#TuesdaysTroops - 90th Infantry Division

90th ID "Tough 'Ombres"

The 90th Infantry Division was formed during World War One. Only "over there" for about a year, they fought as part of the American Expeditionary Forces under General Pershing in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. The allied attack caught the Germans in retreat and decimated them, killing, wounding or taking prisoner around half of the 50,000 German troops. This was a significant victory. 

They also were part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the principle, largest, and final battle by the U.S. in the war. It cost the United States about 120,000 casualties, among them, over 7500, including almost 1100 dead from the 90th Infantry Division. The 90th would return to the U.S. and become deactivated following the war.

March of 1942 would see the reactivation of the 90th. For two years they trained and were then sent to England where they would continue training from Early April 1944 until June 4, 1944. At that point, they headed to Utah Beach, Normandy, France. 

The 90th Infantry Division, during World War Two consisted of the 315th Engineer Combat Bn., four field artillery battalions, the 343rd, 344th, 345th, and 915th. three infantry regiments, the 357th, 358th, and 359th, and the 790th Ardance Light Maintenance Company. Also, attached to the division were parts of the 537th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion, the 712th Tank Battalion, and the 607th and 773rd Tank Destroyer Battalions. 

Starting with the D-Day landings in Normandy, the 90th participated in 5 major campaigns, including the Northern France portion of Operation Overlord, the Rhineland Campaign, Ardennes-Alsace, including the Battle of the Bulge, and finally, the Central Europe Campaign which culminated with the invasion of Germany and the end of the European portion of World War Two. It was in the waning weeks of the war when they came upon the Flossenbürg concentration camp. This camp saw over 90,000 prisoners pass through, some 30,000 died there. By the time the 90th ID arrived, only about 1500 severely emaciated people remained in camp. About a week after liberating them, the war came to end. The same day this news arrived, the 90th accepted the surrender of the highest scoring fighter ace in history, Erich Hartmann, "the Black Devil" as he was known to the Soviets. He downed 345 of their aircraft and 7 American aircraft during the war. Also surrendering to the 90th that day, was Hartmann's unit, the Jagdgeshwader 52, which claimed over 10,000 aerial victories.

The 90th was comprised of men who were awarded over 6100 Bronze Stars, 1400+ Silver Stars, 54 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 4 recipients of the Medal of Honor. Those men were:

Sergeant John D. "Bud" Hawk

Company E, 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division

PFC Foster J. Sayers

Company L, 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division

Technical Sergeant Eugene Everhart Sr.

 Company H, 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division

Corporal Edward A. Bennett

 Company B, 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division

The 90th returned stateside in December, 1945 and was deactivated. A valued part of Patton's 3rd Army, he once said of the division, "Sometimes I don't think you know how ___ ____ good you are. You are the best soldiers in the world. It was a great honor to command you." While Patton may have spoken similar words to others, those are indeed hefty praise coming from him. I have no doubt that he meant them.

The men of the 90th, spread among many different units, were very much a huge part of the victory in Europe. From intensive training, to the invasion of Normandy and the march through battle after bloody battle until Germany was defeated was no small thing. The number of men lost was staggering. They lost more than they started with. Constant re-enforcement kept the units running like a well oiled machine that would not stop until the job was done. 

There have been at least 25 notable books written about the 90th or elements of the 90th, a great list can be found on the 90th Division Association's website at: Books About the 90th. There look to be some really good reads in here.

Not many remain from these warriors who fought so incredibly valiantly so many years ago. It is a privilege for me to learn and share as much about them as I can. I encourage you to dig further as well. There is a wealth of information out there if you have the time and desire to look for it. Let's not forget these men. Honor them by getting to know about what they did. The sacrifices they made are overwhelming if you think about it. So many gave so much of themselves for each other and for the freedoms, not only that we enjoy, but for the freedoms of people halfway around the world whom they didn't even know. Some of the towns throughout Europe seem to hold these heroes in higher reverance than do many of our own citizens. This is a sad fact that should not be tolerated. Honor them. Remember them. Cherish them!

#WarriorWednesday - MSG Llewellyn Chilson

Llewellyn Chilson was born in Dayton, Ohio on April 1, 1920. His service epitomizes the concept of warrior.

He was inducted into the Army on March 28, 1942, about one month after his older brother, Alvin, was killed in action while fighting in the Philippines. His basic training was completed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and then he trained further at Camp Livingston, Louisiana and then Camp Johnson, Florida where he underwent amphibious training with the 112th IR. After this he transferred yet again to Fort Pickett, Virginia where he was assigned duty with an anti-tank company of the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division, Thunderbirds.

With the Thunderbirds, he fought in North Africa, Italy, North and South France, and finally Germany. In this relatively short two years, he distinguished himself as someone who could be counted on by those around him, and someone who was in no way afraid to take it to the enemy.

When he was discharged, after the war, he had been awarded twelve individual decorations for combat, seven of which were decoration for valor. It is believed that his seven combat valor decorations are the most to have been awarded an infantryman during World War Two. In addition to all of these, he was also nominated on two separate occasions for the Medal of Honor.

