The History of the 43rd Infantry Division, 1941-1945

By Joseph E. Zimmer, Colonel, Infantry (Retired)

Merriam Press World War 2 History Series. The story of the U.S. Army’s 43rd “Winged Victory” Division whose memorable record in World War II will stand forever as an inspiration to all freedom-loving Americans. The Division was organized following World War I, and was made up of National Guard troops from the New England States—Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut. Many of the organizations, particularly the Infantry Regiments and the Field Artillery Battalions had World War I records, and some had histories dating back to the days of the Revolutionary War. The 43rd saw duty and combat in such places as New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, the Russells, New Georgia, Munda, Arundel, New Guinea, invasion of Lingayen, the Shimbu Line, and Ipo Dam, as well as the surrender and occupation. 58 photos and illustrations, 14 maps.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Merriam Press
• Release date: Oct 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781576384251

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The History of the 43rd Infantry Division, 1941-1945

The History of the 43rd Infantry Division, 1941-1945

Joseph E. Zimmer, Colonel, Infantry (Retired)

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Military Monograph 23

Bennington, Vermont

2015

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First eBook Edition

Copyright © 2001 by Merriam Press

First reprint edition published by the Merriam Press in 2001

Additional material copyright of named contributors.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

The views expressed are solely those of the author.

ISBN 9781576384251

This work was designed, produced, and published in the United States of America by the Merriam Press, 133 Elm Street, Suite 3R, Bennington VT 05201.

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On the Cover

Division shoulder patch.

Acknowledgments

Contributions by

Colonel Harold C. Marden

Colonel Sidney P. Marland, Jr.

Colonel William H. Naylor

Colonel Elmer S. Watson

Major Jefferson D. Hopkins

Text based on official War Department historical documents.

Chapter 1: The Beginning

This is the story of the 43rd Winged Victory Division whose memorable record in World War II will stand forever as an inspiration to all freedom-loving Americans. It is the story of valiant men who dedicated their lives to preserve all in life that is precious and coveted. While the story of the division may be recorded for posterity only on the printed page, its days of tragedy and comedy, adversity and prosperity, famine and feast, combat and rest, labor and recrea­tion, are eternally engraved on the souls of thousands of red-blooded Americans who fought, conquered, died in the name of justice, humanity, and freedom.

The 43rd Infantry Division was organized following World War I, and was made up of National Guard troops from the New England States—Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut. Many of the organizations, particularly the Infantry Regiments and the Field Artillery Battalions had World War I records, and some have histories dating back to the days of the Revolutionary War. Upon induction into federal service on 24 February 1941, the officers and men were citizen soldiers—professional men and laborers, farmers and tradesmen, employers and employees, schoolmasters and students—representing a cross-section of the New England of 1941. From the potato acres, sea and shore fisheries, the pulp and textile centers of Maine, the stone quarries and dairy farms of Vermont, the diversified industrial life of Rhode Island, and the tobacco farms, rolling hills, and insurance centers of Connecticut, came the citizenry of America to bear arms against the enemy. Soon the accents of other citizen soldiers from all other sections of these great United States mingled with those of the New England Downeasters, French Canadians, Poles, Jews, and Hungarians. The division originally was inducted into federal service for the purpose of training for one year, but was held in service until inactiva­tion on 1 November 1945, after having contributed greatly to the defeat of the enemy in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations.

Major General Morris B. Payne of New London, Connecti­cut, was in command of the division upon its induction when it was ordered directly to Camp Blanding, near Starke, Florida. At this time the division was made up of two in­fantry brigades and an artillery brigade, or a so-called Square division. The 86th Brigade, which included the 103rd and 172nd Infantry Regiments, was commanded by Brigadier General Leonard F. Wing of Rutland, Vermont, and the 85th Brigade, which included the 102nd and 169th Infantry Regi­ments, was commanded by Brigadier General Thomas E. Tro­land of New London, Connecticut. The 68th Field Artillery Brigade, which included the 103rd, the 152nd and the 192nd Field Artillery Regiments, was commanded by Brigadier General Harold R. Barker of Providence, Rhode Island. The 118th Quartermaster Regiment was commanded by Colonel George E. Cole of West Hartford, Connecticut. The 118th Medical Regiment by Colonel Charles W. Comfort of New Haven, Connecticut. The 118th Engineer Regiment by Colonel Frederick S. Skinner, of Providence, Rhode Island, and the Special Troops, 43rd Division, were commanded by Major Arthur V. Williams of Putnam, Connecticut. During the early stages of the national emergency, the United States Army High Command decided to streamline Infantry Divisions in order to make them more wieldy for swift, mobile combat. In so doing, the 43rd Division was reorganized into a triangular division, retaining the 103rd, the 169th and the 172nd Infantry Regiments, the 103rd, the 152nd and the 192nd Field Artillery Battalions. The 169th Field Artillery Battalion was activated to complete the division artillery. The Engineer, Quartermaster and Medical Regiments were reduced in strength to battalions.

