Blue Devils
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88th Infantry Division
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and
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Mt.Mestas Memorial
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Family Alumni
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Blue Devils and Mt.Mestas Memorial members
whose family has been in contact with MtMestas.com
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The
names listed below are of Mt.Mestas Memorial
and Blue Devils members whose family has been
in contact with MtMestas.com. Numerous emails
and Forum postings made to this website are
reproduced here and may be found elsewhere also.
If
you are a Mt.Mestas Memorial or Blue Devils
friend or family member and would like to contribute
a GI photo and short bio for this website please
include as much information as you have including
full name, rank, unit, awards, date and location
if killed in action, and burial location if
in Europe.
If
you are wanting further information, please
post a message in the MtMestas.com FORUM and
follow the wording format suggested if at all
possible. This is very important. Doing so will
help your message and this website to get found
by other people on the internet who are looking
for information also. |
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351st Infantry Regiment |
Click
Names
to Read
Bios and Letters
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Co
C
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Pvt
KIA 24Sep 44
Purple Heart
Buried France
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Platoon Leader
Purple Heart
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Purple Heart
Bronze Star
Died 7 May 2002 |
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Reg
Trans Officer
KIA 20
Nov 44 |
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New
additions
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351st
Infantry Regiment |
Blankenship, Jack |
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From:
"Lori Giometti" <lorirb@*****.com>
To: hello@mtmestas.com
Subject: 351st Infantry
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 17:50:01 +0000 Hello!
I have been trying to discover the
route my dad took during WWII while
stationed in Italy. My husband's family is from Italy,
(hence:
Giometti!), anyway, we are planning a trip and I would
love to know the route my dad and company took. My dad
never talked about the war, except to talk about how
much he loved Italy.
It took some digging but I found my dad's discharge
papers! Here is
the information on his papers:
>* Jack Blankenship ~ 38 070 619 Private
>* Headquarters Company 351st Infantry
>* Honorable Discharge from Fort Lewis on Oct. 5,
1945
>* Army Serial #: 38 070 619 Private Infantry ~ Component:
Aus
>* Date of Induction: Jan 7th, 1942
>* Place of Entry: Fort Bliss, Tx.
>* Battles and Campaingns: Rome - ARNO, Naples -
Foogia, PO
>Valley, Northern Apennines GO 33 WD 45
>* Decorations and Citations: European ~ African
~ Middle
Eastern
>Service Medal, Purple Heart GO 9 HQ II Corps 44,
Good Conduct Medal
Is he part of this same unit(s) your website
is dedicated to? It is very
difficult to recover information due to a fire that
destroyed many
records.
Any help would be great! Thanks a ton!
Lori (Blaneknship) Giometti
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351st
Infantry Regiment - Co C |
Bobal, George |
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From:
"Dominick G. Kass, CFPS" <ofra@xxxxx.net>
To: hello@mtmestas.com
Subject: Co C 351st Reg
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 22:30:46 -0500
Just looking for where to find more info on my late
(maternal) Uncle George J. Bobal Jr.’s military
life.
The only male child of 4 children, I am surprised
to see his unit was in such a controversial (Trieste)
region
I have a few pictures of him including one
marked “in the hotel bar, Venice Italy, Dec 1945”.
And another with the C/351st unit guidon. And another
with 4 other soldiers in front of a beat-up wooden structure
marked “In front of our barracks doors”.
(I would be glad to scan all photos and forward to anyone
who would like.)
Thanks to anyone who can point me to any websites
or books that have the unit history around this period.
Regards,
Dominick G. Kass
Clifton Park, NY 12065
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351st
Infantry Regiment |
Custer, Charles L. |
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From:
"Norma Rice" <nbrice@*****.net>
To: Hello@MtMestas.com
Subject: RE: 351st Infantry Division
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 15:12:01 -0500
Hello: I have just been referred to your website. My
adopted cousin, Pvt. Charles Lovell Custer was killed
in action 24 Sep 1944. I have a picture of Lovell. He
was awarded the purple heart post humously.
Engaged to an Italian girl at time of death.
Killed by a stray bullet 1944 in Italy, WWII, 24 September
1944. Received Purple Heart.
Church - MI - Flint - Third Avenue Baptist Church, 1944,
Bells in the Baptist church in Flint were dedicated
to his memory.
His name is listed in the American Battlefield
Monuments Commision Site.
