CONNECTICUT MEN 43d - Winged Victory - Division October, 1945 STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS HARTFORD

RAYMOND E. BALDWIN

To The Men Who Came Home With The 43d?

To you, and through you, to all the men who sailed with you three long years ago, to those men who died that this, our homeland be spared the horrors of invasion and war, to those men wounded and sick who preceded you home, to those who having served the allotted time came earlier - I, on behalf of the, State of Connecticut, extend heartfelt appreciation and tender a sincere welcome home. In the footsteps of your fathers and forefathers you have written more brilliant pages in the military history of this nation. As a son of Connecticut you have courageously and faithfully maintained the traditions of the State and Nation. You have added to that long list, started by the Connecticut men who fought at Bunker Hill, enduring names - Guadalcanal, Solomons, New Guinea, Luzon and Tokyo. And to those men of the 169th Infantry In particular, who in World War II carried on the great tradition of that regi• ment which dates back to 1739, the State pays particular honor. The record of your service warrants the highest accolade. I know all the citizens of Connecticut join with me in expressing to you our pride and gratitude.

Yours very sincerely,

Governor 43d DIVISION BATTLE LOG

Guadalcanal — Participation in four 9, 1945. The division completed its mission campaigns — Guadalcanal, the Northern of taking the left flank of the assault on Solomons, New Guinea and Luzon — Lingayen Gulf and securing the hill mark the combat record of the 43d In• masses and road network so as to block fantry Division. The division landed late off the Japanese in the mountains near in 1942 in New Zealand, one combat Baguio. Throughout the initial 30 days of team landing at Espirito Santo in the fighting on Luzon the division had con• Hebrides. The division remained in New stant contact with the enemy and the Zealand as strategic reserve for the pur• number of Japs killed by the 43d equaled pose of meeting a threatened Japanese in• the number killed by all other divisions vasion. Later the 43d moved to New on Luzon during that period. The division Caledonia and in Jan. 1943 moved to moved into the Fort Stotsenberg area of Guadalcanal just prior to the termination Luzon, eliminated Jap pockets of re• of the campaign there. In Feb. 1943 the sistance in the Zambales mountains and Winged Victory men invaded the Russell then moved southward to crush the Islands without opposition. Shimbu line in the Antipolo-New Boso¬ Rendova Island — The 43d was then boso sector east of Manila. The division organized as a task force and with ele• helped take Ipo Dam, main source of ments of the Army, Navy and Marine Manila's water supply, in May 1945, Corps made the first assault on New blasting the Shinshu fortress surrounding Georgia at Rendova Island on June 30, the dam. In June and July 1945, it was 1943. There followed 81 days of con• reported mopping up on Luzon. tinuous combat for the division, during Japan — The division embarked for which time it accounted for more than occupation duties, landing at Yokohama, 4,000 Jap dead. Credit for playing a vital and was preparing for occupation duties role in the capture of the Munda airfield at Kumagaya, northwest of Tokyo, when on Aug. 5, 1943, went to the 43d. The the announcement was made that the campaign ended Sept. 21, 1943 and in division was slated for return to the Feb. 1944, the division left New Georgia States. and returned to New Zealand for rest and Major Campaigns — Guadalcanal, rehabilitation. Solomons, New Guinea, Luzon, Occupa• Aitape — The division struck next in tion of Japan. June 1944 at Aitape, New Guinea, rein• Japanese Slain — Luzon, 16,852; New forcing other American units which were Georgia, 4,000; New Guinea, 500. fighting there. It participated in the Japanese Prisoners — Luzon, 762; bloody battle of the Drinimuor River, New Georgia, 23; New Guinea, 68. cutting off a threatened Jap break out of Awards — Congressional Medal 2, the Wewak, New Guinea, trap. Distinguished Service Cross 34, Dis• Luzon — The Winged Victory outfit tinguished Service Medal 1, Silver Star next went into action as part of the in• 551, Legion of Merit 56, Purple Heart vasion force which landed at Lingayen 8,000, Soldier .Medal 22, Bronze Star Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on Jan. 1413, Air Medal 13.

3 THE 43d DIVISION STORIES War correspondents of World War II frequently embellished and often overwrote the action stories of modest soldiers. The aggregate result pleased editors, made headlines, and, on occasion, embarrassed the soldiers. In retaliation, the correspondents and their victims were labelled, in characteristic G. I. language, "Joe Blow". Actually, the "Joe Blows" were few and far between in this Army. The purpose of these stories is to record without embellishment, the mood, the impressions, the exciting events, of the worst and best of the great days, before time blurs memories with resulting confusion as to events, dates and places. These are soldiers' stories, here recorded as near verbatim as possible in soldiers' words — The Editor.

Azary, John G., Pvt., 192d F. A. Bn., yards away fired in the direction of my South Norwalk. voice and I got a chance to take cover "After spending three years in the Pacific, when the Japs scattered. That was before the States — especially New England — I got my direct appointment." seemed almost too good to be true. I Conway, Richard F., Sgt., Div. Hq., served as an observer in a machine gun New Britain. company, and I made most of the cam• "Plenty of fellows saw tougher days paigns. The whole New Georgia cam• than I did. The best day I had — outside paign was tough with the Japs, the of the day I found out I had 101 points weather and the climate all acting against and only needed 85 for discharge — was us. Many of my friends were lost there when we boarded a ship bound for New and many more were wounded. It was Zealand and a rest after 17 months in the touch and go all of the time. I'll be glad islands. Everyone was pretty well tired to get back in civilian clothes." out, particularly the fellows in the In• Berkins, Richard C., S/Sgt., Hq. fantry, and we were all a little 'island Btry., 192d F.A. Bn., Norwalk. happy.' The New Georgia campaign was "Rosario, in Northern Luzon — that over and I figured that a return to civiliza• was our worst. One night in January we tion would give us an opportunity to find got shelled by the Japs, who were using out again what it was like to see white guns they captured from our troops when people." they took the Philippines in 1942. They Deedy, Raymond A., Pfc, Co. E., poured it in for a half hour; it was a long 102d Inf., Waterbury. half hour, and I'm not kidding! But we "Even though they took us away, had no casualties — we were all good at technically, from the 43d Division before digging." we went overseas, we still feel that the Cassella, Alfred P., 2d/Lt., Co. L, 43d is our outfit. There's a great tradition 169th Inf., New Britain. behind the 43d and we like to feel that "I wound up with three Purple Hearts we're part of it. Forty-three months out before they sent me home on points, but there gave me all that I ever want to see the closest call I had was when three Nips of the Pacific; there isn't much difference caught me without my rifle while we between one island and another, except were on Bangaa Island, off New Georgia. for Hawaii. It was almost like civilization I was guarding a communications line when we got there. In the Society Islands when these three Japs came out of no• and the New Hebrides the weather was where and there I was with no gun. They pretty bad, and often we had day after saw me and I saw them. I yelled and hit day of rain. We were garrison troops and the ground. Some of the boys about 50 for the most part it was pretty dull."

