The Red Bull in World War II 34th Infantry Division Resources 1941-1945

Volume I Number 10 • May 26, 1945

Two 34th Division Men Win D.S.C.s

AWARD 133 SCOUT POSTHUMOUSLY

Pvt. Donald P. Talley, 3111 Lawson Street, Richmond, Va., is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously, for extraordinary heroism in action on Oct. 23, 1944, at Poggio di Sopra, Italy, the 34th Division announced today.

When his platoon of Company I, 133rd Infanty Regiment, was forced to take cover from intense enemy machinegun fire during an attack, Pvt. Talley, serving as first scout, boldly ran forward to a point from which he could observe and fire upon the enemy gunners.

While engaging one enemy machinegunner in a fire fight, he studied the terrain and located a more covered approach to the objective. When the platoon resumed the attack, Pvt. Talley led his comrades under cover to an embankment 50 yards from the objective. Every attempt to ascend the embankment was met by a hail of enemy fire.

Again taking the initiative, Pvt. Talley, in full view of the enemy and in the face of intense fire, climbed the bank and charged an enemy held house. He was killed by machine pistol fire.

His platoon, inspired by the heroism of Pvt. Talley, charged over the bank and stormed the house, (Continued on page 3) (Continued from page 1) capturing 13 Germans and securing the position.

"The determined courage displayed by Pvt. Talley is an honored tribute to the American Infantryman," his official citation states.

Miss Elizabeth Talley, his sister, who resides at the Richmond address, will be presented the medal, the nation's second highest military award, in behalf of the former 34th Division Infantryman.

Air O.P. Pilot Uses Count's Airport, Bath

During the closing days of the Italian campaign, Sgt. Robert H. Menapace, of 317 Bruce St., Syracuse, N.Y., used a private little , air port for his battalion's observation planes.

The air strip is located at Biella, Italy, owned by a Count Trose who was present to greet the 34th Division ground crew.

"The first thing the Count asked us was whether we wanted a bath," Sgt. Menapace said, "and we were quite willing to accept the offer. The Count had a castle 800 years old and an ultra modern racing car which cost him $100,000. He used to race at Indianapolis, Ind., and he flies his own planes."

Correspondent Interviews 34th M.P.s

34th Division Military Policemen are interviewed while off duty by George Grim, Minneapolis Star-Journal and Des Moines Register and Tribune correspondent.

500 Germans Surrendered to 135th Infantry Billeting Party

Billeters Run Into 24 Hour Battle

A billeting party from an infantry battalion in regimental reserve set out for the town of Caorso, not far from the Po River, but instead of billeting the result was a battle that lasted intermittently for 24 hours. At its conclusion 500 Germans surrendered en masse.

Two officers and four enlisted men of the 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, entered the town as a billeting detail and received a warm greeting from the population. The acting mayor made a speech. The people were convinced that the Germans had fled.

Germans Heading for Town

The situation sobered rapidly when Germans were sighted heading for the town. It later developed that a pocket of a considerable number of Germans was in the rear of the battalion and attempting to force its way through to their own lines.

"A fire fight started immediately," Capt. William R. Howard, Skiatook, Okla., said. "And it grew hotter as more of our men came into town and the Germans continued to fight."

With Capt. Howard on the billeting party were 1st Lt. George N. Johnston, of 157 Sisson Avenue, Hartfort, Conn,; S-Sgt. Wayne B. Kief; of Montevideo, Minn.; T-Sgt. Edward B. Cibiras, of 4549 South Hermitage, Chicago, Ill., and Pfc. Alfred A. Gianpaola, of 4269 West Grand Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Knocks Out German 88mm Gun

"We had no communication with regiment by wire," Sgt. Cibiras said. "And when the Germans controlled part of the road cutting us off, it didn't look so good."

One soldier from Company C, (Continued on page 4) (Continued from page 1) Pfc. Roland P. Dumont, Biddleford, Maine, distinguished himself by knocking out a German 88mm gun drawn by a half track.

"They were trying to get the gun through by the side of the town," he said. "I was about 50 yards away by a wall and grabbed a rifle with a launcher from another man. I thought the pin had been removed but it wasn't, so the first grenade just bounced off the half track. But I made sure of the next. It hit the half track in the rear and it started to burn. Then the ammunition exploded."

Kill 5, Wound 2, Capture 3

After Dumont hit the vehicle his companions opened fire on the Germans who were riding on the half track and the 88. They killed five, wounded two and captured three. One man escaped.

