to the 362nd Infantry
Division, as well
as other elements
of the 90th Panzer
Grenadiers. |
12
Jul- |
The 351st Regiment
attacked again
on the 12th with
the 2nd and 3rd
Battalions up
and the 1st in
reserve. The 3rd
Battalion tore
into the 1060th’s
1st Battalion,
destroying it
and killing the
enemy battalion
commander. |
13
Jul- |
All
regimental objectives
were secure; for
its part in the
attack, the 3rd
Battalion, 351st
Infantry Regiment
was later awarded
the Distinguished
Unit Citation. |
13
Jul- |
Villamagna
fell. |
20
Jul- |
The
Arno River was
crossed. |
25
Jul- |
By
25 July, the Fifth
Army’s offensive
power had been
spent; the loss
of VI Corps and
its veteran 3rd,
36th, and 45th
Infantry Divisions
to the impending
invasion of Southern
France prevented
it from continuing
the drive further
to the north.
The removal of
the French Expeditionary
Corps for participation
in the same operation
also diminished
Allied combat
power in Italy.
Above the Arno,
the units of the
Germans’ Army
Group Southwest
were finishing
their preparations
for defense of
the Gothic Line,
and the Allied
forces of the
US Fifth and British
Eighth Armies
were going to
require every
ounce of power
they could muster
to breach the
heavily fortified
line in the mountains
that ran from
the Ligurian coast
in the east to
the Adriatic in
the west. |
Aug- |
Major
General Sloan
was transferred
first to a hospital
in Italy, then
to the States
for treatment
of a recurring
disease. General
Sloan was succeeded
by the Division’s
Assistant Commander,
Brigadier General
Paul W. Kendall. |
10
Sep- |
Allied
forces in Italy
attacked toward
the Gothic Line
and penetrated
it in the central
and Adriatic sectors. |
21 Sep- |
After
a period of rest
and training,
the Division opened
its assault on
the Gothic Line
and advanced rapidly
along the Firenzuola-Imola
road, taking Mount
Battaglianear
near Casola Valsenio
on the 28th. |
27
Sep- |
The
2nd Battalion
- 351st Infantry
Regiment earns
the Distinguished
Unit Citation
for Monte Cappello.
The fighting raged
for days, sometimes
literally at bayonet
point,until the
1st and 2nd Battalions
secured the top
of the mountain. |
27-28
Sep- |
Captain
Robert Roeder,
CO of Company
G, was awarded
the Medal of Honor
for his actions
at Monte Battaglia. |
27
Sep- |
The
2nd Battalion
- 350th Infantry
Regiment earns
the Distinguished
Unit Citation
for Monte Battaglia. |
30
Sep- |
The
349th Infantry
Regiment attack
the village of
Belvedere enroute
to its objective,
Mt. Grande. |
20-22
Oct- |
The
enemy counterattacked
savagely and
heavy fighting
continued on
the line toward
the Po Valley.
The strategic
positions of
Mount Grande
and Farnetto
were taken on
20 and 22 October. |
24
Oct- |
Company G, 351st
came closest to
breaking through,
but was literally
wiped out at Vedriano,
southeast of Bologna,
on 24 October. |
26
Oct-
|
The
88th went over
to the defensive
in late October
patrolling in
the Mount Grande-Mount
Cerrere sector
and the Mount
Fano improved
positions, and
rehabilitated
its combat troops. |
22
Nov- |
The
Division relieved
the 85th Infantry
Division in its
sector. |
1945 |
|
13
Jan- |
The
Division was relieved
for general rehabilitation. |
24
Jan- |
The
division was
committed in
relief of the
91st Infantry
Division near
Loiano and Livergnano
and after more
patrolling and
maintenance
of defensive
positions, the
Division was
pulled out of
the line again
for further
rehabilitation
and special
training for
the impending
spring offensive
to 2 Mar. |
1
Apr- |
That
offensive, which
would finally
defeat the Wehrmacht
in Italy, commenced
with a supporting
attack by the
92nd Infantry
Division on
the Ligurian
coast in the
west to draw
German forces
away from the
point of the
impending main
effort. |
9
Apr- |
Another
supporting attack,
in much greater
strength, was
launched by the
British Eighth
Army on the Adriatic
coast on 9 April.
Finally, with
the German reserves
being decisively
committed to meet
these attacks
at the extreme
ends of the line
in Italy, on 14
April, Fifth Army
jumped off in
the main attack
against the German
center. |
15
Apr- |
The
88th’s attack
began at 2230
hours on 15
April, as its
infantry regiments
lunged toward
Monterumici.
