WW2 vet, Sammy Genovese, 36th I.D. Texas Army, deceased

[ustpatcher1a]

On the eve of july 4th 2015, I wish to post this about my father and my mom's husband. He died at the young age of 50 yrs from complications of his severe wounds he got while fighting on the mountains and forests on the borders of France and Germany in Fall '44.

 

 

THis is dedicated to my father and his WW2 buddies from the 36th fighting Texas Big-T Arrowhead Infantry, 141st Regiment Battalion, anti-tank regiment. It tells his story. In '42, Sammy enlisted in the US Army with basic training in New England. April '43, he joined the 36th Texas Infantry division before it's leaving for N. Africa. He survived combat in N. Africa, Italy and France. His squad photo taken in Italy. After moving up the boot of Italy (Naples, Foggia, Rome, and the Arno River) The 36th Division was pulled out to participate in the Invasion of Southern France. After fighting on the French coast, the 141st regiment moved inland to capture Bruyeres and Biffontaine. Sam's unit moved down the hills of Foret Domainle Du Camp in the Vosages Forest. In October '44 around the Les-Roux-Eaux Valley, Sam's squad was caught in a lethel mortar barrage. He gave first aid to a recruit that was suffering arterially bleeding. While covering that recruit's body, Sam was wounded in the upper back damaging his spinal cord. (Oct. 25, '44) This wound caused permanent upper body and leg paralysis. The medics took him to an aid station. As fate would have it, an unknown surgeon on duty was a top spinal neurosurgeon and expertly stabilized his spinal condition. Dec. 14, '44, Sam went home on the Queen Mary to hosptitals in FL and CA for recuperation. Army honorably discharged him in 1945.

General of the Army, Omar Bradley, awarding Sam his WW2 medals in the hospital ward. As a new wheelchair paraplegic, he was one of the original members of The Paralyzed Veteran's Assoc. in Birmingham Hospital, Van Nuys. Sam and his wheelchair veteran friends were heavily featured in Stanley Kramer's film, The Men '50 starring a young Marlon Brando. The movie shows men coping with their new lives. Sam survied 75 major surgeries from his WW2 injuries. He worked as an aerospace electrical assembly inpector for Radioplane, Viking, Litton, and Lockheed for many years. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, traveler, and photographer.

Sam's health as a constant family concern after he lost a kidney in mid 60's. Very sadly, Sam Genovese died Sept. 13,1970 of renal (kidney) failure at 50 years of age. His family lives in LA and Sacramento. He was a wonderful person. He is missed!

A prayer for my dad and all who have served our country:

I AM FEE

Do not grieve for me, for now I am free,

I am following the path God laid for me,

I took his hand when I heard him call,

I turned my back, and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play,

Tasks left undone must stay that way,

I found that peace at the end of the day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with our memories of joy,

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Oh Yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

My life has been full; I savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Do not lengthen it now with undue grief,

Lift up your hearts and share with me,

GOD wanted me now, HE set me free!

For Sam's Army service, Sam was awarded these medals and citations:

Purple Heart medal for combat wounds

3 Bronze Battle Stars for combat bravery

Good Conduct Medal

Expert Infantry Marksman Badge

European Theater Medal with 3 bronze battle stars & 2 arrowheads beachhead landing clasps

African Middle Eastern Theater Medal

WW2 Victory Medal

141st Regimental Prersidential Unit Citation.

 

 

 

[Terry K.]

A hero, may he rest in piece

[Squad leader]

Hi Anthony,

 

Are you the son of Samuel A. Genovese, Anti-tank Co/141st Inf.?

You're father was wounded in action in "Les Rouges-Eaux" (not Les Roux-Eaux) which means Red waters.

 

Dan.

[David D]

Great tribute. Rest in Peace

[David D]

Great tribute. Rest in Peace

[David D]

Great tribute. Rest in Peace

[ustpatcher1a]

Hi Anthony,

 

Are you the son of Samuel A. Genovese, Anti-tank Co/141st Inf.?

You're father was wounded in action in "Les Rouges-Eaux" (not Les Roux-Eaux) which means Red waters.

