The 30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII - All New Discussions

St. Barthelemy, August 6-8, 1944, 117th Infantry, Co. C

Bob Kenney — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:33:11 -0700

I am including here an excerpt from my father's recollections of his wartime service, which he wrote in the late 1970s. I would be interested in any leads that anyone has on other recollections of 117/C's desperate fight at St. Barthelemy on August 6-8. My father was Robert J. Kenney (1921-2005).

"About midday [on August 8], a little after noon, all hell broke loose. It seemed that the enemy had us in their sights and were raining heavy mortar fire down on us with regularity. All of the trees and tops of the hedgerows were stripped by the devastating enemy fire. The sergeant and lieutenant dived into a foxhole to wait out the storm. I looked around and my hole was taken; I ripped off my knapsack (an action which later could have cost my life) laid my gun against the hedgerow and squeezed in with two other GIs who were digging like burrows for China. The shelling kept up throughout the whole field. On several occasions, we slipped out, fired a few rounds and then dived back into the hole. This hole was deep -- thank God. The only damage I suffered was a shell fragment wound in my hand. On many occasions, we started out only to be beaten back by the mortar barrage.

The enemy obviously had us accurately in their sights and were softening us up for the kill. At about 2:30, just as quickly as it started, the shelling seemed to stop, I started out of my hole and was reaching for my gun when I looked up at the lieutenant in front of me. He had his hands in the air. I looked beyond him and saw three Germans with machine pistols aimed in our direction. I don't know what I would have done if I could have reached my gun or had my rifle with me when the Germans appeared."

William Henry Bouzan

BillBouzan — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:11 -0700

William Henry Bouzan was my father and he served with the 639th Artillery Battery D can any one help me to put together some history of him and the stories of his unit. Thank you for any help

Adrian F Vetter Co. B. 119th

Harold Vetter — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:05:07 -0700

Sorry. . . Mr. Hegen sent the map, AAR, etc.

Anyone know Tech. Sgt. Adrian F. Vetter Co. B 119th

Harold Vetter — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:59:54 -0700

Thanks to Mr. Towers for so much information about 30th Division records I now have his IDPF and his personnel records. Also Mr. has contributed the After Action Report of the day and several preceding and following his death and a map of the area. Thanks to both of them. I have yet to find anyone that served with him in Co. B. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Harold Vetter email address: haroldvetter@bellsouth.net

Looking for info on my Great Uncle Pfc. Efird D. Beck

Bobby Beck — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:26:25 -0700

I just obtained a copy of my Uncle,s Memorial service. I,ve heard stories on how he was killed ; It say's that he and his Company were attacking an enemy fortification near the town of Dorston Germany. He was killed on March 26 1945. If anyone has any info on him or anyone that may have known him I would be forever grateful. Thanks to all of you Heroes that provide us with the Freedom that we enjoy. Bobby Beck becksstone@yahoo.com

WWII KIA

Leona Gadd — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:14:43 -0700

My uncle Richard Keith was killed in action in Belgium on October 4, 1944. We have very little information on him. Mainly notification of death and graveyard information. My mother is now 84 and there are so many unanswered questions about her brother. Any information would be appreciated.

PFC Everett O. Graves

Ron — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:22:00 -0700

Looking for info on my great uncle- PFC Everett O. Graves. I'm an active duty Army First Sergeant trying to trace some of my family history. I believe my uncle was in the 119th INF and KIA on/about 31 July 1944. Not sure what company he was in. He was initially buried in Europe and his remains were brought back to Akron, Ohio and reburied in 1947. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Ron Graves

Louis Bozzay 30I, 120R

Sandy — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:07:23 -0700

Louis Bozzay, my uncle, was in the 30th Infantry, 120th Regiment. He was killed near St. Lo on July 28, 1944. He was a "bazooka" man. I am looking for anyone who may have known him. I have a photograph of him with a group of fellow soldiers. I think it was taken in the UK, before he went to France. If you'd like to see it, please email me. Sandy

30 Div, 119th Reg, Company A info

Tony Creson — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:53:44 -0700

Any info as to battle records for June - August 1944 would be helpful. Looking for info regarding my uncle, Warren Lodge Parker, who was wounded in action and paralyzed.

