Looking to make sense of the NARA information on my grandfather. Can you help me?

I'm really just looking to make sense of all of this information. My grandfather died in 2001 and had never really spoke of his experiences in the war. My father and his brother (who was born while my grandfather was in the war) don't remember much. As a gift to them, I'd like to give them a bit of history on their father. The more I read about Stalag 9B, the more astounded I am at the man my grandfather was and must have been back then. I only knew him as a wonderful, loving grandpa. I can't imagine him living through the hell he must have gone through.


NAME PYLE HOWARD E PYLE HOWARD E GRADE, ALPHAPFC Private First Class GRADE CODE7 Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide or Private First Class or Ensign or Second Class, Seaman SERVICE CODE1 ARMY ARM OR SERVICEINF Infantry ARM OR SERVICE CODE10 INF: INFANTRY

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION740 Branch Immaterial/Infantry Division Band/Dental Corps/Medical Department PARENT UNIT NUMBER0157 0157 PARENT UNIT TYPE06 Group/Regiment/Commands/System AREA76 European Theatre: France
STATUS7 Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated DETAINING POWER1 GERMANY CAMP063 Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08


I gather he was in the infantry, he was a private, and his unit was 157th. I googled the 157th infantry but I think I need to know his company. Does any of this information give me that? Sorry for being a newbie moron... Thanks for any information you can give me.

Jama

 

Jama,

Your grandfather belonged to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment (Image 0015, 14 March 2009).

He was captured at Reipertswiller, France, where the Bn was essentially destroyed
in the worst fighting the regiment had seen since Anzio.

The Battle of Reipertswiller

You are welcome to join the 45th Infantry Division Yahoo Group:

45thinfantry : 45th Infantry Division (Thunderbirds)


Dave

 

This is from the S-2-3 Journal of the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment,
for 20 January 1945:

1615 Mess. from K Co. - "We are following thru - Lay in everything you've got."

1617 Poison 2nd Bn. cannot hear or see co's. 180th 3rd Bn. to smoke 805395.

1620 Message from K Co. - "Lay in all you have." We are.

1621 K Co. calls to lift all arty. fire.

1622 Message from K Co. - "We are surrendering."

1624 Chem. Mortars and arty. ordered to smoke heavily. 81mm to increase
smoke on prearranged targets for smoke.

1626 K Co. radios - "Impossible to get out." "Lift arty."
Co. does not answer last message.

1630 Bn. S-3 calls for E Co. to notify us upon sight of our people.

1632 Regt. S-3 informed of K Co's. situation.

1633 No answers from I, K, L.

And the last entry for 20 January:

2000 Regt. S-3 calls to see if our troops were successful in withdrawing.
Notified him they were not.

Only two men from I Company were able to get back to friendly territory.

The 157th spent the next month replacing its lost troops and training for the
push into Germany.


Dave

 

Great info, kerrd5...good job on the research!

 

Nice job, indeed. I felt myself choke up a bit as I got to the entry at 1626.

 

The sad consequence of the disaster at Reipertswiller was that my Uncle Nick,
who had spent the previous two years in AAA, was one of the newly assigned
replacements for L Company, 157th.




His service as an infantryman with the regiment was brief, just ten weeks.
He was mortally wounded at Schweinheim, Germany, on 29 March 1945
and he died of his wounds in the 10th Field Hospital, Grostheim, on 2 April.

The Battle of Aschaffenburg/Schweinheim on the Main was another bitterly contested struggle
against a determined enemy. And the 157th paid dearly.


Dave

 

How do I know what the "parent unit number" and "parent unit type" codes mean?

Thank you!


