On 12 Jan 1943, "American Indian" Bert Gai (B: 1919, Apache County, Arizona) enlisted as a Private in the US Army in Phoenix, Arizona. He was described as single, 5 feet 3 inches, 129 pounds, and semiskilled in the construction trade. Bert served in the 330 Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division. A brief history of the regiment, and likely Bert's, follows:
In the summer of 1943, the 330 Regiment trained in Tennessee and Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. On 6 April 1944, the unit departed New York for England and resumed training in the Midlands; Stroke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leeks, and Market Drayton. The regiment landed on Omaha Beach on 23 Jun 1944. On 2 July 1944, the regiment engaged the enemy in the Normandy hedgerows near the Elbe River. They fought for close to a month to break the German lines. In August, the regiment was assigned to General Patton's 3rd Army with the mission of capturing the ports of St. Malo and Dinard. On 2 Sep the German commander of the island of Cezembre (St. Malo Port) surrendered just as the regiment was about to attack. The next mission was to protect the right flank of the Third Army in the Loire Valley region as it made its rapid advance across France. On 20 Sep 1944, the regiment proceded to Luxembourg. On 3 Dec 1944, the Regiment moved through the Hurtgen forest to take up positions against a strong German force. On Christmas Eve, the regiment entered the town of Winden on the Roer River encountering mostly small arms fire and a few mortar attacks. By Christmas day, Winden was secure and the Regiment firmly implanted on the west bank of the Roer River.
Bert's date of passing and unit, indicate he was killed during the capture of Winden, Germany. Bert was interred in the Santa Fe National Cemetery on 6 Nov 1948.
(bio by truchasnm)
In the summer of 1943, the 330 Regiment trained in Tennessee and Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. On 6 April 1944, the unit departed New York for England and resumed training in the Midlands; Stroke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leeks, and Market Drayton. The regiment landed on Omaha Beach on 23 Jun 1944. On 2 July 1944, the regiment engaged the enemy in the Normandy hedgerows near the Elbe River. They fought for close to a month to break the German lines. In August, the regiment was assigned to General Patton's 3rd Army with the mission of capturing the ports of St. Malo and Dinard. On 2 Sep the German commander of the island of Cezembre (St. Malo Port) surrendered just as the regiment was about to attack. The next mission was to protect the right flank of the Third Army in the Loire Valley region as it made its rapid advance across France. On 20 Sep 1944, the regiment proceded to Luxembourg. On 3 Dec 1944, the Regiment moved through the Hurtgen forest to take up positions against a strong German force. On Christmas Eve, the regiment entered the town of Winden on the Roer River encountering mostly small arms fire and a few mortar attacks. By Christmas day, Winden was secure and the Regiment firmly implanted on the west bank of the Roer River.
Bert's date of passing and unit, indicate he was killed during the capture of Winden, Germany. Bert was interred in the Santa Fe National Cemetery on 6 Nov 1948.
(bio by truchasnm)
On 12 Jan 1943, "American Indian" Bert Gai (B: 1919, Apache County, Arizona) enlisted as a Private in the US Army in Phoenix, Arizona. He was described as single, 5 feet 3 inches, 129 pounds, and semiskilled in the construction trade. Bert served in the 330 Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division. A brief history of the regiment, and likely Bert's, follows:
In the summer of 1943, the 330 Regiment trained in Tennessee and Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. On 6 April 1944, the unit departed New York for England and resumed training in the Midlands; Stroke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leeks, and Market Drayton. The regiment landed on Omaha Beach on 23 Jun 1944. On 2 July 1944, the regiment engaged the enemy in the Normandy hedgerows near the Elbe River. They fought for close to a month to break the German lines. In August, the regiment was assigned to General Patton's 3rd Army with the mission of capturing the ports of St. Malo and Dinard. On 2 Sep the German commander of the island of Cezembre (St. Malo Port) surrendered just as the regiment was about to attack. The next mission was to protect the right flank of the Third Army in the Loire Valley region as it made its rapid advance across France. On 20 Sep 1944, the regiment proceded to Luxembourg. On 3 Dec 1944, the Regiment moved through the Hurtgen forest to take up positions against a strong German force. On Christmas Eve, the regiment entered the town of Winden on the Roer River encountering mostly small arms fire and a few mortar attacks. By Christmas day, Winden was secure and the Regiment firmly implanted on the west bank of the Roer River.
Bert's date of passing and unit, indicate he was killed during the capture of Winden, Germany. Bert was interred in the Santa Fe National Cemetery on 6 Nov 1948.
(bio by truchasnm)
In the summer of 1943, the 330 Regiment trained in Tennessee and Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. On 6 April 1944, the unit departed New York for England and resumed training in the Midlands; Stroke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leeks, and Market Drayton. The regiment landed on Omaha Beach on 23 Jun 1944. On 2 July 1944, the regiment engaged the enemy in the Normandy hedgerows near the Elbe River. They fought for close to a month to break the German lines. In August, the regiment was assigned to General Patton's 3rd Army with the mission of capturing the ports of St. Malo and Dinard. On 2 Sep the German commander of the island of Cezembre (St. Malo Port) surrendered just as the regiment was about to attack. The next mission was to protect the right flank of the Third Army in the Loire Valley region as it made its rapid advance across France. On 20 Sep 1944, the regiment proceded to Luxembourg. On 3 Dec 1944, the Regiment moved through the Hurtgen forest to take up positions against a strong German force. On Christmas Eve, the regiment entered the town of Winden on the Roer River encountering mostly small arms fire and a few mortar attacks. By Christmas day, Winden was secure and the Regiment firmly implanted on the west bank of the Roer River.
Bert's date of passing and unit, indicate he was killed during the capture of Winden, Germany. Bert was interred in the Santa Fe National Cemetery on 6 Nov 1948.
(bio by truchasnm)
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
