Help! I am looking into my fathers military history. All I know of any history is that he was in Germany WWII and have a copy of his DD214. I want to find out any thing about his units history etc. I don't know where to start this off. I did look in a few places but I do not have alot of money to buy program or subscriptions to use their systems.

I too am a veteran of Vietnam and the first gulf war and it is hard to find anything about my units and history.

Thank You

Bruce,
Need more info, to be able to try and help?
Serv No#
Color patch
stuff like that.

Myfathers name is: Henry F. Kellmer
Serial number: 39934120
Unit: AT CO 394th Inf. Regt.
Battles & campaigns: Ardennes-Rhineland GO 40 WD45; Central Europe GO 46 WD 45

Not sure how to upload images

Thank You

Further investigation on patches is as follows.

Red patch: 28th Div.
Checkered patch: 59th Div.

Thank You

Google 394th Infantry Regiment as well as the 99th Division. Either search will keep you occupied:

http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/99thinfantry/index.html

http://home.planet.nl/~wijer037/Bulge/Forms/The%2099th%...%20Losheim%20Gap.htm

http://www.lonesentry.com/usdivisions/components/infant...fantry_division.html

http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/mipb/1996-1/delagius.htm

Thanks for the help with this research. Did lots of reading about the 99th and 394th Inf. Regm.

Bruce4526,
we only helped a little you did all the work.we only pushed a button here and there,to get the right info out of ya.So job well done.

Dear Bruce,

As previously stated the 394th Infantry Regiment was part of the 99th Infantry Division during WW2. There are several books out about the 99th ID that you can get through your local library or purchase via bookstore (brick or online). The US Army Center of Military History has the lineage and honors of many units posted on its website and the 394th's may be available there. The Center of Military History does not write individual unit histories but the actions of 394th and the 99th ID are included in the official WW2 historical series, beginning with the Ardennes volume.

From http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/mipb/1996-1/delagius.htm
"One of the most gallant combat actions was that of an intelligence and reconnaissance (I&R) platoon's defense near Lanzerath, Belgium, on the first day of the battle. For their exploits, the I&R Platoon, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, would later become "the most heavily decorated platoon for a single action in World War II."1 Their incredible story is a prime example of how tactical intelligence leaders and soldiers should be able to accomplish any mission required in combat."
I've walked the ground where this action took place and it is truly a great story of US soldiers doing more than anyone expected them to be capable of accomplishing

Thank you for this research. I have found lots of info on units and did lots of reading. I think I have found most of what is out there. Again thank you for all your help.

Bruce

Am also interested in finding more information on the 478th Amphibious Truck CO of the 1st Engineers Special Brigade of WW II. I know they trained at Camp Edwards, MA in June 1942, because my dad was in the unit from its intitial training to its final days in Sept 1945. But haven't found to much on it as for a roster of members of the unit.

I would like to find out if there are any VET's out there that went threw basic training with my older brother . Marion Douglas January Jr. he was at Ft. polk La. in i believe 1964. he was assigned somewhere in Koria for his tour.
I am also a vetern but i was in in 1978 we had it alot easer when i was in. I would like to find anyone out there that may of went threw basic and maybe full duty with him. I lost all my family photos (him while he was in the service ) in a house fire in 1986 and hope someone remembers and possibles has pictures of basic and duty station.

quote:

Originally posted by fritze5:
Am also interested in finding more information on the 478th Amphibious Truck CO of the 1st Engineers Special Brigade of WW II. I know they trained at Camp Edwards, MA in June 1942, because my dad was in the unit from its intitial training to its final days in Sept 1945. But haven't found to much on it as for a roster of members of the unit.

http://www.mnlegion.org/paper/html/polzin.html
(Article by a member of the unit about a training disaster they were involved in when a German U-Boat sunk the landing ship they were aboard)

They were at Normandy:
http://www.history.army.mil/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm

Bruce;
I just stumbled on this site. I can tell you a lot about the 99th. as I was with them from camp Maxey Texas, to my capture at Remagan in march the 12 1945..
I was assigned to the HDQS. Co. 1st Battilion 394 infantry regiment.
Our Battalion Commander was Colonel Douglas
The Regimental commander was a Chicken Colonel RILEY.
The Division Commander was General LAUER

I knew most of the guys in the Anti tank company..It is hard for me to remember names.. It was over 60 years ago.

