var itemNumber = window.ItemID ? window.ItemID : -1; function passpara(){return + itemNumber + location.href.lastIndexOf('/') + 1));}
the-rooster Store
function passparaSC(){return location.href.lastIndexOf('/') + 1)) + a.imagelink {color:#0000FF;} a:hover.imagelink {color:#0000FF;} a:visited.imagelink {color:#800080;} a.imagelink img.saleimage { border: 2px solid #0000FF; } a:visited.imagelink img.saleimage { border: 2px solid #800080; } Stellar WWII grouping identified to a member of the 100th Division "Sons Of Bitche". The soldier's name was PFC. Harvey Salasky of Co. I 398th Infantry. While serving with the unit overseas for 19 months, PFC Salasky received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster, ETO ribbon with two battle stars, Victory medal, Presidential Unit Citation with oneoak leaf and the Combat Infantry Badge. The heart of this grouping lieswiththe insignia and the theater made patches. The rarest of the patches is the Sons Of Bitche rocker followed by the beautiful bullion 100th Division Patch, Combat Infantry Badge, 7th Army bullion shoulder patch and finally the two standard US made 100th Division patches. All of these items where removed from a larger photo album by the previous owner. Also in the grouping is a very hard to find 1st issue membership card for the Society of the 100th Division "Sons Of Bitche". The card was signed by the Grand Exalted Biggest Son of Bitche", 20-year-old Staff Sergeant Dave Swift of Attleboro, Massachusetts who was the first to enter the defenses. Documents in the grouping consist of PFC. Salasky's enlistment and separation papers, Bronze Star and Purple Heart abstracts when he received the awards, Tetanus and other vaccination records, Congratulatory letter from President Truman and finally a capture paper for a Mauser pistol. There are also two newspaper clippings where he received the Bronze Star and purple Heart. Also a newspaper that obviously he was very proud of, from the 100th Division talking about the fall of Bitche. There are also several quality photos of PFC. Salasky and several buddies.
The Society of the Sons of Bitche was conceived during the occupation period of the 100th Infantry Division in southwestern Germany in 1945 "to commemorate the campaign for the City of Bitche and provide a social organization and program for the men who took part in the fight." Chapter officers were to be elected by popular vote from the ranks of officers and/or enlisted men. The Society's name was chosen to commemorate the Division's fighting for the ancient fortress town of Bitche, a key location in the then-modern Maginot Line which had withstood all attacks for over 200 years . . . until it was captured after a three-month winter siege by the 100th Infantry Division on 16 March 1945. Each chapter of the Society was to choose a name, the suggestion being that it designate some portion of the Battle of Bitche in which that unit was involved. Applications for chapter organization were to go through Information and Education (I&E) officers, who were to provide a roster of those entitled to be members. Colorful membership cards were printed and given to each member to designate him as a "Legitimate Son of Bitche." There was to be no membership fee. This Society, at its inception, was believed to be the first organization of its kind in the United States Army that was named for a World War II battle. It was to have annual social gatherings and was intended to have "no ambitions, political or otherwise." The first "Grand Exalted Biggest Son of Bitche" was 20-year-old Staff Sergeant Dave Swift of Attleboro, Massachusetts, of Company C., 399th Infantry Regiment, who was one of the first Centurymen to enter the city on a patrol in December 1944, and was again present at its final capture. World War II
Mobilization
The 100th Infantry Division was reactivated in the active duty force on 15 November 1942 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Enlisted personnel were primarily original members of the unit, fleshed out by fillers from the 76th Infantry Division. The Officers were mostly members of the unit, again fleshed out with fillers from the Organized Reserves. The commander of the 100th was Major General Withers A. Burress, one of only eleven generals who commanded their divisions for the entire war.
From late 1943 to early 1944, the division trained in the mountains of Tennessee and was subsequently sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for further training. While at Fort Bragg, Technical Sergeant Walter L. Bull earned the first Expert Infantryman's Badge.