Charles L. Custer
Private, U.S. Army
Service # 36568251
351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division
Entered the Service from: Michigan
Died: September 24, 1944
Buried at: Plot B Row 5 Grave 30
Florence American Cemetery
Florence, Italy
Awards: Purple Heart |
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351st Infantry
Regiment |
Dolan, Edward L. |
I was wondering if anyone might suggest a way that I could obtain
information about my cousin Edward L. Dolan, a 2nd Lt. in the 351st
Infantry, 88th Div, killed in Action in July 1944. According to the
ABMC he was awarded the bronze star, but I have no knowledge of the
circumstances of that award or it's citation.
-Sam
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351st Infantry
Regiment - Co F |
Farmer, Brad |
Brad Farmer
e-mail bradley.farmer@xxxx.mil
Location: Kingsport, Tn
Sun, October 2, 2005 18:52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My grandfather was in F co 351th inf. He is still living.
I would like to find out more about his company. I would
also like to put him on your webpage.
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351st
Infantry Regiment |
Fox, Lewis |
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Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005
From: "GEORGE or JUDY" <gcandjek@xxxxx.net>
Subject: History of Italian Campaign Website
To: Hello@MtMestas.com
Good Morning Gary,
This morning I sort of stumbled into your website.
My father, Lewis Fox was with the 351st and was wounded
at Castel Del Rio and as a result lost his right leg.
My goal is to visit this area and I am working with
a person to develop a tour for my family.
I just wanted to say thank you for the work, time
and effort as this has given me valuable information.
I saw you are interested in more names of those with
the 88th so I would be glad to add my father's name
to those you have. Tell me what information you want
and in what form and I will be glad to share with
you.
Judy Fox Knoblock
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi
Gary,
Here is the information on my father
and his picture.
LEWIS B. FOX
Army Serial Number 01032012
Lewis B. Fox was born Keith County,
Nebraska June 7, 1915. He volunteered for the Army
from Deuel County, Nebraska and was inducted
April 22, 1941 at Fort Frances E. Warren, Wyoming.
He reported to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His
first duty station was at Ft. Lewis, Washington.
He made Acting Corporal June 4, 1941 and Corporal
October 10, 1941. He married Marjorie Smith
June 20, 1942 in Tacoma, Washington. Lewis was
promoted to Sergeant August 1, 1942.
January 4, 1943 he reported to Fort Riley, Kansas
for Cavalry Officers Candidate School, Class No. 26.
Upon completion of the school March 25, 1943 he was
made Second Lieutenant. April 28, 1943 Lewis
was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Divison, Fort
Clark, Texas. In January, 1944 Lewis was shipped
to the East coast and left the United States February
26, 1944 for Oran, Algeria, Africa. He seemed to be
attached to several replacement companies while in
Africa.
June 1944 he was shipped to Naples,
Italy on a British ship, from there to just north
of Rome and was assigned to the Fifth Army, 351st
Infantry, 88th Infantry Division as a platoon leader.
He crossed the Arno River, went through Florence,
Italy, crossed the Gothic Line and was headed for
the Po Valley when he was wounded in action by a German
sniper September 26, 1944 at Castel del Rio.
The result being the amputation of his right leg.
He received the Purple Heart and two Campaign Stars.
He was honorably discharged August 17, 1945 at Bushnell
Hospital, Brigham City, Utah.
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351st
Infantry Regiment |
Fyhr. Carl |
Tec, Sgt
4th Grade |
From: Hampdenfyhr@xxxxx.com
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 13:26:28 EST
Subject: 351st Infantry Regiment
To: Hello@MtMestas.com
Hello,
I have to rush, but here I go,
I just discovered your site, My dad (Carl I. Fyhr) was
a Blue Devil in the
351st, 88th div., He was a Tec. Sgt. 4th grade when
he was discharged
in 1945, Bronze Star, 2 Campain ribbins, N Africa, Italy,
Wounded twice. No Purple Hearts!
I don't know everything he did or what company
he was in, because he didn't like to talk about the
war much, but as a kid growing up I would hear
alittle here and there over many years. It seems he
had many tasks (not all at once) in Italy but as a Ranger
and being an artist, he was assigned the task of going
into an enemy held territory and mapping out there gun
positions, troop movements, etc., drawing it out on
a grid, getting back to
intelligence, compare with airal photos, mark positions,
redraw for a final map, it would then get copied and
sent to all commanders in need of that info.
