Dad's Tour of Duty WWII

In 1998, I asked my Dad to summarize his service during WWII for a paper I was writing.  I was surprised to find out that upon his discharge, after serving a tour of duty for 3 years, Dad had earned the rank of Communications Sergeant in the 7th Army, 103rd Division.   He also only mentioned it after I asked specifically what his rank was.  He was a humble man who did a lot for others as well as to honor those that served, especially those that didn't return.  Dad very graciously obliged my request and endured my interruptions and peppering of questions for an afternoon while I typed out his statements about his service that began after he was drafted in 1942.  Also I found information in the book, 103rd Infantry Division, by Harold Branton. Below is an excerpt from that paper:

After landing in France, and seeing much action, General George S.  Patton chose the 103rd Division for an important mission.  He thought they were the most outstanding division in the 7th Army.  It was the 103rd that broke through the Siegfried Line in the 7th Army which was a fortress for the German forces.  (Adolph Hitler Visits the Seigfried Line) After this success the 103rd was moved North 75 miles and relieved the 6th Armored Division and soundly defeated the Germans at that battle which was known as "The Battle of the Bitsche Bulge."  After this encounter the 45th Division relieved the 103rd that then went on to establish what is referred to as a "winter defensive line."  According to George [my Dad], "Due to the excellent leadership of the regimental commanders, the Germans attempts to encircle the division were stopped."  The German's had Tiger tanks that used a lot of petro - they cushioned the noise of the tanks with straw.  It allowed them to surprise the American troops.  He said the German planes were always attacking too. 

When Germany invaded Poland some of the poor souls they captured were forced to work in munition factories creating bombs for the Third Reich.  George said many times that he was eternally greatful to the Polish people.  One of the shells that landed under his truck did not go off.  He had heard of how the Polish Resistance took great risks sabotaging the production line of explosives rendering them ineffective.  That risk saved his and the lives of several other soldiers in the truck with him that night.  Click here to read of these efforts. 

 Click here for Time Magazine Article 
Battle of Germany: To The Seigfried Line Sept. 11, 1944 

George went on to say that the accomplishments of the 103rd were many.  They were the first division to penetrate the Siegfried Line and also cross over into Germany.  But one of their successes stood out among the rest.  The 103rd was able to prevent the German army from giving Strasbourg to Hitler as a Christmas present.  Hitler in a rage announced to the Germans he was placing a death sentence on all members of the 103rd division.  George said that the men of the 103rd laughed at Hitler’s tantrum.  They went on and captured many prisoners and kept the Germans from crossing the Rhine River.  The division then crossed the river and captured Innsbruck, the fourth largest city in Austria.  Linking up with the 5th Army at Brenner Pass ended the war for the 103rd Division.  The Cactus Division received three battle stars and many other awards from other countries.  George remarked, "There was a lot of champagne and celebrating...We couldn't believe it was finally over."

In a letter my Dad wrote to me while I was on a high school retreat, he said that the letters he received from his Mother during the war helped immensely.  She spoke a great deal of faith and prayer.  He relied upon his faith and prayer to see him through these dark days.  Her letters were always reassuring and helped him to remain steadfast.  He received one every day that mail was delivered.  Like so many families during this time, Dad was one of three sons that my Grandmother had fighting in this war.  I never knew her, she passed away before I was born.  I know through my Dad though that she was a very faithfully strong individual who endured a great deal in her lifetime.  All  three sons returned home - alive, after the war. 

The United States Holocaust Museum Summary about the 103rd Division

Established in 1942, the 103rd Infantry Division landed in southern France in late October 1944, a few months after the Allied invasion of Western Europe on D-Day (June 6). From the port of Marseille, the “Cactus” division advanced northward, eventually crossing into Germany in December 1944. The swift German offensive into the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge that month forced the unit to take up defensive positions in the area of Alsace-Lorraine. In March 1945, the 103rd advanced into the Rhineland, then moved southward into Bavaria. On May 3, 1945, the division captured the city of Innsbruck in Austria.