The division remained organized around the 397th, 398th and 399th Infantry Regiments, and was also assigned the 374th Artillery Battalion, the 375th Artillery Battalion, the 925th Artillery Battalion, and the 373rd Artillery Battalion for artillery support, as well as the 325th Engineer Battalion, the 325th Medical Battalion, the 100th Military Police Company, the 100th Quartermaster Company, the 800th Ordnance Company, the 100th Reconnaissance Cavalry Troop and the 100th Signals Company.
The division sailed to Europe on 6 October of that year. The division arrived at Marseille, France on 20 October. It was made part of VI Corps of the Seventh United States Army, Sixth United States Army Group.
European Theater
As soon as the division was prepared for combat, it began moving into the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, and sent its first elements into combat at St. Remy in the Vosges Mountains on 1 November 1944. The division as a whole began the relief of the 45th Infantry Division at Baccarat on 5 November, and assumed control of the sector on 9 November. The attack jumped off on 12 November, and the division drove against the German Winter Line in the Vosges Mountains. The 100th took Bertrichamps and Clairupt, pierced the German line, and seized Raon-l'Étape and Saint-Blaise-Moyenmoutier between 16 and 26 November. Later in November the division moved into the Vosges region, elements assisted in holding the Saverne Gap bridgehead while the bulk of the division went into reserve. The unit was relieved from assignment to VI Corps and transferred to the US XV Corps on 27 November 1944. It then moved into the Moselle region.
The citadel of Bitche, France
In December 1944, the division went on the offensive in the vicinity of Bitche, France. The division occupied the nearby areas of Wingen and Lemberg after fierce fighting on 6–10 December. The division then advanced to Reyersweiler, which fell after fighting on 11–13 December. Fort Schiesseck, a major defensive work in the region, capitulated after a heavy assault by the 100th on 20 December. The division was ordered to halt its attack and to hold defensive positions south of Bitche as part of the Seventh Army during the Battle of the Bulge. Thanks to a stout defense, the men of the 100th later became known as the "Sons of Bitche". The German counterattacks of 1 and 8–10 January 1945 were repulsed, after heavy fighting at Bitche. After further attacks stalled and the Germans began to withdraw, the sector was generally quiet and the division prepared to resume its offensive east.
On 15 March 1945, the attack jumped off and on 16 March, Bitche fell to the 100th Infantry Division. The unit was then relieved from assignment to XV Corps, and transferred to XXI Corps on 22 March 1945. Taking Neustadt and Ludwigshafen, the division reached the Rhine River on 24 March. On 25 March 1945, the unit was returned from XXI Corps back to VI Corps. On 31 March 1945, the 100th Infantry Division crossed the Rhine and moved south in the wake of the 10th Armored Division and then east across the Neckar River, establishing and enlarging a bridgehead from 4 to 11 April. Heilbronn fell after nine days of house-to-house combat on 12 April and the division resumed its rapid pursuit of the enemy, reaching Stuttgart by 21 April. The 100th was mopping up along the Neckar, southeast of Stuttgart on 23 April, when it was removed from VI Corps and assigned directly to the Seventh United States Army as an Echelon Above Corps Asset. The division was then assigned primarily to patrolling the sector east of Stuttgart. Shifting to Göppingen on 30 April, the Division engaged in occupational duties as the war in Europe came to an end on V-E Day.
The division spent 163 days in combat. During that time, it suffered 12,215 casualties, including 933 killed in action, 3,667 wounded in action, 589 missing in action, 1 prisoner of war, as well as 7,425 non-battle casualties. The division took 13,351 prisoners of war on its own. Members of the division won three Medals of Honor, seven Distinguished Service Crosses, five Legions of Merit, 492 Silver Star Medals, 23 Soldier's Medals, 5,156 Bronze Star Medals, and 90 Air Medals. The division itself was awarded three campaign streamers for participation in the campaign.
100th Infantry Division returned to the United States via the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation on 10 January 1946, and was released from active duty at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia that day. The division then began the process of demobilization, before inactivating on 26 January.Please see my other sales for more World War Two items. Buyer has a 14 day inspection and return privilege as long as item is returned in the same condition as sent.
