I have bought a grouping from a man that served in the 72nd Signal Co (special)

 

I was hoping some of the other members on the board could help me find more info on this Company!

 

 

I can seem to find much about it!

 

I think i was attached to the 5th Army and then the 7th

 

Adanac00

I have bought a grouping from a man that served in the 72nd Signal Co (special)

 

I was hoping some of the other members on the board could help me find more info on this Company!

I can seem to find much about it!

 

I think i was attached to the 5th Army and then the 7th

 

Adanac00

 

 

Attached to the 34th Infantry Division.

Detachment B attached to the 34th Infantry Division at Naples and Foggia.

 

Detachment A attached to 5th Army HQ (c. 1943)

My father (still alive and well) was a Sargent with the 72nd. I have put together a fair amount of information about them and their activities. Any information you may have would be greatly appreciated. I have interviewed 3 other members (two family members) and 3 survivors. The company was a special forces assault signal company and was in 6 campaigns two of which were amphibious assaults. North Africa, Sicily, Salerno (Naples Foggia), Anzio, Southern France at San Raphael, and the Rh ineland. My father was wounded on the southern shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge and earned both the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star while almost being over-run by Germans around Christmas in Central France close to Nancy. I have photos and maps as well as stories from a couple of other "Joes" in the outfit. Various members of the 72nd would be "farmed-out) to different Armies and ID's. My father was attached while in the 72nd to the Navy, 3rd Army, 5th Army and 7th Army also was with the 36th Infantry, the 34th ID, 45th Thunderbirds ID as well as other groups...as "attached." They usually went in on the invasion or campaign and wired in the various rifle companies. They saw a lot of action and the unit was awarded a unit citation which is blue with gold outline (meritorious unit citation). They also trained with Roosevelts Raiders.

 

Jon Henderson,

 

"...a unit citation which is blue with gold outline..." is the Distinguished Unit Badge, later after WW2 in 1966 renamed the Presidential Unit Citation.

I also have a roster of the members of the 72nd Signal Company(sp).

One of my relatives was in the 72nd Signal. His name was William Mainer. Any information would also be appreciated.

That would be great. My email address is hendersonjp@live.com. We can exchange information via email. Thank you for the reply.

Paul70 I would like info on William Mainer. My father and he were in the same company

I gave your contact to his son so you could discuss it. He knows more than me on him. He also has some photos while they were training.

 

Paul

I have a number of photos (Southern France) Anzio, N. Africa, Sicily as well as narratives by other members of the company with about 50 pages of history on the Company. In fact, my father is still alive and has a great memory of the company. We could trade info and pics. I can email him the manuscript. I have 96 names of members so far. They trained with Roosevelt's Raiders for beach head assaults.

 

Jon

Also Paul 70. Log onto Facebook and look for 72nd Signal Company (Special). I have created a account in that name for family/members with pics.

Hi Jon - What you have put together sounds amazing. I'm helping my friend Claire research her father Oscar "Bud" Rauch. He never spoke about his experiences in the war and I'm trying to help her piece things together. Weirdly this article from the Newark Star Ledger about the veterans from WW2 who were racing around to give NJ phone service after the war gave us the most information so far telling us his unit and that he served in Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Southern France.  Would love to take a look at your materials if you can share. I will email you at the address above!  Thank you Jacquie Watch McNamara's Band Hook Up Those Needed Jersey Phones - Newark_Star-Ledger_1946-04-01_19.pdf