Anti-Tank Co 417th Regt Vet. Born in Sweden...Returned to Fight in the ETO!

PFC Kurt E. G-R-E-E-N was born in Sweden in 1912. In the 1930's he immigrated to the United States and set up shop as a machine shop worker in New York City, He was Jewish and I'm sure that the situation of his people halfway around the globe weighed heavy on his mind. Before gaining his citizenship, he decided to enlisted in the Army, raising his right hand on 08 Aug 1942. After basic infantry training he was assigned to the HQ Platoon, Anti-Tank Company, 417th Regiment, in the 76th Division. Traveling overseas Thanksgiving Day 1944 on the SS Marine Raven, AT/417 landed in Le Harve, France in January of 1945 after a brief stay in Bournemouth, England.

The 417th would receive it's baptism by fire in the town of Echternach, Luxembourg in the first week of February crossing the swollen Sauer River into the Siegfried Line near Trier, Germany. The assault started at 0200 hrs on the morning of the 7th, and continued until the river was bridged by 76th Div Engineers on 11 February.

PFC G-R-E-E-N was one of the first members in the 417th to be awarded the CIB and served in three campaigns in the ETO until the night of 20 March 1945. On this date in the town of Kisselbach, Germany (located on the banks of the Rhine River), he was on a late  reconnaissance patrol speeding down a road near the river that was originally assessed to be safe when enemy machine gun fire suddenly ripped through the air and into the Jeep. PFC G-R-E-E-N was hit and another man was KIA. The S-2 Lieutenant was able to drive him to an aid station and he was med-evac'd. He returned to his unit right after V-E Day and stayed with the 417th until the 76th was disbanded in August of 1945. He was then assigned to Service Company, 355th Regiment, 89th Infantry Division and returned home to New York City on 19 Dec 1945.

Kurt would spend his later days living in New Jersey and passed away on 23 Mar 1999.

Thank you for looking! This is my first Anti-Tank grunt's uniform and feel honored to add it to the collection.

304th IR 1st Sgt Uniform Grouping

1st Sgt B. H-A-N-L-O-N was born in Pennsylvania in 1912. At the age of 30 he enlisted in the US Army on 29 May 1942. Training with the 76th Division stateside, he became the 1st Sergeant of K-Company, 304th Infantry Regiment. Serving in all three of the 76th’s Campaigns in the ETO, he was transferred to G-Company, 395th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division. He passed away in 1995 and is buried in Littlestown, PA.

The uniform comes straight from the veteran’s family and includes WWII-Era 304th Regt insignia, an overseas made “black-backed” 76th SSI, and the ultra desirable green combat leader stripes under the 1st Sgt chevrons.

An AAA-Gunning 778th AW Bn T/5 Identified Uniform!

The 778th AAA Auto Wpns Bn (SP) came into being on the 10th of March 1943. The unit sailed ahead of the 76th leaving for the ETO in October of 44. They saw action in the Ardennes Offensive in December and were then attached to the 76th Division for the entirety of the rest of the war beginning in January of '45. Each of the 3 Batteries were attached to a different Infantry Regiment, A Btry going to the 304th Inf Regt, B Btry going to the 385th, and C Btry going to the 417th.

T/5 S-T-R-U-B-E-L was born in Pennsylvania in 1924 and enlisted in March of 1943. He attended basic training and was then sent to Camp Haan for training with the 778th, finally ending up in A-Btry. He served his entire time in combat with this unit. He had a knack for being able to tell what type of aircraft was approaching earlier than any other member of his Btry which led to several victories resulting in the downing of a German A/C. He was discharged in 1946.

He was formerly employed at Armstrong World Industries, retiring after 44 years. In his post-retirement, he was a volunteer at Moravian Manor Nursing Home for 17 years

He was very proud of his military service, and regularly attended the reunion of  the 778th, His hobbies included WWII history and doing family tree research with his son. He also enjoyed playing cards on Saturday nights with his son and daughter-in-law.

He passed away on April 30, 2006, at the Lancaster General Hospital, after a brief illness.