WWII 99th Infantry Division Battle Babies

.One of our many WWII Heroes, in his own words….

My Introduction
Dad and I had several conversations regarding his military duty.  He has not talked about these events in this detail to anyone from what he can remember. He did not like to “sit around and tell war stories”. These are my many notes I have taken as we talked. I am very honored for him to tell his story. I was able to put them into a timeline that finally revealed where he was during the war.  It was 1943-1945 Belgium, Germany, France. I included some links from my research. This is how he told it to me….. I did little editing because I wanted to present it as it was told to me. Disclaimer, I may have errors or gaps in the telling of the story because I tied the pieces together using the internet and matching events that were described. Feel free to intervene. I will continue to research this history on behalf of my love and pride for my Dad, but for the my purposes here, I hope I’ve made my point in “What’s The Story?”

Dad tells his story….

Richard Douglas Chinn age 18

Dad remembered who his commander was.  It was General Bradley, but temporarily reported to Gen Montgomery. Below is a snapshot confirming what he told me.

Bradley traveled to the United States to select the staff for his new command, the First U.S. Army, then stationed at Governor’s Island, New York. The headquarters deployed to England in October 1943, and Bradley took on the dual task of First Army commander and acting commander of the skeletal 1st U.S. Army Group (subsequently re-designated the 12th Army Group). Eisenhower, appointed as Supreme Allied Commander for the invasion of Europe, arrived in England in January 1944. Shortly thereafter he confirmed that Bradley would command the American army group when it was activated. But until the landings were secure, all American ground forces in northern France would be under the temporary command of General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, who also commanded the British and Canadian ground contingents.

Dad said he was a foot soldier a First Scout 99th Infantry Division, Battle Babies @ Rhine River after they took Paris.  From Paris to Belgium it was winter, it was known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Near Bastonge

Combat Infantryman Badge :: Dad said the only thing he wish he still had was his combat badge.  Everyone who fought on the ground at this time were given this badge.  He was proud to have it.  So I went on Ebay and found the real deal.  I plan to give it to him on his birthday, January 25th.  He will be shocked… I will still be very proud. I downloaded and recreated the CIB award giving my Dad a promotion from Pvt to Sgt.  :-0   Click badge to view CIB.

Dad remembers at the beginning there was a company of blacks behind the 99^th. They met with some of them and found support and humor during difficult times. Dad asked one soldier what he was going to do with all that armor, weapons, and shells. Good God man it is a lot to carry. His reply was, “it’s gonna take a lot artillery to bring me down”. Dad said they were a great bunch and tough as hell.

Sgt Crandle sent my dad and a black buddy out to watch a road with orders to shoot anyone that comes down that road. They each dug fox holes on each side of the road. Later they were tired yelling back and forth so Dad went over to the buddies fox hole and spent a couple hours plotting  how they would capture Hitler and charge people to see him. They would make millions!  When Sgt Crandle came up and asked them what the hell they were doing.  Dad said, “Sitting in the sun shootin’ the shit”. Sgt said, isn’t there sun on that side of the road? Dad said yes. The Sgt asked, then what are you doing? Dad said, “we were tired of yelling back and forth”. The Sgt turned them into the Captain. The captain called them in and told them they have now been reduced from Private First Class to Private. Dad said, “I didn’t even know I was a PFC”.  Captain told them when they are on the “front lines” they are the best there is. When they are behind the line, they are the worst there is. I think Dad thought that was pretty good.

I said, “Dad they have been reducing your pay and benefits ever since”.  He laughed pretty hard at that one. It must have some truth.

Dad said, “We didn’t pay attention. We didn’t know half the time where we were, we just did what they told us and that’s war. Some guys would be there one day and next they were gone. You didn’t know if they were killed, captured, or sent home. So you never really got too close.”

When I commented on this was a cold bloody war. Dad said, oh you bet it was. A truck would come around and pick up dead frozen bodies and throw them in the back. The German’s through soldiers in the Rhine.

