CONNECTICUT MEN

of the 44th Division

AUGUST 1945
 44th DIVISION BATTLE L O G
First Action: T h e 44th first went i n t o
the line i n a n area east of L u n e v i l l e ,
F r a n c e , a n d took p a r t i n the S e v e n t h
A r m y drive to secure the Vosges
passes. S i x days after being i n c o m b a t
the d i v i s i o n held b a c k a counterattack
b y G e r m a n forces after its front line
h a d been pierced.
The Vosges: Q u i c k l y recovering f r o m
this blow, the 44th b y m i d - N o v e m b e r ,
1944, h a d b r o k e n t h r o u g h the v i t a l
Vosges M o u n t a i n s i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h
the 2d F r e n c h A r m o r e d D i v i s i o n . A d -
vance i n this area was slow, however,
a n d the enemy was persistent i n his
defense of every i n c h of ground. I t was
, d u r i n g this period t h a t the 2d B a t t a l i o n ,
114th I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t , probably
saved the entire d i v i s i o n f r o m e l i m i n a -
t i o n as a n effective fighting force. T h e
action t o o k place N o v . 25, 1944, n o r t h
of Schalbeck, F r a n c e . C h a r g e d w i t h the
defense of a front a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4000
y a r d s wide, the b a t t a l i o n held ground
i n the face of a G e r m a n onslaught w i t h
n u m e r i c a l l y superior t a n k a n d I n f a n t r y
units. T h e b a t t a l i o n ' action was credited
w i t h h a v i n g kept f r o m j e o p a r d y friendly
troops east of the Vosges M o u n t a i n s as
well as protecting the division itself.
December, 1944, found the d i v i s i o n
well able to cope w i t h determined
e n e m y thrusts i n the Vosges M o u n t a i n s
area.
The Saar: O n N e w Y e a r ' s D a y , 1945,
the 4 4 t h a t t e m p t e d to cross the Saar
R i v e r ten miles southeast of Saar¬
brucken. Six attempts were made, but
s t r o n g enemy counterattacks beat the
2
crossing back. E v e n t u a l l y , however,
persistent effort resulted i n a crossing
a n d penetration of two miles. D u r i n g
the l a t t e r p a r t of J a n . 1945, the d i v i s i o n
was h o l d i n g lines below the Saar.
Austria: D u r i n g the months w h i c h f o l -
lowed the 44th cashed i n on the general
deterioration of the G e r m a n A r m y a n d
sped on i n t o A u s t r i a . B y the end of the
w a r i t h a d occupied large areas of
G e r m a n t e r r i t o r y a n d finally p u l l e d u p
at I m s t , A u s t r i a .
SERVICEMEN'S
COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET
VOL. I August 24, 1945 N o . 10
CARLETON B. CLYMA, Editor
T h i s souvenir of the 44th D i v i s i o n '
return from the E u r o p e a n war was pre-
pared for the men b y the Office of T h e
Governor. I t is believed that i t will make a
welcome addition to the souvenirs and
memorabilia of those who participated i n
the defeat of the once great G e r m a n W e h r -
macht.
T h e courtesies and assistance of public
relations officers, at the ports and at the
F o r t Devens Reception Station, greatly
facilitated the gathering of the material
for this booklet. Some of the group pictures
are from Signal Corps photographs. T h e
ship pictures are from Press Association. T h e
factual materials herein were prepared by
the Office of Technical Information, A . G . F .
A l i m i t e d number of copies are available
for distribution, to Connecticut men of the
D i v i s i o n only. T h e y can be secured by
written request to the Office of the G o v -
ernor, State C a p i t o l , H a r t f o r d .
Reproduction of original material is
permissible only w i t h written authorization.
 HOME FOR FURLOUGHS
T h e 44th D i v i s i o n was the t e n t h combat
d i v i s i o n to come home for furloughs, i n
the course of the redeployment of 42
divisions from the E u r o p e a n T h e a t e r of
Operations to the Pacific.
I t was the first to e m b a r k as a u n i t f r o m
E n g l a n d , a n d the first to m a k e the A t -
lantic crossing on one transport. T h e
Queen E l i z a b e t h , huge B r i t i s h L u x u r y
liner, w i t h the entire D i v i s i o n , save for
the advanced detachments, docked on
F r i d a y , J u l y 20, at Pier 90, N o r t h R i v e r ,
New York.
T h e A r m y ' s port authorities p r o v i d e d
the s t a n d a r d welcome w i t h the en-
thusiastic W A C b a n d f r o m F o r t H a m i l t o n
serenading the m e n aboard the transport.
T o i t was added the spontaneous welcome
of the people of N e w Y o r k a n d N e w
Jersey b y the thousands, who l i n e d the
piers, buildings a n d other vantage points
to greet the 44th because m a n y of its
units were o r i g i n a l l y of the N a t i o n a l
G u a r d of those states.
A n d the weather m a n cooperated, p r o -
v i d i n g s u n n y skies, the first of a r a i n y
week. T o p p i n g i t a l l off M a r l e n e D i e t r i c h ,
film actress, who was once n a m e d a
" d a u g h t e r of the 71st I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t , "
was on the pier w a v i n g her shapely legs
at the thousands of 44th men who lined
the piers of the great liner. M a r l e n e got a
t h u n d e r i n g welcome f r o m the troops.
F i r s t off the gangplank were R e d Cross
a n d U S O personnel, a n d then came M a j o r
General W i l l i a m F . D e a n , the D i v i s i o n s '
C O , a n d his staff. I t took about twelve
hours to disembark the d i v i s i o n , w i t h
3
the last u n i t s coming d o w n the gang
p l a n k at 4 a.m. S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g .
F r o m the P i e r after Red Cross
doughnuts a n d coffee the men boarded
ferries for the t r i p across the H u d s o n ,
to the Jersey shores, where t r a i n s for
C a m p K i l m e r , the staging area near N e w
B r u n s w i c k , N e w Jersey, were ready. O n
the average i t was a t w o hour t r i p f r o m
gangplank to K i l m e r B a r r a c k s .
T h e n came orientation for the next 48
hours at a camp theater, a n d the " h o m e
c o m i n g " m e a l , topped w i t h steaks a n d ice
cream w i t h fresh m i l k as a n added a t -
t r a c t i o n . C l o t h i n g issues a n d baggage dis-
posal were on the p r o g r a m , a n d m a n y
m e n took the o p p o r t u n i t y to m a k e t h a t
l o n g a w a i t e d phone call to the folks at
home. T h e processing was completed w h e n
the u n i t s were d i v i d e d b y areas, the C o n -
necticut m e n , w i t h those of N e w E n g l a n d ,
boarding the trains for the t r i p to the F o r t
Devens R e c e p t i o n S t a t i o n .
A t F o r t Devens a more i n v o l v e d p r o -
cessing, i n c l u d i n g o r i e n t a t i o n , c l o t h i n g
issue, p a y r o l l call, a n d more, was h a n d l e d
speedily enough to meet the 24 hour
l i m i t a t i o n on length of s t a y there. T h e n ,
finally, came the special orders for f u r -
lough, a n d the last leg of the t r i p home-
ward.
T h e C o n n e c t i c u t men's furloughs expire
on A u g u s t 24, and soon thereafter, along
w i t h the N e w E n g l a n d m e n , t h e y w i l l
entrain for C a m p Chaffee, A r k a n s a s .
T h e D i v i s i o n h a d been scheduled for re-
t r a i n i n g at C a m p Chaffee a n d s h i p m e n t
to the Pacific theater of operations.
 44th DIVISION PICTURES
The Queen Elizabeth — M e n of the men of the 71st I n f a n t r y photographed at
44th c r o w d the rails, portholes a n d every F t . Devens, J u l y 23rd, picture Page 5.
available i n c h of space on deck as the Nineteen m e n of the 324th I n f a n t r y at
giant liner docks at Pier 90, N o r t h R i v e r F t . Devens, picture Page 6. T w e l v e m e n
on July 20th, p i c t u r e d on the Cover. of the 114th I n f a n t r y at F t . Devens,
picture Page 7.
At Bournemouth, England, — Hun-
dreds of m e n of the 44th h a d a chance to The Artillery — N i n e m e n of the 44th
get i n a little recreation, prior to their D i v i s i o n ' s artillery at F t . Devens, picture
embarkation for home. Photograph on Page 8.
Page 4 shows a large contingent on their
a r r i v a l at the Resort. The Queen — T h e prow of the great
ship looms large as tugs nudge her into the
The Infantry — Eighteen Connecticut slip, picture Page 12.