Those who routed the crew were Pfcs. William E. Engelman, of Celina, Ohio, and Marvin H Epps, of Emporia, Va., and S-Sgt. Elmer G. Firestine, of 1553 Cotton St. Reading, Pa.

Shortly before midnight three medium German tanks, with infantrymen riding them, attempted to pass by the town. By this time tank support had arrived for the battalion and the crews of the Shermans waited until the enemy was practically within point blank range, fired and destroyed all three.

Six German personnel carriers were captured, a Mark IV tank was taken intact, and one scout car was captured and another knocked out. Several other personnel carriers were destroyed as well as a German kitchen wagon.

In another engagement with a German tank, 2nd Lt. Donald Albertson, of RFD 3, Douglas, N. Dak., killed three Germans riding on the vehicle. Albertson recently was awarded the Silver Star and received a battlefield commission.

The battalion was having its casualties, too. Several men were wounded and one was killed.

March Out to Surrender

By morning of the next day more than 50 prisoners had been taken and combat patrols, searching the nearby area in tne daylight hours, kept adding to the total until it reached the 200 figure.

Although some Germans got through, apparently they considered their plight in the rear of the battalion hopeless.

In the afternoon 500 Germans, headed by two officers on horseback, and marching in two columns of four, marched out to surrender.

They were met by Capt. James F. Garfield, of 5236 Humboldt Ave., South, Minneapolis, Minn., the battalion executive officer. Capt. Garfield, riding in a jeep, escorted them before Lt. Col. James E. Tyler, of Woodcliff Lake, N. J., the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion.

Two 34th Division Men Win D.S.C.s (continued)

168th Officer Enroute Home

1st Lt. DeWitt H. French, 168th Infantry platoon ]eader of Lakeview, Texas, won the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest military award, and is returning to the United States, it is announced today.

The DSC was awarded the 34th Division officer for extraordinary heroism in action on Oct. 21, 1944, in the vicinity of Mt. Coresa, Italy, when he led his platoon into an assault on the right flank of his rifle company during its attack on a German strongpoint.

Lt. French's platoon was pinned down by heavy fire from a concealed machinegun while attacking enemy-held houses on an Italian (Continued on page 3)(Continued from page 1) hill. Without hesitation Lt. French, then a platoon sergeant boldly charged the enemy position firing a tommy gun from the hip,in the face of enemy fire. He killed the two machinegunners manning the weapon and destroyed the gun.

With all of his ammunition then expended, the lieutenant then picked up four German grenades and fully exposed to the rifle and automatic fire coming from the enemy-held buildings, he threw the grenades into the window of the nearest house, wounding three of the German occupants and taking six prisoners. Then, taking a machine pistol and ammunition from one of the prisoners, the 34th Division officer continued to lead his platoon which had advanced, and cleared the rest of the buildings, inflicted many casualties, and drove the remainder of the enemy from the hill.

Overseas since November, 1943, Lt. French joined the 168th Infantry as a non-commissSoned officer. A year after coming overseaS he received a combat appointment to second lieutenant. Since then the 25-year-old officer has been a platoon commander and executive officer of a rifle company and just recently was promoted to first lieutenant.

Twice wounded in action, Lt. French has chalked up a Purple Heart and Oak Leaf Cluster, and in a previous action recelved a 34th Division Cltation for outstanding work. As a member of the 168th's First Battalion, cited by the War Department as a Distinguished Unit for its outstanding performance of duty at Mt. Pantano, Italy, the lieutenant wears the Distiuguished Unit badge.

His wlfe and their two chihiren will welcome Lt. French on his arrival in the United States.

8 MEDALS AWARDED AT 175 CEREMONY

Savigliano, Italy--Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte, 34th Division commanding general, presented Bronze Star medals to eight members of the Division at the 175th Field Artillery Battalion award ceremony here recently.

Lt. Col. Robert R. Jacobson, Division Ordnance officer, of 5231 11th Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., and Lt. Col. Dean K. Torney, Division Quartermaster officer, of 204 5th Ave. S.E., Little Falls, Minn., both received the award for meritorious services in support of combat operations from Apr. 16 to May 2,1945 in Italy.

Artillerymen of the 175th awarded for heroic achievement in action in Italy include: Cpl. Charles H. Borgner, Jr., 1015 6th St. N. E., Canton, Ohio; Pfc.Harold L. Boxsted, 1318 E. 25th St., Minneapolis, Minn., and Pfc. Konstantin P. Erenprais, 5070 25th Ave S.W., Seattle, Wash., all of Btry.A

And T-4 Jack L. Freeman. 222 W. Adams St., Los Angeles, Calif., and 1st Lt. Raymond L. Wethington, 101 W. Main St., Lebanon, Ind., both of Btry. B.

