Tracing my fathers WW2 action10/14/1942

The below lists the assignments and dates of service of my father PFC Sidney Miller during WW2. I believe these units were al part of the 3rd Infantry Division (not totally sure). How can I find out what specific battles and places these units/timeframes happened. Date of induction was 6/17/1942, date of separation 10/16/1945. Any help understanding this will be very appreciated!!

Company "H" PRG 10/14/1942

Company "H" 168th Infantry 11/25/1942 - 6/14/1943

Company "M" 7th Infantry 6/14/1943 - 11/30/1943

3rd Recon 12/1/1943 - 3/4/1944

Company "M" 7th Infantry 3/5/1944 = 7/28/1944

HQ Company 3rd Infantry 7/29/1944 - 11/14/1944

Company "A" 30th Infantry 11/14/1944 - 5/3/1945

HQ Company 3rd Infantry 5/3/1945 - 7/23/1945

Company "E" 276 Infantry 7/27/1945 - 10/16/1945


Thank you all so much,

Steve

 

Steve, a quick look at my trusty Stanton shows the 168th Infantry Regiment was attached to the 34th Infantry Division. Looks like he was with them in N. Africa until he transferred to the 3rd Infantry Division ( 7th Infantry Regiment) June of 43. He stayed with the 3rd Division in various units (7th IR, 3rd Recon, HQ Company,) until being transferred to the 276th Infantry Regiment of the 70th Division to be transferred to the states. It shows the 70th arrived in New York in October 45 where he was discharged.

To get an idea of his action you might research the 3rd Infantry Division and get a timeline. Unusual to be transferred around within a Division that much.

 

I have a list of these units from a phone call I had with the National Records Center in St. Louis about 30 years ago. His records were charred in the fire but not destroyed. I do have pre fire copy. His WD A60 form 53-55 states in block 32 the following battles and campaigns:

Central Europe
Naples Foggia
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Rome Arno
Southern France

GO 33 WD 45 as amended.

The only thing I ever herd my father say was that he was at Anzio.

Steve

 

Is "Stanton" a reference book of some kind?

Steve

 

Yes. The book is Order of Battle: US Army World War II.

 

The 34th Infantry Division does have a WWII history book. You may be able to have your local library get a copy on loan if they don't already have one. Definitely don't pay the inflated prices being asked for reprint copies on Amazon.

When in doubt, HyperWar is a great resource. The volume Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West from the Green Books collection has a number of references to the 34th Division and the 168th Infantry.

Here's a brief article on 2nd Battalion, 168th Infantry at Kasserine Pass in February 1943. Company H was, of course, in the 2nd Battalion.

I also found a Roundtable discussion of the 34th Division in North Africa and Italy which may be of interest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNR82ah_I_U

 

https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfTheThirdID - History of the Third Infantry Division in World War 2 (Taggart)

For what it's worth, there is a Pvt Sidney Miller listed in the roster for the 7th Infantry Regiment, as well as a Pfc Sidney Miller in the roster for the 30th Infantry Regiment, both included in the book I mentioned above.

 

Very cool!!! Thank you!

 

Steve, your father's list of units, and when he was attached, does not seem to match his list of campaigns , and the dates they occurred.

For instance, his campaigns list Normandy and Northern France. These occurred from June 6th, 1944 to Sept 14th, 1944.
His unit list shows he was with the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID, and HQ Company 3rd ID during this time. In Southern France-- which he is given credit for. The 3rd ID was not credited for Normandy and N. France. Is it possible to post his separation paper?

 

Normandy and Northern France are the only questionable campaigns... the rest are consistent with the 3rd ID. The only one missing would have been Anzio. He said he his father was at Anzio. With that in mind, the list of campaigns (sans Normandy) easily places him in the 3rd ID, which the regimental rosters potentially confirm. His father transferred from the 168th Infantry Regiment to the 3rd Division a month or so prior to the invasion of Sicily. From there, the unit assignments and campaign credits seem to correspond (except for Normandy, obviously).

Seeing this discrepancy, my first thought is: did somebody confuse their D-Days?


Like you said Buten, posting the separation paper would be helpful.

 

Yes I will load it ASAP

 

The 3rd ID was credited with Anzio and he was serving with the 3rd Recon at that time, so he should have that credit.
I agree, sounds like the guy filling out the paperwork was a bit confused. I'm sure the separation centers were overworked and underpaid at the end of the hostilities and not the most tranquil workplace.

Is Sidney Schwarts your father? A true hero, they saw a lot of action.

 

He was my grandfather (passed in '89). My ears perk right on up anytime someone else posts on the subject of the 3rd ID!

 

I do the same when any of my brother's units come up.

 

Here it is Thanks everyone for your help.

Steve

 

Its saying file too big. How can I attach it?

 

Just figured it out!!!

Steve View attachment 22914