4
 44th DIVISION STORIES
E D I T O R ' S N O T E : Memories of the European experience will blur with the passing of
years. Accuracy will diminish. Details will become vague and half forgotten. T o record, i n black
and white here and now, the mood, the impressions, the exciting events of the worst days, and
the best is the purpose of these stories. Connecticut men of the 44th were asked for their own
impressions. I n their own words they are here recorded:

Barrow, C h a r l e s A . , P v t . , C o . G . , 324th the toughest deal we h a d . T h e 17th S S

Inf., A n s o n i a .
" I made some v e r y good F r e n c h friends
i n Compiegne. I spent m a n y evenings
w i t h t h e m a n d i t was just l i k e being one
of the f a m i l y . T h e y w o u l d go out of their
w a y even w i t h as little as they h a d , insist-
i n g on serving refreshments. T h e y went to
great pains to show me a l l their h i s t o r i c a l
sights. M o s t G.I.s meet a l o w t y p e of the
F r e n c h a n d few G.I.s h a d a n o p p o r t u n i t y
to meet o t h e r s . "
Finer, W i l l i a m H . , S / S g t . , H d q . B t r y . ,
D i v . A r t i l l e r y , Shelton.
" T h a t L e i h e i n deal near Saarebourg was
P a n z e r h i t our lines. T h e y h a d us s u r -
rounded u n t i l our 4 t h A r m o r e d came
t h r o u g h a n d drove t h e m back, s a v i n g the
d a y for our o u t f i t . "
Farrenella, R a l p h V . , P f c , C o . A . , 324th
Inf., G r o t o n .
"On the w a y to t a k i n g the t o w n we h a d
to take the woods. T h e y needed two m e n
as guides a n d they p i c k e d on me. W e
went back to the edge of the woods a n d
the H e i n i e s started t h r o w i n g a barrage.
T h e first shell h i t near us a n d we t o o k to a
d i t c h . T h e next one k i l l e d a m a n right i n
front of me a n d wounded two more.

