Photos of the 63rd Infantry Division on occupation duty
Infantrymen bow their heads in silent prayer during ceremony commemorating the 2d Anniversary of the activation of the “Blood and Fire” 63rd Infantry Division. Bad Mergentheim, Germany- 15 Jun 45
Infantrymen dancing with Red Cross girls on the second anniversary of the 63rd Infantry Division activation. Bad Mergentheim, Germany- 15 Jun 45
Afternoon tea with Emma on the farm. D/254th Infantry Jun 45
D/254th Infantry Sergeant gives woodcutting class to farmgirl, Jun 45
Men from G Company, 254th Infantry Regiment. L-R: Roy Thomas, Collinsville, OK; Charles Latterner, Cresson, PA; Bruce Kline, Bronx, NY; Grady McCoy, Lexington, NC; and Vincent Glickman, Bronx NY. Crailsheim, Germany
Members of the First Platoon, C Company, 253rd Infantry at the “Ole Swimming Hole” Tauberbischofsheim, Germany 1945
Men of C Company, 253rd Infantry at mealtime in a schoolyard, Wertheim, Germany, 1945
First Platoon, C Company,, 253rd Infantry, Carbone Field, Wertheim, Germany, 16 Jul 1945
First Squad, First Platoon, C Company, 253rd Infantry, Germany 8 August 1945
First Squad, First Platoon, C/253rd Infantry- Germany 1945. Front row L-R: Pfc James L Willingham-Texas; Sgt Maxwell Maugham- Alabama. Second Row L-R: Pfc Alvin Godbee-Georgia; Pfc Rodney Arries; Pfc Robert M. Ledbetter-Aleabama. Rear Row L-R: Cpl James Sonneborn-West Virginia; Cpl Joseph Perez-New Jersey; Sgt Rodman Backus-Massachusetts
C Company, 253rd Infantry in German (L to R) Al Viera- Bronx, NY; Jim Sonneborn- Wheeling WVA; and Larry Fay- East Lynn, MA
C/253rd Infantry- Germany 1945. L-R: Cpl Lawrence Fay (Mass) Cpl James Sonneborn (WVA) and Cpl Joseph Perez (NJ)
“Well James, at least I know why I only made Pfc while serving in the division for over two (2) years.” – Fred Clinton
Men of the First Platoon, C Company, 253rd Infantry- Germany 18 Jun 45
63rd Infantry Division Field Meet, 1945 in Kunzelau, Germany. It looks like the dog (left of runner) is going to win. Photo furnished by Ms Lynn Hodgetts
4th Plat, L Co, 253rd Infantry- Wertheim, Germany May 45. Only a few can be identified in this photo. Back row (L-R) Sgt Sam Shaw, Sgt Bert Porterfield, Burtel Larson and Sgt Dolan. Sitting- all those known are Sgt Stupenski, Stirneman, Pfc Flowers, S/Sgt McJunkns, M Orley, Pfc Kay P. Devane. Photo furnished by Sgt Sam Shaw
Irwin “Sonny” Gold, AT 253rd Infantry (Left) and his Brother Bert Gold of the 15th Hosp Group somewhere near London, 1945
“Ernie” James E. Forson, A/254th Inf- Germany- 45
“Ernie” James E. Forson A/254th Inf at Division CP in Germany-1945
63rd Infantry Division soldiers place an American Flag at Half Staff on 12 Apr 1945 date of President Roosevelt’s death, Bad Mergentheim, Germany (Photo furhished by John R. Badey, 563rd Signal Company)
G/254th soldiers in Germany. L-R: Bill Clare, John Vitello, Joe McCoskey Photo furnished by Frank Vitello, John’s son.
John Vitello (Left) and buddy. G/254th Inf. Anyone know who the soldier is on the right? Photo furnished by Frank Vitello, John’s son
John Vitello (Left) and buddy. G/254th Inf. Anyone know who the soldier is on the right? Photo furnished by Frank Vitello, John’s son
Sgt Paul Phillippe and Billy Meyer- G/254th Inf. Furnished by Frank Vitello
L-R:Joe McCoskey, Bill Clare and Joe Kepler G/254th Inf. Furnished by Frank Vitello.
