Photos Scouts - 28th Infantry Regiment., 8th Division

Parallax

Parallax

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 2, 2007
299
4
Waushara County, Wisconsin
#1
This pic is another WW2 picture I recently aquired. It's in very poor shape after being carried around in a pocket for 60 years. The guy in the right holding the Stars and Stripes is my Uncle, the guy on the left his Sergeant. These guys were the Scouts of the 28th Infantry, 8th Division ... there were ten of them trained as Scouts and they were assigned to the Anti-tank Company. Notice they all carried M1903A3's and not M1 Garands. The two guys in the pic on the trestle carried M1903A4 sniper's. The Scouts liked the M1903A3's because they were a better platform to launch rifle grenades. This was between D-Day and the battle of the Hürtgen Forest, acknowledged by historians and participants as the bloodiest battle in WW2. Most of these guys were killed in the battle, any survivors were wounded. My Uncle was seriously wounded during the advance as the battle ended on December 10, 1944.
 
#5
Re: Scouts - 28th Infantry Regiment., 8th Division

Wow! Is your uncle still alive to talk about it? We're losing these men fast....gotta get the history passed along before they're all gone. Thanks for sharing!
 
#8
Re: Scouts - 28th Infantry Regiment., 8th Division

Thanks guys... my Uncle John is still living. He's 89 years old, loves to fish, still heads to deer camp and golfs. He was a pulp cutter all his life. He joined the Army in early 1941 from the CCC's. He and his siblings grew up in Company housing in a lumbering town in the wilds of far Northern Wisconsin.

No one in the family, including his son and daughters, knew much about his military service 'cause he never talked about it. Last winter I was working on some family genealogy and decided to ask him about the War. That led to one of several very graphic and interesting discussions of his WW2 experiences. All I can say is my experiences pale in comparison... and I couldn't be prouder to share his last name. He received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his service in the Forest... and still pulls shrapnel slivers out of his skin for those wishing to see one. Along with my father, a Korean War veteran, he's one of the toughest guys I've ever known... and I've met a lot of tough guys.
 
#11
Re: Scouts - 28th Infantry Regiment., 8th Division

Para,

Thanks for sharing. My uncle was at Pearl on the "day" and survived. He spoke little of the experience and back in '99( the year he passed (it seems like yesterday), I didn't realize the extent of what he went through. You are very lucky to have your uncle still around to talk to about it. My uncle was like a second dad for me and he did share some of his experience with me. I'm grateful for the confidence and the time.

Advice: Grab every moment you can. It will be gone forever one day.



Cutter
 
#13
Re: Scouts - 28th Infantry Regiment., 8th Division

Great photo. All of my relatives from WWII are gone now. These great men are becoming few. We need to be sure to tell them all how much they are appreciated; while they are still around. Tell your Uncle John a guy from MS sends his THANKS!!
 
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