Custermen;;  YOU ARE READING THE WRONG BOOK

I've heard of "Dogfaces Who Smiled Through Tears" but I don't know anything about the book. I'm looking for a good unit history of the 34th Division. Is this a good resource book OR is it one soldier's journal. The title seems to imply the latter.

As an example, I have "The Rock of Anzio" on the 45th Division. It is a good attempt at a unit history but it is not that detailed as I would like it. I don't have a good reference book on that division either, except for the History of the 157 Infantry Regiment.

I may have to get a copy through a Library Loan and check it out.

Steve

No this is an official history regarding the entire unit. I have been extolling this book for two years on this site and it's FEATURED on my BOOKS PAGE.

Custermen: You will NOT find a book more authentic than this book,

Why, the author was in it from start to finish. His are not stories they

are experiences and FACTS. And yes, WE had tears when we

saw our comrades down and smiled because we were still there. Roque

ORDER THE BOOK "

dogfaces who smiled through tears", by e-mail to the-----------

34th Divn. Assoc. Natl. Secretary,Treaserer----------------------

JERRY L. GORDEN--jlg34d@msn.com phone 515-276-5677.

Our reunion isn't till First week in Sept. That's when I will see him

or he will watch me preside at the reunion.

Thank you Roque, I have just sent him an email.

Brooke

Yes, I got my book from Jerry Gorden. In fact, Jerry was one of my first contacts two years ago when I began my search. My dad has the Red Bull patch and I had written to Jerry for help. He sent me several articles and the book. I will be forever indebted and grateful.

Rocky, I will place this order info on my Book Page. Should have done that long ago, but with so many things to do... Damn, I ain't perfect. Sigh!

YES MARION THE BOOK WILL ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND I SAY--YOU MIGHT NOT BE PERFECT BUT YOUR PERSONALITY,

HUMOR,THOUGHTFULLNESS, AND ATTITUDE MAKES YOU PERFECT PLUS

10. Joe j3rdinf. You better back me up. Rocky

Recieved my print from History Shots this afternoon. It is very nice. Haven't had time to look at it in detail because I'm still working. Will give you more later...

Marion: I find this statement of yours strange. "more combat days than any division in the Theatre. The 34th Division suffered 3,337 killed in action, 14,165 wounded in action, and 3,460 missing in action, for a total of 21,362 battle casualties. Casualties of the Division are considered to be the highest of any Division in the theatre when daily per capita fighting strengths are considered..." How does one arive at this figure? The 3rd

Infantry Div had 531 days of combat and had 27,977 battle casualties. Order of Battle

book and my "History of the 3rd Inf. Div in WW 2" book edited by Donald Taggard and Published by the Infantry Journal Press in 1946 closely agree, along with the figures you

published.

Everyone, I received the book, "Dogfaces Who Smiled Through Tears" today. All brand new and still in the shrink wrap. It's a big one, and hardback, too!!

Brooke

You will love it Brooke. Many a good story and it will tug your heart strings along the way. It's a book that doesn't make war look very glamorous. It wasn't!

Not to get into a pizzing match but from checking actual facts I feel the 4th Inf. Div. had

about the roughest time of all Inf. Divisions in all theatres. In their time of combat, from June '44 till wars end (less than a year) they had 22,660 battle casualties. Yes, fewer "days of combat", but among the 3 highest battle casualties in all theatres. My hat goes off to these guys and little is said about them.. True, such as the outfit I served with (3rd Inf) had the most batle casualties. But in a longer period of time. But did

anyone see a movie or T.V. series about them ? Seems damn strange.

Guess we'll have to call Tom Hanks and take charge of the situation. No movies on the 3rd, no movies on the 540th Combat Engineers. Wouldn't that be the greatest?!

Thanks for elaborating on the stats. It's always cool to learn new things and never too late. Let's hear it for the Internet and the opportunity it provides for learning.

THanks for the lists.

I was just thinking about posting with the question of who had the least amount of time in combat, and, bingo! you obviously read my mind.

Very interesting stuff.

Marion: Your figures on casualties by Divs. in WW 2 leaves out the Marine Divs, and possibly (?) the Airborne Divs. This is going back about a year or so you posted it.

"

Casualties

The ten divisions with the most battle casualties are presented below. Casualties are defined as killed in action, wounded in action, captured and interned, and missing in action.

Casualties - Division - Theater

25,977 - 3rd Infantry Division - Mediterranean & European

23,277 - 9th Infantry Division - Mediterranean & European

22,660 - 4th Infantry Division - European

20,993 - 45th Infantry Division - Mediterranean & European

20,659 - 1st Infantry Division - Mediterranean & European

20,620 - 29th Infantry Division - European

19,466 - 36th Infantry Division - Mediterranean & European

19,200 - 90th Infantry Division - European

18,446 - 30th Infantry Division - European

17,087 - 80th Infantry Division - European

Source: Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths in World War II, Final Report, 1 December 1941 - 31 December 1946.

This post has been edited by Walt's Daughter: Apr 26 2006, 05:42 PM

Also seems to have left out the 34 Inf Div in the ETO which I belive also had high casualties. Any figures on the Airborne Divs (or where they included in Infantry Divs which none showed up) and the Marine Divs in the PTO . Surely the Airborne Divs should have had high casualties along with the Marine Divs. Please, official records only or acreditied historians.

Dear Joe:

Please note that I NEVER MAKE-UP statistics. I take directly from historical sites and books. Mind you many of the sources do not agree with each other. This happens over and over again in history. I too thought it was odd that the 34th wasn't listed there, but...those sources were from one site.

As to the stats on casualties, this was only for infantry divs. We weren't excluding airborne etc., but the site was only dealing with certain types of units.

Here's the info on the 34th:

http://34thdivdeathcasualties.homestead.com/HomePage.html

Here's a general site about casualties in WWII:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties

Navy and Marine Corps

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq11-1.htm

Merchant Marine

http://www.usmm.org/casualty.html

Casualties by state and type of unit

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/worldwar/

I will post more as I find other sources.