[TABLE]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SERIAL NUMBER
[/TD]
[TD]35769498
[/TD]
[TD]35769498
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]NAME
[/TD]
[TD]HANSON ROBERT F
[/TD]
[TD]HANSON ROBERT F
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]GRADE, ALPHA
[/TD]
[TD]PVT
[/TD]
[TD]Private
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]GRADE CODE
[/TD]
[TD]8
[/TD]
[TD]Cadet, USMA or Chief Warrant Officer or Private or Apprentice, Seaman
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]SERVICE CODE
[/TD]
[TD]1
[/TD]
[TD]ARMY
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]ARM OR SERVICE
[/TD]
[TD]INF
[/TD]
[TD]Infantry
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]ARM OR SERVICE CODE
[/TD]
[TD]10
[/TD]
[TD]INF: INFANTRY
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DATE REPORT: DAY (DD)
[/TD]
[TD]12
[/TD]
[TD]12
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM)
[/TD]
[TD]06
[/TD]
[TD]06
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y)
[/TD]
[TD]4
[/TD]
[TD]1944
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]RACIAL GROUP CODE
[/TD]
[TD]1
[/TD]
[TD]WHITE
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]STATE OF RESIDENCE
[/TD]
[TD]54
[/TD]
[TD]West Virginia
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]TYPE OF ORGANIZATION
[/TD]
[TD]740
[/TD]
[TD]Branch Immaterial/Infantry Division Band/Dental Corps/Medical Department
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]PARENT UNIT NUMBER
[/TD]
[TD]}023
[/TD]
[TD]}023
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]PARENT UNIT TYPE
[/TD]
[TD]06
[/TD]
[TD]Group/Regiment/Commands/System
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]AREA
[/TD]
[TD]72
[/TD]
[TD]European Theatre: Germany
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD)
[/TD]
[TD]29
[/TD]
[TD]29
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM)
[/TD]
[TD]05
[/TD]
[TD]05
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y)
[/TD]
[TD]5
[/TD]
[TD]1945
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]SOURCE OF REPORT
[/TD]
[TD]1
[/TD]
[TD]Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]STATUS
[/TD]
[TD]8
[/TD]
[TD]Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DETAINING POWER
[/TD]
[TD]1
[/TD]
[TD]GERMANY
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]CAMP
[/TD]
[TD]006
[/TD]
[TD]Stalag 4B Muhlberg Sachsen 51-13
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]REP
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]POW TRANSPORT SHIPS
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

The Parent Unit Number tells us he belonged to the 23rd Infantry Regiment,
2nd Infantry Division.

Component Elements of the Infantry Divisions in World War II

This is from the Combat Chronicles of the 2nd INF DIV:

"After training in Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July. Exploiting the St. Lo break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15 August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26 September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March. The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Gottingen 8 April, established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved 200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the GermanCzech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, reaching that city as the war in Europe ended."

World War II Divisional Combat Chronicles


Dave

 

Yes, thank you. That is interesting. My grandfather was captured several days after d-day (within a week) and was in a POW camp for a year: Stalag 4B Muhlberg Sachsen 51-13. I am not sure which unit he served under prior to being captured, as his records were included in those that were burned. He used to talk about being part of a Ranger group, but I cannot find him on any roster. He also said almost the entire unit was lost. Many questions I wished I'd known to ask when I had the chance.

Thanks for any further ideas or information.

 

Send an email to the NARA and request the After Action Report
of the 23rd Infantry Regiment for June 1944.

Archives2reference@nara.gov

Also ask if any personnel rosters exist for the regiment.

See this site, too, for info on the action of 9-11 June:

http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/100-11/ch7.htm#cerisy


Dave

 

Great! Thanks very much. I will give that a go. Appreciate your time.

 

I wondered if someone could help me. My grandfather asked me to look into his fathers time spent as a POW. I have been researching for a long time with no success until recently. Here is what I found on the NARA site.