I knew Lt. LYLE BOECK from the I&R platoon at Lazareth
They were all captured..
I was wounded on Dec 16th and evacuated to Paris

I can tell you the whole story if you get this message.

GOOD LUCK

Thank you for any help that you may have. It is really hard to find anything about units when they are deactivated and etc. I am still enterested.

Bruce;
I posted a picture of the 99th division patch.. I dont know if it will show until I post this message..
Ok, the 99th was a Pennsylvania National Guard out of Pittsburg. It was activated right after 1942.
It was first based at Camp Van Dorn Missisippi.
Later transfered to Camp Maxey Texas.. Just outside Paris Texas.
I joined them in June of 1944..
We shipped out of the states from Camp Miles Standish, Rhode Island. then out of Boston on three ships.
The 394th boarded the USS EXCELSIOR.. A real nasty troop ship.Most of us got sea sick.
We joined a convoy somewhere in the Atlantic.
Arriving at Liverpool England 11 days later.
We were billeted in a small town in Dorset called Bridport.
We stayed here for about a month..( just Guessing )
We were well treated by the brits.
I am going to post this chapter,and see how it goes..I will be back everday when it is confirmed that you are receiving my story.

I will be keeping all that you send or post thanks.

Early November 1944
We were told to get ready to board ships at Southhampton, to cross the channel to France. Hdqs, Company of the 1st battalion boarded a British ship..We crossed in stormy seas after dark. The Brits fed us kidney stew.. We all got sick and puked all over the floor.

In the morning we landed at Le Harve France.. We were greeted by looking at a devastrated city.. Results of the invasion. Our Regiment.. Maybe the whole division.. Im not sure..We enter an apple orchard and set up camp.. They called it Camo Lucky Strike.. After the cigarette of that time..It was here that we were refitted and given live ammo,and other combat equiptment. We stayed here for a short time,and then we mounted trucks.. Anybody that could drive was assigned to a truck loaded with troops. For an assistant, they gave me a Lt.. He was useless. We drove for a long time,even at night.. Not once did that P**** offer to drive. Along the way we were greeted by French and Belgian civilians offering us wine,apples. and french bread.

After many hours we arrived at a Belgian town called AUBEL. Here we dismounted.. Ate a hot meal.. And were issued billets. I for one remember that I ended up in a barn sleeping on hay.. There were a lot of us in there.
A day or so later an Officer came in and told us that we were moving up to the front line, and stated that some of us may not come back.

More tomorrow

Some where about the second week in November.
We boarded trucks to the front line. It started to snow.. We entered hilly wooded country. It was like a winter wonderland.. The snow clung to the fir trees making a sight to behold.
I have no idea which outfit we replaced. We later found out that this area was considered the Ghost front.. Because of very little activity..It was assumed that this was a good area for green troops to get used to light combat..The line troops to over the former occupants positions.
Hdqs. Co. 1st Battalion,, consisting of the wire and telephone platoon,,The radio platoon, along with the anti tank platoon were billeted in abondened homes .. We, the wire platoon were billited in a RR station called Bucholtz Station.,. ( Remember this. This is where your Father first saw action ) Later in my story I will post the official action.
The I&R platoon were sent to occupy a forward section of the front at Lazareth. ( Remember this )..
Life was great..Other than a few probing patrols from both sides.. This war was a piece of cake.
We the wire platoon set up communication from the line and I&R platoon to division.
Radio did the same.
Anti Tank set up gun emplacements.. Life was good.. Some body shot a cow, and stated that they thought it was a deer.. LOL!. We gave it to mess where we had steaks and all the other goodies that came with it. Ouer Battalion Commander said that it was the best deer meat that he ever ate.. It snowed all the time.. The weather turned frigid.. But we had a lot of wood to burn.

Ok, thats it for today.. My eyes are starting to see double..I am 83 yrs old.. A far cry from the 18 yr old kid in the Ardennes.

There is much more.. But let me know if yoou are getting this.

I love hearing stories from WW2. I spent 5 years in Germany and wished I had done some more exploring over there. I spent 3 years at an ammo depot, during WW2 it was an ammo depot, and had anti aircraft emplacements. They were still there, minus the guns. Husge building sized concrete slabs with a hallow center where the gun was. My dad was with the mighty 8th, and told me, they went on many missions for this depot, and because their intel wasn't the best, bombed another town with the same name.
Thank you franek, then, and now.