5
T h e y were wiremen who were w o r k i n g
there. W e t r i e d to get back to the C o m -
p a n y b u t w h e n we got out of the woods,
we c o u l d n ' t find t h e m . W e l a n d e d up i n
B C o m p a n y a n d stopped w i t h t h e m near
a b u i l d i n g where the G e r m a n s h a d stored
a lot of G e r m a n 8 8 M M shells. J u s t about
t h a t t i m e , G e r m a n t a n k fire set off the
stored shells. W e got a w a y f r o m there i n a
h u r r y , a n d out of the b u i l d i n g came a
H e i n i e about 40 years old. W a s he sur-
prised! W e took h i m prisoner a n d a little
while later found our w a y back to our
own c o m p a n y . "
Godfrey, J o h n F . , P f c , C o . K . , 324th
Inf., D a n b u r y .
" I h a d a t o u g h d a y when we crossed the
D a n u b e R i v e r near U l m , i n assault boats,
spearheading the 10th A r m y . T h e Heinies
gave us quite a reception. B y l u c k we h a d
no casualties b u t the Heinies had p l e n t y . "
Hudak, Peter, P v t . , C o . D . , 324th Inf.,
Shelton.
" T h e best d a y I h a d over there was o n
a 33 hour pass i n B o u r n e m o u t h , a s u m m e r
resort on the E n g l i s h coast. I t was a good
time, we went s w i m m i n g , h a d a l i t t l e
beer a n d b r a n d y , a n d y o u felt free for a
day."
Insley, W i l l i a m s S., P v t . , B t r y B . , 217th
F.A., Old Lyme.
( E d . N o t e : H e r e is a page f r o m P r i v a t e
Insley's E u r o p e a n d i a r y ) .
T o m o r r o w , we leave this unforgetable,
lovely A u s t r i a n v a l l e y . T h e y tell us we
are going back to the States a n d f r o m
there to the S o u t h Pacific. H o w e v e r even
the prospect of a t r i p to the States is
d i m m e d b y a tinge of nostalgia on l e a v -
ing this place for this v a l l e y is now at
peace a n d to me seems like home. I t has
given me more peace of m i n d t h a n a n y
other place I have ever been. Its m y s t e r -
ious mountains a n d its fields of w i l d
flowers a n d grain give to me a sense of
ease, c h a r m , a n d security t h a t no c i t y
anywhere can h o l d .
T o n i g h t I took w h a t m a y be m y last
w a l k down to the snow rivers in the
m i d d l e of the v a l l e y . A s I stood there on
the h i g h b a n k o v e r l o o k i n g the swift l i t t l e
stream a thought came to me. S a y a
p r a y e r for myself to remember:
D e a r G o d , Peace has come again to this
A u s t r i a n v a l l e y . F r o m its T y r o l e a n hills
a n d scornful peaks, austere i n the evening
s u n , to the m y r i a d s of w i l d flowers w h i c h
cover every earthen spot, no voice is
h e a r d except the voice of peace a n d h a p p y
t h o u g h t . Please keep this peace, no more
let these hills resound w i t h other t h a n the
t i n k l e of a cowbell or the H a l l o of a t y r o l
f r o m the peaks. K e e p safe w i t h i n these
walls a l l those sheltered thoughts a n d
7
loves of freedom, religion, music, flowers
a n d laughter. D o not allow these righteous
occupants of a newer f a s t e r - l i v i n g race to
despoil this l a n d of r u r a l l i v i n g , a n d let
me come again to this l o v e l y place of age
o l d rustic things, — A m e n .
Kutcher, A n t h o n y J . , P f c , C o . G . , 324th
Inf., H a r t f o r d .
" T h e r e were a couple of days in southern
A u s t r a l i a when we r a n u p against machine
guns t h a t I remember well. W e were s u p -
posed to take four towns t h a t d a y b u t we
were p i n n e d down b y these machine
guns a n d lost 6 men k i l l e d a n d 26
wounded. I t was the sharpest fight I was
in."
Lennon, Eugene T . , P f c , C o . F . , 324th
Inf., T h o m a s t o n .
" I was over there 7 months. I t don't
seem t h a t long now b u t i t was. I remember
best the N e c t a r R i v e r i n S o u t h G e r m a n y .
A f t e r we crossed the river a n d c l i m b e d the
b a n k s we came u p against a c o m p a n y of
H e i n i e s c o u n t e r - a t t a c k i n g . W e opened u p
on t h e m a n d our A r t i l l e r y came i n nice. I t
lasted about 40 minutes. J u s t w h a t I d i d
t h a t 40 minutes, I d o n ' t remember, b u t I
d i d p l e n t y of shooting w i t h m y B . A . R . "
Minto, Joseph A . , P f c , C o . M . , 71st
Inf., B r i d g e p o r t .
" I t h i n k the E l l e r R i v e r crossing was
the toughest going I saw. F i r s t there was a
canal to cross, w i t h the bridge gone a n d
t h e n a wide open space. T h e bridge over
the r i v e r was w i r e d to b l o w a n d the
d y n a m i t e was s t i l l i n place. W e sent a
dozen riflemen across above i t on a h e a v y
wire a n d they made it h a n d over h a n d .
T h e n came our machine g u n section. W e
started across i n assault boats a n d the
swift current i n the r i v e r t u r n e d our
S
boat over, we lost the machine gun, a n d
h a d to s w i m for i t . W e were p u l e d out
b y the i n f a n t r y . W e stayed over on the
other side for awhile i n our wet clothes
then captured some H e i n i e prisoners a n d
took their d r y clothes to wear back. A s
we h a d lost our weapons we were t o l d
to go back across the r i v e r a n d we h a d to
crawl along across this long bridge on t w o
rails while they shelled us b a d . A f t e r -
wards we got a couple of days r e s t . "
Mayette, F r a n c i s W . , P f c , C o . M . , 324th
Inf., S t a m f o r d .
"Poverty and war conditions have
made I t a l y a d i r t y place. T h e streets a n d
m a n y homes are d i r t y . M a n y of the people
don't have what it takes to be clean. B u t ,
there are nice people there a n d I met some
of t h e m . "
McHugh, Donald J . , S/Sgt., H d q . Btry.
D i v . Artillery, Bristol.
" O n c e I got separated f r o m our D i v i -
sion a n d w o u n d u p i n the 99th. I h a d to
