406th Infantry Bring-Back Grouping

[JSkaggs29]

SSgt John A. Skrinjar

406th Infantry Regiment, G Co.

102nd Infantry Division

 

This is a bring-back grouping belonging to John A. Skrinjar from Cleveland, Ohio. Skrinjar was born on January 26, 1922. He joined the military on December 2, 1942, falling in with the 102nd Infantry Division. He arrived in the ETO on September 23, 1944, in Cherbourg, France, and entered combat on October 26th. Skrinjar saw action along the Roer and was involved with Operation Grenade, which involved the crossing of the Roer. The unit fought hard all the way to the Rhine. They established a defensive position along the Rhine. The crossing of the Rhine took place on April 9, 1945, meeting tough opposition in Wesergebirge, Germany. The next day, Skrinjar and his platoon attacked a superior force, killing 15 enemy soldiers and capturing 50. For this action he was involved in, he received a Certificate of Merit. During the battle for Wesergebirge, G Co. was responsible for capturing Hess Oldendorf, concluding the battle. It was the bloodiest campaign the 406th endured. There was evidence of hand-to-hand combat against an enemy that did not want to surrender. It mentions in the 406th unit history “approximately 1600 prisoners were taken; and 600 enemy were killed of which not a few were bayoneted in their foxholes as they fanatically refused to surrender even after firing their last round.”  After this they continued their tough fighting throughout Germany and stopped near the Elbe, took the town of Breitenfeld and received orders to stop their advance on April 15th. On that same day, members of the 102nd Infantry Division came across a war crime in Gardelegen, which became known as the Isenschnibbe Barn Atrocity. 

 

After the end of WWII, Skrinjar stayed in Europe for occupation duty and then was discharged on February 24, 1946. Skrinjar passed away on June 14, 1994 in Cleveland, OH.

 

This bring-back grouping includes a German bayonet, with the original bring-back paperwork, and a piece of German parachute. 

[manayunkman]

Nice group.

 

Parachute pieces were a common bring back, I have several myself.

[1st Sgt CES]

I always like the photos with names on the back----- I often wonder how many of these guys made it back home after the war ended. Paper work on Bayonet is great !