Also, he and other soldiers of his squad had
the task of killing german snippers that were left behind
to kill our guy's ( mostly Lieutenant's & higher
rank) as the German forces retreated, ( I always remember
him saying they wanted to raise his rank, and he wanted
nothing to do with that!!, That single bar on the hemet
was perfect for a snipper to target, and he would rather
live longer as a Sergeant than be a short lived Lieutenant,
Please note I think he said only 3 including himself
of the original squad walked out of the war alive, because
of that duty.
I only wish he was still alive today to give
me more info on this part of
his life that he so wanted to forget, and I would still
be hesitant today,
to ask him to remember details of such a dark time in
his life, but I have
allways been proud of him, and would love to see the
world know his story,
and stories of the thousands of other brave soldiers,
but sadly most of the
true hero's stories never get heard, like my dad, these
guys would rather
forget than remember.
I had a wood shop teacher in jr. high, and
all he talked about was what
he did in WW2. and told my dad about it, he just laughed
and said those
are the guys that never been in combat.
Anyway, I didnt plan writing any of this, What
I wanted to ask you is if your
interested in having me download you my dads book he
got at the end of the war(titled -History of the 351st
Infantry Regiment.) World War I I , July 1942, July
1945. It's a great read for anone intested in battle
history.
Truly,
David B. Fyhr
We'd like to say thanks to Dave Fyhr
for contributing the 80 page document "The
History of the 351st Infantry Regiment",
soon to be available in our 351st IR section.. This
should be up by Mar 06. |
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351st Infantry
Regiment - Co D |
Germany, |
Subject: 351st Infantry at MtMestas.com
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 18:24:28 -0700 (PDT)
Wren Germany <wrengermany@*****.com>
wrote:
Just got your message, I not my father was in the 88th,Co
D First Battalion, 351 Regt. I went up to the 88th in
March of 46,was in the pbs prior to that time . Came back
to the states in Dec, 46. What company was you in? Also
where are you at? I am at the present time living in Roseville
Cal. I did have a few photos at one time but most have
been lost or misplaced over the years.have been looking
for anyone who was in the outfit, my last co was named
smith, am sure he must be long gone as he was several
years older than I was..waiting to hear from you .
Wren Germany |
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351st Infantry
Regiment |
Good, Everett L. |
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2005 17:58:02
-0800 (PST)
From: "sandra good" <sandiemgood@xxxxx.com>
Subject: Website
To: Hello@MtMestas.com
My husband Grandfather was Everett L. Good( Pvt) he
was with 88th Infantry Division Blue Devils 351st REG
My husband and I wanted to let you know that this is
a wonderful website that you have. He is now serving
in U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division and want me to send
thanks to you for displaying this website.
Sandra M Good
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351st Infantry
Regiment - Co F |
Kendrick, Robert H. |
From: bradley.farmer@xxxxxx.mil
To: "Gary Smith" <hello@mtmestas.com>
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 22:13:59 -0600
Subject: Fwd: Blue Devils
Hello Gary,
This is my grandfather's (PFC Robert H. Kendrick) picture
and a short bio. He left for Italy in Aug. 1944 and
joined the 88th in Sept of that year. He was wounded
a few days after getting on line, sometime on Oct.,
he was hit 3 times in 2 days. He was in F company 351st.
Most of his unit was captured and killed after he was
wounded and taken to Langhorn Hospital where he spent
about a week. After recovering he returned to F company
until the end of the war. He returned home in Aug. 1945
and was discharged. He doesn't remember any of the names
of the men he served with. He believes that one of the
men who was captured was named Kennedy from Texas. My
grandfather is from Tennessee. I'll send more pictures
of the 88th if you would like them.
Great job on the website!
Brad
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351st Infantry
Regiment - 2nd Btn |
Kincheloe |
Guest
Posted: 21 Nov 2005 03:16 pm
Post subject: POW Research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My father was in the 2nd BAT/351st INF REG of the 88th
INF DIV.
He was a POW captured 10-27-1944.
I research POW information for people that have limited
info.
I enjoy helping people find their POW's info regardless
of UNIT.
I will send in my father's info to the proper
place at MtMestas.com for others to view.
Mark Kincheloe
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351st
Infantry Regiment - Co D |
Mazza, Robert
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eBay
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This book was found for sale on the eBay website.
Nice
condition book.
The Blue Devils in Italy published by
88th Infantry Division Association Inc.
Illustrated @ 400 pages paper wraps.