h i t c h h i k e back. T h e y were w a y u p n o r t h
i n the F i r s t A r m y a n d I h a d to go t h r o u g h
the T h i r d A r m y to the S e v e n t h . I t was
about 350 miles the w a y I went, a n d i t
took me three days a n d three nights to
m a k e i t . T h e first n i g h t I slept i n a hotel
i n Liege a n d the next n i g h t on the floor of
a n a m m u n i t i o n warehouse i n V e r d u n . I
j o i n e d u p w i t h our outfit again just i n t i m e
for the counterattack i n the b r e a k t h r o u g h .
T h a t t r i p was tougher t h a n fighting.''
O'Brien, N o r b e r t F . , P f c , C o . G . , 324th
Inf., W i n d s o r L o c k s .
" T h e best three days I h a d i n E u r o p e
were the three days on leave i n P a r i s .
Oh! Boy!"
Perrotto, W i l l i a m , P f c , M P , D i v . H d q . ,
Bridgeport.
" I saw thousands of liberated Russians
a n d D . P . s . T h e Russians h a d been t h r o u g h
a hell of a lot. If y o u went into their
camps y o u could see t h a t . T h e y h a d no
clothes, no s a n i t a r y facilities a n d not
m u c h of a n y t h i n g else, b u t t h e y a l l w a n t e d
to work. T h e y were good workers. T h e y
w o r k e d harder t h a n a n y other people
I saw i n E u r o p e . "
Pratt, John L . , P f c , Anti-tank Co.,
324th Inf., R o c k v i l l e .
" T h e difference between F r a n c e a n d
G e r m a n y lays i n w h a t the G e r m a n s d i d
to F r a n c e . E v e n the s m a l l villages were
battered t e r r i b l y ; the f a r m l a n d s were
r u i n e d b y foxholes, trenches a n d shellfire.
W h e n we got i n t o G e r m a n y , the standards
of l i v i n g there as compared w i t h those of
ruined F r a n c e , were so m u c h better t h a t
it wasn't f u n n y . G e r m a n houses were
better made a n d a lot of t h e m looked like
9
those i n the U n i t e d States. Of course the
G e r m a n towns a n d farms d i d n ' t look so
good when we got t h r o u g h w i t h t h e m . "
Rauscher, Ludwig P., T / 5 , H d q . Co.,
2nd B a t t a l i o n , 324th Inf., M i l f o r d .
" T r y i n g to l a y wire across the D a n u b e
gave me a b a d hour. T h e y were t h r o w i n g
a lot of a r t i l l e r y at us a n d there were
p l e n t y of snipers. There were a lot of
close ones. T h e y even k n o c k e d off one of
the H e i n i e prisoners we h a d p i c k e d u p . I t
took us about 12 hours to get the wire
across.
Rougeot, M a y n a r d , E . , T / 5 , Serv. C o . ,
71st Inf., T o r r i n g t o n .
" S a a r e b o u r g was the worst. I t is the first
t i m e I was under fire a n d i t was never
that b a d a g a i n . "
Russell, W i l l i a m N . , T / S g t . , C o . I.,
324th Inf., N e w H a v e n .
" I have the S i l v e r Star, the B r o n z e
Star w i t h clusters a n d the P u r p l e H e a r t
w i t h clusters. T h e S i l v e r S t a r was for m y
part i n t a k i n g three machine guns at
H a g e n e a u , near B i t c h e , i n December.
T h e r e were three of us a l l p i n n e d d o w n
b u t I was firing i n the off-hand position
a n d k n o c k e d out two of the guns t a k i n g
b o t h of t h e m back to our own lines f r o m
where I directed m o r t a r fire to get the
last gun. D e a t h was surely near there
every m i n u t e . A n o t h e r b a d spot was near
R i n l e u near the G e r m a n border, w i t h 17
men I h i t the spearhead of a G e r m a n
attack. W e k i l l e d seventeen, wounded
four a n d took about a h u n d r e d prisoners."
Rybezyk, Anthony F., P f c , Q M B n . ,
Middletown.
" I spent most of m y time in E u r o p e as
an M P i n Brussels a n d I made out swell.
T h e eats were good a n d there was p l e n t y
of beer. I was there four months. I got
along well w i t h the Belgians. T h e y were
okay — swell."
Scaheen, Joseph P . , P f c . , C o . D . , 71st
Inf., D a n b u r y .
" G e r m a n y impressed me most of a l l
the countries we saw. T h e people were
clean a n d h a r d w o r k i n g a n d l i v i n g con-
ditions were better t h a n those in F r a n c e ,
E n g l a n d or A u s t r i a . T h e people, no — it
is w h a t they believe i n , I d i d n ' t go f o r . "
Senetcen, A l e x , S / S g t . , H d q . B t r y . , 156th
F . A . , Forestville.
" A t G o p p e g i n , i n G e r m a n y , I met a
cousin of mine, P a u l Senetcen. H e h a d
been a G e r m a n prisoner of war for four
years, a n d was i n p r e t t y b a d shape, a n d
had suffered b a d wounds f r o m machine
gun fire. I got h i m into our dispensary
where he was h a n d l e d as an A l l i e d p r i s o n -
er. H e was c e r t a i n l y glad to see me after
we got things u n t a n g l e d . W e t a l k e d about
our relatives a n d our war experiences."
Siegel, J u l i a n A . , P f c , C o . G . , 324th Inf.
New Haven.
" O u r regiment was a task force a t -
tached to the 10th A r m o r e d D i v i s i o n
a r o u n d C r a i l s h e i m , G e r m a n y . A f t e r we
got t h r o u g h m a k i n g an a t t a c k our s q u a d
ended up i n a H e i n i e c o m p a n y b y mistake
about 600 yards out i n front of our o w n
lines. W e just got m i x e d u p i n our direc-
tions. W e thought t h e y were our o w n
m e n u n t i l we asked t h e m w h a t c o m p a n y
they were f r o m . T h e y were about 20
yards a w a y f r o m us a n d when they
answered i n G e r m a n , we took off m u c h
fast."
Spinato, J o h n S., T / 4 , C o . C , 71st Inf.,
New Haven.
" U p i n A l s a c e - L o r r a i n e at W e i s v i l l i e r
we r a n i n t o some h e a v y shelling a n d w i t h
another fellow I took cover i n a cellar
w i t h a f a m i l y of four. I h a d to get out to
repair a jeep. I just got t h r o u g h w i t h i t
a n d p i c k e d up m y tools a n d headed for
