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My Father was a proud member of Company M, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Divison, United States Army.
The 133rd Infantry, 135th Infantry, 168th Infantry, and 151st Field Artillery made up the 34th Division, and was the first American division to land in the European combat zone. It was a National Guard divison drawn from Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota.
They fought bitter and costly battles in Tunisia in the winter of 1942-43 including Sened Station, Faid Pass, Fondouk and Hill 609. Dad was captured at Faid Pass on February 17, 1943.
Dad was first sent to Stalag VII/A, at Moosburg (north of Munich), then to Stalag V/B near Villingen (Baden), and after that to Stalag III/B near the town of Furstenburg (on the Germany/Poland border), and then to Stalag Luft III near the town of Sagan, where he spent most his time. He was held in South Compound, and was there during "The Great Escape" in March of 1944.
On January 27, 1945, at 11pm that night, the South Compound was marched out of the camp. They were marched mostly at night, in cold sub-zero winds and snow, until they reached the town of Spremberg around noon on January 31st. There they were loaded into boxcars. At 7pm that night the train left Spremberg, and they traveled by rail till they reached Moosberg at 8pm on February 1st. They were kept in the boxcars until 8am the next morning, and then were immediately marched to Stalag VII/A, the first camp Dad was sent to after he was captured.
-NOTE-
In 1942 the 34th became the first US Army division to be sent overseas in WWII. They were also the first US Army division to enter combat in the European Theatre of Operations in WWII ( November 1942 - North Africa). Battle casualties for the 34th Division at the close of WWII were officially counted at: 3,737 killed, 14,165 wounded and 3,460 missing in action - a total of 21,362 battle casualties. In World War II soldiers of the 34th were awarded: 10 Medals of Honor, 98 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,052 Silver Stars, 116 Legions of Merits, 1,713 Bronze Stars, and 15,000 Purple Hearts. German soldiers in Italy referred to the American soldiers who wore the familiar patch as "Red Devils" or Red Bulls". The latter name stuck, and the Division soon adopted it officially, replacing its WW I name of the "Sandstorm Division". The official slogan for the 34th Infantry Division is: Attack! Attack! Attack!
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My Father was a proud member of Company M, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Divison, United States Army.
The 133rd Infantry, 135th Infantry, 168th Infantry, and 151st Field Artillery made up the 34th Division, and was the first American division to land in the European combat zone. It was a National Guard divison drawn from Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota.
They fought bitter and costly battles in Tunisia in the winter of 1942-43 including Sened Station, Faid Pass, Fondouk and Hill 609. Dad was captured at Faid Pass on February 17, 1943.
Dad was first sent to Stalag VII/A, at Moosburg (north of Munich), then to Stalag V/B near Villingen (Baden), and after that to Stalag III/B near the town of Furstenburg (on the Germany/Poland border), and then to Stalag Luft III near the town of Sagan, where he spent most his time. He was held in South Compound, and was there during "The Great Escape" in March of 1944.
On January 27, 1945, at 11pm that night, the South Compound was marched out of the camp. They were marched mostly at night, in cold sub-zero winds and snow, until they reached the town of Spremberg around noon on January 31st. There they were loaded into boxcars. At 7pm that night the train left Spremberg, and they traveled by rail till they reached Moosberg at 8pm on February 1st. They were kept in the boxcars until 8am the next morning, and then were immediately marched to Stalag VII/A, the first camp Dad was sent to after he was captured.
-NOTE-
In 1942 the 34th became the first US Army division to be sent overseas in WWII. They were also the first US Army division to enter combat in the European Theatre of Operations in WWII ( November 1942 - North Africa). Battle casualties for the 34th Division at the close of WWII were officially counted at: 3,737 killed, 14,165 wounded and 3,460 missing in action - a total of 21,362 battle casualties. In World War II soldiers of the 34th were awarded: 10 Medals of Honor, 98 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,052 Silver Stars, 116 Legions of Merits, 1,713 Bronze Stars, and 15,000 Purple Hearts. German soldiers in Italy referred to the American soldiers who wore the familiar patch as "Red Devils" or Red Bulls". The latter name stuck, and the Division soon adopted it officially, replacing its WW I name of the "Sandstorm Division". The official slogan for the 34th Infantry Division is: Attack! Attack! Attack!
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My Father was a proud member of Company M, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Divison, United States Army.
The 133rd Infantry, 135th Infantry, 168th Infantry, and 151st Field Artillery made up the 34th Division, and was the first American division to land in the European combat zone. It was a National Guard divison drawn from Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota.
