311Regiment, (Timberwolf), 78 Lightning Division

Hi,
New member to this forum. Looking for information about my Father's unit and its battles during WWII.

His name is: John W. Griffin from Hyde Park, Mass.
Unit: Company "F", 2nd Battalion, 311 Regiment, 78th Lightning Division

Was with the unit from when it sailed from the United States until the end of WWII.
Thanks
Slick193

 

Hi slick193, glad to have you here. Post up the info about your father here:

Military Service Record & Genealogical Research - World War II Forums

In the meantime, here are a few links I'm sure you have probably already looked over:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/78th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

http://www.78thdivision.org/

http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/78thinfantry/index.html

Good luck,

Jon

 

The 78th Infantry Division had a very rough "baptism of fire." The 311th Infantry Regiment was attached to the 8th Infantry Division during the Huertgen Forest battle. The Battle of the Bulge brought a brief interlude, but the 78th Division was to continue toward the Roer River dams. The consensus among 13th Infantry Regiment (8th Division) vets I spoke with was they felt sorry for the 78th Division GIs because they were inexperienced.

I suggest the works of Edward G. Miller, A Dark and Bloody Ground and Charles B. MacDonald, Battle of the Huertgen Forest for the best overviews of this campaign. Douglas E. Nash gives a vivid perspective from the 272nd Volksgrenadier Division against the 78th Division, and, specifically the 311th Infantry in the fighting for Simmerath, in his book Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp.

Greg C.

 

welcome to the forum slick..

 

Hello and welcome to the forums.