Hi Karrie:

It's been great to exchange emails with you. I'm hoping any members of his unit, or their family members, will see your post and get in touch with you.

To everyone here, I have already instructed Karrie on how to obtain further information, including writing to NARA in Maryland to obtain the documentation on the 106th.

She also has found some general information on the 106th, but I will post any links I find for her benefit, as well for any reader who happens upon this topic.

Theron wrote this morning:

The poster can find a history of the 106th; Lions in the Way. Published

in 1946 by the Infantry Journal Press. Interlibrary loan should be able to

find a copy. It would be a good starting point.

 

theron

Karrie:

I also wanted to tell you to look through the archives of newspapers from you grandfather's hometown. Many times during the war, the newspapers would insert short articles about their hometown "boys". It's worth a shot!

Just so we don't get a duplication of answers, Karrie and I touched base (via email) on the following:

Karrie:

 

The 16th Engineers only served in Italy right up to the end of the war in May 0f 1945. It may be your grandfather was transferred to their unit here in the states, and then discharged.

 

But it's sounding like he did he stint with the 106th Infantry Div, 424th Infantry Regiment, since they began their service in the ETO in the fall of 44, which would correspond with his discharge papers. This would also fit in with the stories he related during the Battle of the Bulge.

 

Have you tried contacting the man listed here:

 

http://www.military-network.com/ben/Associations_Detail.cfm?ID=2732

 

If he is still alive, he may have the company rolls.

 

I would suggest getting in touch with NARA in Maryland (not St Louis), and finding out what records they have for the 106th Inf Div, 424th Inf Reg. This is where I obtained my dad's unit's records. This includes daily, weekly and monthly army records.

 

I have some other suggestions too, but this may get you started in the right direction.

http://www.history.army.mil/documents/eto-ob/106ID-ETO.htm

This looks like the perfect opportunity for contact. They have email links and also a discussion board. You may have to look no further!

http://www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm

Just found out they also have a ROSTER on that site:

http://www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/Rosters/RosterZOHO.htm

You didn't give his name, so am not sure if you share his last name of Bennett. If so, there are several Bennett's listed.

Karrie:

Their site also lists many of the wartime documents I told you about, including after-action reports.

I sent an email off to the webmaster this morning, telling him I added their link to my main site.

Hello. I am looking to find members of the 106th or family members of veterans that could help me find out more information if possible about my grandfather's WWII service. His Seperation papers list him in the 424th Infantry Regiment in the 106th Infantry Divsion (Golden Lions). And his discharge papers list him in the 16th Engineer Combat Battallion, Company C, and that he was involved in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe Campaigns. The little he did talk about the war was of the Battle of the Buldge. Place of entry into the service was in Boston, Massachusetts, and place of seperation was at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

***Forgot the name - My Grandfather's name is Alfred J. LeBlanc. Most military records so far list his last name as LE Blanc (2 seperate words)**

http://www.history.army.mil/documents/eto-ob/106ID-ETO.htm

 

 

This looks like the perfect opportunity for contact. They have email links and also a discussion board. You may have to look no further!

 

http://www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm

 

 

Just found out they also have a ROSTER on that site:

 

http://www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/Rosters/RosterZOHO.htm

Good guess, but Bennett wasn't his name though That was my other grandfather, who's time in the army during WWII needed no research, he was in the 101st airborne, and is a life time member even though also deceased in the New England chapter. Anyway back to Grandfather LeBlanc, I checked out the above links, unfortunately on the roster there were 2 LeBlanc, not him though. I signed up to be able to post on the 106th message board, waiting for acceptance. Over a month ago found a link to the 106th actual newsletter/site to which you could submit a request to locate someone that served in the 106th, but no response at this time My link. I also sent an email to the New England contact person of American Legion to see what info may have been listed maybe on his application, and also to there general customer service email box, again with no replies. I will keep plugging along

You can contact "carl1944" as well.

He knows a lot regarding the 106th ID and 424th Regiment.

Just check the members section here for "carl1944".

Erwin

You can contact "carl1944" as well.

He knows a lot regarding the 106th ID and 424th Regiment.

Just check the members section here for "carl1944".

 

Erwin

Thanks for the information Erwin. I will

So I recieved a call from my Aunt tonight. She provided me with a plethora of information in 5 minutes from a box she just found, once seeing the stuff memories and some jotted down info it was all coming back. First off my grandfather was both an infantry man and a combat engineer. He has lapel pins for both - set of rifle cross lapel pins & set of castle lapel pins. She just came across a family tree book, which she apparently filled out probably 15+ years ago with him. There was a section for military service. She states that she has noted talking to him and documented what he told her of his military service. This confirmed that he was in the 106th Infantry Division, 424th Infantry Regiment, but added 7th Army, Company C, Platoon 4. She has a picture of him at Fort Monmouth, NJ with him in uniform with his 106th Division lion patch, and also the 7th army patch (She is going to try and scan it to me in the next few days). She said that before coming back to the states he started driving trucks and working as a mechanic - hence the Engineer part, but didn't know anymore about that division. She also mentioned he sailed from the US to Scotland, then was taken by train to London/England, France (ended here a few times between Belgium and Germany), Belgium, & Germany, then came back through New York I think she said, then discharging several days later. Hmm -now continuing on the hunt, now just need to find actual documentation of this. Good evening for information! LOL

So I recieved a call from my Aunt tonight. She provided me with a plethora of information in 5 minutes from a box she just found, once seeing the stuff memories and some jotted down info it was all coming back. First off my grandfather was both an infantry man and a combat engineer. He has lapel pins for both - set of rifle cross lapel pins & set of castle lapel pins. She just came across a family tree book, which she apparently filled out probably 15+ years ago with him. There was a section for military service. She states that she has noted talking to him and documented what he told her of his military service. This confirmed that he was in the 106th Infantry Division, 424th Infantry Regiment, but added 7th Army, Company C, Platoon 4. She has a picture of him at Fort Monmouth, NJ with him in uniform with his 106th Division lion patch, and also the 7th army patch (She is going to try and scan it to me in the next few days). She said that before coming back to the states he started driving trucks and working as a mechanic - hence the Engineer part, but didn't know anymore about that division. She also mentioned he sailed from the US to Scotland, then was taken by train to London/England, France (ended here a few times between Belgium and Germany), Belgium, & Germany, then came back through New York I think she said, then discharging several days later. Hmm -now continuing on the hunt, now just need to find actual documentation of this. Good evening for information! LOL

Ok so being new to army structure and such, apparently the 7th Army part would go with the Engineer part, so I am being told? I just googled 7th Army and they were active until March 31, 1946. Guess I should have waited until I got this full packet of info & his picture emailed to me at some point this weekend :)It is still more info that I didn't have.

The 7th Army is the highest level, then works it's way down from there.

WWII hierarchy works as such:

ARMY OR CORPS

DIVISION/BRIGADE

REGIMENT

BATTALLION

COMPANY

PLATOON

The above is standard, except for bastard engineer units, such as the 540th Engineer Combat Regiment, who went where needed and were NOT in a division.

In the case of those units, they were also under control of an ARMY GROUP or CORPS.

For instance, my father unit's during various times of the war were:

5th Army, 7th Army or VI Corps

The 106th came into the Battle of the Bulge under First Army. I am doing more research to see if and when they were under 7th Army control later in the war. If not, then this explains the 7th Army insignia and maybe he was sent to another unit, an engineering unit. Stand by. Just woke up a bit ago and having first cup of coffee of the morning.