4

Douchette, Wilfred A., lst/Sgt., Hq. quite a racket after we landed there — the Co., 3d Bn., 169th Inf., New Britain. Army hired the men to work on road and "The worst time I had in the Army construction projects. Soon, however, covered five days when the third battalion they all quit their jobs because they found was sent out to Artillery Ridge. That was that their wives were making much more at Big 'T', below Ipo Dam which was a money by doing laundry for the service• Manila water supply, in the Luzon cam• men. The men received about seventy-five paign. We were supposed to find out the cents a day, while the women made from strength of the Japs. For five days and five to six dollars a day and more for five nights we were on that ridge and the doing laundry. From that time on, the Japs threw everything they had at us. men sat back and smoked and enjoyed Our outfit had some tough times but that themselves, while their wives made more was the toughest and those of us who got money than they had ever dreamed of out alive figured we were pretty lucky having. All in all, those Polynesians were boys." pretty nice people. Overseas time? I Ehnat, John T., Pfc, Co. E., 103d Inf., had exactly 37 months, 11 days. I know Bridgeport. that figure by heart!" "I was first scout and my job was to Filon, Robert D., Lt. Col., 2d Bn., try and find out where the enemy was 169th Inf., Hartford. located and locate pill boxes and machine "I'm particularly proud of the fact that gun nests. One time some of our men the Second Battalion was one of the few were wounded down the bottom of a hill. that saw action in the Solomon Islands, I was supposed to go down and flank New Guinea and the Philippines, com• these men for their protection. I asked pleting the job by occupying Japan. It the sergeant whether there were any Japs was originally composed of members from there and he said no. Another thing, while Hartford and vicinity, but replacements I was going down the hill I heard some through the years came from all parts of one yell 'Charlie' in English so I thought the United States. At the close, a Hartford everything was in order. When I got up man was a novelty and a pleasure to see. the second hill, I yelled 'Where the hell Several Hartford men had their ability are you guys?' As I turned around I recognized on the field and received direct looked right into the face of a Jap. I appointments as second lieutenants. All pressed the trigger on my gun and it of these officers proved to be of superior didn't work, so I hit a bank around the caliber." bend. I told the BAR man to shoot over Gilberto, Frank D., S/Sgt., Co. F., my head so I could get away, but his 169th Inf., Hartford. BAR didn't work. I took a grenade out "Living in a foxhole made us psychic. and threw it into the Jap hole and man• You got to know what a man thought by aged to kill him. Knowing that I had no the touch of his fingers in the dark. That chance, I got out in a hurry. As I ran the famous Third Night on the drive to Japs shot at me and knocked my gun Munda was the worst, the Japs coming in right out of my hand." within 25 feet, screeching, hollering all Embardo, Robert W., Pvt., Co. E., night, rolling their grenades. We couldn't 102d Inf., Waterbury. talk; and we couldn't move for fear the "The natives in the Society Islands had creak of the knee joint would give us away. By morning we were 'frozen' — Everything we received from then on for we had to work on each other's legs to about a week had to be dropped by get back the circulation. We talked in plane. It was pretty tough towards the the dark by touch system. Every few end just before relief arrived." days the signals were changed. One Handleman, William J., Pfc, 169th night we arranged that one signal F. A. Bn., Hartford. tap meant 'Watch the rear.' Two was, "Just as soon as I get back home I am 'Are you awake?' Three was, 'Listen.' going to take off for a farm my family has Four was, 'They're coming in.' A grab up in Vermont and get one long rest. ahold of the fingertips meant, 'Pull me Three years in the Pacific as a cannoneer over to you.' Each foxhole made up its for a 105mm howitzer from Guadalcanal own signals. One reason for signals was to the Philippines has tired me out. It to make sure the fellow next to you has been so long since I have seen the wasn't a Jap. We left our helmet straps folks that I am getting nervous now when unhooked for good reason. That was after I think I shall be seeing them in just a one of us was pulled out of his hole by few hours. The roughest action I ex• his helmet, lifted by the strap under his perienced was on New Georgia when our chin." command post was attacked and we had Gilmore, Maurice J., T/4., Co. D., to lay down a concentration of fire to 118th M.D. Bn., New London. relieve the pressure on them. The Jap is "Me, I met a friend from New London a pretty good soldier and their training just as we went ashore on D-Day on San seems to specialize in infiltration tactics Fabian Island in the Philippines. He was at night which we had plenty of experience out of equipment and so was I, so we with in the jungles." traded back and forth until we were Higgins, John J., 1st/Lt., Sv. Co., both fixed up. The shells were pouring 169th Inf., New Britain. in on the beach from the mountain and an "March 10, 1945, stands out as pretty LST 200 yards away blew up from a rough. I was leading a supply party of direct hit. We handled a lot of casualties Filipino carriers near Clark Field on that day and a lot of our dead the next." Luzon to a forward company that was Golden, David R., lst/Sgt., Co. E., isolated. We were attacked by an enemy 103d Inf., Thompsonville. force and pinned down. Some of us circled "I don't want to say anything now around and managed to break the block, that it's all over. I'd feel good if I could killing four Japs and capturing consider• get a job when I get out." able enemy equipment. We reorganized in Gurnee, William N., S/Sgt., 169th Inf., a hurry and continued on our way. We New London. delivered the supplies as scheduled." "The kind of fighting and the condi• Jeffries, James, Cpl., Btry. B., 192d tions under which we had to fight in New F.A. Bn., Stamford. Georgia were about as bad as any I have "My most pleasant memory of the ever experienced. Besides the jungle and Pacific is the day we landed in New Zea• swamps, the Japs were pretty strong and land in October 1942. It was the nearest aggressive. On the Munda trail we were thing to home that we saw in the three caught without any food or supplies when years over there. The worst place we the Japs severed our lines in the rear. struck was New Caledonia, where we