While in Italy, he was awarded the first of his three Purple Hearts after a shrapnel wound on February 15, 1944. The following day, he and three other soldiers were captured by Germans only after running out of ammunition during a firefight. All four managed to escape the following day and took four German prisoners with them. This led to the subsequent capture of forty more Germans by Chilson. For these actions he was awarded the first of his three Silver Stars. This was awarded after he, alone, rushed against a German roadblock killing three and taking nine prisoners.

On November 30, 1944 near Gumbrechstoffen, France he defended what was thought to be an indefensible position. For this action, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor by his platoon sergeant. About three months later, a series of actions by Chilson, including taking 200 German prisoners led to his being nominated yet again for the Medal of Honor. This occurred during a five day period in late March, 1945 where he was awarded the Legion of Merit, his third Silver Star, a Bronze Star with V, and a Distinguished Service Cross.

Less than a month later, in Germany now, from April 25 to April 27, he was awarded his second and third Distinguished Service Crosses and his second and third Purple Hearts. Chilson was hospitalized and eventually sent back to the states and given an honorable discharge on June 30, 1946. That December, President Truman decorated him with seven of the medals he had been awarded. In doing so, Truman remarked, "This is the most remarkable list of citations I have ever seen. For any one of these, this young man is entitled to all the Country has to offer. These ought to be worth a Medal of Honor---that's what I think about it." Chilson's Medal of Honor had been approved by General Joseph T. McNarney, commanding general of U.S. forces in the European theater, but the War Depatrment, while finding his actions very commendable, did not find them worthy of the Medal of Honor.

Chilson re-enlisted in November, 1947, waiving his disability, and served as an Army Recruiter. He was sent to Ft. Hood in 1947 to help train National Guardsmen. While there, he met Audie Murphy, another warrior, who is the only soldier more decorated than Chilson was during World War Two.

Chilson was one of only four who survived the crash of a USAF C-124A Globemaster II. That crash, near McChord Air Force Base, killed 24.

Chilson retired from the U.S. Army as a Master Sergeant in 1964. He mover to Tacoma, Washington and managed a service station and drove a taxi until his death in 1981, at age 61.

Llewellyn Chilson's military awards include twelve individual decorations for combat he received from the U.S. Army for World War II: three Distinguished Service Crosses, three Silver Stars, one Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars (one for heroism), and three Purple Hearts.

To say Llewellyn Chilson was a warrior is probably selling him short. His actions in combat are extraordinary. He undoubtedly save many lives by leadership in action. He probably inspired many men to push further, to fight harder and to never give up under whatever circumstances they found themselves. He absolutely embodies what the warrior spirit is about.

Thank you Llewellyn Chilson for a stellar Army career.


A short newsreel of Truman decorating Chilson : Truman Decorates Chilson

A very thorough timeline of Chilson's Army service: 45th Division - Chilson

179th IR

45th Infantry Division

LCDR Godfrey Chevalier

Lieutenant Commander Godfrey Chevalier was born March 7, 1889 in Providence, Rhode Island. At age 21 he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. During World War One, he held command of the first naval air station.

He was part of a very select few of our aviation pioneers. In 1916, from the USS North Carolina, he piloted the first plane to be launched from a catapult. In 1922 he was attached to the USS Langley (CV-1), the first American aircraft carrier. It was there that he became the first to make a carrier landing. That happened 93 years ago today.

Just over two weeks later, he would be involved in a crash and suffered injuries that he would succumb to on November 14, 1922, at 33 years of age. He accomplished more in those thirty-three years than most can hope to accomplish in a lifetime. We are thankful for his sense of adventure and willingness to experiment. It helped lead us down a road that would see us at the forefront of aviation technology for many years. One could argue that we never really relinquished that hold. That is because of men like Godfrey Chevalier.

USS Mount Vernon (ID-4508)

In 1906, German shipping company, North German Lloyd had the SS Kronprinzessin Cecilie (Crown Princess Cecilie) built as a luxury liner. It operated between Bremen, Germany and New York until WW1 broke out in 1914. When that happened, it was interned by the neutral United States until we entered the war in 1917. At that point, it was seized and transferred to the US Navy for use as a troop transport. It was then renamed the USS Mount Vernon.

During the war, she made nine successful trips across the Atlantic, carrying troops into battle at Brest, France. On this date, September 5, 1918, 97 years ago, while on another crossing, returning 350 wounded soldiers back home. 200 miles from France, her gun crews spotted a periscope. Only 500 yards away, the German U-82 fired a torpedo as the Mount Vernon fired her guns back and made evasive turns. The sub submerged and got away, but the Mount Vernon was not able to avoid the torpedo, which struck and knocked out half of her boilers. 36 men were killed as a result.

The ship was able to make it back to Brest for temporary repairs, and eventually made it back to Boston for full repairs. She eventually returned to France, sailing on February 22, Washington's Birthday, to begin returning US veterans back home.

Today we remember those lost aboard the Mount Vernon. Especially heartbreaking considering they had been injured in battle, survived, and were on their way home. They gave and gave some more in the fight against tyranny and their contributions should never be forgotten.