the cellar when a shell came i n a n d
smashed the jeep I h a d been w o r k i n g on.
T h e same shell or p a r t of i t ricocheted
into the cellar a n d k i l l e d the mother a n d
two k i d s , 5 a n d 7 years o l d . T h a t was the
closest I ever h a d . "
Stephens, H a r r y D . , P f c , H d q . Co.,
324th Inf., B r i s t o l .
" T h e r e is no c o u n t r y i n E u r o p e w h i c h
stands comparison w i t h the U n i t e d
States, — i n cleanliness, l i v i n g conditions
a n d standards or f r i e n d l y people, b u t I
w o u l d l i k e to go back a n d see P a r i s some
day."
Stevens, G e r a l d O., P f c , H d q . B t r y . ,
217th F . A . , H a r t f o r d .
" I spent 11 m o n t h s i n E n g l a n d . T h a t is
where I met m y wife i n a l i t t l e t o w n i n
N o r t h W a l e s . W e were m a r r i e d on the
12th of M a y a n d I don't expect to see her
again u n t i l I get back f r o m the Pacific. If
1
she is not i n the U . S. b y then, I a m going
over to get h e r . "
Summers, Raymond L., T / 5 , Btry. C ,
156th F . A . , P u t n a m .
" T h e best d a y I h a d at the front was
when I helped cook our C h r i s t m a s D i n n e r .
W e w o r k e d a l l night a n d i t was the best
m e a l we h a d overseas — T u r k e y a n d the
whole works. C h r i s t m a s D a y was k i n d of
quiet a n d we a l l enjoyed i t . "
Wilkos, M a r s h a l l A . , P v t . , C o . A . , 324th
Inf., H a r t f o r d .
" A u s t r i a next to the U . S. is the most
beautiful c o u n t r y I ever saw. I n the T y r o l
region, we were near L a n d e c k located i n a
v a l l e y nestled a m o n g the m o u n t a i n s . T h e
people were f r i e n d l y , their homes were
nice a n d t h e y seemed to like A m e r i c a n s .
W h e n the war ended we h a d a swell t i m e
— just like a v a c a t i o n . "
10
 44th DIVISION FACTS
Slogan: Prepared I n A l l Things.
Shoulder Patch: A circular p a t c h con-
t a i n i n g two A r a b i c 4's, back to back. The
4's are of blue, on a field of orange a n d the
entire p a t c h has a blue border. T h e colors
are those of the H o u s e of N a s s a u , under
w h i c h the D u t c h settled what is now N e w
Y o r k a n d N e w Jersey.
Source of Division: National Guard
units from N e w Y o r k a n d N e w Jersey.
Training: A c t i v a t e d September, 1940,
at F o r t D i x , N . J . , the d i v i s i o n received its
i n i t i a l t r a i n i n g at t h a t post a n d m o v e d i n
N o v . 1941, to F i r s t A r m y maneuvers w h i c h
were conducted i n the C a r o l i n a s . I n J a n .
1942, the d i v i s i o n m o v e d to C a m p C l a i -
borne, L a . , a n d a short t i m e thereafter to
F o r t L e w i s , W a s h i n g t o n . I n J a n . 1943, i t
came under control of A r m y G r o u n d Forces.
F r o m F e b . to A p r i l , 1944, i t p a r t i c i p a t e d
i n maneuvers i n L o u i s i a n a under the
T h i r d A r m y , a n d at conclusion of the m a -
neuvers m o v e d to C a m p P h i l l i p s , K a n s .
Left this Country: September, 1944,
for E u r o p e a n T h e a t e r of Operations.
Overseas Training: Brief t r a i n i n g on
arrival i n France.
Awards: 2d B a t t a l i o n of the 114th
I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t awarded the D i s -
tinguished U n i t C i t a t i o n for a c t i o n n o r t h
of Schalbeck, F r a n c e , N o v . 25, 1944.
Commanding General: Major Gen.
W i l l i a m F . D e a n was b o r n in C a r l y l e ,
Illinois, A u g . 1, 1889. W a s graduated from
the U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a i n 1921 a n d
was commissioned a second lieutenant i n
the Officers' Reserve C o r p s . I n J u l y , 1923,
he was. commissioned a second lieutenant
of I n f a n t r y i n the R e g u l a r A r m y . P r o m o t e d
to major general M a r c h 19, 1945. B e t w e e n
1923 a n d 1929 he served w i t h I n f a n t r y
units i n this c o u n t r y a n d the P a n a m a
C a n a l Zone. W a s graduated from the I n -
f a n t r y School at F o r t B e n n i n g i n 1932 a n d
i n 1933 was assigned to C i v i l i a n C o n s e r v a -
t i o n C o r p s d u t y i n R e d d i n g , C a l . I n 1936
he was graduated from C o m m a n d a n d
General Staff School at F o r t L e a v e n w o r t h ,
K a n s . , a n d was t h e n assigned to H a w a i i
where he remained u n t i l 1938. I n 1939 he
completed the course at the A r m y I n d u s -
t r i a l College i n W a s h i n g t o n D . C . a n d
was assigned to the C h e m i c a l W a r f a r e
School at E d g e w o o d A r s e n a l , M d . H e was
graduated from t h a t school i n Sept. 1939
and from the A r m y W a r College i n W a s h -
ington, D . C . i n J u n e , 1940. H e t h e n was
assigned to the W a r D e p a r t m e n t G e n e r a l
Staff a n d i n J a n . 1941 was appointed
assistant to the secretary of the G e n e r a l
Staff. I n A u g . 1942 he became Assistant
Chief, Requirements Section, at H e a d -
quarters A r m y G r o u n d Forces, a n d i n O c t .
1943 was n a m e d as C h i e f of the section.
I n F e b . 1944 he was n a m e d assistant
division commander of the 44th I n f a n t r y
D i v i s i o n a n d the following J a n u a r y
assumed c o m m a n d of the d i v i s i o n .
Heroes: P F C J i m Y . T a z o i of G a r l a n d
U t a h , was awarded the D i s t i n g u i s h e d
Service Cross for action i n F r a n c e on O c t .
28 a n d 29, 1944. B u r d e n e d w i t h a 40
p o u n d radio as well as other equipment he
destroyed a n enemy machine gun nest,
charged six snipers a n d , w i t h his comrades,
k i l l e d or wounded a l l of t h e m , a n d assisted
i n destroying a second machine gun nest.
H i s efforts p a v e d the w a y for relief of a
"lost b a t t a l i o n " .