The division arrived at Camp Blanding on 19 March 1941. Immediately a thirteen week training program was initiated, culminating in tactical problems ranging from small units to brigade versus brigade. During this period both officers and enlisted men were permitted to spend weekends with their families residing in Gainesville, Starke, Jacksonville, Green Cove Springs, St. Augustine, Palatka, and Keystone Heights.

Up until this time the division was below authorized strength. Camp Wheeler at Macon, Georgia, was directed to furnish the division with additional men from Selective Service sources. By coincidence, the class of Selective Service men from Camp Wheeler assigned to the 43rd Division was composed largely of men originally from New England. These selectees were among the first in the United States to complete their basic training period. General Payne was invited to participate in the ceremony marking the completion of this training period. By the cooperative effort of General Payne and Brigadier General John H. Hester, commander of Camp Wheeler, the New England men were assigned to organ­izations originating in or near the cities from which they came. This is believed to be a dominating factor which went far toward minimizing the readjustment difficulties peculiar to such an amalgamation.

The basic training of the division reached its normal con­clusion early in July of 1941, and the first leaves and fur­loughs were granted in that month, enabling the officers and men to return for a breath of New England air.

The leave and furlough period was terminated to allow all personnel to be on duty in preparation for participation in the Third Army maneuvers to be conducted in Louisiana during the months of August and September of 1941. On 5 August the division arrived at its concentration area in the vicinity of Dry Prong, Louisiana. Throughout the months of August and September, the division marched, counter-marched, tactically and administratively, in the area bounded roughly on the north by a straight line drawn from Dry Prong to Bellwood; on the east by the line Red River-Alexandria-Oberlin; on the south by the line Oberlin-Leesville; and on the west by the Sabine River Valley. The men of the 43rd were getting their first training under simulated, near-combat conditions. What one of them can ever forget the blackout driving of vehicles, the forced marches day and night through the dust and mud of Louisiana, the virgin pine, blackened stumps and swampland, the ever present chigger, red bug, and tick. Yes, the men were learning invaluable lessons for the arduous campaigns of the future. The tactical program consisted of a series of operations involving regiment against regiment up to and including corps against corps. One tac­tical policy—doubtless a necessary one—which seriously af­fected the training and the morale of the division was the with­drawal of a great number of officers of all ranks to staff the umpire requirements of higher headquarters. This resulted in a shortage of trained officers which necessitated junior offi­cers and non-commissioned officers assuming command of units ordinarily requiring higher rank.

Up until time for departure for Louisiana, Camp Blanding had not been accepted too enthusiastically by the New Eng­landers as a foster home, but it may be recorded without contradiction that the prospect of returning there to its semi-permanent quarters and mess halls, not to mention steaming hot showers, was welcomed with a great deal of enthusiasm. The return movement by rail and motor began on 2 September and ended on 10 September 1941.

At the close of the Louisiana maneuvers Major General John H. Hester, of Athens, Georgia, assumed command of the 43rd Division. General Hester’s assignment to the division was almost like a reunion, for all replacements which the divis­ion had received from Camp Wheeler had been trained by General Hester, toward whom great loyalty and affection has been evidenced.

The month of October of 1941, furnished a welcome breathing spell even though immediate plans were formed for maneuvers between the First Army and the 4th Corps, to be held in South Carolina during November. The movement to the vicinity of Fort Lawn in South Carolina began on 29 October and ended 3 November. Men of the 43rd were glad to be living once again under field conditions, with cool days and cold nights adding zest to all activity. Thanksgiving, 1941, was observed appropriately in the field, although by tactical necessity a day or two late.