They fought bitter and costly battles in Tunisia in the winter of 1942-43 including Sened Station, Faid Pass, Fondouk and Hill 609. Dad was captured at Faid Pass on February 17, 1943.
Dad was first sent to Stalag VII/A, at Moosburg (north of Munich), then to Stalag V/B near Villingen (Baden), and after that to Stalag III/B near the town of Furstenburg (on the Germany/Poland border), and then to Stalag Luft III near the town of Sagan, where he spent most his time. He was held in South Compound, and was there during "The Great Escape" in March of 1944.
On January 27, 1945, at 11pm that night, the South Compound was marched out of the camp. They were marched mostly at night, in cold sub-zero winds and snow, until they reached the town of Spremberg around noon on January 31st. There they were loaded into boxcars. At 7pm that night the train left Spremberg, and they traveled by rail till they reached Moosberg at 8pm on February 1st. They were kept in the boxcars until 8am the next morning, and then were immediately marched to Stalag VII/A, the first camp Dad was sent to after he was captured.
-NOTE-
In 1942 the 34th became the first US Army division to be sent overseas in WWII. They were also the first US Army division to enter combat in the European Theatre of Operations in WWII ( November 1942 - North Africa). Battle casualties for the 34th Division at the close of WWII were officially counted at: 3,737 killed, 14,165 wounded and 3,460 missing in action - a total of 21,362 battle casualties. In World War II soldiers of the 34th were awarded: 10 Medals of Honor, 98 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,052 Silver Stars, 116 Legions of Merits, 1,713 Bronze Stars, and 15,000 Purple Hearts. German soldiers in Italy referred to the American soldiers who wore the familiar patch as "Red Devils" or Red Bulls". The latter name stuck, and the Division soon adopted it officially, replacing its WW I name of the "Sandstorm Division". The official slogan for the 34th Infantry Division is: Attack! Attack! Attack!
----------
My Father was a proud member of Company M, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Divison, United States Army.
The 133rd Infantry, 135th Infantry, 168th Infantry, and 151st Field Artillery made up the 34th Division, and was the first American division to land in the European combat zone. It was a National Guard divison drawn from Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota.
They fought bitter and costly battles in Tunisia in the winter of 1942-43 including Sened Station, Faid Pass, Fondouk and Hill 609. Dad was captured at Faid Pass on February 17, 1943.
Dad was first sent to Stalag VII/A, at Moosburg (north of Munich), then to Stalag V/B near Villingen (Baden), and after that to Stalag III/B near the town of Furstenburg (on the Germany/Poland border), and then to Stalag Luft III near the town of Sagan, where he spent most his time. He was held in South Compound, and was there during "The Great Escape" in March of 1944.
On January 27, 1945, at 11pm that night, the South Compound was marched out of the camp. They were marched mostly at night, in cold sub-zero winds and snow, until they reached the town of Spremberg around noon on January 31st. There they were loaded into boxcars. At 7pm that night the train left Spremberg, and they traveled by rail till they reached Moosberg at 8pm on February 1st. They were kept in the boxcars until 8am the next morning, and then were immediately marched to Stalag VII/A, the first camp Dad was sent to after he was captured.
-NOTE-
In 1942 the 34th became the first US Army division to be sent overseas in WWII. They were also the first US Army division to enter combat in the European Theatre of Operations in WWII ( November 1942 - North Africa). Battle casualties for the 34th Division at the close of WWII were officially counted at: 3,737 killed, 14,165 wounded and 3,460 missing in action - a total of 21,362 battle casualties. In World War II soldiers of the 34th were awarded: 10 Medals of Honor, 98 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,052 Silver Stars, 116 Legions of Merits, 1,713 Bronze Stars, and 15,000 Purple Hearts. German soldiers in Italy referred to the American soldiers who wore the familiar patch as "Red Devils" or Red Bulls". The latter name stuck, and the Division soon adopted it officially, replacing its WW I name of the "Sandstorm Division". The official slogan for the 34th Infantry Division is: Attack! Attack! Attack!
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Family Members
Siblings
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Pearl Antoinett Blackman
1917–1998
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Harold Lee Blackman
1919–1983
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Robert Kenneth Blackman
1920–1997
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Richard Lyman Blackman
1923–2013
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Laura Jean Blackman Sizer
1925–2005
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Lois Marie Blackman Rodich
1927–1998
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George Walter Blackman Sr
1929–2006
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Phyllis Mae Blackman Bonebrake
1930–1987
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Charles Edward Blackman
1938–1938