Cpl. Merle R. Gilbertson, Hq. Btry., of 1794 Ashland Ave., St. Paul, Minn., received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat in Italy.

The Red Bulletin

Combat newspaper of the 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division

Published under supervision of A C of S, G-1.

Editor: 1st Lt. Harrison Harding, Public Relations Officer. Reporters: Pfc. George Molnar, 133rd Inf. Regt., Pfc. Elmer O. Fehlhaber, 135th Inf. Regt.; Pfc. John S. Wellington, 168th Inf. Regt.; T-5 Nathan S. Levy, 34th Div. Arty.; Secretary: Pfc. Anthony F. Cacclutti. Photographer: Pfc. John J. Ling. Printers: Pfc. Michael Guman, Pfc. Raymond L. Bailey, Pfc. Raymond H. Dietz. THE RED BULLETIN is published weekly in the field in Italy by and for the men and of officers of the 34th Infantry Division, United States Army. Address all communications to THE RED BULLETIN, 34th Infantry Division, APO-34, United States Army. Member of Camp Newspaper Service, New York City, N. Y. Contents may be sent through the mail. No subscriptions accepted.

Vol.1 No. 10, May 26, 1945

Time on Your Hands

After the last war a lot of troops had to sit around waiting for transportation to take them home. It took some as long as a year to make the trip.

Now, they had a lot of time on their hands and so they continued military training. Yep! close order drill--marches, etc.

The War Department learned a lesson from this past experience and has been planning an interesting program for the troops who will have time on their hands either as occupational troops or while waiting for transportation.

Called Army Education

Some units will be able to take advantage of this program and others will not--all depending Upon the extent of their military mission.

One part of the program is called Army Education which means that many of us will be able to go to school and study just about any subject we wish.

There will be science courses, technical schools, as well as many academic subjects on grade school, high school and college level.

Experienced Teachers to Instruct

Regular text books are available and the best experienced teachers will instruct the classes.

Just think of what a wonderful opportunity this will be for all of us to prepare for civilian life, to learn a new trade or increase our knowledge for better jobs. By taking advantage of this education program many will be able to complete their disrupted education--to get high school or college diplomas.

Working along with the Army Education Program will be an extensive sports and athletic program as well as educational tours which will be operated by Special Service to nearby points of interest.

Share This Copy

Copies of THE RED BULLETIN are limited so please pass this copy along when you finish reading it. Sorry, but personal copies will not be available, due to war economy.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

O Heavenly Father, You who have guided us in this time of tribulation and brought us to a successful conclusion and victory in this great struggle, guide and protect us further so that we may be able to attain final peace and victory on earth and merit eternal salvatlon after death. Through Jesus Christ Thy Son and our Lord. Amen.

- Arthur J. Bojean
Chaplain (Capt.)
168th Inf. Regt.

Buy More War Bonds

WITH THE 34TH DIVISION

By

Where Did We Come From?

Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree,
Discussing things as they are said to be.
Said one to the others, now listen you two,
There is a certain rumor that can't be true
The very idea--it's a dirty disgrace!

No monkey ever deserted his wife,
Starved her baby, and ruined her life.
And you've never known a mother monk
To leave her babies with others to bunk;
Or to pass them from one to the other
Till they searcely know who is their mother.

And another thing--you'll never see
A monk build a fence 'round a cocoanut tree
And let the cocoanuts go to waste,
Forbidding all other monks a taste.
Why, if I put a fence around this tree,
Starvation would force you to steal from me.

Here's another thing a monk wouldn't do
Go out at night with a club or knife,
To take some other monkey's life.
Yes, man descended, the ornery cuss
But brother, he didn't descend from us

- Pvt. Edwin R. Bailey
Hq. Co., 168th Inf. Regt.

The Battlefield

The battlefields on which we fight today,
Were lovely and green only yesterday;
Now they are scarlet with the blood of men
Who never will see their loved ones again.

They fought like heroes, and died like men.
Isn't it a shame that they cannot live again?
Now they lie in a shallow grave
They died to protect the free and the brave.

Their battles are over, their fightIng is done
The Lord has called them, and they are ready to come.
They will be Happy in Heaven, and prosper well
For they fought their fight in a man-made Hell.

