442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

by **barcelonablom** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:55 am

Organization of the 442 Combat Team & the 100th Battalion:

Commanders:
442RCT - Colonel Charles W. Pence
Lieutenant Colonel James L. Gillespie
Major Alex E. McKenzie
Major William H. Blytt
100 Battalion - Lieutenant Colonel Farrant L. Turner
Lieutenant Colonel James L. Gillespie

Units:
442nd COMBAT TEAM
442nd Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion (100th Infantry Battalion) - Companies A, B, C, D
2nd Battalion - Companies E, F, G, H
3rd Battalion - Companies I, K, L, M
522 Field Artillery Battalion - 16 Mar 1945, reassigned to 7th Army
232 Combat Engineering Company
Anti- Tank Company
Cannon Company
Service Company
206 Army Band
Supporting Units
599th Field Artillery Battalion of 92nd Division

Now why I was poking around was to find a designation for the 442d's Recon unit. Well since they were a Regimental Combat Team (a Regiment with Companies of support units not normally given to a Regiment, giving them full ability to be autonomous in the fight, usually the Regiment only consists of the assigned infantry battalions, support is given to them based on what the Division wants to give them from its pool of support units), they don't have a bloody Recon unit. But the 34th did:

Units:
133rd Infantry Regiment
135th Infantry Regiment
168th Infantry Regiment
125th Field Artillery Battalion
151st Field Artillery Battalion
175th Field Artillery Battalion
185th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
Support Units:
34th Recon Troop
109th Engineering Battalion
109th Medical Battalion
34th Signal Company
34th Quartermaster Company
34th Military Police Company
734th Ordnance Company
Attached Units:
752nd Tank Bn
Tank Destroyer Bn
100th Infantry Battalion (9 Sep 43 - 31 Mar 44)
442nd Regimental Combat Team (12 Jun 44 - 10 Aug 44)

So I guess the question is, what situation would be apparent here? Would the jeeps belong (at least tac marking wise) to the 34th's Recon Troop but are attached to the 442? Or should we just act like a Recon group and use 442 jeeps? There's probably more and easier solutions. I like the last one because I really want to slap 442 on there

by **barcelonablom** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:33 am

Problem solved. The Recon element is on the far right. Two squads and probably enough jeeps to move them.

So the jeeps will belong to the 442's Headquarters Company and its Recon Platoon.

And if anyone asks, the heavy weapons are assets from the Regiment's pool.

by **kanowarrior** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:47 am

Great work. I will dig up those regs for markings and post them ASAP. Since I badly need some downtime, that might be a good thing to do today.

by **barcelonablom** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:04 am

Well take your time Tim. Remember today is *your* day!

by **davep** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:41 pm

There was also "Red Raiders" of the 133rd, which became famous for their successful raids into German Terriotory. On once occassion they took on a heavy counter-attack which they replused.

Picture of some actual 133rd regiment soldiers

Here is a unit of the 100th Battalion out patroling the streets of Leghorn, Italy in July 19, 1944.

This is from J. Brown's wonderful site

"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.

by **kanowarrior** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:32 pm

That's very cool. I had never heard of them before. We could have a 34th recon unit with a 442nd Iiason attached.

by **barcelonablom** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:45 pm

Lemme know what we want to do and after Tim gets me the information I can do the things up.

by **kanowarrior** on Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:16 pm

Ok, I've got the information, but there is ALOT of it!

This will take time to post. I think I may make a copy of all of it and leave it with Mike first and tonight I will start posting the regulations. Basically the regulations were tweaked and changed all throughout the war. I will post these regs in the Motor Pool area for prosperity.

442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

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