S spent two months in 1943. We were that minutes, we got one Jap plane, and had far from civilization that it was pathetic. no casualties." We had a lot of dealings with the French Montesi, Wilson J., Pfc, Btry. B., over there, and when they were doing 192d F.A. Bn., Danbury. business with our boys they were nothing "The Fourth of July in '43 was hot, but clip artists." and I don't mean the weather! That was Leonard, William, Pfc, Btry. A., our first fight, at Rendova, New Georgia. 192d F.A. Bn., East Norwalk. It came on us suddenly. All at once hell "The rottenest spot was the Solomons. broke loose. I jumped for a foxhole, and Those islands were the lousiest area in it was half full of water and all full of the Southwest Pacific. We spent 14 eight guys. Eighteen Jap bombers were months there. It's no kidding that they coming over, but none of them got back were the longest 14 months I ever hope where they started from." to see. There was always the heat and the Murray, Winthrop S., Pfc, Co. L., bugs, and the tropical diseases, and the 169th Inf., New Haven. stinking Nips. What it all adds up to as "New Georgia was as bad as anything we saw it, you wouldn't put in print." because we weren't fully equipped and Mangan, Joseph J., Cpl., Co. M., we had to fight with what we had. The 169th Inf., New Britain. supplies really hadn't gotten in like they "The longest 13 hours I ever spent in should have. The nights with the Japs my life were on July 14, 1943, when we infiltrating, the job we had getting our were on Seven Day Hill on Munda in wounded out under sniper fire and the New Georgia and I got hit. The going had fact that the coral formations made fox• been pretty tough up until that time but holes almost impossible to dig, all added it got worse. After I got hit, I lay there up and made it really tough. I wouldn't from 7 o'clock that night until 8 o'clock give a thin dime to go through it again but the next morning. Jimmy Howe and I wouldn't take a million for the exper• Jimmy Maturano held a tourniquet on ience and the chance to see the world." me all that time and the hours dragged. Pagliuca, Alfred, Pfc, Co. C, 103d Jimmy Howe, a swell guy, was killed later Inf., New Haven. on Luzon and so was his brother, Francis." "The Japs were on another hill about Marchesseault, Norman H., Pfc, 300 yards from us and it was a fire and Sig. Co., Dayville. duck affair. Our machine gunner opened "What I'll remember is the 15 minutes up and after a short burst the gun jammed. after 4:20 a.m. on a February day in The Nips surmised what had happened 1943. We were enroute to Guadalcanal and threw everything at us including on an LST, just entering Talogi Bay, plenty of knee mortar fire. A shell ex• when we were attacked by six Jap torpedo ploded in an empty foxhole just alongside planes. The crew, to clear the deck for me. We worried mostly about the beer action, ordered us all below, but with a some natives managed to get up to us the few others I stayed on deck to watch the day before. We gave the signal for the show which I saw from a spot behind a field artillery to open fire and they did lifeboat station. The Navy went to work an excellent job of it. We jokingly referred on them, and there were tracers flying all to that spot as the 'Shooting Gallery' for around. The attack lasted just fifteen at night the Japs were silhouetted against

10 the moonlight and when they moved Valeriano, Primo J., Cpl., Co. M., we could pick them off like clay pigeons." 169th Inf., New Britain. Peet, Eldridge P., S/Sgt., Btry. B., "It's a toss-up on the toughest day. 103d F.A. Bn., New Milford. Bad as any was that at Mount Alava in "Near Rosario on Luzon in January, Luzon. The Japs were dug in caves all we really took it. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. over the place and had everything, in• we sat there, with the stuff coming in — cluding artillery. They gave us a working in all sizes from all directions. Our colonel over and a lot of the fellows never came had his head blown off by a direct hit. out. We were lucky to get out ourselves. We were an FO party with the Infantry. I was on my way when I heard someone About 10 a.m. a bunch of Japs with some calling for help. I went back and found horse-drawn artillery came down the one of the fellows wounded and brought road and opened up on us. We fought it him out. They gave me the Silver Star, out all night. Next morning we counted but being alive was the best part of it all." 523 dead Japs." Walker, Arthur L., Pfc, Sv. Btry., Riley, Joseph J., Jr., Sgt., Hq., Bristol. 192d F.A. Bn., New London. "One of the things I'll remember is "I drew outpost duty, on Rendell Is• running into a fellow from Bristol in land, guarding the entrance to Brockett Manila. I hadn't seen him for four years. Strait, in New Georgia, for 151 1/2 days, Because we happened to meet in front of June through October. It was an observa• the Red Cross and we were short of pesos tion detail of twelve men. We were on we settled for doughnuts and coffee. I our own — no officers, and no cooks. We had been back to the States and was able lived on K-rations and native fruits and to give him a report on his folks, his girl vegetables. The natives brought us sweet and the 'Bell Town'." potatoes, paupaus, egg plant, mangoes." Rizza, Paul J., T/5, Co. C, 118th Winialski, Raymond E., 1st/Lt., Co. M.D. Bn., Bridgeport. H., 169th Inf., Hartford. "Every day that we were out there was "In the toughest spots there was always pretty hot. I was a litter bearer in the the GI humor. It saved the situation. New Georgia campaign. We carried men One guy on Luzon was badly hit by a 40- back from the battalion aid station to our mm shell. 'God damn it, they use .25 collecting company. That was done caliber on everybody else,' he said, 'but through swamps and jungle and always they have to take a 40 millimeter for me.' with Japs sniping at us all along the way. Humor keeps them going. When the going I was pretty lucky as four other fellows was bad there was always the wisecrack, of my unit did get hit." or perhaps just a word, to relieve the Root, Edward E., T/Sgt., Hq. Btry., tension. We needed it, particularly at 192d F.A. Bn., Norwalk. Munda which was the most nerve-wrack• "I'll remember longest the Fourth of ing. On D-Day at Lingayen Gulf we July in 1943 at Munda, New Georgia, crossed a railroad track. It ran through when 16 'Mitzi-bitzis' came over and I open country between rice paddies, but thought they were our own planes. They it was a railroad track. A GI got down got right on top of us when our anti• and hugged one of the rails; that was his aircraft opened up and shot them all way of showing he was coming back to down." civilization."