Someday soon when our victory is won,
And a soldier no longer dreads tbe roaring guns,
Across the battlefield, a silence will creep
We'll think of our Buddies who lie there and sleep.

- 1st Sgt. Harry Mercier, Jr.
Co. A, 133rd Inf. Regt.

Pilot Yates Returns

1st Lt. James M. Yates, R.R. 2 Hutchinson, Kans., has returned to the air observation section of the 34th Division after recovering from an accident during the final offensive in the Po Valley.

Lt. Yates, a pilot, had been out directing artillery fire on four enemy tanks, several trucks and soldiers near Reggio, Italy, when the accident occurred. He was flying back to the Division's air strip after a successful mission and had the mishap when landing on a wet strip of grass being used for an emergency field

Dopo Domani

Pretty Partigiani,
How about domani?

• • •

Tastes Differ

Some guys will soon enjoy the life pacific, others the strife Pacific.

• • •

Via Memoria

Swapping basic-training stories . . . The first shell that landed near you--an "interesting experience". .. The Arabs wearing mattress covers . . . The riding academy in Sidi-bel-Abbes . . . Sleeping with your shoes on. . . The grim game of Cassino. . . The odor of shell-roasted cattle on the Anzio beachhead ... Rome restless camp . . . making "Apennine ice cream.". . . Skiing in rear areas, and falling on them.

• • •

For Sight-Seeing

"What this country needs," yearned Pfc. Wolff, sitting on the curb, "is more tandem bikes."

• • •

"Chow!" ( Northern Italian Greeting)

There's nothing like saving time --to say hello and ask for food with the same word.

• • •

Prediction

The Nipponese will turn yellower.

• • •

'Taint Fair

The first thing a lot of gUys will do when they get home is go to bed early. Single men will have to work first.

- Pfc. Joseph Hoffmann
133rd Inf. Regt.

"Hi yeh, fella, how many points yeh got," has become a familiar and friendly greeting this week with a majority of the men of the 109th Medical Battalion holding in excess of the required minimum number of points for redeployment. A large number of men have redeployment cards totaling in the high one hundred and twenties and one hundred and thirties.

Printing RED BULLETIN

Pfcs. Mike Guman and Ray Dietz (above) and Ray Bailey (below), RED BULLETIN printers, are shown at work in their 34th Division printing shop.

"Let's Be Specific Do I Go to the Pacific?"

Pfc. Joseph Hoffmann, RED BULLETIN Columnist, asked in last week's BULL, STRICTLY column.

The answer, Joe, may be YES if we all spend our money foolishly.

The answer may be NO, Joe, if we all pitch in and buy War Bonds so there will be plenty of planes, bombs, ships, tanks, guns and ammunition to smash the Japs before Infantrymen meet the doublecrossers in hand-to-hand comhat.

The decision as to whether you go to the Pacific is NOT based on your War Bond purchases, but generally speaking, buying War Bonds Saves Armerican Lives

Maybe YOUR Life!
See Your Unit Bond Officer at the Pay Table
May 31 and Buy a Bond.

BEATS THE "BRASS"

BIELLA, ITALY--The 34th "Red Bulls," enlisted men of forward Division Headquarters, whitewashed their officers, with a sweeping score of 25-7, in their first softball tIit of the season.

Capt. Wayne A. Cook, pitching fOr the "brass," was blasted by the Bulls, while T-5 Harold Geiger, the EM's star hurler, held the Officers to a seven hit, seven run total.

Both clubs turned in a high error quota with 11 for the officers and five for the EMs.

Umpire Brig. Gen. Harry B. Sherman, despite his rank, was jeered several times during the bout. "He's a star spangled robber!" said Lt. Col. Ivan G. Walz, officers' second baseman. The EMs seemed pleased with the umpire's every decision.

- Pfc. William J. Brewer

34 Medals Presented at 1st Bn., 133rd Ceremony

Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte, 34th Division commander, presented medals to 34 members of the 133rd Infantry Regiment at a formal award ceremony recently at Rivoli, Italy.

Following the presentation of the medals, the 1st Battalion commanded by Maj. Warren C. Chapman, passed in review.

Awarded Second Silver Star

S-Sgt. William A. Haley, Co. B, RFD-1, Templeton, Mass., was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star, for gallantry in action on Oct. 3, 1944 in Italy.

Silver Star Medals for gallantry in action in Italy were earned by Pfc. JXXXan R. Alcorn, Co. A, Martinsville, Va., 1st Lt. Albert C. Mostrom, Jr., Co. B, Garfield, Kans.; Pfc. Claude P. Langley, Med. Det., Kinder, La., and 1st Lt. Harry W. Raypole, Hq. Co., 1st Bn., Churubusco, Ind.