In two days
the Blue Devils
knocked the
German defenders
off the key
ridge. |
17
Apr- |
Monterumici
fell on the 17th
after an intense
barrage. |
24
Apr- |
The
Po River was
crossed as the
88th pursued
the enemy toward
the Alps. |
25
Apr- |
Verona
fell. |
28 Apr- |
Vicenza fell. |
2
May- |
The
88th was driving
through the Dolomite
Alps toward Innsbruck,
Austria to link
up with the 103rd
Infantry Division,
when the hostilities
ended on 2 May
1945. German forces
in Italy surrendered
although it took
until early the
next day to notify
all Blue Devil
units of the capitulation. |
4
May- |
Elements
of the 349th Infantry
Regiment linked
up with units
from the 103rd
Infantry Division’s
409th Infantry
Regiment coming
down from Austria
where German forces
had yet to surrender
in the Brenner
Pass. |
7
Jun- |
The
88th Division
assumed POW
Command duties
to repatriate
a minimum of
100,000 Germans
and to form
an estimated
120,000 of them
into service
units. POW strength
figures at the
time indicated
that the 88th
Division had
approximately
295,000 Germans
available to
accomplish this
dual mission.
Later figures
raised this
total above
320,000 as Germans
came in out
of the hills,
unguarded German
service units
were discovered
and taken over,
and responsibility
for the Czech
PWs was transferred
from the Fifth
Army to the
Division. |
1947
to 1954 |
The
88th in Occupation
and the Free
Territory of
Trieste Trust
Period.
TRUST stands
for Trieste
United States
Troops, the
5,000 man U.S.
contingent based
in the Free
Terrority of
Trieste created
in 1947. The
Free State was
established
in 1947 in order
to accomodate
an ethnically
and culturally
mixed population
in a neutral
country between
Italy and Yugoslavia.
After
the war, the
88th Infantry
Division on
occupation duty
in Italy guarded
the Morgan Line
from positions
in Italy and
Trieste until
15 September
1947. It was
then withdrawn
to Livorno and
inactivated.
The 351st Infantry
was relieved
from assignment
to the division
on 1 May 1947
and served as
the main component
of a garrison
command in the
Free Territory
of Trieste,
securing the
disputed border
between Italy
and Yugoslavia.
The
command served
as the front
line in the
Cold War from
1947 to 1954,
including confrontations
with Yugoslavian
forces. In October
1954 the territory
was ceded to
Italy and administration
turned over
to the Italian
Army.
TRUST
units, which
included a number
of 88th divisional
support units,
all bore a unit
patch which
was the coat
of arms of the
Free Territory
of Trieste superimposed
over the divisional
quarterfoil,
over which was
a blue scroll
containing the
designation
"TRUST" in white." |
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The
Beginning
of the Cold
War |
On
31 May, 1945
the 88th gave
Bolanzo over
to the Allied
Italian troops,
but since
tensions were
so high between
the Italians
and the Germans,
the 349th
Infantry stayed
to prevent
trouble.
The
rest of the
division was
sent to Lake
Garda, where
they were
given the
assignment
of guarding
300,000 POWs.
Some of the
soldiers had
enough points
to ship out
during the
summer, while
others were
moved to Trieste
for occupation
in the fall.
Many of them
remained in
Italy for
the next two
years.
The
city of Trieste
in the northern
Adriatic was
the center
of long-standing
Italo-Yugoslav
territorial
struggle at
the end of
World War
II. The United
States assumed
a key role
in this dispute
by joining
Britain in
taking on
temporary
military administration
of the city
to prevent
its occupation
by Tito's
Yugoslavia
until a settlement
could be reached
at the peace
table. This
"temporary"
Anglo-American
control of
Trieste lasted
nearly a decade,
until the
sovereignty
question was
finally resolved
in 1954 in
favor of Italy.
The
88th Infantry
Division was
fighting in
the Dolomite
Alps of Austria
when the war
ended in May
of 1945.
After
the war the
Division,
on occupation
duty in Italy,
guarded the
Morgan Line
from positions
in Italy and
Trieste until
15 September
1947. It was
then withdrawn
to Livorno
and inactivated.
The
351st Infantry
was relieved
from assignment
to the division
on 1 May 1947
and served
as the main
component
of a garrison
command in
the Free Territory
of Trieste,
securing the
disputed border
between Italy
and Yugoslavia.
The
command served
as the front
line in the
Cold War from
1947 to 1954,
including
confrontations
with Yugoslavian
forces. In
October 1954
the territory
was ceded
to Italy and
administration
turned over
to the Italian
Army.
In
1947, Trieste
was declared
an independent
city state
under the
protection
of the United
Nations as
the Free Territory
of Trieste.
The territory
was divided
into two zones,
A and B, along
the Morgan
Line, established
in 1945.
From
1947 to 1954,
the A Zone was
governed by
the Allied Military
Government,
composed of
the American
"Trieste
United States
Troops"
(TRUST), commanded
by Major General
Bryant E. Moore,
the commanding
general of the
American 88th
Infantry Division,
and the "British
Element Trieste
Forces"
(BETFOR), commanded
by Sir Terence
Airey, who were
the joint forces
commander and
also the military
governors. Zone
A covered almost
the same area
of the current
Italian Province
of Trieste,
except for four
small villages
south of Muggia,
which were given
to Yugoslavia
after the dissolution
of the Free
Territory in
1954. Zone B,
which remained
under the military
administration
of the Yugoslav
People's Army,
was composed
of the north-westernmost
portion of the
Istrian peninsula,
between the
river Mirna
and the Debeli
Rtic cape. |
|
In
1954, the
Free Territory
of Trieste
was dissolved.