11 43d DIVISION FACTS

Nickname — Winged Victory Divi• Luzon, P.I., for heroic action in establish• sion. Division received its nickname dur• ing a road block. The 2d Battalion of the ing the campaign on Luzon, formed from 169th Infantry Regiment received the the name of its commanding general, Distinguished Unit citation for action on Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing, and the Jan. 20, 1945, at Seison, Luzon, P.I., for ultimate goal of the unit in this war. securing a junction. The 3d Battalion of Shoulder Patch — The patch is a the 169th Infantry Regiment received the black grapeleaf imposed on a red quatre¬ Distinguished Unit citation for action on foil background. The patch is khaki- Mt. Alava, Seison, Luzon, P.I., Jan. 20, bordered. The grapeleaf represents the 1945, when it attacked that elevation. fact that the four States whose National The 2d Battalion of the 172d Infantry Guard troops originally made up the Regiment received the Distinguished division — Maine, Vermont, Connecticut Unit citation for action at Ipo Dam, and Rhode Island — were once called Luzon, P.I., on May 7, 1945, when it Vinland, so named by the Scandinavian seized a strategic hill. explorer, Lief Ericson, because of the Commanding General — Maj. Gen. abundant wild grapes he found there. Leonard F. Wing was born in Ira, Vt., The four globules of the quatrefoil repre• on Nov. 12, 1893. He enlisted for service sent these four states. in the World War and served as a private Induction Date — Inducted into and sergeant until June 1918 when he federal service Feb. 24, 1941. was commissioned as a second lieutenant Training — Upon induction the divi• of infantry. He received an honorable sion was assigned to Camp Blanding, Fla. discharge from the Army in Dec. 1918 In July 1941, it took part in Louisiana and returned to Vermont where he began maneuvers under the Third Army and the practice of law. In 1919 he enlisted the following November went to the in the Vermont National Guard as a Carolinas for maneuvers which were held private and that same year was com• under the IV Corps. The 43d remained missioned as a second lieutenant. He re• at Camp Blanding until Feb. 8, 1942, mained a member of the Vermont Nation• when it moved to Camp Shelby, Miss. al Guard during the years that followed, On Mar. 9, 1942, it came under Army being promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1919, Ground Forces. In August 1942 it moved to captain in 1920, to major in 1921, to again, this time to Fort Ord, Calif. On lieutenant colonel in 1929, to colonel in the Pacific coast it received intensive 1933 and to brigadier general in 1938. In amphibious training. 1941 he was mustered into federal service Left this Country — October 1942 for with the 43d Infantry Division and in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Opera• Feb. 1942 was named as assistant division tions. commander. He became commanding Commendations — The 1st Battalion general of the 43d in Aug. 1943 and the of the 169th Infantry Regiment received following month was promoted to major the Distinguished Unit citation for action general. At the time he went into service from Jan. 15 to 17, 1945, at Pozorrubio, he was senior partner of a law firm.

12 43d DIVISION COMES HOME

The 43d Division came home during shouts for sheets, and milk, and food, and October 1945. The veterans and survivors sleep, and — exclamations on the first of the earlier campaigns and most of the sight of "white women with shoes on." original National Guardsmen had pre• General Wing joined the welcome of the ceded the division home by some weeks or third contingent aboard the Kenton, and months. The division came home through more music and more cheers from shore the Golden Gate at San Francisco in six were there for the three transports that transports: the U.S.S. General John Pope, followed several days later. U.S.S. General L. M. Hersey, U.S.S. From the docks the men went to Camp Kenton, U.S.S. Grundy, U.S.S. Neshoba Stoneham at Pittsburg, California, for and the U.S.S. Etolin. the initial processing and regrouping for The Pope docked on October 8, with the cross country trip to the Fort Devens the 172d Infantry and part of the 169th. Separation Center. The Hersey on October 9 brought part The first contingent, fourteen men in of the 103d Infantry, the 118th Medical all, arrived at Fort Devens on October 17. Battalion, the Band, Headquarters and The division was officially inactivated Special Troops. The Kenton on the 10th at the California staging camps; thus brought other units of the 103d, the 152d closing a page of Connecticut military Field Artillery and the Ordnance Com• history on which the first entry, induction pany. The Grundy came in October 19 into Federal Service, was written on with units of the 103d, 169th and 192d February 24, 1941. Field Artillery Battalions, Headquarters and Special Troops. The Neshoba on October 23 brought the 118th Engineers, THE 43d DIVISION PICTURES Military Police, Quartermaster Company, The U.S.S. General John Pope, a Navy Reconnaissance Troop and Division Head• transport, just after coming through the quarters personnel. The Etolin brought Golden Gate is pictured on the cover. part of the 169th, and part of the 103d, The U.S.S. General L. M. Hersey, an 169th and 192d Artillery Battalions, Army transport, is pictured with her deck- docking at San Francisco on October 29. load of men of the 103d and other units San Francisco port authorities provided on Page 9 (upper). a well arranged welcome, with music, The U.S.S. Grundy, an Army transport, cheers, and Red Cross coffee. Newsmen is shown (lower) with a deck load of recorded that the men had difficulty dis• cheering servicemen on one of her first embarking, heavily laden with souvenirs trips to the States after V-E Day with — rifles, swords, pistols, daggers, bolts of high-point dischargees from the Pacific silk and flags. Theater. The Hersey, with the Division Com• Six group pictures taken aboard the mander, Major General Leonard F. Wing, General Pope and on the docks at San was greeted by the roar of a 13 gun salute Francisco are shown on Page 5. The six from Fort Mason, and the crowded deck group pictures on Page 7 were taken resounded with those familiar soldier aboard the Hersey and at the docks.