Owned by Robert Mazza Co.D 351st
W inner of Purple Heart.
Nice shape. looks to have been printed in late
1960's. |
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351st Infantry
Regiment |
Mitchell, James Robert
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From: jwkwmk@xxxx.net
To: hello@mtmestas.com
Subject: 88th - 351st Infantry - WWII
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 23:56:47 -0500
My Dad was in the 88th - 351st Infantry during WWII.
He wasn't able to
talk about it much for a long time, so my knowledge
about it isn't too
extensive. I do know that he first was sent to N. Africa
and then to
Sicily, through Italy, and finally to Germany. His most
vivid memory
was of the battle of Laiatico, Italy and all that happened
there. In
fact, he still had flashbacks to the traumatic things
about that battle
and I'm sure others as well.
He mentioned a CO who was named Noonan or Noone,
or something like
that, who had saved their lives many times because he
was such a brilliant
tactician at figuring out coordinates and getting them
in and out of a
firing position with the big guns quickly before the
Germans could
figure their firing location and return fire. He related
how Capt. Noonan
(sp?) had been shot in the leg by a German officer with
a machine gun,
literally taking off his leg, then how the officer had
run up and shot
the captain (unnecessarily at that point Daddy felt)
in the neck. He
said that Capt. Noonan (sp?) had been hospitalized and
survived. Daddy
was running to get close enough to help, and shot the
officer but
couldn't get there in time to keep the captain from
being shot in the neck.
I would have to dig pretty much to get any
information from Daddy, who
covered up a lot with trivial talk about mundane things.
He did relate
being at the liberation of one of the camps in Germany
where they
liberated the Jewish people and others held there, but
he didn't mention the
name. In the same conversation, he stated that he had
seen bodies
stacked like cordwood for about half a mile. I don't
know whether he meant
at the camp or not.
He was also in a group that was sent up into
the mountains above Anzio
to take out the big cannons that the Germans had on
rails and were
taking back into caves after they pounded the beach
so they couldn't be
bombed. These men were off radio contact for almost
two months and were
under the umbrella of Special Forces. - He also mentioned
Monte
Capello and how much artillery was leveled against that
place. I have a
photo of him in Venice, Italy with 4 buddies, Charles
Staub, Dan Boks,
Wallace Price and George Heinrich.
I wish he could have told me more, but he was
still very battle
fatigued even after he got old. He passed away on May
7, 2002 and I realize every day what a brave man he
was.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Daddy, James Robert Mitchell (who passed
away May 7, 2002), was in the 88th - 351st Infantry
in WWII. I have quite a bit of his military stuff packed
away in a box. I went through it all after he passed,
but have forgotten some of the places and dates in it.
He was in the Battle of Laiaitico, Italy and his outfit
won a Presidential Unit Citation for uncommon valor
in that battle; he also was awarded a Purple Heart and
a Bronze Star during the war. A lot of their records
were destroyed in a fire and he didn't receive his Bronze
Star until years later. - I do remember him mentioning
the Po Valley which was listed on his discharge papers
along with the No. Appenines and the Arno River. He
talked about wading a river that was as cold as ice
during one of their operations, and it may have been
the Arno River.
Daddy started out in N. Africa and then to
Sicily, through Italy and into Germany where he was
part of the liberation of one of the concentration camps,
although he never told me the name of it, although he
did relate some of the horrors associated with it in
his mind.
The war was hard on Daddy, on all that bunch,
because they were in some of very worst of it. At one
time, Daddy was in a bunch that were taken off radio
contact (special forces) and sent to take out Hitler's
huge cannons that were pounding Anzio beach. They had
the guns on rails that were fired and then pulled back
into caves by rail. - Daddy never talked about the war
all that much, but he did tell me quite a bit in later
years.
He would meet an old soldier buddy on the street
and his eyes would fill with tears and he would say,
"a lot of good men died", and only another
buddy could fully understand. That war was hard on the
families of the soldiers who returned so extremely shell-shocked.
They were brave men, brave men.