The vast majority
of Zone A,
including
the city of
Trieste, was
ceded to Italy.
Zone B became
part of Yugoslavia,
along with
four villages
from the Zone
A (Plavje,
Spodnje Škofije,
Hrvatini,
and Jelarji),
and was divided
among the
Socialist
Republic of
Slovenia and
Croatia. The
annexation
of Trieste
to Italy was
officially
announced
on 26 October
1954, and
was welcomed
by the majority
of the Trieste
population.
The
final border
line with
Yugoslavia,
and the status
of the ethnic
minorities
in the areas,
was settled
in 1975 with
the Treaty
of Osimo.
This line
is now the
border between
Italy and
Slovenia.
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349th
Infantry
"Kraut
Killers"
Regiment
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History
Constituted in the National
Army 5 August 1917 as the
349th Infantry Regiment,
assigned to the 88th Division.
Organized 30 August 1917
at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Demobilized
12 June 1919 at Camp Dodge.
(88th Division demobilized
10 June 1919, relieving
components from assignment;
reorganized in 1921 in the
Organized Reserves.) Reconstituted,
allotted to the Organized
Reserves, assigned to the
88th Division, VII Corps
Area, 24 June 1921, and
organized in October 1921.
Ordered into active military
service, less personnel,
and organized 15 July 1942
at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma,
as an element of the 88th
Infantry Division. Inactivated
22 September-7 October 1947
in the vicinity of Livorno,
Italy. Organized Reserves
redesignated Organized Reserve
Corps in March 1948; redesignated
Army Reserve in 1952.
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350th
Infantry
"Battle
Mountain"
Regiment
|
|
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History
Constituted in the National
Army 5 August 1917 as
the 350th Infantry Regiment,
assigned to the 88th Division.
Organized 27 August 1917
at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Demobilized
5-8 June 1919 at Camp
Dodge. (88th Division
demobilized 10 June 1919,
relieving components from
assignment; reorganized
in 1921 in the Organized
Reserves.) Reconstituted,
allotted to the Organized
Reserves, assigned to
the 88th Division, VII
Corps Area, 24 June 1921,
and organized in October
1921. Ordered into active
military service, less
personnel, and organized
15 July 1942 at Camp Gruber,
Oklahoma, as an element
of the 88th Infantry Division.
Inactivated 23 September-16
October 1947 at Livorno,
Italy. Relieved from assignment
to the 88th Infantry Division
on 28 May 1948. Activated
15 June 1948 in Austria.
Withdrawn from allotment
to the Reserves and allotted
to the Regular Army 1
December 1951.
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351st
Infantry
"Spearhead"
Regiment
|
|
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History
Constituted in the National
Army 5 August 1917 as
the 351st Infantry Regiment,
assigned to the 88th
Division. Organized
30 August 1917 at Camp
Dodge, Iowa. Demobilized
7 June 1919 at Camp
Dodge. (88th Division
demobilized 10 June
1919, relieving components
from assignment; reorganized
in 1921 in the Organized
Reserves.) Reconstituted,
allotted to the Organized
Reserves, assigned to
the 88th Division, VII
Corps Area, 24 June
1921, and organized
in October 1921. Ordered
into active military
service, less personnel,
and organized 15 July
1942 at Camp Gruber,
Oklahoma, as an element
of the 88th Infantry
Division. Relieved of
assignment to the 88th
Infantry Division 1
May 1947. Withdrawn
from the Reserves and
allotted to the Regular
Army in 1951.
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MESTAS
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
|
"His bravery that day was
reported but for a time
his identity remained
a mystery,
lending him the title
of "The Unknown Hero of
Battle Mountain". Soon
after, the complete story
came out.
"
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88th
Infantry Division
Route
Map Poster
of World War
2
|
This
88th Infantry
Division World
War 2 route
map poster
was
sold by the
88th Infantry
Division Association
at their 50th
Anniversary
reunion in
1992. Only
1700 copies
were printed.
This rare
poster has
only appeared
once on Ebay
in the last
10 years and
sold for $90.
The
poster shows
historical
information
depicting
the route
of the 88th
Infantry Division
and the 349th,
350th and
351st Infantry
Regiments
through Italy
from September
1943 to May
1945. |
|
The
original artist,
Mr. John Smith,
Sr., was in
the 349th Infantry
Regiment and
by special arrangement
with Mr. Smith,
this poster
is available
again, printed
on poster media
in half size
at 11"x17"
from the original
artwork and
shipped in a
rolled poster
tube with artist
bio included.
Ask for details. |
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The Mt.Mestas
Memorial Monument |
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The
Mt.Mestas Memorial Monument
was erected of Colorado
rose granite from the mountain
and engraved with the names
of 63 men of Huerfano County
who died in World War II.
Every Memorial Day and Veterans
Day since, people have gathered
at the mountain monument
to pay tribute to all of
La Veta and Walsenburg's
fallen war heros.
Where and how these men
died is all but forgotten.
If you know any of the names
or family of the men listed
on the Monument or stories
or old pictures of the Monument
please contact us.
-
Click here for www.MtMestasMemorialMonument.com
website.
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