A 5+ Year Wait: A Very Rare 417th/76th Regimental Souvenir Poster

I have been searching for this poster for roughly 5+ years. It was published in Germany while the 2nd Battalion of the 417th was on occupation duties after hostilities ended in June of 1945. It details the path the 417th took through the ETO and has quite a few funny caricatures of the veterans and also of the Germans. The wait was worth it for this one! Not attributed to a veteran but it was a must have for my collection. With this addition, only ONE piece of 76th literature remains unaccounted for. The booklet's title is "The First Battalion, 417th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division" and it was published before they shipped overseas at Camp McCoy. If anybody has this booklet please contact me at wwii_research_investigations@yahoo.com

Thanks for looking!

An Incredibly Complete 304th Infantry Machine Gunner's Grouping

William W W A L K E R was born in Pennsylvania in 1926. Upon graduating High School in the spring of 1944, he immediately walked down to the recruiting office and signed up. Finishing up basic training at Camp Blanding that summer, he was assigned to the 1st Machine Gun Platoon, M-Company, 304th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division at Camp McCoy. Although wet behind the ears and as green as the grass, he shipped out to the ETO with the 76th on Thanksgiving Day 1944. He fought in all 3 campaigns and came out unscathed. Being so new to the unit (and the Army for that matter!) he suffered the occupation blues serving with both the 8th Division and finally shipping home with the 11th Regiment of the 5th Division in 1946.

This grouping is the most complete in my collection.

Everything is 100% from this veteran and some of it combat used. The double buckle boots are by far one of my favorite items I own. The wear and the tear on them was no doubt earned climbing muddy river banks in Germany and having hot 30-06 casings fall on them in the heat of battle. The photos show just how young this brave infantryman was. Unlike the other veterans' uniforms I own, Mr W-A-L-K-E-R is still with us as of this posting. Unfortunately, due to deteriorating medical and mental health conditions, his wartime experiences will remain locked away for his remaining days. It is my profound honor to have obtained his items and I look forward to telling his story to future generations for many years to come!