13 THE 43d DIVISION IN ACTION

The first assignment overseas of the 43d Source of Division — National Guard Infantry (New England) Division was a troops from Maine, Connecticut, Rhode tour of duty in New Zealand at a time Island and Vermont. when it seemed likely that the country Casualties — The division's wounded might be invaded. The division then ship• totaled over 8,000. The division lost over ped to New Caledonia for a brief stay and 1,500 killed in action. The division was arrived on Guadalcanal in time to help in the line for 9,192 hours. mop up the Japs on that island. Component Units — (as of date of A month later the New Englanders departure from U. S.) 103d, 169th and began the war in earnest. Their first 172d Infantry Regiments; 103d, 152d and mission as a unit was the invasion of the 169th (L) and 192d (M) Field Artillery Russell Islands, which they accomplished Battalions. without opposition. Then, with elements Successive Commanding Generals— of the Army, Navy and Marines, the 43d Maj. Gen. Morris B. Payne from Feb. stormed ashore on Rendova Island in 1941 to Aug. 1941; Maj. Gen. John H. New Georgia. Hester from Aug. 1941 to July 1943; Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing from Aug. 1943. For 35 days of what experts have called the dirtiest, roughest campaign of that year, the 43d fought for the Munda air• CONNECTICUT VETERANS port. Relatively inexperienced in the ways COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET of jungle warfare, opposed by crack Jap Vol. 1 October 31, 1945 No. 20 troops, the New Englanders had to learn CARLETON B. CLYMA, Editor the hard and bloody way. They broke the Jap resistance and achieved their ob• This booklet on the return of the 43d (Winged Victory) Division from the jective — capture of the vital Munda Pacific Theater of War, is published by the strip. State of Connecticut, through the Office New Guinea was the next stop. At of the Governor, as an addition to the souvenirs and memorabilia of those who Aitape and the Drinimuor River, the 43d participated in the defeat of the Japanese became expert in the art of killing Japs. armies. They landed at Lingayen Gulf in Luzon The Battle Log, History and Facts were prepared by the Office of Technical In• on D-Day. Fighting their way into the formation, Army Ground Forces. The cover hills, the New Englanders battled in the and group pictures, provided by the AGF toughest possible terrain against an Liaison Office at San Francisco, are Army enemy dug deeply into cave positions. Signal Corps photographs. A limited number of copies are available For the first 30 days, the division was in for distribution to Connecticut men of the constant combat with the enemy. Division. They may be secured by writing to the Veterans Booklet Division, Office of As its final brilliant contribution to the the Governor, Room 503, State Capitol, Philippine campaign, the New Englanders Hartford. captured a mountainous dam vital to Reproduction of original material herein Manila's water supply.— From a syndi• is permissible only on written authorization. cated article in the New Haven Register.

14 STATE AIDS AND BENEFITS The laws of the State of Connecticut provide for many forms of aid, benefits and preferences for veterans, and for their next of kin in varying degrees. The following digest is designed to inform of the aids, benefits and preferences, and to designate the local or state agency charged with providing full information to veterans. There are thirty-four full-time and eight part-time Veterans Centers operating which serve 86 of the 169 cities and towns in the State. In some smaller towns the Town Clerks act as a "Veterans Center".

