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

Volume I Number 6 • April 21, 1945

Major Fabert of 133 Presented D.S.C.

General Clark Awards Medal

General Mark W. Clark, 15th Army Group commander, presented the Distinguished Service Cross medal to one major, the Legion of Merit medal to a lieutenant colonel and Silver Star medals to four men and officers of the Division in the Division area recently.

The Distingnished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award to its military heroes, was presented to Maj. Edward M. Fabert, Hq., 1st Bn., 133rd Inf.Regt., for extraordinary heroism in action Oct. 4, 1944, in the vicinity of Mount Venere, Italy.

Lt. Col. Joseph E. Kelly, commanding officer 175th F. A. Bn., received the Legion of Merit medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services in action as commander of the 175th F. A. Bn. in Africa (Continued on page 3) (Continued from page 1) from the attack on Algiers in November 1942 until the end of the campaign and in action in Italy from Sept. 21, 1943, to date.

Silver Star medals were presented to 2nd Lt. Frank L.. Scott, Jr., Co. C, 1O9th Engr. Combat Bn., S-Sgt..Joseph Gratz, Co. A, 133rd Inf. Regt.; S-Sgt. Fernando D. Tomassoni, Co. A, 133rd Inf. Regt., and Pfc. Andrew J. Hjelvik, Hq. and Svc. Co., 109th Engr. Combat Bn.

When a company attacking Hill 947 was stopped by intense enemy machinegun and small arms fire, Maj. Fabert, then battalion commander, drew his pistol and in full view of the enemy strode out in front of the company. Shouting, "All right, let's go," he turned and charged the enemy. The stopped company arose to their feet and following Maj. Fabert charged 150 yards to the crest of the enemy held hill. Maj Fabert fell wounded, but the inspired company completely overran the enemy positions, killed the crew of one enemy machinegun nest, wounded eight others and captured 26 more Krauts.

Repeats Marriage Vows

When T-4 Charles H. Welton, Hq. Co., 168 Inf. Regt., was home on furlough in August, he married the girl of his dreams. At the time, the bride wanted a double ring ceremony but couldn't find two rings of identical pattern.

T-4 Welton, a cook, returned to Italy and his wife continued her search for another ring. She succeeded and when Lt. Col. De Loss Marken was home recently she asked him to present the ring to her husband and, if possible, to make a ceremony of the presentation.

On Good Friday, Chaplain Marken visited the 168th C.P. Sgt. Welton was waiting and had asked Ist Sgt. Thomas G. Wallace to be his best.

In a simple, impressive ceremony Sgt. Wallace slipped the ring on Welton's third finger of his left hand, while the Division Chaplain read lines from the marriage vows and Welton repeated them.

Although he was freshly shaved and well dressed in clean O. D.s, no one offered to kiss the bridegroom!

MEMORIAL SERVICES

Memorial services in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Commander-in-Chief of all United States Armed Forces, who died Apr. 12, were held throughout the 34th Division area Sunday, Apr. 15.

135th Chaplain Parallels Dad

The role of chaplain in the army is getting to be a tradition in the MeSween family.

Like his father before him, Capt. Allen C. McSween of the 135th Regiment, is serving the spiritual needs o f soldiers overseas. And his work has been so exceptionally meritorious that he has been awarded the Legion of Merit.

His father, Dr. John McSween, served overseas in World War I with the 30th Division, and it was this same Division that Capt. McSween joined in the United States when he was commissioned.

The story of his aetivity in Italy is outlined in excerpts from the citatlon for his Legion of Merit.

"Chaplain McSween joined the Third Battalion shortly before the 135th Infantry embarked for the Anzio beachhead, and from the day the Third Battalion landed on the embattled beachhead until the lib-

(Continued on page 4)(Continued from page 1)

eration of Rome, Chaplain McSween was a constant source of inspiratioi and cheer to the men of the battalion.

"While the men of the battalion occupied their Anzio foxholes, movement by daylight was impossible, and movement by night was extremely hazardous because of enemy fire. However, some sort of cheer and morale building activities were essential if the men were to be kept from growing depressed and despondent.

"Chaplain McSween, realizing this, conducted a courageous program of nightly visits to the front line positions. To individuals in lonely foXholes, he brought words of encouragement and wherever it was possible to collect a group of men he held prayer meetings which proved to be efficacious antidotes for the gloomy forgotten feeling some of the men had a tendency to acquire from the endless days of living in foxholes.

"From observations made during his trips' Chaplain McSween decided that what the men needed badly was a place where they could come to clean up, write letters, read an if they desired to attend religious services. With this in mind, Chaplain MeSween selected a large building behind the lines and despite the limited material on hand developed it into a rest center to accommodate 50 men every 24 hours. A day spent at Chaplain McSween's rest center became a tremendous morale builder and an excellent tonic for strained nerves.

"Unfortunately," the citation continued, "the enemy became suspicious of the activity around Chaplain McSween's building and destroyed it by artillery fire. Unperturbed, Chaplain McSween acquired volunteers and constructed some 25 dugouts. Then he equipped them with games, books and other recreational facilities and in a few days, he had completed another rest center to which all men in the battalion were looking forward to visit.

