With the recent natural disaster in Japan still very much on everyone’s heart, a monster World War II storm came to mind. In October 1945, a typhoon hit off the coast of Okinawa. It became known as “Typhoon Louise.” Seaman Dalles King was out to sea, aboard LST 133. “We had 80-foot swells—mountains of water!” [...]
Lt. Robert McHolland, from Hurley, Missouri, landed at Utah Beach with the 90th Infantry Division in early June 1944. His introduction to World War II came quickly, among the infamous hedgerows of Normandy. He first served as a platoon leader with Company M of the 358th Infantry. Later that summer, McHolland would be promoted to [...]
Last Friday afternoon, a magnitude 8.9 earthquake rocked Japan. The resulting tsunami no doubt dealt even more destruction to the northeastern coastline. The city of Sendai, population one million, felt the full brunt of the blow. Our prayers are with the people of Japan. The area is certainly familiar to many American veterans. For some, [...]
Did you all get enough basketball this weekend? Unfortunately, both my teams lost on Friday night. Irish and Boilers gone. Maybe they’re saving themselves for the big show. But it’s a new week. Monday, and time for the 90th Infantry Division Picture of the Week. Colonel Eustis L. Poland served as the Chief of Staff [...]
Our Texas friend, Aggie alum, dedicated follower of the site and 90th Infantry Division veteran, Joel Harrell, informed us of an interesting update to the story of World War II Medal of Honor recipient, Turney Leonard. Leonard graduated from Texas A & M University in 1942 and joined the U.S. Army shortly after. He served [...]
This Wednesday’s Letter From War comes to us from World War II. Ed McGinley landed on Normandy’s bloody Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, with the 115th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division. McGinley survived to fight through the hedgerows of Normandy. He and his unit helped secure St. Lo before heading west. By the time [...]
Last Thursday, we ran a post regarding a most interesting wayside cross. If you remember the site lies at the intersection of roads D-15 and D-24, just west of Pont l’Abbe in the Normandy region of France. Hobert Winebrenner, author of BOOTPRINTS, and his unit, the 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, helped liberate the area. [...]
Well, it was high school sectional basketball finals weekend here in Indiana. Honestly, a very big deal. Hope your team did well. But now, it’s Monday, and time for the 90th Infantry Division Picture of the Week. How about a snapshot from Bruville, France?
In June 1944, the 90th Infantry Division continued to push its way west from Utah Beach. German defenses within the Normandy interior proved stout. American soldiers fought for any and all ground gained, mile by mile, town by town. In BOOTPRINTS, Hobert Winebrenner speaks of the liberation of the villages Picauville and Pont l’Abbe, [...]
Hump day again. For this week’s Letters From War Wednesday, let’s go back to World War II. Burton Wray Matteson served as a medical attendant aboard U.S. Army Transports in the Pacific Theater. I absolutely love his sense of humor. This note to his parents comes from the summer of 1944, while Matteson was working [...]