[TABLE]
[TR]
Field TitleValueMeaning[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]SERIAL NUMBER[/TD]
[TD]38567971 [/TD]
[TD]38567971 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]NAME [/TD]
[TD]TARVER GEORGE E [/TD]
[TD]TARVER GEORGE E [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]GRADE, ALPHA[/TD]
[TD]PFC [/TD]
[TD]Private First Class [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]GRADE CODE[/TD]
[TD]7 [/TD]
[TD]Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide or Private First Class or Ensign or Second Class, Seaman [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]SERVICE CODE[/TD]
[TD]1 [/TD]
[TD]ARMY [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]ARM OR SERVICE[/TD]
[TD]INF [/TD]
[TD]Infantry [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]ARM OR SERVICE CODE[/TD]
[TD]10 [/TD]
[TD]INF: INFANTRY [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DATE REPORT: DAY (DD)[/TD]
[TD]16 [/TD]
[TD]16 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM)[/TD]
[TD]12 [/TD]
[TD]12 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y)[/TD]
[TD]4 [/TD]
[TD]1944 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]RACIAL GROUP CODE[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]STATE OF RESIDENCE[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]TYPE OF ORGANIZATION[/TD]
[TD]740 [/TD]
[TD]Branch Immaterial/Infantry Division Band/Dental Corps/Medical Department [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]PARENT UNIT NUMBER[/TD]
[TD]0422 [/TD]
[TD]0422 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]PARENT UNIT TYPE[/TD]
[TD]06 [/TD]
[TD]Group/Regiment/Commands/System [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]AREA[/TD]
[TD]72 [/TD]
[TD]European Theatre: Germany [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD)[/TD]
[TD]20 [/TD]
[TD]20 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM)[/TD]
[TD]02 [/TD]
[TD]02 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y)[/TD]
[TD]6 [/TD]
[TD]1946 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]SOURCE OF REPORT[/TD]
[TD]1 [/TD]
[TD]Individual has been reported through sources considered official. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]STATUS[/TD]
[TD]7 [/TD]
[TD]Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]DETAINING POWER[/TD]
[TD]1 [/TD]
[TD]GERMANY [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]CAMP[/TD]
[TD]063 [/TD]
[TD]Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]REP[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 165"]POW TRANSPORT SHIPS[/TD]
[TD]



[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

I also sent a request to the National Archives for a copy of his service records but I was informed that they were destroyed in the fire. However, they offered to send me a copy of his Final Pay Voucher for a fee. Would this be of any value? I appreciate any advice.

 

You may want to take a look at this thread:

Help understanding my Grandpa's Discharge Papers Please

The OP posted a copy of a Final Pay Voucher, so you can see what you are likely to get. If it doesn't provide you with any new information, then it may be a matter of whether having his FPV itself is worth the fee. If I were making that decision for myself, I'd get it. However, that's just my preference.

 

Thank you TD-Tommy776. I have filled out the paperwork and dropped it in the mail. I think it may be helpful to find out his place of entry since my grandfather did not know it.

 

Sounds good. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

I'm researching my grandfather's time in the war. He died when I was two years old and my father doesn't know much about his past. My grandmother didn't tell me much either - he never wanted to talk about his time in the war.

We know he was a prisoner of war after he fought in the battle of the bulge. I did some research and found out the following:

SERIAL NUMBER 34819565 NAME FRANKLIN TRUMAN A GRADE, ALPHA Private First Class GRADE CODE Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide or Private First Class or Ensign or Second Class, Seaman SERVICE CODE ARMY ARM OR SERVICE Infantry ARM OR SERVICE CODE INF: INFANTRY DATE REPORT: DAY (DD) 4 DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM) 4 DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y) 1945 RACIAL GROUP CODE WHITE STATE OF RESIDENCE Alabama TYPE OF ORGANIZATION PARENT UNIT NUMBER PARENT UNIT TYPE AREA European Theatre: Germany LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD) 25 LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM) 7 LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y) 1945 SOURCE OF REPORT Individual has been reported through sources considered official. STATUS Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated DETAINING POWER GERMANY CAMP Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08

I was hoping someone would know more about prison camp.. or anything really. I'd like to give a report to my father for Christmas.

 

Well I don't see that he filled out an Escape and Evasion Report. Here is a webpage for the stalag. http://www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Stalag%20XII-A%20Limburg/History.htm

Here is a bit about Stalag XII A from a British site. http://pegasusarchive.org/pow/cSt_12A_History1.htm

Here is a bit about Stalag IX B http://www.lonesentry.com/badorb/

And the liberation of IX B http://efour4ever.com/44thdivision/stalagix.htm