THE 141ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 36th INFANTRY DIVISION
A unit history compiled by Justin Jolly
November 25, 1940 - September 8, 1943
State Side Training:
On November 25th 1940 The 141st regiment of the 36th "Texas" Division was mobilized in San Antonio Texas, and sent to Camp Bowie at Brownwood Texas, along with all other elements of the 36th division. The 36th Division underwent training. The 36th also underwent troop replenishment from the selective service to get them up to divisional strength in the U.S. Army. It was at this point that the National guard troops went from being weekend warriors to full time enlisted soldiers. In July 1941 the regiment went to Louisiana to take part in the famous Louisiana maneuvers. After the Louisiana maneuvers had concluded, the regiment was sent back to Camp Bowie in Texas to undergo more training.
On February 14th 1942 the regiment was moved to camp Balding Florida where the Regiment had their first amphibious landing and beach assault training. The Regiment went through training to learn how to swim with their equipment and how to cross rivers and streams more efficiently.
On July 6th 1942 the Regiment was sent up north to take part in the Carolina maneuvers and was told that "this would be the last dry run and after that they would be facing the enemy for real next time". The regiment was moved straight form the Carolina maneuvers to Camp Edwards Massachusetts in August 1942 for last minute training and troop replacements to get the division up to strength.
On February 14th 1942 the regiment was moved to camp Balding Florida where the Regiment had their first amphibious landing and beach assault training. The Regiment went through training to learn how to swim with their equipment and how to cross rivers and streams more efficiently.
On July 6th 1942 the Regiment was sent up north to take part in the Carolina maneuvers and was told that "this would be the last dry run and after that they would be facing the enemy for real next time". The regiment was moved straight form the Carolina maneuvers to Camp Edwards Massachusetts in August 1942 for last minute training and troop replacements to get the division up to strength.
North Africa:
On April 2nd 1943 the regiment sailed out of New York Harbor on the USS Brazil bound towards North Africa. While on route to North Africa the convoy had 26 U-boat encounters. On April 13th 1943 the Regiment arrived at port in Oran Algeria. While in Algeria the Regiment underwent more training and marching to prepare them for the combat that awaited them ahead.
In May 1943 while the rest of the regiment was doing more amphibious landing training, some of the men and officers of the regiment where sent on temporary duty to Tunisia. Their mission was to fight alongside another division against Rommel’s Afrika Corps in order get some real combat experience to share with the rest of the regiment.
In August 1943 the Regiment was sent to the St. Cloud and Arzew staging areas to get ready for the Invasion of Italy. In early September the regiment was loaded on to ships at the harbor in Oran and where bound for Salerno bay. On September 8th news was announced that Italy had surrendered, every one cheered and celebrated and had hoped that there would be no need for an Invasion, or that they would land on a friendly shore, but officers and NCOs’ where quick to remind the men that there were still Germans in Italy as well.
In May 1943 while the rest of the regiment was doing more amphibious landing training, some of the men and officers of the regiment where sent on temporary duty to Tunisia. Their mission was to fight alongside another division against Rommel’s Afrika Corps in order get some real combat experience to share with the rest of the regiment.
In August 1943 the Regiment was sent to the St. Cloud and Arzew staging areas to get ready for the Invasion of Italy. In early September the regiment was loaded on to ships at the harbor in Oran and where bound for Salerno bay. On September 8th news was announced that Italy had surrendered, every one cheered and celebrated and had hoped that there would be no need for an Invasion, or that they would land on a friendly shore, but officers and NCOs’ where quick to remind the men that there were still Germans in Italy as well.
September 9th 1943 to August 14th 1944
Salerno:
On September 9th 1943 the unit took part in the Operation Avalanche the Invasion of Italy. They landed near the ancient Greek colony of Paestum. It was their first time in combat and the Germans threw everything they had at them to try to push them back into the sea including Mark IV panzers, but the regiment held its ground, and fought the panzers off with rifles and grenades. After 12 days of bloody fighting the Germans withdrew north and the beaches in Salerno bay where secure.
San Pietro:
The next task given to the unit was to push the Germans out of a town called San Pietro, the unit first moved into the sector in early November. In order to take San Pietro the Division as a whole had to take Mt Sammucro. This mountain earned the nickname "Million Dollar Mountain" because of the large amount of casualties sustained trying to take Mt Sammucro. After taking Mt. Sammucro the Division had to clear the Mignano Gap and take Mt. Lungo. The fighting was very tough and San Pietro did not get into allied hands until December 25th.
The Rapido River:
Once the Allies had hit the Gustav line with Monte Cassino in the middle, the fighting came to a standstill. The battle to break the Gustav line became a slug fest with the allies feeding troops to the Gustav line in hopes of breaking it, something reminiscent of the Somme in World War One. The unit was tasked with crossing the Rapido River in hopes of breaking through the Gustav line and moving up Highway 6 to Rome while the same day troops landing at Anzio would be able to push through and link up with the troops moving up from the south. On January 21st the unit first tried to cross the river but where repelled due to mines and heavy artillery coming from 88’s and machine gun fire. The fire was so intense that most of the boats that were going to be used to cross the river had been damaged, and were unusable. The next day a second assault was tried, this time elements of the 141st made it across the river, but ounce it became clear that there was no way to establish a bridge head the attack was called off. The troops that had made it across the river during the assault tried to retreat back across the river, but for the most part were rounded up and taken prisoner by the Germans. The Rapido River is still a topic of debate and a sore subject with veterans of the 141st and 143rd regiments to this day. After the failed Rapido River crossing the unit was pulled back and put on the line in the mountains facing Monte Cassino.