In December the division began retracing its way to Camp Blanding, already somewhat obsessed with thought of Christ­mas at home.

Chapter 2: War Comes

The Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese did not interrupt the Christmas holiday plans of the 43rd. Administrative diffi­culties were ironed out, affording the men the luxury of Christmas at home. Special trains were arranged to transport the men to New England and other sections of the nation. By this time the division had members from twenty-nine of the forty-eight states, as opposed to four states at induction. The Southern drawl and Texas twang were becoming fam­iliar sounds.

The beginning of 1942 found the 43rd Division recovering from a harmful but necessary re-organization period and many well-trained officer and enlisted cadres were trans­ferred outside the division. All were conscious of deadly com­bat ahead. Operations were on a war basis—twenty-four hour duty, anti-aircraft protection, dispersion of vehicles, black­out along the coast, and, above all else, considerably accelerated training vigor. We would not go home in February, we were in for the duration.

In January 1942 the 102nd Infantry left for overseas. Its strength augmented by cadres from all units of the 43rd Division. The regiment sailed from San Francisco to occupy and defend Canton and Christmas Islands in the Pacific.

On 8 February 1942 the division was ordered from Camp Blanding to Camp Shelby, twelve miles from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This was a permanent change of station for the first time since induction. February 19th found all of the division at Camp Shelby. Before the troops had a chance to wash off the dust of the cross-country movement, the division received instructions to re-organize from its Square division with four infantry regiments and three artillery regiments, to a triangular division with three infantry regiments and four field artillery battalions. The aforementioned division organization resulted. Among the new appointments, Brigadier General Leonard F. Wing became the assistant division commander and Brigadier General Harold R. Barker became the division artillery commander.

The division participated actively in meeting the needs of the Army for officer candidates. An examining board was set up to select likely officer material for training in the various officer training schools. Although the division lost many fine non-commissioned officers in this way, it was an excellent opportunity for qualified non-coms to become commissioned officers. A limited number of appointments directly from enlisted to officer ranks was permitted.

From time to time during this period the division was called upon to supply cadre personnel in large numbers for the formation of new units in the United States Army.

During the stay at Camp Shelby, small unit training was stressed, together with river crossing exercises, airfield de­fense exercises, coordinated attacks with air support. Con­siderable time was spent in marksmanship training in both infantry and artillery weapons. One night movement under blackout conditions was made.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a dozen miles from the Camp Shelby reservation, and other nearby towns furnished reason­ably adequate accommodations for visiting families, and many members of the division were enabled to have their families with them.

During the month of August, Colonel Kenneth F. Cramer, of Wethersfield, Connecticut, commanding officer of the 169th Infantry, Colonel Reginal W. Buzzell, of Bennington, Vermont, commanding officer of the 172nd Infantry, and Colonel Francis W. Rollins of Providence, Rhode Island, commanding officer of the 103rd Field Artillery, were pro­moted to brigadier generals.

A leave and furlough policy allowed many men to visit their homes during July.

Chapter 3: Off to War

It was during the latter part of August 1942 that the inevitable and long-awaited order arrived. After eighteen months of training the division finally received an alert order to prepare for movement to the West Coast. At once all efforts were turned to packing and arrangements made for an orderly movement to a Port of Embarkation. Vehicles were loaded on flat cars; company baggage packed and stenciled; equip­ment checked and packs rolled.

The division began its long westward trek across country by rail to Fort Ord, California, as forty-five troop trains moved over varied routes as far north as Wyoming and as far south as El Paso, Texas. New glimpses of America were afforded to many for the first time—glimpses through smudgy windows of crowded troop trains—yet strangely exciting and interesting. The journey was long, hot, and tiring, ending at Fort Ord, near Monterey, in California, on 10 September.

Fort Ord was crowded when the division arrived, making it necessary to bivouac in the fields near the parade ground. It was not a very pleasant ending to the long trip. However, as other troops started movement out of Fort Ord, the 43rd moved into the barracks they had vacated. Training