 

Dan.

 

 

I don't understand French. I have found some helpful French people on Facebook.

yes, he's my dad. Thanks for the help. I'm open to any.

My dad spoke very little of his service while I was growing up as a kid. The WW2 last film we sw together was '69 'Patton". We both enjoyed that film. It has a special meaning to me now as I age. My dad died much to early but he overcame his medical limitations and was a great dad. But my hind sight thoughts are always with me. I have done my best to uncover and learn about his WW2 service after he passed on. I'm still trying to connect the dots with the help of internet research and forums like these. They are proving amazing to answer my questions.

[Squad leader]

Anthony,

 

Do you have The fighting 36th, the history of the 36th Inf. Div. in WWII at hand? You're father is listed on the division roster (p. 12) and a part of the book deals with Les Rouges-Eaux.

You can find the After Action Reports (AAR) of the 141st inf. in the website of the Texas Military Force Museum.

You'll find them by clicking the link below.

 

http://texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/141st-infantry-aars-wwii/

 

I will greatly appreciate if you could post some of your father's 36th div. material on the forum.

 

Dan.

 

[sundance]

A father to be proud of to be sure. It's a shame he did not enjoy a longer life. May he rest in peace.

[ustpatcher1a]

Anthony,

 

Do you have The fighting 36th, the history of the 36th Inf. Div. in WWII at hand? You're father is listed on the division roster (p. 12) and a part of the book deals with Les Rouges-Eaux.

You can find the After Action Reports (AAR) of the 141st inf. in the website of the Texas Military Force Museum.

You'll find them by clicking the link below.

 

http://texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/141st-infantry-aars-wwii/

 

I will greatly appreciate if you could post some of your father's 36th div. material on the forum.

 

Dan.

 

 

I do have that helpful book and a few connected general printed WW2 36th memorabilia. In only the last 3 years most of helpful research has been connected with the 36th Texas reunion association online, some websites like Ancestry, Findagrave, Facebook, and some militaria forums like this one.

 

My dad was in An anti-tank unit. He never talked about anti-tank matters to me. I got the impression from him how destructive a anti-tank gun is against tank crewmen. He called it horribly "fried chicken'.

 

I found the last living member of his unit living in Texas, Mr Stevenson. He sent me some highly informational items maps & photos from their time in boot camp. But he passed on last year in his late 80's yrs of age. I was emailing his Texan son, but his email has 'bounched back' to me for the last year. Been looking in other new avenues.

Not being a vet myself, my knowledge of unit organization is shakey. Reading the listings for anti-tank unit of the 36th, it's listed as being attached to the headquarters regiments. BUT anti-tank also seems to be attached to 141st regimental personel lists in the back of the book. Maybe you can clear up this seemingly contradiction. Two anti-tank units ? My dad's Govt headstone listed him in 36th, 141st regiment, anti-tank.

Does that make sense ? also is there a difference between a regimental Combat team and a ordinary regiment ? This was WW2 ETO units after all. Any explanation of help is great.

[Squad leader]

Anthony,

 

During WWII, an US infantry regiment was composed of three infantry battalions (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and “regimental troops” consisting of a regimental headquarters & headquarters company, an antitank company, a cannon company, a service company, and a regimental medical detachment. Your father was in the antitank company of the 141st Infantry regiment, 36th Infantry division. The regimental antitank company (authorized strength - 165) contained a large company headquarters, three antitank platoons of three wheeled 57mm cannon each, and an antitank mine platoon of three squads. Click the link below for details about the organization and tactical employment of an AT company in 1944.

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM7-35.PDF

 

Concerning the difference between a Regimental Combat Team (RCT) and an ordinary regiment, yes, there is a difference. A Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was a provisional major infantry unit of the US Army during WWII. It was formed by augmenting a regular infantry regiment with smaller tank, artillery, combat engineer, medical and other support units to enable it to be a self-supporting organization in the combat field. A RCT was a temporary organization configured for the accomplishment of a specific mission such as landings.

 

Hope it helps. Dan.

 

 

 

 

[ustpatcher1a]

Thanx. very helpful and explaining many things to me.