Lt Attillio Mastrobattista G/254th Inf. Furnished by Frank Vitello
Pfc Rowe Maxwell, 63rd MP Platoon, 1946. He cleans up pretty nice doesn’t he?
Pfc Badey said that this was the group that drove him to drink!! Pfc Badey is in the center of the back row. – This photo were submitted by John R. Badey, 563rd Signal Company and 253rd Infantry Regiment. If you can identify any of the unidentified members please let me know.
563rd Signal Trio. L to R: “Pop” (Last Name unknown), T/4 Mike Ansonia (Rome NY) and Pfc John R. Badey – This photo were submitted by John R. Badey, 563rd Signal Company and 253rd Infantry Regiment. If you can identify any of the unidentified members please let me know.
563rd Signal soldier relaxing on a wall. His name is “Whitey”. Entrance to the Castle of Mergentheim (info courtesy of Matt Selig originally a resident of Bad Mergentheim) – This photo were submitted by John R. Badey, 563rd Signal Company and 253rd Infantry Regiment. If you can identify any of the unidentified members please let me know.
George Scott, E Company, 253rd Infantry taken in Germany in the Spring of 1945. Photo furnished by George’s son-in-law, Albert Reimers.
MG Louis Hibbs, CG 63rd Infantry Division- Capt Clement Coss, CO I/254th and Capt Arch Hamblen(on the right) CO M/254th. Taken on 15 Jun 45 on Organization Day at Bad Mergentheim,
L to R: Lt McFarland, Sgt Glen Riley, Sgt Mims, Sgt Harry Campere, Sgt Tom Lazare, Sgt Milton Sharp and Sgt Duffy. All of I Company 254th Infantry in Homburg Am Main, June 1945. Photo furnished by John Ritner I/254th
H Company, 254th Infantry, end of May 1945 near Bad Mergentheim Germany. Photo supplied by Irv Schlocker.
1stSgt Emmett F Caldwell, I Company, 254th Infantry, Homberg Am Main, Germany June 45. 1st Sgt Caldwell said “I don’t care how pretty the flowers are Ritner, you’re not getting a week-end pass” Photo furnished by John Ritner I/254th
L to R: Holderback, Sgt Jackson Mims, John Ritner, Bert Peak, Fletcher, Sgt Tom Lazare and Lt Vince McFarland all of 1st Platoon, I Company 254th Infantry. Photo furnished by John Ritner I/254th
L-R: Pfc Clinton, Pfc Frutchey and Lt Roy Hartney, Mortar Platoon, D/254th Infantry, May 1945 in Germany
Capt Neal D. Blanchard, Med Det 255th “piloting” German Messerschmitt 262 Jet near Munich. Furnished by Francis Blanchard.
CWO James T Nordin, 563rd Signal Company. “Chief I know we told you to blend in during the occupation, but really”. Photo furnished by Jim Nordin, CWO Nordin’s son.