Tax Exemptions — File discharge with your "2. That it shall be the policy of the State until Town Clerk; notify local assessors and collector. July 1, 1950, to give preference to veterans of Local Taxes — Any veteran is exempt from World War II in all State positions outside the taxes on real or personal property up to $1,000 in classified service of the merit system act and in all valuation. Disabled veterans are exempt up to positions involving contractual services and part $3,000, according to disability ratings. This ex• time services and in all cases where compensation emption is in part valid for veterans' wives, and is paid by the State whether on a fee basis or next of kin, as specified by the Statutes. See otherwise. Local Tax Collector. "3. That until July 1, 1950, it shall also be the Local Business Taxes — (Personal property) policy of the State that appointing officers of the on stock, fixtures and equipment of new businesses State, as defined by Sec. 2049 of the General Statutes, established by veterans, for three years. See shall, other conditions being equal, give preference Local Tax Collector. to veterans of World War II in filling State positions Old Age Assistance Taxes — Servicemen are from registers of eligible candidates furnished by exempt, during active service in armed forces, the State Personnel Department." and veterans may secure refund if they paid while Educational Aids — With satisfactory cre• in active service. See Local Tax Collector. dentials, a veteran can secure free a grammar school State Unincorporated Business Taxes — On or high school diploma from the State Board of new businesses established by any veteran, good Education, State Office Building, Hartford. for three years. See Tax Commissioner, State Free instruction in secondary subjects (high Office Building, Hartford. school courses) will be furnished by the State Free Business Licenses — Most licenses are Board of Education if your town can't do it. See your local school officials. free; renewals usually unnecessary for varying periods. See your Town Clerk. Financial aid for college educations for children, 16 to 23, of servicemen killed in service. Consult Professional Licenses — Qualified veterans can the State Board of Education. be admitted to the practice of law or chiropractic Aid for Needy Veterans — If you are being without examination in most cases. Contact your cared for under legal direction of the Veterans Home county Bar Association, or the Board of Chiro• Commission, your children under 16, husband, practic Examiners, State Office Building, Hartford. wife or widowed mother can receive weekly finan• State Employment Preference — Veteran pas• cial assistance up to $10. for an adult and $6. for sing state civil service examination has five points a child. Apply to the Commission, through the added to score; ten, if he has a disability rating. Veterans Home, Rocky Hill. Names placed on list of eligibles in the order of If you need temporary financial assistance such augmented score. because of a service disability, contact the Veterans The State's general policy on veteran's job Home Commission, Rocky Hill. preference, which has not the effect of law, was Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund — Many established by the 1945 General Assembly, with of the veterans' aid benefits set out above are pay• passage of the following: able from the income produced by this fund which is Resolved by the Senate and House of Representa• to be augmented by a portion of the Connecticut tives : tax on cigarettes until the principal of the fund "1. That it shall be the policy of the State, reaches $15,000,000. Disbursements of these acting through the Connecticut Veterans Reemploy• funds to carry out aid provisions to veterans, and ment and Advisory Commission, to encourage certain relatives and next of kin of veterans Connecticut employers to voluntarily set aside a pursuant to statute, are through the State Treasurer minimum of 25 per cent of post-war jobs for veter• of the American Legion, State Office Building, ans of World War II. Hartford. 15 THE 43d DIVISION HISTORY

The division was organized as one of for the Colony of Connecticut, the State two National Guard divisions in the I of Connecticut and for the United States Corps Area following the World War. It in the French and Indian Wars, the came into being on March 21, 1925. Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the The 103d Infantry Regiment — Civil War, the Spanish-American War, dates back to 1861 when volunteer militia World War I and World War II. The companies in the general area of Bangor, regiment's motto is "Armis Stant Leges," Me., formed the 3d Maine Infantry —"Laws are maintained by force of arms." Regiment which fought in the Civil War. The 172d Infantry Regiment — Many of the regiment's companies date dates back to ten years before the Revo• their origin back over 100 years, the oldest lutionary War when Vermonters, known being Company C from Norway, Me., as the "Green Mountain Boys," banded which was formed in 1800 under the laws together under Ethan Allen to protect of Massachusetts, 20 years before Maine their land grants from encroachment by became a State. The regiment fought in the Crown State of New York. Units the Spanish-American War, served on the which were the precursors of the regi• Mexican Border and fought in the World ment fought in the Revolutionary War, War as part of the 26th Infantry Division. the Civil War, the Spanish-American The 169th Infantry Regiment — War, along the Mexican Border and in dates back to 1739. The unit's 205 years the World War it was assigned to the of continuous history includes service 26th Infantry Division.

THE 43d DIVISION ROSTER The following roster was compiled from lists provided by the AGF Liaison Officer at San Francisco and by personal interviews at Fort Devens and in Connecticut. Those names marked with an asterisk were compiled by personal interview. Any attempt to compile complete lists of all Connecticut men who served with the 43d Division was impossible for this souvenir booklet due to time and other limitations.

ABRUSCATO, Joseph P. Sgt. 13 Donovan St., Norwalk ACKIE, George W. 2d/Lt. Bristol ALVORD, Harold H. 1st/Lt. 73 Furnace St., Danielson ANSTETT, Charles H. Pvt. 488 High St., Torrington * AZARY, John G. Pvt. 69 Norton St., South Norwalk BAKER, Raymond W. Pfc. 429 Bostwick Ave., Bridgeport BEERBAUN, Alfred W. Sgt. RFD 4, Wolcott * BERKINS, Richard C. S/Sgt. Grumman Ave., Norwalk BERNIER, Thomas J. T/Sgt. 30 Arch St., Waterbury BIASI, Joseph Pfc. 23 Suburban Ave., Cos Cob BILL, Frank H. 1st/Lt. 19 Frederick St., Hartford BLOCH, Stephen P. T/5 25 Central Ave., Waterbury

