Division photo booklet of training

Army History of the Wildcat Division

Scanned Excerpts from Newsletter Of The 81st Infantry Division

Civilian Stone, with camera

June 15, 1942 - the 81st is reactivated, at Camp Rucker, Alabama.
By the end of June, selectees were arriving by trainload.

July 17, 1942 - The Division becomes possessor of two wildcats.

TUFFY

TUFFY AGAIN

2nd week of September - inspection by III Corps.

Mid-October - by this time, live rounds have replaced dummy.

PFC Charlie Allen Stone
Co H, 323rd Infantry Regiment, 81st "WILDCAT" Division
[Campaigns: Southern Philippines, Western Pacific
Medals: ATO Med; APTO Med; Philippine Lib Rib W/1 bronze star; Good Cond Med; World War II Victory Med (General notes on medals)
Wounds in action: none
Immunizations: Smallpox, Typhoid, Tetanus, Typ, Cholera
Time in service: 3 years, 15 days (total); 1 year, 6 months, 21 days (foreign)

1943
recruit private

Jan 22, 1943 - Charlie A Stone (Induction)

Jan 29, 1943 - Fort McClellan, Al - Charlie A Stone (entry into active service)
(? Jan 1944? or 1943? 19th Co, 1st T. R. ISSC - Fort Benning, Ga)

Stone - Military occupational specialty: Automotive Mechanic 014
Stone - Military Qualification: CIB; MKM R Aug 43

Feb 4, 1943 - The Division is involved in destroying a simulated Nazi village.

Feb 13, 1943 - Lake Tholucca, Al - division first amphibious exercise

Camp Robinson

In February of 1943 Pvt Stone was in training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson
near Little Rock, Arkansas.
[Company D, 3rd Platoon, 72nd Training battalion, 15th Regiment.]
W. Homer Switzer - Company Commander
Lt. Col. Raymond - Battalion Commander
Lt. Col. Hillard - Regimental Commander
Brig. Gen. Mallou(?) - Commanding General
[info from copy of Handbook of Information, Replacement Training Centers, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas
mailed Feb 22, 1943 by Private Stone to Jessie, the girl he would later marry.
Jessie had a war related job at Redstone Arsenal, Al: loading burster tubes (detonators) for artillery shells and bombs. An explosion one night in her area killed at least one of the women doing this work.]

PROBABLY SOUTH ALABAMA, FORT RUCKER AREA

March 13 - Farewell parade in Camp Rucker: Division leaves for Conecuh National Forest in Alabama/Florida. Bivouacked for two weeks of practical field training through swamps and rivers.
March 1943 - Conecuh National Forest - First field maneuver.
Returned to Rucker for a short time, then, by truck for 2nd Army Maneuvers around Lebanon, Tn.

April 19 - June 22, 1943 - Tennessee - Second Army Maneuvers.

From a Roster Photograph - numbered, with signatures
Second Platoon, Company H, 323rd Inf, May 19, 1944
1st Sq.
1 S/Sgt Don Ferguson
2 Sgt Rupert Maxwell
3 Pfc Dan W Kent (?)
4 Pfc Clyde Wells
5 T/Sgt George McGuire
6 Lt E D Masirowski
7 Pfc Daniel Eigwon
8 Pvt E J Sallas
9 Pvt Dom Gallucci (?)
2nd Sq.
10 Sgt Meirel Ogle
11 Pfc William H. Byerley
12 Pfc Ervin F. Reichwald
13 Pfc Henry Rodriguez
14 Pvt Robert F. Rankin (?)
15 Pfc John J. Joxtur Jr (?)
16 Cpl Eric T. Londin
17 Pfc Arvi McMarrian (?)
3rd Sq.
18 S/Sgt J. W. Brosfield (?)
19 Sgt Dave Florini
20 Pfc Joe Rhody
21 Pfc Frank Vermillion
22 Pfc R. Mulvey (??)
23 Pfc Chris P. Christensen
24 Pfc Mike Adamow (?)
4th Sq.
25 Sgt John H. Crowley
26 Pfc Herbert Hoffner
27 Pfc Curtis Paddy
28 Pfc Thomas J. Galbo (?)
29 Pfc Charlie A. Stone
30 Pvt J J Tucker
31 Pfc John B. Henderson

June 25, 1943 - Farewell review near Gallatin, Tn.
A few days later, the Wildcats moved by rail to Arizona, Camp Horn.

