The 83rd indiana infantry was organized at lawrenceburg, indiana september 4 november 5, 1862 and mustered in for a three year enlistment under the command of colonel benjamin j. Richard dickson who provided most of the text and original images viewed on his sight. Reporters referred to crack troops of the 83d, and the ace, shock troops of the ninth army, but, to those who were there, the 83d was called the ragtag circus. The earlier nickname, ohio, was based on the division s insignia which includes the name ohio, where the division was raised during world war i. Rick fletcher, a war photographer of the 83rd infantry division. Loperiers road, 25 july, and advanced 8 miles against strong opposition as the normandy campaign ended. Ohio genealogical society library, mansfield, ohio during world war i, ohios 83rd division, while serving in france, collected 62,916 personal information cards from the soldiers assigned to this division. A monograph is a work of writing or essay or book on a specific subject and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. The division emblem was identified by black triangular patch with gold superimposed letters, o, h, i, o the division was then made up of four regiments the 329th, 330th,331st and the. Return to table of contents thunderbolt division ohio division the 83 rd division insignia consists of a monogrammatic design in gold spelling out the word ohio on a black triangular background. Activated 15 aug 1942 entered combat 27 jul 1944 normandy days of combat 244 casualties 15,910. All of the files on the cds are listed on the cds navigation page and the files are found in their folders on the cds. The majority of the men came from ohio with some from west virginia.
The earlier nickname, ohio, was based on the divisions insignia which includes the. From time to time the post office will misapply higher parcel post rates to these cd mailers and. There are 119 boxes of records for the 83rd and its organic units in record group 407. Welcome to the 83rd infantry division reenactment group online.
This is identical to the rectangular red shoulder patch, worn by the doughboys of the 332nd infantry regiment during world war 1. World war i 83rd division personal information cards index. An american flag handmade by holocaust survivors is donated to the u. This sight has been developed not only to showcase our interest in the history of wwii, but to help anyone interested about the subject. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. A red oblong lies on top of the unit insignia of the 83rd infantry division. My experiences as captain of company d, 331st infantry, 83rd division a book by harry c. Due to cd space limitations, some of the files, like the comic book covers, newspaper clippings, posters and video files, are of reduced quality resolution. The division crossed the leine, 8 april, and attacked to the east, pushing over the harz mountain region and advancing to the elbe at barby. Contains a detailed combat history of this famous 83rd infantry division unit, maps,kia and wia rosters by campaign, decoration roster, foldout route of.
He served in active combat from the landing at normandy until a mortar took him out in petite langlir, belgium. World war i united states army center of military history. And more particularly by the 83rd infantry division. Files copied from books and the national archives and are as. The 83rd infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. The thunderbolt across europe, a history of the 83rd. We are a living historyreenactment group portraying the 331st regiment of the u. It is dedicated to those who have served in every branch of military service throughout the history of the united states. The division landed at omaha beach, normandy, france on 18 june 1944 after the dday invasion and the allies had secured the beachhead immediately into the battle of the hedgerows the 83rd fought south of carentan and reached the st. The thunderbolt across europe, a history of the 83rd infantry division divisional series. The records of the 83rd infantry division, and its organic and attached units, are located in archives ii. Truman presenting the medal of honor to a sergeant who received the award for gallantry with the 329th infantry 83rd infantry division near the village of birgel, germany in december 1944. Even though the division changed from an ohio outfit to one representing the 48 states, the insignia still remains.
The 83rd infantry division received its nickname, the thunderbolt division, after a divisionwide contest for a new nickname held in early 1945. I had the book scanned and then ran the images through optical character recognition to make it. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please contact me. This book was given to me by a family member of cpl.
Vintage wwii us army thunderbolt 83rd infantry division greenback patch measures approximately 214 widest x 21116 long preowned vintage item was removed from scrap book, will have some wear from age, usehandling and storage, please view all photos of actual patch to be received. Im pursuing research on the battle of the bulge and the writing of a book on the 83rd infantry division during the fighting of january 1945 period. References this article incorporates public domain material from the united states army center of military history document. Official website of the 83rd infantry division association. I am passionate about history on the second world war. The division was activated in september 1917, and went overseas in june 1918. Spooner the regiment was attached to 4th brigade, 5th division, district of memphis, tennessee, xiii corps, department of the tennessee, november 1862. The 83rd infantry division was activated on 15 august 1942.
The 83rd infantry division was originally formed at camp sherman, ohio on august 1917. The book that i have gives a brief history of each infantry unit and campaigns that they participated in up to 1953. The thunderbolt across europe 9781563114403 and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The 83rd infantry division received its nickname, the thunderbolt division, after a division wide contest for a new nickname held in early 1945. The pamphlet consisted of a large map of the 83rd s route on one side and a unit history printed on the other side. American 83rd infantry division in world war ii arkansas. I am currently doing research on the soldier pfc millard h. The thunderbolt across europe, a history of the 83rd infantry. Dickson served in the 83rd infantry division during wwii. A book of facts concerning the army of the united states, u. Notice to buyers about usps overcharges cd mailers mailed first class usps mail per usps notice 123 price list effective 17 january 2016 all orders are mailed first class mail in sturdy cardboard cd mailers. Mark with his paw resting on an open book, bearing the numbers 332. In 1985, the united states holocaust memorial museum and the us armys center of military history began a program to honor us army divisions that took part in the liberation of nazi camps. Jack freeman military patches the dam busters by paul brickhill.