Officers of the 3rd Battalion, 255th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division – Germany June 1945 Picture furnished by Francis Blanchard whose father was Captain Neal D. Blanchard, Med Det 255th Infantry. Twenty-two(22) officers were named in the photo, however I was only able to identify those with numbers as shown. The others were also numbered but they were not legible. Officers named with identifying numbers. 1- LCol Maurice Schiffman (CO) 2- Maj James Boyd (XO) 3- Capt Wayne Williamson (S1) 4- Capt (Chap) Carl Lucky (Chap) 5- Capt Neal D. Blanchard (Bn Surg) 6- 1st Lt Charles E White (S2) 7- Capt Abraham S. Lincoln ( M Co) 8- 1st Lt James W. Brown ( M Co) 9- 1st Lt James J. Ryan (Commo Officer) 10- 1st Lt Richard Hartman (Motor Off) 11- 1st Lt Thomas McClaren ( K Co) 12- 1st Lt Cecil L. Johnson ( K Co) 13- 1st Lt Garland A Ludy (K Co) 17- 1st Lt John A. Tate (I Co) 19- 1st Lt John Davenport (I Co). Those named but I can’t identify: 1st Lt Leverne Smith ( M Co), 1st Lt Denzil Bergman (M Co), 2d Lt Joseph Fiedelday (A&R Plat) Lt Breslin ( I Co), 2d Lt Perry Erhard (M Co) , 2d Lt Searly McClure (K Co) and 2d Lt Raymond Kochanski ( L Co)
Photo of quarters for Headquarters Company 253rd Infantry Regiment, Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945. Compare these plush quarters to the ones directly opposite for D Company, 254th Infantry. Where’s the justice?? Photo furnished by John R. Badey, Hq 253rd Infantry
Pfc Clinton (L) and Pfc Frutchy (R) D/254th Inf in front of their quarters in some unnamed village in Germany, 1945. What did they do wrong to deserve such quarters??
“After the last few months we need a drink”. Mullins and Padilla I Company 254th Inf Regt. Photo furnished by Maj Cotton, Son-in-law of Jack Smith I/254th
Cpl Irwin Gold, AT, 253rd Infantry
Cpl Irwin Gold (L) with friend at the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium. Standing in front of “The house of the King”. Info furnished by Marc H. Halleux
Cpl Irwin Gold and friend. Location unknown.
Cpl Irwin Gold (C) with friends. Location unknown.
Soldiers from Hq 253rd Infantry, Wertheim, Germany, 1945. Front Row L-R: Johnson, Delahoussaye, Gofford, Bennett, Scotty, Taylor. Center Row: Ock, Walsh, Ushman, Clark, Toth. Back Row: Beckwith, Medley, Minford, Maroney, Pharr, Greggersen, Dietrick, Dickson
Brian Keller, A Company, 254th Infantry Regiment
Cpl John Graves, H Company 255th visits the Siegfried Line
Capt Restani, Company Commander, A Company, 254th Infantry Regiment
This Photo was furnished by Frank Vitello, son of John Vitello G Company 254th Infantry Regiment
This Photo was furnished by Frank Vitello, son of John Vitello G Company 254th Infantry Regiment
This Photo was furnished by Frank Vitello, son of John Vitello G Company 254th Infantry Regiment
This Photo was furnished by Frank Vitello, son of John Vitello G Company 254th Infantry Regiment
Chaplain (Maj) Guinan Asst 63d Division Chaplain in Bad Mergentheim, May 45
Lawrence Schwade and Karl J Jancy, M Company 254th Infantry, Germany 1945
Cpl Donald A Freese, A/861st FA Bn visits Pfc Caufield Hq 861st FA in Hospital -1945
T/5 Benjamin A. Hudson, F Company 255th Infantry-1945
photographs were furnished by Lt William Taylor, A&P Platoon, Hq 1st Bn, 253d Infantry Regiment Soldiers A&P Platoon, Hq 1st Bn, 253d Infantry in Wertheim, Germany Jun 1945. Front: Lt William Taylor. On wing L-R: Pfc John Dietrick, Sgt William Ushman, Pfc Curtis Delahoussaye, T/5 Robert C Bennett and S/Sgt Peter Greggersen. The aircraft is a German Focke-Wulf 190 fighter
photographs were furnished by Lt William Taylor, A&P Platoon, Hq 1st Bn, 253d Infantry Soldiers of A&P Platoon, Hq 1st Bn, 253d Infantry in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany, May 45. L-R: Pfc Curtis Delahoussaye, Sgt David Walsh and Lt William Taylor Regiment
photographs were furnished by Lt William Taylor, A&P Platoon, Hq 1st Bn, 253d Infantry Regiment Soldiers of A&P Platoon, Hq 1st Bn 253d Infantry in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany May 1945: L-R Front: Pfc Curtis Delahoussaye, Pvt Lew S. Ock and Pvt Hilliard Pruitt. Rear: Pvt Joseph Skottey, Pvt E. Johnson, Pfc John Dietrick, Sgt David Walsh, Pfc Raymond W. Minford, Pvt Arnold Clark, 1st/Sgt James Harvey, Pvt Jack Beckwith and T/Sgt John P. Mastrogiovanni.