July 6, 1943 - Camp Horn, Az - Desert Maneuvers.

Camp Horn photo

Camp Horn's shaded cage for Tuffy the Wildcat

? Yuma, Az

October 1943 - Palan Pass, Az - maneuver against the 79th.

Early November 1943 - Desert maneuvers.

Nov 24, 1943 - Dedication of memorial to the seven who died during desert training.

Division then moves to Camp San Luis Obispo ("San Looey"), near the California coast.

November 1943 - Camp San Lius Obispo, Ca - rest and Amphibious training.

Dec 15, 1943 - Wildcats accorded national acclaim when Fred Waring's Victory Program broadcast was dedicated to the 81st Division.

Are You Carmen Miranda?

Christmas camp: San Luis Obispo, Ca

1944

(? Jan 1944? or 1943? 19th Co, 1st T. R. ISSC - Fort Benning, Ga)

1944 (last week in April to first week in May) - Move north to Camp Beale.

In California

California - Driver is Carl Sanders, Jr; passenger is his Alabama cousin Charlie Stone

April 1944 - Morro Bay and San Clemente - amphibious landing exercises.

May and June - mailing address was: (with eight cents air mail postage)
P.F.C. Charlie A. Stone (nnnnnnnn)
Co. H. 323 Inf. A.P.O. 81
Camp Beale, California

CAMP BEALE (1944)

May 1944 - Camp Beale - preparation for overseas.

June 1944 - Camp Stoneman - Port of Embarkation.

Hawaii - June 11 to July 8

July 2, 1944 - San Francisco, Ca - boarding the USS Monterey

July 3, 1944 - the 81st begins duties "overseas" - passes under the Golden Gate.
July 3, 1944 - Stone departs for "Over There" (APTO)

July 8, 1944 - Honolulu, Hawaii - Debarked and arrived at Ft Hase.
(Fort Hase was 12 miles NE of Honolulu, on the Mokapu Peninsula)

July 10, 1944 - Kahana Bay, Hawaii - take jungle training UJTC.

August 1, 1944 - Maui Island, Hawaii - practice amphibious landings.

August 12, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - boarding USS Harris.

Hawaii picture #1 front (c/o Matt Metiva) Royal Hawaiian Hotel Hospital - Medical leave

Hawaii picture #1 back (c/o Matt Metiva) Royal Hawaiian Hotel Hospital - Medical leave

Hawaii picture #2 (c/o Matt Metiva)

Hawaii picture #3 (c/o Matt Metiva) Bazooka

Hawaii picture #4 (c/o Matt Metiva) local child

August 17, 1944 - Crossed International Date Line westwards.

August 22, 1944 - Crossed Equator southwards at longitude 164 East on USS Barnstable.
All were inspected and passed by Davey Jones, and Neptunus Rex (by his servant J Walsh, USN).
"Found worthy to be numbered as one of our Trusty Shellbacks"
and duly initiated into the
"Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep"

August 24, 1944 - Dropped Anchor at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

August 29, 1944 - Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal; last dry run with Marines.

September 15, 1944 - Palau Islands - arrived for the attack.

Anguar - September 17, 1944 the 81st Infantry Division stormed ashore on Anguar Island (less the 323rd).

September 23, 1944 - Asor, Ulithi Atoll - Battalion objective.

Ulithi Atoll - September 22-24, 1944 (21-23 323rd occupied Ulithi)
Some later landed on Ngulu Atoll
Ulithi Atoll - September 22-24, 1944 - units - (Mr.) Makoto Arnold

October - Peleliu
October 15 - Relieved 7th Marine Regiment.
October 18 - the 323rd left Ulithi to rejoin the 81st at Peleliu
October 20 - Establishment of 81st Division Command post - the Army takes charge of the seige battle from the 1st Marine Division
October 26 - 323rd, arriving from Ulithi, relieves the 321st
Rain and poor visibility stopped offensive operations for the first few days after RCT 323 took over
November 4 to 9 - rain and typhoon halt offensive action
November 22 - Company H attacks across the "China Wall" and gains 75 yards.
November 27 - The battle is over.
The Wildcats also take Pulo Anna Island, Kyangel Atoll, and Pais Island.