16 BOHNER, Holm T/4 946 Forest Ave., Stamford BOUDREAU, Leo J. S/Sgt. 16 Hopkins St., Hartford BOYCHEW, Charles T/4 67 Hanford Ave., Bridgeport BOZZUTO, Ludovico P. T/5 22 Norton St., Waterbury BRAULT, Robert C. CWO 8 Park St., Bristol BUSH, Allan K. T/Sgt. 501 Huntington Rd., Bridgeport BUTEAU, Montcalm R. Capt. Danielson BYWATER, Robert E. Pfc. 291 So. Quaker Lane, West Hartford CABLES, Leonard F. Pfc. Gilbert Home, Winsted CASEY, Maurice B. S/Sgt. 123 North St., Bristol * CASSELLA, Alfred P. 2d/Lt. 64 Dudley St., New Britain CAYA, Maurice A. Pfc. 38 Jackson Place, Willimantic CHAMBERS, William F. 1st/Lt. 459 Keeney St., Manchester CHATTERTON, Robert S. Pfc. 52 Arch St., Greenwich CHERUBINI, Peter T/5 51 St. Margaret Ave., Waterbury CIPOLIA, John T/5 188 Triangle St., Danbury COBURN, Warren F. Pfc. 68 Chestnut St., Bridgeport COCO, Joseph S. Pvt. 348 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford COFRANCESCO, Vincent C. Pfc. 124 Frost Rd., Waterbury COGSWELL, James S. Maj. 84 Smith St., Putnam * CONNORS, William P. Cpl. 50 Hill St., Stamford * CONWAY, Richard F. Sgt. 194 North St., New Britain CORTEZ, Salvatore R. Pfc. 14 Rose Park Ave., Stamford DALY, Kieran M. 1st/Lt. 92 Harwich St., Hartford DAVIDSON, Robert S/Sgt. 247 Walnut St, Waterbury * DeCARLO, Joseph S. S/Sgt. 529 So. Main St, Naugatuck DEEDY, Raymond A. Pfc. 147 Savings St, Waterbury * DeFOREST, Charles W. Cpl. 6 Liberty Plaza, Middletown DEMERS, Adrian J. 1st/Lt. 43 Ashwell Ave, Rocky Hill DEYORIO, Pasquale 1st/Lt. 109 Spruce St, Manchester DIZINSKI, Theodore Sgt. 127 Red Mountain Ave, Torrington DONOVAN, Louis W, Jr. Pfc. 127 Smith St, Bridgeport * DOUCHETTE, Wilfred A. 1st/Sgt. 55 Pike St, New Britain EDGAR, Earl M. Pfc. 129 Hillcrest Ave, So. Meriden EDWARDS, George R. M/Sgt. 148 Meriden Ave, Southington EHNAT, John T. Pfc. 522 Jane St, Bridgeport EININGER, Herbert M/Sgt. 296 Bedford St, Stamford ELSOVSKY, Andrew 1st/Lt. 597 Zion St, Hartford EMBARDO, Robert W. Pvt. 66 Beech St, Waterbury EWANKIEWICZ, Matty P. Pfc. 64 Anderson St, Union City * FAUST, Fred T/Sgt. 25 E. Burnham St, Hartford FAZZINO, Sebastian Pfc. Portland FERGUSON, Theodore H. Pfc. Scribner Ave, So. Norwalk FILON, Robert D. Lt. Col. 363 Blue Hills Ave, Hartford

17 FINKLE, Jack D. Pfc. 165 West St., Seymour FOTIVE, James P. Pvt. 89 South St, Waterbury FREDERICKSON, Carl G. Pvt. 126 Clinton St, New Britain FRENIER, Theodore T. Pfc. 24 Ballou St, Putnam GALYA, William J. Capt. 2263 Hillside Rd, Fairfield GANCARZ, Joseph J. T/4 32 Ives St, Willimantic GARLOCK, Charles D, Jr. S/Sgt. Colony St, Ansonia GENTILE, Anthony Sgt. 45 Harpers Rd, Waterbury *GILBERTO, Frank D. S/Sgt. 81 Tredeau St, Hartford *GILMORE, Maurice J. T/4 17 Cliff St, New London GIROUARD, Arthur W. Pfc. 152 Woodbine St, Waterbury GODEK, Joseph J. T/5 1520 No. Main St, Hartford GOL, John J. Sgt. 17 Palmer Ave, Stamford GOLDEN, David R. 1st/Sgt. 46 Highland Park, Thompsonville GRIFFIN, Henry W. 1st/Lt. 15 Grand St, Forestville GRIFFITH, John R. T/5 145 Cleveland Ave, Hartford GUMAN, Frank T/5 583 Berkshire Ave, Bridgeport *GURNEE, William N. S/Sgt. 58 Morgan St, New London HALLORAN, Joseph D. Pfc. 563 Winthrop Ave, New Haven HANDLEMAN, William J. Pfc. 31 Enfield St, Hartford HANOPHY, James F, Jr. Pfc. 221 Newington Rd, West Hartford HAWLEY, Richard K. 1st/Lt. Box 964, Middletown HIGGINS, John J. 1st/Lt. 42 Devens St, New Britain HIGGINS, Lawrence H. Capt. 411 Sherman St, New London HOLDWRIGHT, Lawrence E. Pvt. 23 Broadway, New Haven HULL, Ralph E. S/Sgt. 30 Maple St, Seymour HUMBER, Russell Pfc. 911 Main St, Stamford HUTCHINGS, George H. Pfc. 491 Fairfield Ave, Stamford JASPERSOHN, Howard J. Cpl. 49 Silver St, Branford *JEFFRIES, James Cpl. 33 Broad St, Stamford JOHNSTON, John W. Pfc. RFD 1, Thomaston *KARAKO, Frank W. Sgt. 294 Fort Hale Rd, New Haven KEENEY, John M. 1st/Lt. 895 Bronson Ave, Fairfield KING, Walter E. Pfc. 19 Bank St, Portland LABBE, Leonard J. T/5 Box 145, Southington LaHAYE, Raymond L. M/Sgt. 112 Warren St, Meriden LANE, Warren J. Pfc. 4 Price Blvd., West Hartford LaROSA, Edward S/Sgt. 1877 Baldwin St, Waterbury LARSON, David Pfc. 83 Priscilla St, Bridgeport LaTORRE, Joseph J. 2nd/Lt. 228 Front St, Hartford *LEONARD, William Pfc. 26 Myrtle St, East Norwalk LIAPES, James T. Pfc. 31 Governor St, East Hartford LONG, Thomas B. 1st/Sgt. 152 Brook St, Hartford LONGOBARDI, Nicholas A. T/5 138 Poplar St, New Haven