Dad remembered one wounded soldier yelling out after being shot, “I got a million dollar wound.  Clean sheets and hot meals. I’ll see ya boys!” and off he went with the medics.

Dad got separated from his troop at Ludendorff Bridge just before crossing because he heard a buddy yell out that he’d been hit. He remembered his nickname at the beginning of the Bulge was “Sad Sack”. Dad went back to check on him. He said he could not feel or move his legs. Dad called in the medic and told the guy they were on the way. Dad then took all of his weapons, amo, etc. (dad called it something else, can’t remember the term) and started across the bridge. By that time his troop was gone. Dad ducked into a tunnel on the other side of the bridge.

Tunnel at Ludendorff Bridge

Then hell broke loose with German’s firing on him. He dropped and got the hell out of there. His troop had veered off the Ludendorff Bridge down into a town. Dad caught up with them. A little bit later Sad Sack came wondering into the camp. Dad said what the hell!  Sad Sack said he had temporarily lost feeling in his legs probably from falling on rocks. The medics had checked him out and said he was not injured. Then he said, you son of bitch why did you take my gun and amo? Dad replied, “Isn’t that what you learned in boot camp”?  Sad Sack said, well yes.

(From my childhood memory) Somewhere in Germany outside of a church that had been blown up Dad picked up this statue and stuck in his pocket. He carried it with him during the war.

Known as "Sacred Heart Jesus Christ Blessing"

I loved that piece and kept it in a safe place for many years.  It was very special to me for many reasons.  Then in 1990 I thought it would be ok now to bring it out of it’s safe place and put it by my bedside. The very next day, someone broke into our house and sold it plus more. It broken my heart for years. I looked everywhere, pawn shops, antique shops, everywhere I went I kept an eye out for it.  Then… one day in 2009 I found one on eBay. I could not believe my eyes. It looked and sounded just like mine (well, Dad’s). I immediately as questions and bought it.   As it turns out it was from France & is called Jesus Christ Blessing. This piece came from small street market in Normandy France.  The dealer said he got it out of a local estate.  They believe the date of the piece is 1950 based on style of the halo, wear to the face and weight. Vintage pieces are much heavier in weight than what is currently being produced. This turned out to be exactly like the piece I had except it’s a little bigger, the halo is attached by a screw/nail and it turns. The halo on the mine (Dad’s) was molded as part of the statue. However, I am still very happy to have it.

When I questioned dad about his troop’s involvement, he explained they were the leaders of the last bridge after the Rhine at Remagen.  Germans used termed “birth guns” and they were being fired on. Dad called in the artillery to send so many rounds in to get the birth guns. First round went over the Germans’ heads. He called back and told them to drop back 500 yards.  Looking back at a buddy, it blew him up. Dad was hit and suffered a concussion. This was after crossing the Ludendorff Bridge (railroad bridge) at Remagen, it seems at Giessen(?).

Remagen

Transported to a hospital by Rhine River, remembering  Bastogne, Belgium.

Bastogne Resupply Air Drop

From there, onto Nuremberg, Germany and finally into a hospital in Paris.  On the 5^th floor.  We got drunk.   Don’t remember too much after that.  Then on VE day.

(Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) was on 8 May 1945, the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, President of Germany Karl Dönitz.), buddy said you are going downtown. Dad asked how they were going to get out of hospital. Buddy said see that 6 inch drain pipe. So they when 5 stories down. They were in Paris for 3-4 days in Pigs Alley with girls, cognac, etc.  (Arc de Triomphe, Pig Alley (Pigalle, Paris’ red-light district nicknamed “pig alley” by American soldiers in World War I).  They could not find their way back to the hospital. Then they saw a Lt in a jeep who went upstairs to an apt. Dad took the jeep and found hospital. In trouble and MP took to room. They separated the Dad from his buddy, sending one to another hospital.

click to enlarge image

Dad was told that when soldiers leave the hospital tell them you want their cloths. You go down to this bar. There was a Frenchman who would let you into a bar to sale shirts and cloths to bar for money. Dad said he had lots of cash by the time he was transfer to NY via the Ernestine Koranda, a hospital ship. Dad wanted to know what ever happened to the Ernestine Koranda.  Here is the ship’s fate reference#9.

