Post your 79th infantry division items.

[David D]

One of my other collecting interests is the 79th infantry division. I have not seen much of anything 79th related here. So why not post some now. Post anything dating from 1917-1946.

Here is one of my pieces from the division that I got from a fellow forum member.

A Pre 1918 made canteen with the "Cross of the Lorraine" Etched into it.

[David D]

Here is a Christmas Card published by the 79th division in 1944. This was sent by Paul Knerr of the 311th Field Artillery.

[USdog]

Here is a dog tag from my website with a pretty interesting story. He was in the 79th ID. I have some insignia from him too but don't feel like digging it out right now.

 

Captain James McKendree Reiley was born 23 December 1895 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He attended Central High School in Pennsylvania and was class of 1915, then went to Cornell University.

 

When he was a Junior in college he left to enlist on 11 May 1917. He became a Captain on 15 August 1917 and soon was with the unit he would go to France with, which was Company C, 311th Machine Gun Battalion, 79th Infantry Division.

 

14 July 1918 his unit landed at Brest, France and was soon on the front line of the Meuse-Argonne area. Reiley was on the front line in this area with his company until he was seriously wounded in action in October of 1918. He was hit by a shell while directing fire for his machine gunners when the Germans were advancing on them. 4 of his men were killed in the same blast, while he lied helpless on the battlefield for 8 hours, paralyzed in both legs and gassed.

 

He was then taken to the rear to receive medical care. With medical treatment he was able to walk again. After 4 months of overseas service, he was ordered to become a Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Cornell University by the US Government. He was discharged on 14 October 1919.

 

In 1973, he revisited where he had fought in France and unfortunately died while on the tip on 10 November 1973.

[David D]

Great tag with amazing history. Thanks for contributing. Anyone else got anything?

 

-Dave

[Tennessee]

How remarkable- he ended up dying in France after all! I sure hope there will be at least a mild avalanche of interest in the American involvement in WWI as the Great War Centennial approaches in '17 and '18. Thanks for sharing this soldier's story!

David

[jguy1986]

Didn't see this thread before. Here's a British battledress that belonged to a member of the 314th Infantry Regiment who was taken prisoner in late January 1945, and later held at Stalag 5A. I also have his four pocket Class A and overcoat. I'm still researching on if he was wounded, as his partially-stripped four pocket has space for two rows of ribbons -- this battledress was restored with the bare minimum of what I know he was awarded.

 

[Tennessee]

I especially like the portrait photo- how young we all once were! Thanks for sharing this group!

David

[nightfighter]

Hello all,

 

First post here..... James McKendree Reiley is my grandfather! I would appreciate hearing from or being put in toch with USdog and Bellasilva

 

Thank you

 

Ross Reiley

[Hobza]

From my collection..

[Hobza]

...

[Hobza]

last..

[easterneagle87]

Here's my contribution. I picked it up on Letgo from the vet's nephew. 79th veterans jacket. A ww2 or Pre-ww2 jacket, with Victory and French medals. It came vacuum sealed, so these are shots from the listing. I have it ID'd.

[easterneagle87]

Clicked the button before I could get the pictures re-sized and added.

[aurelius180]

Here are some items from a combat leader of H Co, 314th Infantry Regiment. Included in the group was numerous documents, one of his Purple Hearts and some other items. Included in the documents are the two Western Union messages to his mother notifying her of his wounds. I also recently received his records from Golden Arrow.

 

His first wound was on 6/23/1944 when he was hit by two pieces of shrapnel and his second was on 12/31/1944 when he either sprained or fractured his left ankle/lower leg. Typed portion says sprain but a handwritten section appears to say fracture. He also had a non-combat wound on 6/27/1945 when a tank turret closed on his finger.

 

His two EAME stars are for Normandy and Rhineland. He entered the Normandy battle on D+8.

 

 

[Pegasus6]

Hey all,

 

79th 312th MG BN Co C. ID'ed KIA Helmet. Harmon G. Young. Grouping came with letter sent from Chaplain in a recovering Sanitation and newspaper clipping. True history is painful. He is buried in France in France.

 

P6

[Robbie]

I love the battle dress with 79th patch

[David D]

Some great and somber items. Keep it up guys