18 LYMAN, Earl M. Pfc. RFD, So. Coventry LYNCH, Harold O. S/Sgt. 96 Washington Ave, West Haven MAHONEY, Frederick L. T/4 60 Maple St, Manchester MALLOY, Joseph T. S/Sgt. 63 Cleveland Ave, Hartford * MANGAN, Joseph J. Cpl. 1 Prospect St, New Britain * MARCHESSEAULT, Norman H. Pfc. 19 High St, Dayville MARKO, Michael Pfc. 85 William St, Bridgeport MARRON, Benedict A. Pfc. 54 Brown Ave, Stamford MASKA, Adam E. S/Sgt. Putnam MASTRACCHIO, Andrew T/5 50 Stevens St, New Haven MAZZUCO, Domenico Pfc. 21 Perth St, Bridgeport * McNAMARA, Joseph F. Sgt. Dyer Ave, Collinsville McPHEE, Raymond S. S/Sgt. 31 Bungalow Park, Stamford MENNILLO, Carmine P. Pfc 7 So. Main St, Beacon Falls MINER, Lewis E. Pfc. 28 Howard St, Hartford * MONTESI, Wilson J. Pfc. 29 Comstock St, Danbury MOODY, Malcolm N. S/Sgt. Randolph Rd, Middletown MOREHOUSE, Wilbert H. T/5 79 Stratford Ave, Stratford MROZOWSKI, Theodore J. Pfc. 20 Maple St, Middletown * MURRAY, Winthrop S. Pfc. 506 Whalley Ave, New Haven MUSTARD, Robert H. Pfc. 222 Church St, Willimantic NAHMIAS, Jack Pfc. 87 Benham Ave, Bridgeport NEWMAN, Harold A. Pfc. 16 Cherry St, Naugatuck O'BRIEN, John J. 1st/Lt. 26 Main St, Winsted OCCUZZI, John J. S/Sgt. 90 Noble St, Stamford PACKO, Andrew, Jr. 2d/Lt. 230 Milford Ave, Stratford PAGLIUCA, Alfred Pfc. 150 Filmore St, New Haven PARENT, Rosaire L. T/5 128 Powhatten St, Putnam * PAUL, Bernard V. T/Sgt. 72 Lounsbury Ave, Waterbury * PEET, Eldridge P. S/Sgt. Wellsville Ave, New Milford PELGRO, Sam, Jr. Sgt. 23 Barnum Court, Naugatuck PERKOWSKI, Edward Sgt. 75 Henry St, Stamford PERLMAN, Arthur T/5 36 Hoyt St, New Canaan PIACENZA, Louis A. Pfc. 78 Virgil St, Stamford PIEPER, Frederick C. T/5 289 Hope St, Glenbrook POLLARD, Ernest B. Sgt. 30 So. Second Street, Taftville PORTER, Warren A. Capt. 187 No. Quaker Lane, West Hartford PRUE, Leonard L. 1st/Lt. Box 61, Rockfall QUINN, George K. Pfc. RFD, Broad Brook RAIMONDI, Dominick T/5 1046 Sylvan Ave, Bridgeport RAJEWSKI, Charles J. Cpl. 36 North St, Norwich RANSLOW, Earl H. Sgt. 11 Bradley St, Naugatuck RASULO, Charles T/4 25 Orchard St, Bristol RICHARD, Henry A. Pfc. 196 McKinley St, Torrington

19 RICHARDS, Aubry Pfc. Kent * RICHARDSON, Harvey T/5 36 Whittlesey Ave, Waterbury RIDEL, Edward J. S/Sgt. 56 North St, Windsor Locks RILEY, Joseph J, Jr. Sgt. 66 Pleasant St., Bristol * RINALDI, Louis R. S/Sgt. 542 Frost Rd, Waterbury RIZZA, Paul J. T/5 60 Arch St., Bridgeport * ROBBINS, Theodore A. Pfc. 74 Birch St, Manchester ROBINSON, Kenneth E. Sgt. 28 Capitol Ave, Hartford ROMA, Andrew J. Pfc. 46 Ridge Ave, Bridgeport * ROOT, Edward E. T/Sgt. 38 Aiken St., Norwalk ROSSI, Matthew T/5 91 Columbus St, Stratford RUBACHA, Maximillian J. Sgt. 96 North St., Manchester RUBBO, Carmine S/Sgt. 103 Division St., Waterbury RYAN, Thomas M. T/5 Simsbury Hotel, Simsbury SANTAGATE, Vincent J. Pfc. 3 West Main St, Norwalk SCHWOLSKY, Robert Capt. 21 Bainbridge Rd, West Hartford SLINK, Carl C. Cpl. 133 Valley Rd, Cos Cob SMITH, William A. Lt. Col. 284 Pine St, Forestville SMOLA, John F. Cpl. 72 So. Prospect St., Hartford SNOW, Edwin W. Pfc. 90 Keeney Ave, West Hartford STEWART, Calvin H. T/5 Main St, New Hartford STIRLING, Thomas S. Capt. 160 Alden St, New Haven SULLIVAN, Francis T/5 54 Nelton Court, Hartford SUPRYNOWICZ, Frank A. Cpl. 99 Hotchkiss St., Middletown SWANN, Frederick S/Sgt. 177 Park St., West Haven SWEENEY, James E. 1st/Lt. 105 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich SWEENEY, Lawrence W. Pfc. 54 Loundsbury St., Waterbury TALAMINI, Hugo J. Pvt. 33 Church St, Stafford Springs TAYLOR, Earl A. WOJG 10 Maple Ave, Bethel THIERFIELD, Gunther Cpl. 1127 Albany Ave, Hartford TWACHMAN, David M. Capt. Round Hill Rd, Greenwich * VALERIANO, Primo J. Cpl. 198 McClintock Rd, New Britain VALLERY, Anthony V. S/Sgt. 32 Standish St, Hartford VICTOR, Joseph S. T/5 115 Mulberry St., Plantsville VINCI, Salvatore J. Sgt. 68-A Newfield St., Middletown WAGNER, John H. Sgt. 98 Winchester Ave, New Haven * WALKER, Arthur L. Pfc. 11 Huntington St., New London WARZECKA, Walter P. Pfc. 52 Walnut St, Middletown WILKE, Henry Pfc. RFD, Hop River, Columbia WILLIAMS, Fred Pfc. 107 Osborne St, Danbury WINIALSKI, Raymond E. 1st/Lt. 77 Whitmore St., Hartford WOJCIECHOWSKI, Edward A. Pfc. Wellsville Ave, New Milford WYWODA, Anthony A. Pvt. 16 So. Leonard St, Waterbury YATES, William H. Maj. 12 Arbor St., Hartford

20