T-Sgt. Carl E. Moats, Co. C, Grafton, W. Va., was presented the Bronze Star Medal for heroism on Nov. 24, l944 in Italy and the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal for heroism on June 2, 1944 in Italy.

Bronze Stars for Heroism

Bronze Star Medals for heroism in Italy went to Pfc. James Barret, Osawatomie, Kans.; S-Sgt. Harry E. Campbell, Route 3, Zanesville, Ohio; Pfc. Donald R. Engel, 6370 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, Mich.; Pfc. Eugene G. Guertin, 127 Bath St.,Providence, R. I., and Pfc. Harvey Q. Schulze, Floresville, Texas, all of Co. A.

And 1st Sgt. John J. Burke, Jr., 5609 Milan Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio; Pfc. Willia m T. Daniels, Lowmansville, Ky., S-Sgt. Jack S. Prine, Prichard, Ala., and S-Sgt. Jonathan Toole, Gaston, S. Car., all of Co. B.

Also, 1st Lt. Reginald M. Ballantyne, Jr., 360 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.; Pfc. Charles R. Benson, Hailey, Idaho; S-Sgt. Richard A. Kaiser, 1902 Gaskell Ave., Erie, Pa.; S-Sgt. John R. Lutz, 560 Valley Road, Clifton, N.J.; Sergeant Michael Matthew, 56 E. 7th St., New York City, N.Y.; Pfc. Harold L. Mendenhall, Box 1072, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and 1st Lt. Thomas C. Moss, Orangeburg, S. Car., all of Co. C.

And, Cpl. Milford G. Vincent, Co. D, Lynnville, Ky.; Pfc. Harry C. Davidson, 14 Van Guilder Ave., New Rochelle, N. Y., and Pfc. Compton C. Pakenham, 3661 Cameron Ave., Vancouver, B. C., Canada, both of Hq. Co.; and Pfc. Robert L. Goodrich, 126 11th St., Canton, Ohio, and Pfc. Leonard V. Zigler, Redding, lowa, both of Hq., 133rd Inf. Regt.

Bronze Stars for Services

For services performed in Italy, the following men received the Bronze Star Medal:

Pfc. Alton L. Brooks, Thomaston, Ga., and S-Sgt. John B. Gilpin, Winfield; Ala., both of Co. B; Sgt. Albert G. Hoffey, Co. C, Warren, Mass.; Pfc. Wilbur H. Foutch, Logan Ave., Waterloo, lowa; Cpl. Shirlie G. Lantz, 2104 Franklin, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Pfc. LeRoy Tackenberg, 2nd St., Cedar Falls, Iowa, all of Hq. Co., and 1st Lt. Martin J. Slominski, Hq. 133rd Inf. Regt., of 76 Academy Road, Buffalo, N.Y.

Cann Returns to U.S.A.

Pfc. Stanley F. Cann, 34th Division Special Troops reporter of Faribault, Minn., writes from the 64th General Hospital that he is on his way to the U.S.A. Cann has been hospitalized more than a month with arthritis.

"Say good bye and good luck to the gang. See you in the good old U.S.A.," Cann wrote in his farewell letter.

PAT O'HAIR RETURNS

After an absence of four and one-half months, Mr. Pat O'Hair, American Red Cross Field Director, has returned to the 133rd Infantry Combat Team.

Mr. O'Hair left the 34th Division on Dec. 5, 1944 and after a convalescent leave was assigned to the American Red Cross Office at Fifth Army Forward. He was later transferred to the MonteCatini Red Cross Club where he served until his return to the 133rd Infantry on Apr. 14,1945.

A World War veteran, Mr. O'Hair served with the 151st Field Artillery in the first World War.

He replaces Mr. William B. Steis who has been given another assignment in this theater.

BULLETIN BEAUTY

Sally Bliss

Civil War Descendant Returning to States

In the Civil War at Gettysburg, James Nolan fought with the 1st Minnesota Volunteers, the predecessors of the 135th Infantry Regiment.

It was at this historic battle that the commander of the 1st Minnesota, Colonel Colville, uttered the phrase that has become the regimental motto. . ."To the Last Man."

Today, the grandson of James Nolan, Capt. Thomas J. Nolan, personnel officer of the 135th, is returning to his home after serving more than 38 months overseas. Captain Nolan is the oldest man in point of service in the regiment. He joined the National Guard on June 24, 1925