Allen Richard Shalberg info search

Hello all and Merry Christmas! Per requested on my newby post, I'm starting a thread to hopefully find information on my grandfather Allen Richard Shalberg.

I was told that he was in Italy at the end of the war and if the stories I was told was true, was part of the unit engaged in and pushing Rommel out of Italy. I was told at some point he volunteered to search for booby traps in a town recently vacated by Rommel's troops. The following day he was given leave, but a majority of his unit was killed in action when they engaged the Germans. Unfortunately that is all I know and don't know how much of it was embellished over the years. My goal is to track his movements from state side to Italy, track his movements and battles in Italy then back to the US. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

I was able to retrieve his final payment work sheet that will hopefully show something to people that know what to look for.

I look forward to hearing from and meeting you all.

Jim

 

Welcome Herb, I hope some of our specialists will be able to help

 

Welcome,

I don't see anything on the pay voucher, except home by February 1946 and 7th Replacement Depot which seems to be located in Naples, Italy. Probably passed through on his way home.

I looked up his enlistment record. Joined/drafted in late June 1944.

NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)


Certainly looks like a late war replacement, likely Infantry -- thirteen weeks training at an IRTC and then overseas through the Replacement Depots.

Seems to be home early but since he was married that may have given him enough points.

Best to locate his discharge document (if it exists). Check around the forum for possible locations to check.

Actually it was Kesselring in Italy. The list of late war US infantry divisions in Italy is relatively short. Keep an eye out for the 10th Mountain, 85th, 88th and 91st Infantry Divisions. There were a couple other separate infantry regiments, the 1st Armored Division and the Black American 92d Infantry Division.

 

A few obvious suggestions you may have already tried: Pass the word to your relatives that you are interested in you grandfather's WWII service. I did that a couple years ago and I still get bits and pieces of info when folks come across photos or newspaper clippings. Speaking of newspaper articles, try checking with his hometown newspaper or historical society. I noticed that your grandfather was in the Los Angeles area when he entered the service. However, he was born in Nebraska. I would try both.

You should also try requesting his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). Technically, you are not considered "next-of-kin" by the Army. However, if there is a surviving sibling or child, they could request it as the next-of-kin. If not, you can still request his file, though there would be a fee to obtain copies.

 

Thank you Tommy and Earthican. I will try both and see where it gets me.
Jim

 

Tommy, after rereading your post, I have tried to obtain his OMPF and all that I could get was his final pay stub from NARA. Is there another place that can have info stored?

 

Welcome to the forum, Herb! You've come to the right place, believe me.

Have you tried checking with the county recorder's office in the location your grandfather lived? The men were told to keep copies of their discharge paperwork and to have it recorded at their local county courthouses, so that they'd have proof of service if they ever wanted to make a claim for benefits. A lot of them did just that and filed a copy with the county clerk.

 

I was just going to mention that--good suggestion. Another idea is to see if the VA has any records. His records will be archived at the VA Record Management Center in St. Louis. I'd begin at the Regional Office. If you happen to locate his separation paper, please post it--it has a ton of information.

 

Sorry about that, Herb. I should have figured that from you post. The other suggestions given are good, though you may still run into the "next-of-kin" issue. I tried going through the county recorder and local VA for my great uncle's discharge papers and hit a dead end for that reason. I would still give it a go. One thing about bureaucracies is that they are not always consistent in enforcing the rules.

 

Herb, is this you paternal/maternal grandfather? Is your father/mother still living? Just have them sign the papers to eliminate the KOK thing.

 

Buten, KOK thing?

 

Adam & Buten; so far the county clerks haven't been able to help me. The fun part about my grandfather (maternal btw) was he was living in California when he was drafted but moved back to NE after the war. He lived in a part of the city where it was closer to go to the neighboring county than his actual one. So I'm checking with 2 counties in NE and one in CA. I'll be trying the VA Record Mgmt Center in St. Louis. We'll see...

Will post what I find. Thank you again for all the suggestions.

 

Fun fact that I found out last night. On 29 April 1945, the bodies of Mussolini, Petacci, and the other executed Fascists were loaded into a moving van from where they were executed and trucked south to Milan. There they were strung up at a petro station by their feet. My grandfather has a picture of them hanging. So I know he was in Milan on or about April 29th, 1945.

 

After 62 years from discharge date or leaving the Army the individual's military files are "archived" and anyone can get the OMPF without being "next-of-kin" as long as you're willing to pay the fee. You also don't need to send a copy of death certificate. The NPRC charges a fee to everyone for "archived" records whether next-of-kin or not.
Darryl

 

Jim,
I know that your grandmother was buried in the Westside Cemetery. Was your grandfather also buried there and would his headstone offer any clues? Your grandmother had a wonderful obituary. Does your grandfather's obituary have any clues? The 7th Replacement Depot earned a bronze star for the "Rome-Arno" campaign and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for September 1-November 20,1945 (GO 299, Hqs MTO, dated November 26,1945) .
Darryl

 

Does it look like the second one here? I think thousands were printed and sold. Might not be much help.

Execution of Mussolini

 

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think it's the same pic. I've only seen it a couple times, but never really put 2 and 2 together. When my parents get home from holiday travel they told me they will scan all the info they have (not much) and send it to me along with the photo. Once I have it, I'll post it if for nothing else to share with everyone.