11
 CITATION - 2 Bn., 114 Inf.
T h e official statement accompanying i n f a n t r y m e n c l u n g to their positions, a n d
the c i t a t i o n : w i t h rifle fire forced the enemy to w i t h -
draw. N o t o n l y d i d the men of the 2d
" C h a r g e d w i t h the defense of a front
B a t t a l i o n refuse to give w a y i n the face
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4,000 yards wide, against
of this fierce onslaught, b u t t h e y forced
a n enemy a r m o r e d counter-attack, the
the a t t a c k at every o p p o r t u n i t y .
2d B a t t a l i o n m o v e d into position under
cover of darkness a n d w i t h o u t the benefit " B y its determined s t a n d , the 2d B a t -
of reconnaissance. t a l i o n repulsed a counterattack w h i c h , if
it h a d succeeded, w o u l d have e l i m i n a t e d
"Because of the w i d t h of the front a n d
the 44th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n as an effective
the fact t h a t a large part of the d i v i s i o n
fighting force a n d w o u l d have jeopardized
h a d been c o m m i t t e d east of the Vosges
all f r i e n d l y troops east of the Vosges
M o u n t a i n s , no defense i n d e p t h was pos-
Mountains.
sible a n d the line was necessarily t h i n .
T h e nature of the terrain, moreover, pre- " T h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y heroism a n d devo-
vented the m e n from digging in deeply t i o n to d u t y displayed b y the m e n of the
since foxholes w o u l d soon fill w i t h water. 2d B a t t a l i o n , 114th I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t ,
" T h e enemy launched its onslaught are i n keeping w i t h the finest t r a d i t i o n s of
against the h a s t i l y prepared defensive the m i l i t a r y service."
positions w i t h a n u m e r i c a l l y superior force
of i n f a n t r y and a p p r o x i m a t e l y t w e n t y -
two M a r k I V and M a r k V tanks.
" I n the fierce fighting w h i c h followed,
enemy t a n k s overran the b a t t a l i o n ' s
positions a n d fired machine guns a n d 88-
M M guns into the foxholes at p o i n t b l a n k
range.
" D e s p i t e the ferocity of the a t t a c k , the
m e n of the 2d B a t t a l i o n h e l d their ground.
W i t h rifle a n d automatic-weapons, they
k i l l e d , dispersed, or routed the G e r m a n
i n f a n t r y who were r i d i n g on top of the
tanks or following i m m e d i a t e l y b e h i n d .
A l l o w i n g t a n k s to pass over their foxholes,
t h e y i m m e d i a t e l y arose a n d continued to
annihilate a n y G e r m a n s who t r i e d to ac-
c o m p a n y the armor.
" E v e n when bazooka fire bounced off
the h e a v y armor a n d the b a t t a l i o n ' s
machine guns h a d been k n o c k e d out of
action or h a d r u n out of a m m u n i t i o n , the

