31st Division, Dixie Division, World War II

08/07/2013

Battle of Driniumor River from Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Driniumor_River

The Battle of Driniumor River, also known as The Battle of Aitape, 10 July – 25 August 1944, was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II. Japanese forces attacked United States forces on the Driniumor River, near Aitape in New Guinea. The battle should not be confused with Operation…

08/07/2013

A brief description from Wikipedia on the 31st Infantry Division, during WWII

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/31st_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

The 31st Infantry Division arrived in Oro Bay, New Guinea, 24 April 1944, and engaged in amphibious training prior to entering combat. During the war, at various times its units included the 124th Infantry Regiment, the 155th Infantry Regiment from Mississippi, the 156th Infantry Regiment, and the 1...

08/07/2013

Hello to all of you that visit and like this page. I have been on a cross country trip this summer. Upon my return to Seattle in the fall I will be posting more photos and stories. I would ask all of you that have a connection to the 31st Division, to post your photos and stories. I thank all of you that visit this page. Have a wonderful summer. Kim

02/23/2013

I notice this page is being noticed. Those of you that have liked the page I appreciate your interest. I will spend some time during the next couple of days posting more photos and information from my files. I invite all of you that visit to share any information you have about the unit. You can either message me with information or I can make you an administrator as well and you can post directly to the page. Take care, have a great weekend, and again thanks for your interest. Warmest regards, Kim Myers.

09/21/2012

The Outlaw Squad - Aitape New Guinea 1944

Top row - left to right - Walter Emil - Bellefonte PA, Clinton Tucke - Garyville LA, Austin Myers - Brunswick MD

bottom row - left to right - Norbut Moza - Chicago IL, Kenneth Souders - Allentown PA, Robert Hitt - Arlington VA

09/08/2012

My father was inducted at Ft. George Meade, south of Baltimore in November of 1942.

09/07/2012

A great link for the 124th Infantry Regiment

http://www.kilroywashere.org/003-Pages/Tillery-Paul/03-Harm-Tillery.html

...by getting down or stepping backward an enemy could pass within a few feet and neither would be aware of the other. The jungle was that deep!

09/06/2012

Another historical reference document:

Leavenworth Papers No.9 - Defending the Driniumor: Covering Force Operations in New Guinea, 1944

by Dr. Edward J. Drea

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/CSI/CSI-Driniumor/

Combined Arms Research Library.

09/06/2012

The 31st Infantry Division in World War II was raised in 1940 from National Guard units in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana & Florida and known as the ' DIXIE ' division, it consisted of the 124th, 155th & 167th Infantry regiments.

The 31st Infantry Division arrived in Oro Bay, New Guinea, 24 April 1944, and engaged in amphibious training prior to entering combat. Alerted on 25 June 1944 for movement to Aitape, the 124th RCT left Oro Bay and landed at Aitape, New Guinea, 3-6 July 1944. The combat team moved up to advanced positions and took part in the general offensive launched 13 July, running into bloody fighting along the Drinumor River. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Division relieved the 6th Infantry Division in the Sarmi-Wakde Island area, 18 July 1944, built bridges, roads, and docks, patrolled the area, and engaged small units of the enemy, trying not to provoke a large scale counterattack by the enemy. Over 1,000 Japanese were destroyed in these actions.

In mid-August the Division began to stage for the Morotai operation, leaving Aitape and Maffin Bay, 11 September 1944. The Division made an assault landing on Morotai, 15 September 1944, meeting only light opposition. During the occupation of Morotai, elements of the Division seized Mapia, 15-17 September, and waded ashore on the Asia islands, 19-20 September, only to find the Japanese had already evacuated. Other elements reverted to Sansapor, where they maintained and operated the base.

On 22 April 1945, the Division landed on Mindanao to take part in the liberation of the Philippines. Moving up the Sayre Highway and driving down the Kibawe-Talomo trail, fighting in knee-deep mud and through torrential rains, the 31st forced the enemy to withdraw into the interior and blocked off other Japanese in the Davao area. With the end of hostilities on 15 August 1945, the 31st accomplished the surrender of all Japanese forces remaining in Mindanao.

Nickname: Dixie Division.
Slogan: It shall be done.
Shoulder patch: A white disk on which is a red circle, within which are two red D's, back to back.

09/06/2012

Regiment history from the Florida National Guard:
124th Infantry Regiment, 31st Division, World War II
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00047679/00001/2j

09/06/2012

Austin Myers in dress uniform. How handsome.