Robert Anderson (L) and Frank Scott (R) B Co 255th Infantry- Germany 1945
Robert Anderson, B Co 255th Infantry waiting for those orders sending him to the good ole USA- Germany 1945
Unidentified members of A Company 255th Infantry Regiment- Germany 1945
Unidentified members of A Company, 255th Infantry Regiment, Germany 1945
Troops attending Jewish services in Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945
Pfc Hubert Johnson, E Company 255th Infantry Regiment- Mannheim-Kafertal, Germany 1945
E Company, 255th Infantry Regiment- Germany 1945. Photo furnished by daughter of Pfc Hubert Johnson. Soldiers appearing in photo are: Pfc Robert C Harvey, Pfc Leonard R Jones, Pfc George Nuckels, Cpl Carmen Aquino, Sgt Norman C Wood, Sgt Homer Maye Cornett, Pfc “Bill” Dahlin, Pfc Reynolds F.”Ray” Cattanio and Pfc Hubert Johnson. Pfc Johnson is the 2d man from the right in the first row.
oldiers of Anti-tank Company, 254th Infantry Regiment in Germany. Front- L-R:L. Joe Freed (Dallas, TX),R. Jerry Littman (Brooklyn, NY) Middle: L-R: L. Arthur F Siebert, Archie Mabon (Delhi NY) and Ted Hernitche. Rear: unknown
Lt Col. Maurice K. Schiffman, Bn CO, 3rd Bn, 255th Infantry Regiment- Germany 1945
Pfc Alan Slutsky and Pfc Jack Cohen, Hq 63rd Inf Div- Germany 1945
Pfc Alan Slutsky, Hq 63d Inf Div- Germany 1945
Embarkation card used by Pfc Alan Slutsky, Hq 63d Infantry Division
M/Sgt Raymond Pisani, Hq 63d Infantry Division- Germany 1945
L-R: Pfc Alan Slutsky and M/Sgt Raymond Pisani, Hq 63rd Inf Div- Germany 1945
Pfc Alan Slutsky and unidentified friend in Paris, France 1945
Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt visits with troops in Germany 1945
Don Cronan, M Company 255th Infantry in Paris, 1945
L-R: ???, Carine Soranno and Larry Dreyer, K Company 253d Infantry- Wertheim, Germany-45
Members of the Hq 63d Inf Div Military Government Section. Some were attached from other organizations. Jack Albanese, Robert Colon (French Liaison), Pat Patrizio, Tom Swan, Larry Lambert, Howard Haug and Dick Aspy.
“Pat” Patrizio, Hq 63d Inf Div with Jeep “Oats”- Germany 1945
Capt Haber, G5-Mil Govt, Hq 63d Inf Div with mascot “Argo”- Germany 1945
T/5 George Falk, attached to Hq 63d Inf Div G5 Section- Mil Govt. Germany 1945
Hoot Roane and Bernie Marquis, 63d Band in City Park, Dijon, France 8 May 45. The 63d Band was playing at war’s end celebration .
Kaiser Wilhelm Hotel in Bad Mergentheim, Germany where most of the 63d Division Headquarters were quartered at war’s end.
The following images are portions of pamphlets distributed to American soldiers who were on leave in Europe.
Portion of pamphlet distributed to American soldiers visiting Paris
Portions of pamphlet distributed to American soldiers visiting Switzerland
Unidentified band playing for 63d Division ceremony in Germany 1945. Picture taken by Dwight Donnan, Hq 1st Bn 255th Infantry
S/Sgt Richard H. Croucher, 763d Ord Co in Germany 1945
General Hibbs letter to S/Sgt Donnan, Hq 1st Bn 255th in response to S/Sgt Donnan sending him some photographs. Unfortunately Gen Hibbs’ staff misspelled S/Sgt Donnan’s name.