12
 THE CONNECTICUT MEN
T h e names of the officers a n d men f r o m the D i v i s i o n were compiled f r o m available
official records a n d b y personal interview. Omission of the names of some men is, re¬
gretably, possible despite every effort made to secure complete rosters:

A N D E R T , Irving I. Pvt. Eastford

A R C H A C K I , L u c i e n S. T/5 264 G r o v e St., N e w B r i t a i n
A V R O C H , Milton Pfc. 119 P l a i n f i e l d St., H a r t f o r d

B A R R O W , Charles A . Pvt. New Haven Ave., Ansonia

B E C I A , Andrew D . Pfc. 3 S o u t h M a i n St., P l a i n v i l l e
B E L L E R I V E , Marcel C. Pfc. 11 B a t t e y St., P u t n a m
B I S H O P , Woodrow W . Pfc. 17 H o m e Place, W i n s t e d
B O R J E S O N , George A . Pfc. 539 F e r n S t . , West H a r t f o r d
B R A N D T , John E., Jr. Pfc. 22 B a l d w i n St., M e r i d e n
B R O G A L S K I , Frederick Pvt. 27 H i l l St., Shelton
B U D N I K , Edward P. Pfc. 212 C u r t i s St., N e w B r i t a i n
B Z A N , George Pfc. 117 M y r t l e A v e . , S t a m f o r d

C A R G O S , C o n s t a n t i n e S. Pfc. 1386 C h a p e l St., N e w H a v e n

C A R L S O N , Herbert E . , J r . Pfc. 69 E a s t St., P l a i n v i l l e
C A R S O N , Vernon L . Pfc. 56 Beech St., B r i s t o l
C A T H C A R T , John G. Pfc. M a i n St., Sharon
C H E R N O F F , Maxwell 2nd L t . 80 2nd St., H a m d e n
C O D I A N N E , Francis H . Pvt. 44 E a s t L i b e r t y St., W a t e r b u r y
C R E A S E R , Ray N . Pfc. 55 P i e r p o n t St., N e w H a v e n

D A M B O W S K Y , Victor R. Pfc. 80 O a k St., W a t e r b u r y

D E L L A C A M E R A , Angelo Pvt. 78 H u d s o n St., N e w H a v e n
D E M I N G , Herbert E . Pfc. 2 Marshall Rd., Hamden
D O W D , John H . , Jr. Cpl. 147 K e e n e y A v e . , W e s t H a r t f o r d
D O W L I N G , Robert J . Sgt. 34 N o . H o a d l e y St., N a u g a t u c k

E N G L E R T , Francis J . Pfc. 41 C o n l i n S t , B r i s t o l

F A R I N E L L A , Ralph V. Pfc. 13 L e d y a r d A v e , G r o t o n
F E D E , V i n c e n z o S. Pfc. 44 T a r i f f S t , T h o m p s o n v i l l e
F E R R O N , Daniel F. Pfc. 15 M a p l e S t , Danielson
F I N E R , William H . S/Sgt. 23 Forest A v e , Shelton
F L I S , Albert P , Jr. M/Sgt. 215 B u r r i t t S t , N e w B r i t a i n
F O N T E N A U L T , Paul E . Pfc. 68A Norwich S t , Hartford
F O R T E , Richard J . T/5 1767 M a i n S t , B r i d g e p o r t 4

G I N T Y , Vincent T. Pfc. 5 Foster S t , D a n b u r y

G O D F R E Y , John F. Pfc. 120 Rose H i l l , D a n b u r y

13
G O L D F I E L D , Jerome Pfc. 8 Florence St., H a r t f o r d
G R I F F I N , Gerald B . Pfc. 25 E d g e w o o d A v e , G r e e n w i c h
G U L Y A S , Stephen G . Pfc. M a r i n a Village, Bridgeport

H A C K , Robert C. Pfc. 105 A l b a n y A v e , H a r t f o r d

H A E S C H E , William Capt. 27 B e v e r l y R d , H a m d e n
H A I N S , Nelson T . Pfc. 4 Tolles St., W e s t H a r t f o r d
H E W K O , Edward W. Pfc. P . O . B o x 165, T h o m a s t o n
H I C K E Y , John J . Pfc. Stamford
H U D A K , Peter Pvt. 235 M i t c h e l l St., G r o t o n

I N S L E Y , W i l l i a m S. Pfc. O l d L y m e Stables, O l d L y m e

J O H N S O N , Samuel G . Sgt. 363 O l d Post R o a d , F a i r f i e l d

J O H N S O N , Walter Pfc. 184 H a r b o r V i e w A v e , B r i d g e p o r t

K A R P I E J , Stanley D . Pfc. 110 B r o a d S t . , N e w B r i t a i n

K O Z A K , Henry H . Pfc. 155 W e l l s R o a d , Wethersfield
K R A G I E L , Lucian J . T/5 65 B i r u t a St., N e w B r i t a i n
K R A M E R , William R. Capt. Danbury
K U T C H E R , Anthony J . Pfc. 8 Olds Place, H a r t f o r d
K U Z I E L L O , Raffaelle Pvt. 9 Wooster Place, H a r t f o r d

L E A V I T T , Walter D . Pfc. 118 L y o n s S t , N e w B r i t a i n

L E H N , Charles R . Pvt. 1804 State S t . , B r i d g e p o r t
L E N H A R D , Roy A. Pvt. R F D 3, B o x 286, B r i d g e p o r t
L E N N O N , Eugene T . Pfc. Thomaston
L I N K U S , Edward L. Pfc. 61 P e a r l St., N o r w i c h
L I V E T E N , Benjamin D . Pfc. 54 Shelby S t . , Worcester
L Y N C H , Eugene T , J r . Pfc. 148 P l y m o u t h St., N e w H a v e n