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351st Infantry
Regiment Co M |
Morrison |
From: "Dee Morrison"
<dmorris@*****.us>
To: Hello@MtMestas.com
Subject: 351st Infantry Organizational Structure
Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 17:59:08 -0500
Do have any information on organizational structure of
this unit. In particular in which Battalion was Company
M. My dad served in the 351st Company M.
Wm “Dee” Morrison
deecarol@*****.net
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351st
Infantry Regiment - Co B |
Nardin, Louis |
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Ted Nardin <ted@xxxxx.net>
wrote:
Hi, I have enjoyed reading your web pages off and on
for a little while. I wanted to tell you that you are
doing a great thing. I too have a fond interest in the
88th and the war in Italy as my father was in the 351st
IR. I am from Pueblo, my father Louis Nardin, was from
Trinidad (and other areas thereabouts). I believe he
knew Felix Mestas, Sr. in one way or another. He told
me as a very young man about how Mt Mestas gained it's
name.
Too often I find people today do not understand what
went on over there. I only know from my father's stories,
and the stories of many others I have talked with, read
about, etc, but I am fully aware of the painful sacrifice
these young men endured. It's good that you keep the
history alive. There is so much to be learned.
Are you a member of the family as webmaster?
Ted Nardin
Tampa, Florida
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Ted Nardin" <ted@xxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: 351_Nardin
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 20:37:40 -0500
Hi, I attached a picture of my father upon his return
from Italy. I will have more soon as my brother and
I are working on scanning several. There are numerous
88th div pictures around, any you looking for in particular?
There are several in books and in the National Archives.
The division newsletter contains a bunch every month.
Since my father passed away I have not been getting
the newsletter, but hope to again soon. We are building
a web page to document his time in the military. Hope
to have it accessible sometime in the near future.
In looking through old books of my fathers, I found
the 88th Infantry History book. In the front cover it
states, Property of Felix B. Mestas, Sr. If you would
like to have it, I would be willing to send it to you.
I'm sure you would like to keep it in the family.
Take Care.
Louis Nardin short bio:
Was inducted Denver,
Colorado June 18, 1943; entered active service
July 2, 1943. Trained in multitude of schools
including artillery and advanced scout/jungle
warfare. Was moved to infantry and shipped to
England. Landed on Normany beach as a replacement
on D+10. Shipped to Italy shortly thereafter.
Served time in rear area and had major illness.
Once recovered, joined Co B, 1st Battalion,
351st IR, 88th ID October, 1944.
Qualifed as Expert Marksman on M-1; Carbine;
SMG, BAR, Grenade
Battles and Campaigns: Rome-Arno, North Apennines,
Po Valley (active in both North Apennines and
Po Valley campaigns)
Earned following medals: Combat Infantry Badge,
American Serivce Medal, European African Middle
Eastern Service Medal, World War II Victory
Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Croix de Gererre
Discharged January 8, 1946.
Highest Grade: Corporal
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351st Infantry
Regiment |
Riga, Alvin |
To: Hello@MtMestas.com
Subject: New guestbook entry
From: steve@ xxxxxx.com
Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 22:13:57 -0500
My father Alvin Victor Riga was killed in action on
November 20, 1944
in Italy. He was a regimental transportation officer
in the 351st regiment.
Steve Castle |
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351st
Infantry Regiment - Co L |
Scavuzzo, Santo
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From: Jendeluna7@c*****.com
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 14:35:06 EDT
Subject: 88th Infantry Division 351st Infantry Regiment
Co. L
To: Hello@MtMestas.com
Santo Scavuzzo, Ser. No. 37 724 240, was a PFC in the
351st, Co. L. His discharge papers says he "Acted
as a rifleman and then in combat as an automatic rifleman
in a rifle squad in Italy, main weapons were the M1 rifle
and the Browning autoatic rifle, but is familiar with
all infantry weapons". He arrived in (Italy) ETO
15 July 44 and returned to USA 30 Aug 45. He
died 1984 of cancer. He married my husband's sister
and I am trying to help family find more info. Is anyone
familiar with him? What battalion was he in? How can
we find information specific to him and the battles
he was in?
My husband was a medic in the 8th Armored and
was 1 tier back from the front lines. He saw lots of
action, but says it was absolutely nothing like the
real battles Santo was in. Any and all information would
be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Jenny DeLuna
jendeluna7@*****.com
-----------------------------
From: Jendeluna7@*****.com
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 12:11:09 EDT
Subject: Re: About Medical Detachments
Hello, Gary,
Tks. for the info re Medical Detachments. This
really helps. Since you were nice enough to reply, may
I ask you other questions.
We have a picture of Santo in uniform with
Cactus Division badge. I checked on line and this Division
- 103rd - served in the Pacific Theater. Santo was in
Italy and his discharge papers state Rome Arno Po Valley
No. Appenines. Nothing on his disch | | |