Anzio and the Push To Rome:
On May 22nd 1944 the Unit moved into the Anzio beach head as a reserve force to be used in an attack that would hopefully break out the beach head at Anzio. On May 30th the unit launched an assault on the town of Velletri. The casualties were light compared to the fighting the unit had gone through at San Peirtro and Cassino. June 1st Velletri fell and Highway 6 was open along with it the road to Rome. After Velletri fell the German units still on the Gustav line started pulling back towards Rome along with the German units that had surrounded the Anzio beach head. The stale mate had finally been broken thanks to the 141st taking Velletri. At this point the 141st and its allies pursued the Germans up the Italian peninsula and on June 4th reached the out skirts of Rome. After a long bloody campaign that started on September 9th of 1943, Rome was finally in allied hands on June 5th of 1944. After Rome fell the unit fought north of Rome then was pulled back for rest and replacements and to prepare for the invasion of Southern France. On August 9th the Unit set sail from Naples bound for the Riviera in Southern France.
August 15th 1944 to May 5th 1945
Operation Dragoon:
On August 15th the unit landed on the beaches of Southern France for operation Dragoon/Anvil the first Battalion landed on a scramble beach (a beach that is not much a of a beach surrounded by cliffs and no Armor or jeeps can land only rifle men). Resistance was fairly light compared to the
fighting the unit went through in Italy. Because of the light resistance, the troops were quick to label the Dragoon landings the "Champagne Campaign". On D-day plus one radio contact had been made by some paratroopers of the 509th who had been cut off. Elements of the 1st Battalion where sent to reach there paratroopers and get them much needed munitions and medical supplies. Progress was easy and with light resistance the unit pushed inland deeper into Southern France pursuing the retreating Germans.
fighting the unit went through in Italy. Because of the light resistance, the troops were quick to label the Dragoon landings the "Champagne Campaign". On D-day plus one radio contact had been made by some paratroopers of the 509th who had been cut off. Elements of the 1st Battalion where sent to reach there paratroopers and get them much needed munitions and medical supplies. Progress was easy and with light resistance the unit pushed inland deeper into Southern France pursuing the retreating Germans.
Montelimar:
The City of Montelimar is where the "Champagne Campaign" ended for the 141st. It was something that according to the Official history of the 141st would "take its place along with Salerno, San Peitro, the Rapido, and Cassino". The battle for Montelimar lasted from August 24th to the
30th of 1944. The 141st was tasked with blocking the German escape north of Montelimar so a for a solid week the unit stood its ground against brutal German attacks. Panzers were getting so close to the defensive line that one could feel the heat off the engines. As the week wore on the ferocity of the attacks intensified. One veteran of the 141st described it as "like trying to keep a wounded wild beast trapped in a corner", but the 141st held their ground and a few months later the newspapers would read the T-Patch Division has smashed the nineteenth German Division at Montelimar.
30th of 1944. The 141st was tasked with blocking the German escape north of Montelimar so a for a solid week the unit stood its ground against brutal German attacks. Panzers were getting so close to the defensive line that one could feel the heat off the engines. As the week wore on the ferocity of the attacks intensified. One veteran of the 141st described it as "like trying to keep a wounded wild beast trapped in a corner", but the 141st held their ground and a few months later the newspapers would read the T-Patch Division has smashed the nineteenth German Division at Montelimar.
The Moselle River:
On September 21st 1944 the unit reached the Moselle River, which was the first supposed strong line of resistance the Germans were going to defend. The 141st however was able to cross the river the same day it reached the river, much to the relief of the men of the 141st who had feared
another Rapido River. The 141st had the honor of being the first regiment of the whole 7th army to cross the Moselle River, and with the river crossed now in front of them laid the Vosges Mountains looming in front of them.
another Rapido River. The 141st had the honor of being the first regiment of the whole 7th army to cross the Moselle River, and with the river crossed now in front of them laid the Vosges Mountains looming in front of them.