M A Y E T T E , Francis W . Pfc. 44 T o m m u c k L a n e , S t a m f o r d
M c D O N O U G H , John J . Pfc. 35 Stanley S t . , N e w H a v e n
M c H U G H , Donald J . S/Sgt. 43 B o a r d m a n R d , B r i s t o l
M c L A U G H L I N , James Pvt. 294 C o l e m a n S t . , B r i d g e p o r t
M C N A M A R A , James F . Pfc. 317 C o n n . A v e , B r i d g e p o r t
M E N Z E , R a m o n S. Pvt. 192 H a m i l t o n S t , N e w H a v e n
M E S H A M , Robert J . Pfc. 178 C h u r c h S t . , W e s t H a v e n
M I H A C I K , Steven, J r . Pfc. 90 B r y s o n A v e , S e y m o u r
M I N T O , Joseph A . Pfc. B o x 36, M a d i s o n A v e , B r i d g e p o r t
M U R D O C K , Henry G. Pfc. Pomfret Center

O ' B R I E N , Norbert F . Pfc. 68 C a b o t St., W i n d s o r L o c k s

P A R S O N S , Clifton L . Pfc. 71 C e n t r a l A v e , E a s t H a r t f o r d
P A T T E R S O N , Franklin E . Pfc. Brook S t , Noank
P A T T I , Dominic C. Pvt. 20 P r a t t S t , N e w L o n d o n
P E R R O T T O , William Pfc. 1089 B a r n u m A v e , B r i d g e p o r t

14
P I O T R O W S K I , Stanley Pfc. 2 5 B W i l l i a m s S t , Shelton
P R A T T , John L . Pfc. Rockville

R A U S C H L E R , Ludwig P. T/5 33 C e n t e r S t , M i l f o r d
R E I C H L I N , Saul Pfc. 195 H o l c o m b S t , H a r t f o r d
R O M A N I E L L O , Frank Pvt. 37 H i l l s i d e A v e , T o r r i n g t o n
R O S E , Vasco Pvt. 1002 E . M a i n S t , B r i d g e p o r t
R O U G E O T , Maynard E. T/5 R F D 3, B o x 585, T o r r i n g t o n
R U S S E L L , William N . T/Sgt. 216 F r a n k l i n S t , N e w H a v e n
R Y A N , Clement J . Sgt. 23 M e r r i a m S t , M e r i d e n
R Y B E Z Y K , Anthony F. Pfc. 52 W a l n u t S t , M i d d l e t o w n
R Y C H L I K , E d w a r d S. Pfc. 46 S h e r m a n S t , B r i d g e p o r t

S A Z A N O W I C Z , Joseph A . Sgt. 181 Prospect S t , P l a n t s v i l l e

S C H A F F H A U S E R , Steve Pfc. Pitcher S t , Norwich
S C H W A L L E R , William C. Pfc. R F D 1, Shelton
S E N E T C E N , Alex S/Sgt. 93 A r t i s a n S t , Forestville
S H A I N N I E , Joseph Pfc. 43 Stone S t , D a n b u r y
S H I N D E R , Bernard P. S/Sgt. 675 Wethersfield A v e , H a r t f o r d
SIBILIO, Tony T/5 40 W r i g h t S t , S t a m f o r d
S I E G E L , Julian A . Pfc. 179 E l l s w o r t h A v e , N e w H a v e n
S K A W I N S K I , John C. Pfc. 588 B e r k s h i r e A v e , B r i d g e p o r t
S M I T H , Frederick K . Pfc. B o x 27, B a l l o u v i l l e
S P A K , Alex, J r . T/5 R F D 2, A n d o v e r
S P I N A T O , J o h n S. T/4 22 A r m S t , N e w H a v e n
S T E P H E N S , G e r a l d O. Pfc. 76 M a d i s o n A v e , H a r t f o r d
S T E P H E N S , Larry D. Pfc. Bristol
S T E U C E K , Julius M . T/Sgt. 5 E z r a S t , Bridgeport
S U M M E R S , Raymond L . T/5 44 L i n c o l n S t , P u t n a m
S U M M E R T O N , Nelson L . 1st Sgt. L e R o y A v e , Darien
S U O Z Z O , John D . Sgt. 204 W a l n u t S t , W a t e r b u r y
S W E E N E Y , John J . Pfc. 23 F a i r l a w n A v e , H a z a r d v i l l e
S Z E L U G A , Robert Pvt. 86 Sisson A v e , H a r t f o r d
T E I K A , Ernest S/Sgt. 183 M a p l e t o n A v e , Suffield
T E T R A U L T , Ernest J . Pfc. 116 M a i n S t , N o r w i c h
T I M K O , Frank J . Pfc. 284 F a r m i n g t o n A v e , K e n s i n g t o n
T O M C Z Y K , Stanley C . Pfc. 83 M i l l R i v e r S t , N e w H a v e n
T R A C Y , Leonard G . Pfc. 42 W e l l s F a r m D r i v e , Wethersfield

W A D D Y , W i l l i a m S. J r . 2nd L t . 1842 B l v d . , W e s t H a r t f o r d
W I L K O S , Marshall A . Pvt. 599 C a p i t a l A v e , H a r t f o r d
W I R K U S , Lawrence A . T/5 122 So. F r o n t S t , N e w H a v e n
W O L F E , George C . Pfc. M a i n S t , Broad Brook
W O O D S , Edward J . 2nd L t . Kensington
W O R D E N , William J . Pvt. 17 B r i d g e S t , N e w M i l f o r d
W O Z D U S I E W I C Z , Peter J. Pfc. 66 Stone S t , S t a m f o r d

15