Camp Wolters-length of training for WW2 inductees

Does anyone know how long a soldier received stateside training before being shipped off to war? I know my grandfather was at Camp Wolters in Mar 44 (Co."A" 62nd Inf Tng Bn), but the next piece of the information I have from him is a letter to his mom in July 44 on American Red Cross letterhead. His letter head puts him as a replacemnt co. no. 2 for the 142 inf. Would this have been his first assignment? Is it likely that he could have been in training at Wolters for 5 months? How can I find out what unit, div or the like he was assigned to before being shipped to the ETO?

 

the best way to find out, is if his records are available contact the NARA and request a copy of his discharge papers, or files. They would list on the discharge papers how long he was in the states and then where he was after that.

Also, you could look up information on the 62nd and find out some info on it maybe that would fill some details in too


my grandfather was in the states for 13 months, but id imagine each class type would have a specific training period and such. my grandpa was a medic so there was a completly different time scale to get a man ready.

 

Thank you. I have the ball rolling with the NARA but I'm too impatient. The length of training thing makes sense. Do you think that he left for the ETO as part of the 62nd from Wolters? I am not sure about how that works. Did soldiers get their assignment at the training camp before they left? So they were training with the guys they would fight with? Forgive the ignorance.

 

Co."A" 62nd Inf Tng Bn (Company."A" 62nd Infantry Training Battalion) - I am sure they were trained with people who would go off with them to fight after seeing and reading books like band of brothers and a few others also they wouldn't know where they were fighting until they were on the boat or landed overseas.

I hope the NARA has the records you are looking for, how long ago did you mail away for them? I know they take a while unfortunatly

 

you know, I only filled that out about a month or so ago. So I'm trying to be patient. Again, not my strongest point. Thanks for the details y'all. GF would never discuss any details about anything related to the war. He took it to his grave. GRHS.
I just read an older post about camp wolters. Answered a few questions. what a great site. I believe he was shipped off to join the 142nd in Italy. Anyone know of any unusual or little known stories about the 142nd?

 

I hope this is what you were looking for, and that it is helpful

World War II Service Record
Regimental
Commander

- Col. George E. Lynch
​

Regimental
Executive Officer

- Lt.Col. Everett S. Simpson
​

April 1, 1943

- Sailed from New York harbor
​

April 13, 1943

- Landed in Oran Africa. Division to Magenta for training.
- 142nd Co. M to Arzew
​

August, 1943

- Reassembled at Arzew Beach.
- Sailed from Oran to Salerno.
​

Sept 9, 1943

- Landed on Salerno beach
​

Nov 15, 1943

- Mt. Camino
​

Dec 16, 1943

- Mt. Lungo
​

Dec 25, 1943

- Mt Summucro
- Rapido River
​

Jan 1, 1944

- Cassino
- Attached to 34th. Division‑Terrelle Sector
- Mt Castelone, Madeloni, Torrino (near Naples) Qualiano
​

May, 1944

- Anzio Beach
​

May 30, 1944

- Velletri
​

June 2, 1944

- Alban Hills ‑ Rome
- Civittavechia, Capalbio, Magliano, Grosetto
Sieno relieved ‑ back to Rome
​

Aug 15, 1944

- Naples to St. Raphael
- Frijus, Droguinan, Gap, Nyons, St. Martin, Crest, Alex, Livron, Lyon, St. Vith, Luxueil, Plombieres, Remiremont
​

Sept 27 -
Oct 3, 1944

- Tendon
- Les Rouge Eaux, LaPetite, Houssiere, MaNDRAY, St. Marie Aux Mines
​

Nov 27, 1944

‑ St Croix
- Selestat, Mittlevihr, Strasbourg
​

Dec 25, 1944

‑ Trais Fontaines
​

Jan 3, 1945

‑ Montbrann
‑ Bitche Sector
- Mirlebach
- Hagenau
​

Feb 1, 1945

‑ Oberhoffen
- Rohrweiler
​

Mar 15, 1945

‑ Moder River
- Wissembourg
​

Mar 19, 1945

‑ Siegfried Line and Ober‑Otterbach Rulzheim, Kaiserslautern
- Landsberg, Murnau, Kufstein, Itter, Kitzbuhel
​

May 9, 1945

‑ Mittersill


http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/142/ch001.htm

​

 

beautiful. thank you for this. I'm taking any info at all. Now, if only I could light a fire under the nara my life would be complete.
Happy New Year!

 

well i hope the nara has your records for your grandpa, hopefully he was with the 142nd, but if not a lot of the users here are really helpful with finding or knowing what divisions were where and such so keep us updated!

 

Thanks! will do.

 

Well well well, turns out he was attached as a replacement for the L-142d of the 36th ID July 44 and landed on the beaches of southern france with those boys. He continued to fight with L company until Dec of 44. After that, the trail goes cold. He was transferred but not sure to whom. I believe it was the 775th fa bn though I only have ETO assignment cards for him during March of 45. Personal letters (apparently the girls loved him!) show he was with the 775th thru November 45 but I can't seem to find out where in the heck the 775th was during that time.
Thoughts or suggestions?

 

From the order of battle

101st Airborne Division ("Screaming Eagles")
Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe
(Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor)
501, 502, and 506 Parachute Infantry Regiments
327 Gilder Infantry Regiment
401 Glider Infantry, 1 Battalion
321 and 907 Glider Field Artillery Battalion
377 Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
326 Parachute Engineer Battalion
705 Tank Destroyer Battalion
775th FA Battalion (4.5inch Gun) 19.12.1944-15.01.1945
377 Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion
Band-of-Brothers.nl - US Paratroopers / Living History / Band of Brothers

GEORGE C. MARSHALL RESEARCH FOUNDATION COLLECTION SUMMARY SHEET COLLECTION: ACCESSION NUMBER: DONOR: DATE OF GIFT:

^^^ Go to this address, the George C Marshall Research Foundation they have a diary of the 775th from 20 june 1944 to 10 may 1945. find out from them how to get copies you will have to pay im sure for copies but it will be greatly worth it.

Im working right now, and my pc is a bit bogged down but ill find out about the 142nd, for you and also if you can't find out how to request the diary from the Foundation i can shoot a email over to them too.

 

Fgrun83: Thanks for the info. I have managed to get that very same diary via email from the library. They were great. And fast. It's VERY interesting reading. I now know he left the 142d on Dec 9th 44. The 36th ID Association has some wonderful people who helped me a LOT. Great people.
The next piece of material I have is an assignment card to the 775th fa bn dated sept 45. When a soldier is transferred to another division or corps, what paperwork is there to show the transfer? I'm sure the Army would have tracked that information. It appears he was in the bulge after being decorated for the St Marie Pass with the 142d. But I'd like to back that with facts.
And of course, I'd like to know what in the world he was up to from the fall of 1945 til he left home from France in May 1946.
Sorry for the length here. I can't find much of anything on the 775th. There's a gentleman on Youtube that posted a 775th memorial video but he's apparently not logged in any longer, or just isn't responding to email.
Thanks for YOUR response. This is an incredible journey. What a war. What a man.

 

I'm just glad im able to help out, i know how tough it is, as does a lot of memebers here trying to fit pieces into a puzzle to find out about the past.

I do not know what type of transfer paperwork the military used during wwii, ill keep an eye out if i could find it, unless someone else on the board knows.

Good luck with your continued search/journey.

 

Thank you very much. This is a great forum with some really great people. I am grateful for the interest and help.