help find 393rd inf regiment history battle of the bulge

Can anyone fill in the blanks? My father in law served in the 393rd infantry during the battle of the bulge and was wounded on dec 17th 1944.We know that he must have been treated for wounds and returned to duty.His unit marched throught numerous small towns and we know he spent time in Paris.He also testified at one of the smaller war crimes trial and likely was part of a group that liberated a concentration camp.His name was David Fortinsky and he never spoke of more than what is told here.Silver star and Bronze star as well as Purple Heart awarded. He spoke of capturing a German spy but where or when is unknown. Is there anyone familiar with his name or where the 393rd moved on to after the Bulge?

 

The Combat Chronicles of the 99th Infantry Division:

"The 99th Infantry Division arrived in England, 10 October 1944, moved to Le Havre, France, 3 November, and proceeded to Aubel, Belgium, to prepare for combat. The Division first saw action on the 9th, taking over the defense of the sector north of the Roer River between Schmidt and Monschau. After defensive patrolling, the 99th probed the Siegfried Line against heavy resistance, 13 December. The Von Rundstedt attack caught the Division on the 16th. Although cut up and surrounded in part, the 99th held as a whole until reinforcements came. Then it drew back gradually to form defensive positions east of Elsenborn on the 19th. Here it held firmly against violent enemy attacks. From 21 December 1944 to 30 January 1945, the unit was engaged in aggressive patrolling and reequipping. It attacked toward the Monschau Forest, 1 February, mopping up and patrolling until it was relieved for training and rehabilitation, 13 February. On 2 March, 1945, the Division took the offensive, moving toward Keln and crossing the Erft Canal near Glesch. After clearing towns west of the Rhine, it crossed the river at Remagen on the 11th and continued to Linz and to the Wied. Crossing on the 23d, it pushed east on the Koln-Frankfurt highway to Giessen. Against light resistance it crossed the Dill River and pushed on to Krofdorf-Gleiberg, taking Giessen 29 March. The 99th then moved to Schwarzenau, 3 April, and attacked the southeast sector of the Ruhr pocket on the 5th. Although the enemy resisted fiercely, the Ruhr pocket collapsed with the fall of Iserlohn, 16 April. The last drive began on 23 April. The 99th crossed the Ludwig Canal against stiff resistance and established a bridgehead over the Altmuhl River, 25 April. The Danube was crossed near Eining on the 27th and the Isar at Landshut, 1 May, after a stubborn fight. The attack continued without opposition to the Inn River and Giesenhausen when VE-day came."

World War II Divisional Combat Chronicles

Order of Battle:

http://www.history.army.mil/documents/ETO-OB/99ID-ETO.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

Website of the 99th:

http://99div.com/
​

 

It is likely that the After Action Reports of the 393rd are
available at the NARA II, College Park.

Send an email to the NARA and tell them what you want:

Archives2reference@nara.gov

The staff will pull the records and then send you a letter
outlining what is available and the cost, which is $0.75 per page.


Dave

 

After the "Buldge" called the Ardennes offensive back then, the 99th Division (393rd, 394th and 395th) regiments moved across the Cologne plain and crossed the Ludendorf bridge at Remagen. They liberated several town along the way. They followed a south easterly course which took then to a concentration camp called Dachau. This camp had been active during the entire war. My father still has nightmares about what he saw there. Piles of dead bodies, horrible memories for him. My father is Virgil Downing 393d Dakota R&I Platoon. He served with the division from Camp Van Dorn/Camp Maxy/Camp Miles Standish..transported via the "Argentina" to England and Fought in the Buldge, Cologne Plain and other engagements that the 99th had until the end of the war. He was never wounded (thankfully). He reveived the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry badge.

 

I have my father's Regiment Review book. It is titled "A Pictorial Account of 393d Infantry Regiment In Combat". It is a very nice compilation of the Regiment and seems to have been developed for the soldiers, not the administration groups. Very informative. I would be willing to have copies made if someone is interested and would share the duplication expense.

 

I want to learn more about the 2nd Bn/393 under command of Lt. Col. Ernest C. Peters.
Any info is highly appreciated and in particular about the Ltc himself.

Colonel Peters earned the Silver Star, Bronze star and the Purple heart, love to find out the details!


We will never forget:
Ernest C Peters (1908 - 1976) - Find A Grave Memorial