119th Regiment 30th Division

Veronica Lauriano — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:43:44 -0700

Am looking for any information on my uncle Mortimer (Mickey) Shea who was killed July 14, 1944. Am just starting my search and would appreciate hearing from anyone.

Looking for Lionel Nadeau

Hans Suijs — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:00:00 -0700

In the period sept 17th - oktober 12Th 1944 an american soldier has lived in Heerlen (Netherlands) Relatives of mine that have lived in that city are trying to find out who was that soldier and his comrads. The only thing we have is one name: LIONEL NADEAU. I�m doing an in depth study of that period and that specifis area in the South of Holland, close to Belgium and Germany. In doing so I want to describe as welle daily experiences of inhabitants and their liberaters. If there is anyone who could give us some tips on how to proceed, we would be very thankfull. I'm a serious researcher (Genealogy) and an impression of my work is visible at www.suijs.org Comments and tips are welcome via my mailaddress: Hans.Suijs@hetnet.nl Thanks in advance Hans Suijs

Co.F 119th--TIMOTHY MCMANUS

Ciaran O\\\'Donnell — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:55:56 -0700

Anyone know my great uncle? Looking for any info, photos or stories of Fox company. My email is backbayonline@yahoo.com. Anything would be greatly appreciated. -Ciaran

Anyone who remembers my grandfather Ardie (Red) Williamson 743rd Tank Battalion

dee johnson — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:39:22 -0700

If anyone remembers my grandfather Ardie (Red) Williamson 743rd tank battalion Tech 4 Sgt., I would greatly appreciate anything you could tell me about him in the war. He told me somethings, but I was too young he said to hear about it all. I would really love to know what really happened to him while he was in the war. Thank you again.

DeeDee Williamson Johnson Amissville Va, originally from Pollok Texas.

Thank You from a Granddaugher

Ashley Perkins — Fri, 30 May 2008 01:51:26 -0700

My grandfather, 1st Lt. Thelbert Barker, served with the 119th Reg., 30th Division. Sadly, I never got to know him, as he passed away when I was rather young. However, being able to read through the history of Old Hickory and the stories of people that may have known him has meant so very much to myself and my mother. We very much appreciate this collection of information, as it's helping us in our own research. I feel better knowing now I will have stories to relay to my children some day, so that my family's history won't be just a chapter in a history book.

Thank you.

Charles W. Miller

Robert Payne — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:45:44 -0700

Looking for information on Charles W. Miller Company L, 117th Infantry, 30th Division.

Looking for info on Lonnie N. Getts

Brenda — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:29:32 -0700

I am looking for info on my Dad, Lonnie N. Getts, who was in the 30th Infantry Division. He was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge on September 15,1944.

Any info is appreciated.

Thanks, Brenda

Info about Willard C. Daugherty.

Bob Daugherty — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:37:16 -0700

My name is Bob Daugherty. son of Willard C. Daugherty of the 30th Infantry, Regimental Medical Section of the 120th Infantry. Any info that you can share about my father would be greatly appreciated.

Elmer Davison

Melissa Zgorzelski — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:08:14 -0700

Hi there,

My grandfather recently passed away and we discovered a journal he kept while in the service. He mentioned a stay at Camp Blanding. Does anyone have any information pertaining to what he did here or how long he stayed?

Looking for LIONEL

Hans Suijs — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:10:26 -0700

See new discussion with title "Looking for Lionel Nadeau"

Pvt. Ira Reaven

Ed Reaven — Sat, 24 May 2008 03:30:52 -0700

Hello and a Happy Memorial Day to all of our veterans.

I am looking for information on my grandfather, Private Ira Reaven of Brooklyn, NY. He served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 117th Infantry, 30th Division, I believe sometime from 1943-1945. I can't seem to find any info on when he was on active duty and where he fought, but a Terry MacDonald posted some info on him on wwIImemorial.com that said he fought in the Rhineland campaign.

Did anyone here fight alongside him? Are there any pics of him? Any info would be appreciated.

For those that knew him, he passed away in May 1974. Happy Memorial Day, grampa.

God bless, Ed Reaven