"When the drive to crack the hostile ring around the American forces at Anzio commenced on May 23, Chaplain McSween remained at the battalion aid station working long tiresome hours ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of the many wounded. From May 29 to June 2, when tbe battalion was engaged in a bitter battle near Lanuvio, Italy, Chaplain McSween helped the battalion surgeon establish an aid station in close proximity to the front lines. Despite intense enemy mortar and artillery fire that swept the area of the aid station, Chaplain McSween remained there doing all that he could to help ease the sufferings of the many casualties that were coming through for trentment..."

Push Button Starter Constructed for Jeep

When Corporal Raymond Dlugonski, 125th F. A. Bn. motorized messenger, found it necessary to use his foot brake rather than the emergency brake in need of repair, while on duty in his jeep, he conceived the idea of a push button starter, as his right foot seemed to be busy on the brake pedal.

Using a metal rod from a 75mm. shell case, Dlugonski ran the piece through the dash board from the starter pedal and now merely has to give the little button on the end a push with his thumb to turn over the motor.

"Just like a late model back home," Dlugonski says.

Congratulates 34th Division

General Mark W. Clark, 15th Army Group commander, sent the 34th Division the following telegram Apr. 16:

"CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 34TH DIVISTON ON COMPLETING AS A UNIT 500 DAYS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER. THIS IS A DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF EFFECTIVE COMBAT ACHIEVEMENT. AM CONFIDENT THAT YOUR VETERAN DIVISION WILL CONTINUE IN THE PRESENT OFFENSIVE ITS TRADITIONAL RECORD OF AGGRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WILL DEVOTE ITS FULL ENERGY AND STRENGTH TO THIS ALL-OUT-DRIVE TO CRUSH THE GERMAN FORCES IN ITALY.

SIGNED CLARK."

White vs. Red Bull; Red Wins

It will be a long time before Pfc. Raymond J. Nardello, 20, of the "Red Bull" Division will forget being knocked down by a white bull, chased into a cave and trapped there by the animal until his squad sergeant rescued him by firing a carbine at the bull on the Italian front recently.

Nardello, a rifleman with Co. I, 168th Inf. Regt., was taking a message from his company commander to the rear when a bull attacked him, knocked him down and knocked the wind out of him. The infantryman rolled over to avoid being trampled by the bull, and succeeded in reaching the safety of a cave nearby, where the bull prevented his escape by blocking the entrance.

When Nardello's sergeant came up to investigate his absence the bull turned on him and began to chase him. After the bull had run the non-com around a tree several times, the sergeant finally fired a round from his carbine to drive off the bull and free Nardello.

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: Pvt. George Molnar, 133rd Inf. Regt., Pfc. Elmer O. Fehlhaber, 135th Inf. Regt., Pvt. John S. Wellington, 168th Inf. Regt., T-5 Nathan S. Levy, 34th Div. Arty., Pfc. Stanley F. Cann, Special Troops, 34th Inf. Div. Secretary: Pfc. Anthony F. Caclutti. Photographer: Pfc. John J. Ling, Printers: Pfc. Michael Guman, Pfc. Ravmond L. Bailey, Pvt. Raymond H. Dietz. THE RED BULLETIN is published weekly in the field in Italy by and for the men and 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 passed by Field Press Censor and may be sent through the mail. No subscriptions accepted.

VOL. 1—NO. 6
April 21, 1945

—Pfc. Joseph Hoffmann
133rd Inf. Regt.

Interviews 13th Infantrymen

Dorothy Cameron Disney, Saturday Evening Post fiction writer, interviews three men of Co. K, 135th Inf. Regt., in Italy for a future article. Shown in the photograph are Mrs. Disney, Pvt. Albert F. Faust and Pfcs. Gerald V. Cobal and Frederick H. Solter.

34th M.P.s Want Games

34th M. P. Platoon softball team challenges all takers and is booking games several days in advance.

If you think that your team "can lower the boom" on the M.P.s, contact S-Sgt. Fran Howard at M.P.Hq.

Batters are swinging aimlessly at ghost balls thrown by "Moose" Bigler and Clarence Pecor of the M.P.s,according to one Division policeman.

Don't get excited if you become wounded. Try to give yourself first aid and keep calm until the medics arrive.

CHARLIE CO. BOYS LEAD 133 LOOP

Having beaten every company in the 1st Bn., 133rd Inf. Regt., except A Co., Charlie Co. looks like the sure winner of the Battalion Softball Crown.

To date Charlie Co. has won five games without a setback. Together with the fine catching turned In by "Dutch" Kaiser, "Golden Arm" Collins, as pitcher, has rendered sterling performances in each appearance on the mound.

"Doc" Williams has fogged them past the batters and is always way out in front.

"Jackey" Diotalcui robbed a Baker Co. man of a hit by knocking down a screaming drive and throwing him out at first from the prone position.

Catches by "Bull" Araujo and "Alabama" Marshall were among the highlights of the series thus far. "Flattop" Reed was the big man with the willow turning in two round trippers in a single game.