John D. Erhardt, Alex Janos and Quinton Velesquez Mortar Platoon, M Company 254th Infantry Regiment in action in the Division field competition, Bad Mergentheim, Germany 15 June 1945
Cpl Charles P. Zacur B Btry 863d FA Bn receives Bronze Star Medal for valor.. BG McGraw makes the presentation- Germany 1945
BG McGraw shakes hand of Cpl Charles P. Zacur, B Btry 863d FA Bn after presenting him with a Bronze Star Medal for valor. Germany 1945
Cpl Charles P. Zacur, B Btry 863d FA Bn, Germany 1945
Sgt. Luther H. Yohe, Hq Btry 863d FA Bn- Germany 1945
In the center is Cpl Nicholas Pileggi, formerly of D Company 254th Infantry Regiment. In this photo he was assigned to D Company OMGUS, Berlin 1945. The others in the photo are not identified although a 63d Infantry Division Patch can be seen on the shoulder of the soldier to the right of Pileggi. If you know the identity of these men please let me know. Photo was taken while these men were on a stroll in Am Fishtal Park, Berlin – photographs were furnished by Bill Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment and relate to 63rd Infantry Division soldiers who were transferred to The Office of Military Government, US in Berlin in 1945.
Kaiser Wilhelm Church in Berlin 1945. This church remains to this day in the condition shown in this photo as a memorial.- photographs were furnished by Bill Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment and relate to 63rd Infantry Division soldiers who were transferred to The Office of Military Government, US in Berlin in 1945.
Group photo of men from D Company OMGUS, Berlin 1945. In the photo are the following soldiers from the 254th Infantry Regiment: Back Row-5th men from the left is Sgt Bill Pink, D Company 254th Infantry Regiment; Last man on the right back row is S/Sgt William Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment; Seated on the right in the wooden folding chair is S/Sgt Nicholas Castronova, C Company 254th Infantry Regiment; and seated in the plush chair on the left is Cpl Nicholas Pileggi, D Company 254th Infantry Regiment. If you can identify others in the photo please let me know. – photographs were furnished by Bill Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment and relate to 63rd Infantry Division soldiers who were transferred to The Office of Military Government, US in Berlin in 1945.
Members of the 63rd Military Police Platoon in Germany 1945. Top row extreme left- Pfc Bruno Alviti, Bottom Row: Left to Right: Pfc Bill Condon, Pfc Billy Van Cleave, Cpl Marion Sharp and ???. Others not identified. – photographs were furnished by Bill Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment and relate to 63rd Infantry Division soldiers who were transferred to The Office of Military Government, US in Berlin in 1945.
BG Frederick Harris, ADC 63rd Inf Div (3d from far left) and Colonel Wheeler(C/S 63rd Inf Div-2d from far left) prepare to present a Presidential Unit Citation Streamer to the 254th Infantry Regiment in Germany 1945 (05/05) – photographs were furnished by Bill Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment and relate to 63rd Infantry Division soldiers who were transferred to The Office of Military Government, US in Berlin in 1945.
Left: BG Frederick Harris ADC 63rd Inf Div prepares to place PUC streamer on 254th Infantry Regimental Flag- Germany 1945. Soldier in the middle not identified. Behind the Regimental Flag is Colonel Earle Wheeler, 63rd Inf Div Chief of Staff. (05/05) – photographs were furnished by Bill Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment and relate to 63rd Infantry Division soldiers who were transferred to The Office of Military Government, US in Berlin in 1945.
In August 1945 the Tauberbischofsheim Schloss saw the opening of the “February Flophouse” – a popular place for music, dancing, ping pong and plenty to eat. Photo furnished by Uwe Buttner of Tauberbischofsheim. (05/05) – photographs were furnished by Bill Davis, G Company 254th Infantry Regiment and relate to 63rd Infantry Division soldiers who were transferred to The Office of Military Government, US in Berlin in 1945.