Jump to content

SONS OF BITCHE! 399th Infanty, 100th Division Officer Grouping Acquired


carbinephalen
 Share

Recommended Posts

carbinephalen

Lt. W i t t was the picture perfect example of what an Army Officer should be. He was a star college athlete competing in multiple varsity sports at the State College of Washington. He chose to serve his country through ROTC while attending the University and enlisted in the United States Army in May of '42 as an Infantry Sergeant. He finished officer school and his first assignment was the 100th Infantry Division, 399th Regiment as a platoon commander in M-Company. I was fortunate enough to find a copy of a personal war narrative a member of his Company wrote after the war and I will share several entries in it that mention W i t t.

 

Stateside Training, Summer 1944
“…My sore feet feel bigger than life. Our new platoon commander, Lt. S. W i t t , joins Sgt. Hogan and a medic as they check the bare feet of every man in the platoon. I admire their stamina; we are lying on our bunks, barefooted; they are still in their wet boots…”

- Frank Hancock, “An Improbable Machine Gunner” M-Co, 399th Regt, 100th Div

 

France, November 1944
“…While I hobble about on crutches, Company M continues the drive to the Rhine and Strasbourg. About November 20, Company M is hit hard. Unknown to me, Don Galles, whose helmet was split open on November 15, is not so lucky this time. Shrapnel breaks his left femur, and he is carried to safety by Lt. S, W i t t. Our friend Bob Howell is killed.
- Frank Hancock, “An Improbable Machine Gunner” M-Co, 399th Regt, 100th Div

 

 

France, January 1945
“…I borrow the squad leader's binoculars and stand hidden by a tree a little higher on the slope, behind the gun. Scanning the hills, I see a column of Germans hurrying through the woods; but when I get down behind the gun, they are out of sight.
Lt. W i t t checks our position and I show him where the Germans are still moving through the woods. They must be a half mile away; little figures in the woods; we can barely see them without the binoculars. Lt. W i t t picks up the water-cooled gun with its tripod and ammo (easily 115 pounds), moves to where he can see the Germans, and fires a half a belt while holding the gun at his hip. He sets the gun down in front of my hole, checks the field of fire, and then leisurely walks away. We retreat into the dugout as mortar rounds burst in the trees around us…”
- Frank Hancock, “An Improbable Machine Gunner” M-Co, 399th Regt, 100th Div

 

Germany, April 18th 1945
"…April 18, 1945 was a day which will live in our memories for the rest of our lives. I was a jeep driver, and early that morning was on the crest of the hill of death, Beilstein. Everything was quiet then as off to my left; stretcher bearers approached carrying a wounded soldier. I heard a call: "Hey, Len!" and went over to find that it was Lt. S. W itt who had been wounded in the leg." (W itt had both knees broken; one kneecap lost, a broken wrist and shrapnel in his neck,) We spoke for a minute and he was taken away…”
- Leonard Demback, “An Improbable Machine Gunner” M-Co, 399th Regt, 100th Div

 

Lt. W i t t recouperated from his significant leg wounds and was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in April of 1946. He later went on to become an executive in the Timber Industry. This uniform came to me through an estate sale company that I have had many positive transactions with located in Washington State.

 

It also came with a few newspaper articles about him, a really interesting 100th Division booklet, and copies of his General Orders (Including one for his CIB!) Thank you all for looking and I am glad to add a "Sons of Bitche" member to the war room!

 

witt+collage+1a.jpg

 

107_8952.jpg

 

107_8950.jpg

 

107_8984.jpg

 

Book+Witt.jpg

 

 

GO+1.jpg

GO+2.jpg

 

107_8948.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very cool! I always like to see the differences in how the divisions wrote up the citations. Looks like the 100th Div was one of the vague ones!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is one outstanding find Tom! Impeccable research as usual!

 

Many thanks for the very informative posts. Indeed, a great addition to your War Room.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

carbinephalen

I think sometimes these uniforms are found JUST to research!

 

Tips for those who buy from estate liquidation companies, off eBay, or at a local flea market...

 

Always (ALWAYS) attempt to get a full name of the veteran or the last name definitely! Many times we (myself included) get caught up in the moment of the sale and forget to ask important details. Unfortunately not ALL uniforms come with the full ASN, first-middle-and last names of the vet, and most often it is coming to you stripped of insignia.

 

A little networking and leg work on our end can keep names with these uniforms for many years to come. Otherwise...it's just a nice garbardine jacket with a patch on the sleeve!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

HI Thomas,

 

Another awesome grouping to your collection ! It's so cool you found a war narrative he is mentionned in (he seemed to be a good officer, it's sad for his wounds...).

Thanks for sharing !

 

Ben

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...

Awesome grouping for a local (to me) veteran of the "Powderhorns." I have a different uniform from this unit - jersey and trousers from the 399th baseball team (http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=1108085).

 

I would love to find photos of the ball players.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for the bump and kind comments gentleman!

 

Yeah...well, there is not much out there in terms of photographs and militaria of the 399th when I was researching my baseball uniform from this unit (I wrote about that here). So to find yours and that the veteran was local (to me) made me a little excited. ;-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...