3430 US Army Hospital Ship Ernestine Koranda, at dock, World War II.

Then a train to SD to Campo, the last horse calvary in the US. Campo was where everyone is discharged.  (Camp Locket – from dad’s photo album). When dad got there he asked the wack if he could have a furlough as a souvenir. She gave him one and he went upstairs and filled it out giving himself furlough for 11 days. He went to Phoenix, Arizona and stayed with the girls from his school. He messed up and stayed longer than his furlough time. He reported back to Campo for discharge. Sgt Maj told him he would be lucky to get his discharge now. Dad said, oh ya watch this and proceeded to leave. A nurse stopped him outside and told him to apologize to the Sgt because all this was going to get him was time in the brig. So Dad went back in and apologized. On the day of discharge all these guy were sitting in a room. Alphabetically they called out each name skipping over Dad’s name. When they reached the end, they called his name. The Sgt said it was payback for what dad had done. Dad was discharged honorable 1945.

References

Wikipedia 99th Infantry Division

Gi Stories
It was the Rhine crossing that broke the German back; in this important action the 99th took effective part. On March 24, 1945—99 days older and wiser—the Battle Babies were seasoned fighting men who saw before them the demoralized, shriveled forces of their enemy running away.

HIS booklet recounts briefly the highlights of the 99th Infantry Division in combat. Our division has established an enviable record as a fighting team and has taught the German to fear the wearer of the “Checkerboard”. All of us—officers and men of the 99th Division—can be proud of our record. To be a member of the 99th Division is an honor. Towards our comrades who have been left on the fields of battle, we feel most gratefully humble. Their sacrifice shall be our ever constant inspiration to do our job—Now, Right, and with Steadfast Determination.
Walter E. Lauer
Major General, Commanding

Notes after service

Came back to US, to NY. He met a black guy “Jersey” and after talking a bit dad asked if he wanted to have some ice cream at the PX which he replied yes. When they got to the PX the girl at the door said no blacks allowed. Dad said wait here and went to talk to his maj. He told him this guy fought side by side with dad at the Battle of the Bulge and he’s not allowed to go into the PX to have ice cream. To which the Maj said is that right. The Maj went down to the PX and fired the girl on the spot.

Now that is the respect these soldiers deserved!

A Lt in Davis, CA walked passed dad and mom on the street and stop dad and said don’t you solute soldier? Dad hell no why should I. I have more time in the army sitting in fox holes than you have in your entire career. Dad walked on…

I think the point here was dad was not given credit or respect for his service. Dad is humble about that time but I believe it made him mad to be treated like that from someone who only had a title and no time. In my opinion the Lt should have shook dads hand and said welcome home soldier.

Back in Winters, CA… dad went to a bar with a buddy (aka fellow soldier) to have a drink together. The bartender told dad he was not old enough to be in here. Dad said how do you know how old I am? The bartender said your mom and dad comes in here, you can’t be more than 19 or 20. Dad said bull shit is this what I laid in a ditch for to be turned down for a lousy drink. The bartender drew a gun from behind the bar and pointed it at dad and told him to get the hell out of here.

Think for one minute back to the war he just came out of. Put yourself there. How does this behavior feel now that you are fresh back from the war. The man should have bought dad and his buddy a drink, thanked them and asked them to leave because he could get in trouble for serving them… at the very least.  Not to mention pulling a gun on a fresh out of the war vet. That really could have had a bad outcome don’t ya think?

Were going to take your Medicare away says Jennifer.

“Don’t you think he deserves better treatment?”