2nd Lt, Frank M. Reinhart O-2006988 KIA
Frank Mclaine ‘Mac’ Reinhart 0-2006988 (enlisted service number 12078482) US Army KIA. He was born on April 18, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Frank McClain Reinhart, and Dorothy Hickok Reinhart. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He is remembered “as a quiet lad of determination and integrity who embraced life with zest and enjoyment. Keenly interested in outdoor activities, he was a leading spirit in the formation of the Ski Team and the Outing Club, serving as Vice President and Secretary of the new organization, and efficient manager of the Varsity Baseball Team and an enthusiastic member of the Advisory Board. His honor standing in scholarship was recognized in his award of the George Xavier McLanahan Memorial Scholarship and his sterling character in the Smith Lewis Multer, Jr. memorial Scholarship awarded to a worthy student of limited means who, in the judgment of the Headmaster, has exhibited promise in scholarship and qualities of leadership and wholesome influence in the general activities of the School.”(2) He entered the US Army on May 26, 1942 at the age of 21. At the time of his enlistment he was a student at Princeton. He had Brown hair and Gray eyes. After earning his degree from Princeton University, he turned down OCS Office Candidate School ” because he felt he could not be a good officer without understanding and sharing the life of the ordinary soldier.”(2) He served as a Ski Troop in the 10th Mountain Division and fought in the Aleutians. “After a tour of duty in the Aleutians, he was returned to the United Sates to instruct troops in ski warfare. But feeling that he was not doing his share in the war, he transferred to the Air Corps, and again turned down an appointment to Office Candidate School when many Air Corps training units were curtailed. Instead, he applied for immediate service in Europe, and was shipped overseas with” Company C, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division. On December 20, 1944 he was serving as a Sgt., and he earned his Bronze Star Medal for valor in France when he was “Ordered to move his mortar squad to a position within seventy-five yards of the enemy during a determined counter-attack by hostile forces, Sergeant Reinhart proceeded to execute the mission despite the fact that casualties had incapacitated all other members of his squad. Carrying the weapon and ten rounds of ammunition for a distance of three hundred yards, he single-handedly put the gun in action and by accurate delivery of his fire was instrumental in repulsing the attack, although he himself was the target of enemy small arms fire throughout the action.” He was offered a Battlefield commission and took it and took command of 4th Platoon Company C, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division. On April 7, 1945 Company C was advancing between Untergriesheim Germany and Odheim, Germany. Two platoons of Company C had advanced within seventy-five yards of Willenbach Germany. The German mortar positions and battalion Command Post were located at Willenbach. When the tanks that were advancing with Company C ran out of ammunition and were forced to withdraw, leaving the riflemen in open country with absolutely no protection. It was here that Lt. Frank Reinhart,, and several other men saved the greater part of the company. Lieutenant Reinhart, with utter disregard for his personal safety, exposed himself to all enemy fire in order to direct fire of his mortar and machine-gun sections, which helped keep the enemy pinned down while the rest of the company withdrew. Lieutenant Reinhart was killed in this action during this. Lt. Noel Felix (POW), S/Sgt. Herman Black (POW), and S/Sgt. Charles Earle (POW) were all taken prisoner as a result of staying behind in order to protect the men under their command, by putting heavy fire on the enemy to cover the withdrawal. As a result of the actions of these men, the majority of Company C’s two rifle platoons and machine-gun section was able to form a line on Hill 215.8, where they dug in for the night and reorganized. Lieutenant Reinhart, was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with V and Oak Leaf cluster, the Purple Heart Medal, The American Theater of operations, The Asiatic Pacific Theater of operation medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with battle stars, and the World War Two Victory Medal.
Headquarters, 100th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 112 (1945) – the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Frank M. Reinhart, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company C, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, in action near Odheim, Germany, during World War II. Second Lieutenant Reinhart’s gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty, without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
1- The History of The 398th Infantry Regiment In World War II
2- https://pawwii.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/frank-mcclain-reinhart-38-2/ – From Phillips Academy, Andover in World War II, by Leonard F. James, pages 158–159
3- Other 100th Division Books and records
4- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=12078482&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=541859
5- the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
6- the Cook County, Illinois, U.S., Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922
7- the U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
8- the Cook County, Illinois Birth Index, 1916-1935
9- the Cook County, Illinois, U.S., Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922
10- sodabreadsociety originally shared this on 09 Jun 2015 on ancestry
11- Phillips Academy 1938 Yearbook