Vosges Mountains:
Once the unit hit the Vosges Mountains, the fighting came to a crawl, slowly working up one mountain with dense forest and German positions hidden behind every corner. Just to come to another mountain that was the exact same way. No more dashing through France meeting joyous crowds at every town. Now the only thing the unit had was cold and gloomy weather during the 66+ consecutive days of fighting. On October 23rd 1944 elements of the 1st battalion attempted to take the high ground overlooking the town of La Houssiere. Once the men reached the summit the Germans threw a counter attack into their position and surrounded the men. This men on the high ground where cut off without resupply and no one could reach them. This was the 141st’s lost battalion. The unit was cut off from October 26th to October 30th when at long last elements of the 442nd Nisei regiment were able to reach them and get them out. There were a few times the unit was pulled out for a 24-48 hour rest to get
some clean clothes and some hot food, but it was always short lived before they were to move up to the front again and press on through the Vosges until they reached the Meurthe River. On the eastern bank of the Meurthe River laid a trench system with barb wire and mines. The first attempt to cross the river was repelled, but the second time a soft point was found in the defenses and the unit was able to push through and get a foot hold on the other side, and continue to peruse the retreating Germans. On December 3rd the 141st finally made its way out of the Vosges Mountains and into the Alsace Plain.
some clean clothes and some hot food, but it was always short lived before they were to move up to the front again and press on through the Vosges until they reached the Meurthe River. On the eastern bank of the Meurthe River laid a trench system with barb wire and mines. The first attempt to cross the river was repelled, but the second time a soft point was found in the defenses and the unit was able to push through and get a foot hold on the other side, and continue to peruse the retreating Germans. On December 3rd the 141st finally made its way out of the Vosges Mountains and into the Alsace Plain.
The Colmar Pocket:
The Colmar Pocket was where the offensive started for the Battle of the Bulge the Germans First attacked this region in the hopes of weakening the northern sector where the main advance would come from. The Germans started their offensive on December 12th of 1944 and continued the
offensive until December 18th, 2 days after the German offensive "Watch on the Rhine" was under way. At first the Germans tried to surround allied forces but thanks to the 141st the German offensive was checked and the 2nd Battalion at this point would earn its Presidential unit citation. After it was obvious that Watch on the Rhine in northern France was not going to be a quick success, the Germans refocused there attention to the southern Sector of the Allied lines. On January 1st 1945 the Germans launched a new offensive "Operation Nordwind" and crushed through the American lines which forced the Allies to fall back to the foot of the Vosges Mountains to assume Defensive positions, but by January 25th the German offensive lost steam and came to a halt but the Colmar Pocket a bulge that the Germans had crated in the allied lines was still a threat. It was at this point that the 36th Division was put under French control to help close the Colmar pocket and to trap as many Germans in the pocket as possible. On February 9th 1945 the Colmar Pocket was closed completely along with any German hopes of a victory in the west.
offensive until December 18th, 2 days after the German offensive "Watch on the Rhine" was under way. At first the Germans tried to surround allied forces but thanks to the 141st the German offensive was checked and the 2nd Battalion at this point would earn its Presidential unit citation. After it was obvious that Watch on the Rhine in northern France was not going to be a quick success, the Germans refocused there attention to the southern Sector of the Allied lines. On January 1st 1945 the Germans launched a new offensive "Operation Nordwind" and crushed through the American lines which forced the Allies to fall back to the foot of the Vosges Mountains to assume Defensive positions, but by January 25th the German offensive lost steam and came to a halt but the Colmar Pocket a bulge that the Germans had crated in the allied lines was still a threat. It was at this point that the 36th Division was put under French control to help close the Colmar pocket and to trap as many Germans in the pocket as possible. On February 9th 1945 the Colmar Pocket was closed completely along with any German hopes of a victory in the west.
The Siegfried Line and Into Germany:
After the Colmar Pocket was crushed and Operation Nordwind was repelled, the push against the Germans was pretty easy until the unit reached the Siegfried Line. The Siegfried Line was Germany’s main line of defense that stretched the entire length of the border of Germany. The Siegfried Line was made up of a system of trenches, barbed wire, and bunkers positioned to throw a murderous crossfire into any advancing allied troops. Dragon’s teeth were also emplaced along the line to slow the advance of the armor that would support the infantry. The first attempt to break the Siegfried Line on March 20th was a failure, however on March 23 1945 the 36th Division broke through and opened the road to Germany, and also captured over seven hundred German troops during the action to break the Defensive line. After the action on the Siegfried Line the unit met resistance the closer the unit got to Austria. However instead fighting Wehrmacht Heer troops, the unit was facing fanatical SS troops who would rather die than surrender. After the unit had crossed into Austria news came down on May 5th 1945 to halt in place and Cease fire. The war in Europe was at long last over, and the news of Victory could not be more bitter sweet for the 141st Regiment. The 141st saw some of the worst fighting of the war on the western front. The unit slugged it out with the Germans up the Italian peninsula, pushed them through France and finally chased them through Germany itself. At last the Fighting was over. As for the Texans all that remained for them was occupation were the motto was "That you may taste and acknowledge the bitterness of my VICTORY."
Since September 9th 1943 the 141st spent 361 days in combat:137 in Italy, 204 days in France, 17 days in Germany and 4 days in Austria.
The 141st sustained over 6000 casualties, 1,126 Killed 5000 wounded and 500 missing in action.
The 141st sustained over 6000 casualties, 1,126 Killed 5000 wounded and 500 missing in action.
Bibliography:
Peek, Clifford H jr.,
Five Years Five Countries Five Campaigns: With the 141st Infantry Regiment,
Munich: F. Bruckmann, 1945.
Five Years Five Countries Five Campaigns: With the 141st Infantry Regiment,
Munich: F. Bruckmann, 1945.