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Siegburg, Germany, April 9-10, 1945.
Communications point is set up and riflemen of 97th Infantry Division
protect a point in newly captured Siegburg, Germany.
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| Ruhr Pocket in Germany, April 1945. Walking
single file through a German victory garden at Mulheim, Germany,
infantrymen of the 97th Division prepare to move northward toward the
Rhine River. The army's after-action report on the Battle of the
Ruhr Pocket identifies 3rd Battalion of 303rd Regiment as unit involved at
Mulheim.
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"Camp Muddy Acres" near Bamberg, Germany, May
17-29, 1945." Taps played at ceremony at which regimental troops
were honored and medals awarded by 97th commander Brig. Gen. Milton
Halsey. (Note: Regiment not identified.)
The 97th's pup tent encampment in fields was located in fields near
town of Schesslitz - about 15 kilometers from Bamberg - and dubbed
"Camp Muddy Acres." This was division's final stop in
Germany. Troops boarded "40&8's" in Bamberg for
troop-train rail trip to Camp Old Gold in France, returned to the United
States and redeployment to Pacific.
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| Camp San Luis Opispo, August, 1944. 97th Division
review Parade. Passing reviewing stand is 1st Battalion 303rd Regiment led
by battalion commander Colonel Pierce.
This photo was taken by a camp photographer and owned by the late Dick
Shingleton of Co. C - 303rd Regt. Shingleton was 1st platoon
sergeant in the U.S. and Europe and the company first sergeant in
Japan. Shingleton identifies himself on this photo with an inked-in
arrow and a circle around his head. Writing at bottom right is also
his. Shingleton, from Butler, PA, died in 2002 and is buried in
Arlington Cemetary.
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97th Division headquarters building at Miizugahara
Airfield near Kumagaya, Japan, in October 1945. Occupation of
Japan has just begun. Vehicles and tents abound. Area was
later "policed" and turned into a park-like setting. This
view presents a good look at rural nature of countryside just beyonf
airfield.
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| Emperor Hirohito visits Kumagaya, March 1946.
Hirohito stands on concrete platform in courtyard of school in Kumagaya.
In front of emperor were several hundred children and their teachers who
gave him a rousing "bonzai!" Hirohito spent several hours
in Kumaraya. |
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Retreat ceremony at Miizugahara Airfield, Kumagaya, japan.
Band plays and 97th MP's lower Old Glory from flag pole in front of
97th Division headquarters building. Honor guard troops present arms
and can be seen standing in front of trees at left.
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| Review parade at Miizugahara Airfield; November 1945.
View of hangar line at the former Japanese Airfield during parade being
reviewed by 8th Army commander Lt General Robert Eichelberger (nearest
camera) and 97th commander Major General Herman F. Kramer.
Eichelberger came from 8th Army headquarters in Yokohama to award a French
government medal to Kramer, who commanded 66th Division in Europe.
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Cheb, Czech Republic; April 26, 1990. Former
child movie star Shirley Temple Black unveils 97th Division monument in
Cheb. Dedication took place at 45th anniversary celebration of
city's liberation by 387th Regiment. Cheb was first major Czech city
liberated by U.S. Army. Shirley Temple Black was U.S. ambassador to
the country in 1990.
The monument replaced one first erected in 1946. It was ordered
destroyed when the communists took over the country in 1947. They
had claimed that no western troops liberated any of Czechoslovokia.
Forty-two years later in November 1989, the communist government was
overthrown and Iron Curtain lifted. Less than five months later a
new Trident monument was erected and dedicated in Cheb's City Park.
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April 1000 - 97th Division monument in Cheb, Czech
Republic. Two former company commanders in 387th Regiment salute at a
wreath-laying ceremony during the 55th anniversary celebration of
liberation. They are Joel Radcliffe of Greensboro, NC (left, Company
C) and Homer Knight of Radcliff, KY (Company B)
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