PELELIU, AFTER THE BATTLE

WWII - WESTERN PACIFIC - PELELIU - 1944 - CLEANING UP - COMPANY H - 323rd INFANTRY (WILDCATS) - 81ST INFANTRY DIVISION

H Co. quarters after the battle with the battle field for a back ground

[This citation was published on the front page of the Friday, March 23, 1945 issue of The Guntersville Gleam, Volume 4, Number 52 (of Guntersville, Alabama) as part of "Red Cross Helped Father, Now Helps Son".]

BLOODY BEACHES




WILDCAT MEMORIAM
MONUMENT
CORAL FISSURES
CEMETARY AND MONUMENT
ANGUAR SHRINE
OPERATION STALEMATE
Not shown:
Peleliu Tribute is the source for the following:
* BERKOWITZ, Irvin. PFC - 81st Division, 323rd Regiment. He was WIA on Peleliu on 10/23/44. The only info he ever relayed of his experience was that he was WIA by "friendly (mortar) fire" and that he was the only man to survive this incident out of 12 men. I believe he was an ammo bearer and was WIA on a "hill". He was also the recipient of the Bronze Medal. He passed away in 1993 and I am searching for any info about his experience, or the experiences of the 323rd. Anyone with info, please respond to his grandson

* BROWN Sr., W.A., Ret. WOJG. Served with the U.S. Army on Peleliu, Wildcats 81st Infantry, 323rd Service Unit. He returned to the island in the 70's after his retirement of 32 years of service with the Army, and with the aid of the natives found the Memorial the soldiers had erected there, with the words cut out of old tanks "least we forget those who died here." While there he had the honor of meeting Admiral Crowe, USN, who encouraged him to renew the old monument. He took on the responsibility of raising donations from the survivors of his company to purchase new brass letters for the monument. The USN C.B.'s made the letters and transported them to Peleliu. The U.S. Marines were invited for the occasion. Before his untimely death in 1988, he returned to the island many times and was also invited by the USN for the christening of the ship, the USS Peleliu.

CULPEPPER, Semion William (S.W.), Sgt 81st Infantry Division, (Wildcats) 323 Regiment, Company G. Light Mortar Crewman Squad Leader, participated in landings at Ulithi atoll, Angaur and Peleliu, New Caledonia and Leyte. He was also stationed at Honshu Air Force Base in occupied Japan. After his discharge he returned to Georgia and his wife and the infant son he had never seen. S.W. a farmer and a machinist until his death 17 June 1993.

STEPHENS, Herman Ross, PFC, 81st wildcats, 321 Comb. Rgt. Originally from East Liverpool, OH made the whole trip like many other 81st from Fort Rucker, AL to Yuma, AZ. to San Luis Obispo, CA to Hawaii to Guadalcanal to Anguar, to Peleliu to Ulithi, to Leyte, etc. He contracted malaria in the Philippines and was hospitalized briefly. He is now and living in Oceanside, CA. You may contact him through his son.

WEBB, Arvel Arcemus, Pvt. Served in the United States Army. The Regimental Combat Teams (RCT's) 321, 322 and 323. He served in Angaur, Peleliu and Leyte during World War Two. On September 17, 1944 the 81st Infantry Division stormed ashore on Anguar Island. From there they were dispatched to neighboring Peleliu Island to assist in the reduction of that bastion of the Japanese outer defense rings. (Information came from Paul J. Muller, Major General, USA Commanding).

1945
Jan 1 to Feb 8 - Wildcats leave Peleliu bound for New Caledonia for training and rehab.
Jan 9, 1945 - Kossal Passage, Babelthaup - Anchored on Sea Flasher.
Jan 15, 1945 - Manus, Admiralty Islands - Stopped for ship repairs.
Jan 22, 1945 - New Caledonia - arrived for rest (First battalion).
Jan 23, 1945 - on board USS Sea Star, bound SW, crossing the equator (Co H)

March, 1945 - New Caledonia

[This letter was published, with photos, on the front page of the Friday, March 23, 1945 issue of The Guntersville Gleam, Volume 4, Number 52 (of Guntersville, Alabama) as part of "Red Cross Helped Father, Now Helps Son".]