With the chatter and pep of the ball club and the we]l appreciated support of their company and officers, Charlie has a hot team and invites challenges from any units. For games contact Sgt. Kaiser or Sgt. McLaughlin by phone.

S-Sgt.J. McLaughlin
Co. C. 133rd Inf. Regt.

"Red Raiders" Are Crack Unit

One of the proudest, fightingest organzations within the 133rd Inf. Regt. is the "Red Raider" platoon, a voluntary unit comprising 30 of the Regiment's most daring soldiers.

Though formed slightly more than a month ago by Col. Walden S. Lewis, 133rd Regimental commander, the "Red Raiders" already have earned the plaudits of fellow soldiers throughout the regiment for their successful reconnaissance missions and daring night raids into enemy territory.

Until wounded recently, 2nd Lt.Edward C. Crangle commanded the commando-patterned platoon. His successor was 1st Lt. Sidney Goldstein, recent recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest combat decoration. Like the enlisted men of his command, Lt. Goldstein volunteered to lead Ihe raiders.

TWO-FOLD MISSION

The "Red Raiders" have at all times a two-fold mission: to reconnoiter enemy positions and installations, then to strike back with lighting speed and thoroughness and disappear before the bewildered enemy has an opportunity to recover from the staggering blows.

Under the present set-up, the Raiders make their headquarters in a miniature tent city near the regimental reserve area. Here they undergo strenuous training for all impending missions, reconnaissance or combat. Under the guidance of their commanding officer, the men make a careful study of maps and aerial photographs of the sector of operation. Every maneuver is planned to the last detail and often rehearsed in advance in an area closely resembling the actual terrain.

The esprit de corps of the "Red Raiders" is remarkably high. The men take get pride in the own little army and have utmost confidence in themselves and in their leaders.

The men who make up the platoon are as follows: S-Sgts. Russell D.

Berstler and Foncie B. Oxendine; Sgts. James A. Sowards, Hersey E. Stover and Charles D. Dysert; Pfcs. Leonard F. Zigler, Harvey J. Leushen, Peter G. Hart, Marion E. May, Arthur F. Van Allen, Henry H. Thornton. David Strassfeld, Alfred H. Iverson, Velmer D. Kranson, Willie F.Brymer, Samuel L. Motter, Thomas J. Costello, and Houston S. Owens; Pvts. William H. Williamson, Louis W. Coty, Eugene F. Brown, Carmello G. Contreras, Joe C. Salvatorra, James F. Thompson, Richard L. Hite, Lee J. Cissell, Irvin H. Donner, and Edgar J. Ross.

30Men Awarded Decorations In 168th Regt.

Wilson Receives Legion of Merit

Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte, Division commander, presented medals to 30 men and officers of the 168th Infantry Regiment in an award and decoration ceremony recently, in the regimental area.

T-3 Robert Y. Wilson, 2nd Bn. Med. Det,, was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in Italy from Nov. 4, 1943 to May 23, 1944. T-3 Wilson, as an aid man, medical technician, runner and litter bearer corporal, was responsible for the speedy evacuation of many wounded men whose lives might have been lost by hesitant action on his part. On several occasions he entered known enemy mine fields to evacuate the wounded.

AWARDED SILVER STARS

Two awards, a Silver Star medal for gallantry in action and a Bronze Star medal for heroic achievement in action, were presented to Pfc. Robert C. Ehrlich, Jr., Co. C.

Silver Star medals were earned by Pfc. Rudolph V. Slaninko, Co. C, S-Sgt. Richard H. Stammer,Co. E; T-Sgts. Maynard S. Neamy and Frank Seman, jr. both of Co. I; Pfc. John J. Marzinsky, and T-Sgt. Raymond L. Weiland, both of Co. K; Sgt. John J. Drislane, Co. M, 1st Lt. John L Bobkowski, Hq. Co., 3rd Bn., and Pfc. Arthur R. Kashner, Med. Det.

PRESENTED BRONZE STARS

Cpl. Julius Aronson, Med. Det. received the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star medal (a second Bronze Star).

Gen. Bolte presented Bronze Star medals to Pfc. Ross S. Carnes Jr., Co. B; Pfc. Cletus L. McSherry, Co. C. Pfc. Edward D. Vodak, Co. D.; Pfc. Joseph Alessandro, 1st Lt. Francis w. Chandler, Pfc. Lawrence Krintzman and T-Sgt. James W. Water, all of Hq. Co. 1st Bn.; Pfc Dale T. Knott, Co. E; S-Sgt Harry Franklin Rox, Co. G; Sgt. Richard B. Ballard, Co. H; Sgt. Clifton A Hopper, Co. I; Sgt. Clarence Henry Lipham, Co. K; Pfcs. Carlton G. Hausman, and William F. Kresal, both of Co. L; Pfc. Carl Rozycki, Co. M; Pfc. Lawrence I. Seidman, Med. Det. and T-5 Albert J. LeBlanc, Hq. Co.

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Louise La Planche