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Question about Dad's Normandy Campaign service

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by Never Forget, Aug 5, 2009.

  1. Never Forget

    Never Forget Member

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    My Dad was a U.S. Army PFC in the ETO. Central Europe, Normandy, Rhineland and Northern France are on his service record. He was inducted 1 Sept 1943 in Ft. Dix. I have postcards in late 1943/ early 1944 that state Ft. Chaffee and Ft. Smith. He had mortar and SMG exp training 1/1944.

    I have a picture dated 4 May 1944 with the 23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Troop A (MECZ), and one picture with a 16 triangle patch on his shoulder. I don't know where the picture was taken-Ft. Chaffee or England? There is no info on the 23rd or 16th Armored on his records. He told me long ago (deceased 1985) that he landed at "the beach at the end" in Normandy and tried to help a soldier who was drowning as the water was very rough. Based on that memory, it sounds like D-Day. I tried to look at a variety of internet, book, magazine and other sources, including the Order of Battle and I can't find where the 23rd landed in Normandy on D-Day. Could he have been transferred to another unit? Am I missing something?

    Thanks so much for reading this! I apologize for all the info-trying to piece the puzzle together.
     
    Never Forget, Aug 5, 2009
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  2. Never Forget

    Never Forget Member

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    I found a change of address card from Ft. Chaffee to Ft. George Meade in Maryland dated 5 June 1944. According to the Order of Battle book, Ft. Meade served as an "Army Ground Forces Replacement Center." I'm still trying to piece together his timeline. It looks like he was reassigned to the 17th Cavalry Recon Squadron (NARA papers) which landed at Trowbridge, England on 5 July 1944, and landed at Utah on 15 July 1944. Apparently the original unit he trained with, the 23rd Cavalry Recon Squadron, 16th armored, didn't see conflict until later in 1945. I have three questions:

    1. Were soldiers commonly replaced outside their units?
    2. How long was the normal basic training period for Army Ground Forces soldiers?
    3. Was there separate training for jeep and light truck equipment drivers?

    This website is amazing with so much information! Thanks very much to all of you who are sharing your ETO and Pacific stories and invaluable info, photos, book reviews and responding to those of us who are trying to piece timelines together.
     
    Never Forget, Aug 18, 2009
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  3. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Entered Holland 16 Oct 44, Germany 23 Nov 44. They were attached to the 15th Cavalry Group.
    This was not uncommon. Cadre were often pulled from one unit to form another and who knows, your father may have requested a change of assignment and it was granted.
    Basic training for a new recruit was 17 weeks. The time given for creation and deployment of a newly created division was 10-12 months. This time frame could be shortened or lengthened, depending on many factors.
    I cannot answer that with certainty, but jeeps were considered to be light trucks. I have a friend who was in the 30th Cavalry Recon Company (Mech) for the 30 Infantry Division (here his name is Old Hickory). He went to one school, where learned to operate all the rolling stock of the company, halftrack, jeep, trucks and armored cars,
     
    Slipdigit, Aug 18, 2009
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  4. Never Forget

    Never Forget Member

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    Slipdigit-
    Thanks so much for answering my questions. I salute you!
    Many thanks!
     
    Never Forget, Aug 19, 2009
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  5. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Can you show us the pics you have of your father?
     
    Slipdigit, Aug 19, 2009
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  6. Never Forget

    Never Forget Member

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    I have two pictures here when Dad was with Headquarters Co. U.S. 9th Army in 1945. He was a driver for a General at some point. The other photo is an East meets West picture of Dad with a Russian soldier during same time frame View attachment 7139

    View attachment 7140 .
     

    Attached Files:

    Never Forget, Aug 20, 2009
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