May 12, 1945 - Manus, Admiralty Islands. Stopped off here.

May 16, 1845 - Drop anchor at Leyte Gulf.

Leyte - Arrive May 17 - training and mopping-up - July 21 to August 12 - rest and training

Leyte picture #1 front (c/o Matt Metiva)

Leyte picture #1 back (c/o Matt Metiva)

Leyte picture #2 front (c/o Matt Metiva)

Leyte picture #2 back (c/o Matt Metiva)

Leyte picture #3 front (c/o Matt Metiva)

Leyte picture #3 back (c/o Matt Metiva)

Leyte picture #4 (c/o Matt Metiva)

Leyte picture #5 (c/o Matt Metiva) Japan Occupation Objectives

SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC (1944-1945)

Back row from left Sgt John H. Crowley [Minn] PFC (Cpl) Herbert Hoffner (spelling?) [Minn or Miss] PFC Curtis Paddy [Louisiana] Front row Charlie A Stone [Alabama] PFC Antonio Guarino [Maryland] PFC Edward Perure (spelling?) [California]

SOMEWHERE (1944-1945)

Aug 6, 1945 - Nuclear bomb dropped over Hiroshima.
Aug 9, 1945 - Nuclear bomb dropped over Nagasaki after primary target (Kokura) obscured by smoke and haze.

August 14, 1945 - Japan surrenders.

According to their story - Company "B" of the 323rd was attending movies on Leyte when the word came in that the war was over.

September 2, 1945 - Signing of surrender documents.
September 2, 1945 - lapel button issued ASR to PFC Stone

September 18 - Wildcats move to Japan
"C" company is transported on the USS Hampton.

(Some of the above detailed information is from a copy of the newsletter created by the 323rd Infantry in 1945 - on their way to occupation duty. A scanned copy of this was provided by:
CWO3 Bill Wieber, USN (Ret.)
Owner, The Bosn's Locker
Web: www.thebosnslocker.com
Sample page 1
Sample page 2
Sample page 3
)

Occupation duties - Misawa Air Base - Aomori Prefecture - Northern Honshu, Japan

1945 - 1946 - Occupying Northern (Honshu) Japan (Aomori Prefecture).

PFC STONE WRECKS ZEROs

1946
(PFC STONE recalled a bitterly cold train ride over the mountains.)
Jan 11 to Jan 23 - on board SS Sea Quail - Yokohama to Seattle
Jan 23, 1946 - PFC Stone returns to the US.

Jan 30, 1946 - the 81st Division, in Japan, is officially inactivated

Feb 6, 1946 - Separation Center - Camp Shelby, Miss - PFC Stone receives Honorable Discharge (Archie Sorenson, Major AUS)
(Ava P. Leatherman, 1st Lt WAC, Personnel Officer)

Alternate history - invasion of Japan - [Phase 1] Operation Olympic of Operation Downfall
Nov 1, 1945 - Operation Downfall(Plans for invasion of Japan)
"On November 4, the reserve force, consisting of the 81st and 98th Infantry Divisions and the 11th Airborne Division, after feigning an attack off the island of Shikoku, would be landed - if not needed elsewhere - near Kaimondake, near the southernmost tip of Kagoshima Bay, at beaches designated Locomobile, Lincoln, LaSalle, Hupmobile, Moon, Mercedes, Maxwell, Overland, Oldsmobile, Packard and Plymouth."
Nov 1, 1945 - Operation Olympic (Plans for invasion of Kyushu)

But, instead...
Aug 6, 1945 - Nuclear bomb dropped over Hiroshima.
Aug 9, 1945 - Nuclear bomb dropped over Nagasaki after primary target (Kokura) obscured by smoke and haze.
"The 1 million American men who were to be casualties of the invasion, were instead lucky enough to survive the war."

August 14, 1945 - Japan surrenders.
September 2, 1945 - Signing of surrender documents.

Alternate history - invasion of Japan - [Phase 2] Operation Coronet of Operation Downfall
March 1, 1946 - commence invasion of Tokyo Plain.

This page last modified 15 Mar 2009 by Michael R. Stone