Army 83rd infantry division in europe during world war ii. Welcome to the 83rd infantry division reenacment groups web site. This is an overview of all servicemen and women of units attached to the 83rd infantry division who are buried in europe. Vintage wwii us army thunderbolt 83rd infantry division. I had the book scanned and then ran the images through optical character recognition to make it a searchable pdf document. The 83rd infantry division thunderbolt was a formation of the united states army in world war i and world war ii. The thunderbolt caused the newspapers to run out of descriptive phrases.
The division landed at omaha beach, normandy, france on 18 june 1944 after the dday invasion and the allies had secured the beachhead. The distinctive unit insignia was approved for the 332nd infantry regiment on august 12, 1925. From the air, its columns showed no resemblance to either an armored or an infantry division and war correspondents began to nickname this division the ragtag circus. Holocaust museum by the family of sergeant donald hall, a member of the u. My experiences as captain of company d, 331st infantry, 83rd division by. Its unit patch was a downwardpointing black triangle with the letters ohio stitched as an abstract gold monogram in the center. They left for europe on 6 april arriving in england on 16 april 1944. Further reading this is meant to be a comprehensive list.
Gravelyn was captain of company d, 331st infantry, 83rd thunderbolt infantry division, united states army, du. Im not sure what to call the book, but in the navy we call them cruise books, that record an. A history of the 83rd infantry division 19421945 this is the official history of the 83rd division, edited. Home 329th infantry regiment, 83rd infantry division. Discover more about the thunderbolt division, read through our thunderbolt archive or become a member. Welcome to the 83rd infantry division reenactment group. This 1951 film highlights the combat activities of the u. This sight has been developed not only to showcase our interest in the history of. After training in wales, the division landed at omaha beach, 18 june 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of carentan, 27 june. A german king tiger in service with the american 83rd infantry division notice the presence of the stars instead of balkenkreuz this stug iii had stars too. The operations of l company, 15th infantry 3rd infantry division the crossing of the volturno river 7 october 1943 naplesfoggia campaign. The thunderbolt across europe hardcover june 1, 1999 by turner publishing compiler, r. Langenstein concentration camp and the 83rd infantry. The 83d established a bridgehead over the river but evacuated the area to the russians on 6 may 1945.
The insignia was selected during world war i because the division contained mostly ohio draftees. The 83d infantry division arrived in england on 16 april 1944. Army 83rd infantry division wwii in europe youtube. On june 18, 1944, less than two weeks after the allied dday invasion of western europe, the thunderbolt division landed on omaha beach and began. The pamphlet consisted of a large map of the 83rds route on one side and a unit history printed on the other side. The 83rd regiment indiana infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the union army during the american civil war. I found in the archives at carlisle barracks pa, a letter from raymond l. Nov 19, 20 this 1951 film highlights the combat activities of the u. We saw it through history of the 331 combat team in world war ii. To date, 36 divisions, including the 83rd infantry division, have been recognized as liberating units.
Thus it supplied over 195,000 officers and enlisted men as replacements in france without seeing action as a complete formation. One can search for specific names using the custom filter function below. Below is an account of the men of the 83rd infantry division during world war ii. The thunderbolt across europe 83rd infantry division an informal unit history of the 83rd infantry division prepared by the divisional informationeducation section. Army, company a, 1st battalion, 330th infantry regiment, 83rd division, the battle for normandy, france, in world war ii. Due to cd space limitations, some of the files, like the comic book covers, newspaper clippings, posters and. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng. Witnik deceased, who was, as told to me by the family, a 37mm antitank gun crew member in the 331st combat regiment of the 83rd division.
Insignia of the 83rd infantry division the holocaust. These combat chronicles, current as of october 1948, are reproduced from the army almanac. As july 1944 entered its final week, allied forces in normandy faced, at least on the surface, a most discouraging situation. The 83rd pennsylvania was a volunteer infantry regiment in the union army during the american civil war, which participated in almost every major battle in the east, including seven days battles, antietam, fredericksburg, gettysburg, petersburg and appomattox court house as one of four regiments in the 3rd brigade, 1st division, v corps, army of the potomac, it fought alongside the 20th. Gravelyn, captain of company d, 331st infantry, 83rd thunderbolt infantry division, united states army, during world war ii. Records of the adjutant generals offic, with each box containing. In 1985, the united states holocaust memorial museum and the us armys center of military history began a program to honor us. Truman presenting the medal of honor to a sergeant who received the award for gallantry with the 329th infantry 83rd infantry division near the. The 83rd infantry division was first activated in the fall of 1917, several months after the united states entered world war i. Its unit patch was a downwardpointing black triangle.
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