Private John Rothermel served in the 329th Infantry during the units 5 Campaigns in the ETO.
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John Rothermel, from Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, enlisted on Oct 2, 1942 at Allentown, Pa, and would eventually join up in Company “I” 3rd Battalion, 329th Infantry Regiment of the 83rd “Thunderbolt” Infantry Division. In a time he would be transferred to Headquarters Company and stay in that assignment until war’s end.
The 83d Infantry Division arrived in England in April of1944. Using Rothermel’s brief post war notes, he was quartered at Wrenham, Plymouth and Falmouth prior to the unit’s movement to Normandy.
The Division landed at Omaha Beach nearly two weeks after the initial landings and immediately found themselves in the difficult fighting in the Bocage or hedge rows of Normandy. From the History of the 329th, ” Hedgerows of Normandy July 4th & then attacked south of Carentan from 9th to 15th, the fiercest fighting of the war for the 329th took place.” From History continued, “The regiment assembled in the vicinity of Bricqueville and dug fox holes; then left on the 28th of June and marched through Carentan.”
The Division broke out at St. Lo in July and approached the fortified area around St. Malo, where more fierce fighting took place. “Then advanced beyond the Sainty, about 18th went to hold on to ground taken. Held onto until breakthrough on 25th, days followed & chased enemy across Taute River over the St Lo. Piriers Highway & down vicinity of Fougeres. Won the Battle of Normandy Aug. 3rd, 75 miles to Vicinity of Pontorson, Brittany. French girls lining town of Avranches & Sartilly….Whenever the convey stopped..children swarmed over the jeeps and trucks..begged us for Chocolat. They threw flowers….handed us bottles of their most delicate French wines. We were their ‘Liberators’ and we llked it.”
Moving through France, heavy fighting continued until the 22nd of September when the regiment was told to prepare to enter into Luxembourg. The division moved into Luxembourg by the end of September ending up in reconnaissance duties along the Moselle River, and withstood several counter attacks against the enemy while advancing to the Siegfried Line.
With winter drawing near, the advance continued into Belgium, with more counter attacks thrown at them, entering the Hurtgen Forest, “We crossed the German Frontier on December 10th and relived the 8th Infantry regiment,” and eventually entered into the Battle of the Bulge on December 27th, having fought the whole way, moving against the German front at Rochefort, driving back the enemy advance after a most difficult fight.
Worn thin after many hard months of fighting, the division moved back for R and R in Belgium. On March 1, 1945, the 83rd moved toward the Rhine River, and captured Neuss (see snap shot of John and friend here), Germany. More river crossing, and taking towns in Germany the division moved over the Harz Mountain region and advanced toward the Elbe River at Barby, Germany, and after that city fell on the 13th, the division received orders to cross the Elbe, establishing a bridgehead there, but evacuated shortly after allowing the Russian Army to take possession of the area by political agreement on 6 May, 1945.
The History of the 329th is a fabulous read, and records in detail the combat record of this regiment and the part played as an integral part of the 83rd Division.
The unit served in 244 days of combat with total losses near 24,000 men. After the surrender of German forces on May 7th, the 83rd moved into Langenstein, Germany and encountered Buchenwald Concentration camp. It is considered on the liberating units of the American Army.
John Rothermel sailed from France in December of 1945 on the transport Samuel Ashe, and arrived in New York City days later. He went to Camp Indiantown Gap, Pa where he was discharged on Dec. 19th, 1945.
The 83rd Infantry Division received 5 Campaign Stars for combat service in the ETO: Normandy; Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes- Alsace, Central Europe.
This grouping consist of: Rothermel’s uniform with Ike jacket, duel patched overcoat, shirts, trousers, undershirt, wool scarf, waist belt and eagle buckle, overseas caps, service visor cap, canvas puttees (ID’d), books, pamphlets, passes, photos, personal items and numerous souvenirs. Just too much to mention, but will photograph the lots.
The Ike jacket is most interesting with Rothermel sewing his 83rd Division patch and theater made tab on the right sleeve, after being transferred to the 8th Armored Division. The plain black tab over the 83rd patch must have intended to have the “THUNDERBOLT” embroidered on it, or painted perhaps. The last unit was the 8th “Thundering Herd” Armored Division, the patch being a machine made type and the lower tab is theater made. As is the case, Rothermel and others in the division may have required points to rotate out of the ETO and were placed in this unit. It may of course be for another reason I have yet no found. Green wool felt is cut to underlie the CIB, and is seen in a photo of Rothermel. I have not seen this done before. The ribbon bar on the bottom has his Bronze Star, Good Conduct, and EAME with 5 campaign stars. Added above are the WWII Victory and American Campaign. If Rothermel did this or someone in the family some time later is not known, but that is how it was found, and stays with me. His Expert Rifleman’s Badge with ladder bars for Rifle, and Pistol-D is pinned below on breast pocket. The “Ruptured Duck” and Presidential Unit Citation are found above the Right breast pocket. Collar disks, PFC chevrons, 3 Overseas bars, and 1 three years service stripe, and the neat addition of campaign stars on the collar points complete this Ike. The OS cap under the shoulder tab is an infantry piped theater made cap. The condition of the uniform components are excellent with very little wrong to mention.
Nearly all the items in this lot are in fine condition, and a few moth holes (shirt), etc., with some of the paper items have some wear and here and there a bit of water staining on a few insignificant items only. The loose CIB has a broken prong, and there is a marksman badge has separated on one side of the chain; an easy fix. Another truly remarkable group maintained by the veteran and then continued care from the hands that have had the group in safe keeping since.
Keep in mind, in a day and age where the unscrupulous create these groupings, look at the photographs to see this is the exact coat being worn in the full standing image of Rothermel (this coat having the additions made by the veteran himself, such as the award of the Bronze Star, etc. The tie used in the photos was not his and thus was not included in the group.
A great group and fabulous history from an ETO Combat unit.
USPS $50.00
Additional information
Weight | 30 lbs |
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