ID’D Co H 334th Infantry Regt- 84th “Railsplitters” ID’d Grouping SOLD

Description

ID’D Co H 334th Infantry Regt- 84th “Railsplitters” ID Grouping.  A nice original untouched group for Staff Sergeant Alexander J. Savko, with home of record at Homestead, Pennsylvania. He was attached to Company “H,” 334th Infantry.  The group consists of the following:

• Ike Jacket (size 34R), contract dated May 1944.  has all original insignia; 84th ID patch fully embroidered type with theater made “RAILSPLITTERS” rocker.  Staff sergeant chevrons, 3 overseas bars, 1 service stripe.  U.S. and infantry collar disc and German made 334th Infantry regiment distinctive insignia. Combat infantryman badge (clutch back), Good Conduct, American Campaign, EAME (w/ 3 campaign stars), and WWII Victory ribbon bars. A “Ruptured Duck” completes the jacket.  ASN last 4 stamped inside.  Fine condition.
• Trousers (size 32/31, contract Jan. 1943.  No Id markings seen.
• 2 garrison caps, (both 7 1/4) on contract dated April 1942. Two different types of infantry light blue piping, one contract dated has a different ASN, used by Savko, and the other is private purchase with leather sweatband (note the two colors of OD wool used in this cap (cost saving measure by contractor?).  A few real tiny moth holes in trousers, overall trousers and cap are fine.
• History- FORTUNE FAVORED THE BRAVE- A History of the 334th Infantry 84th division by Cpl. Perry S. Wolff, Printed by Mannheimer Grosdruckeri, August, 1945,  hard cloth covers, 230 pages, well illustrated with photographs, map plates (2 fold outs).  Very good with some small tears, some light staining on top front cover, tight copy.
• History- The 84th INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE BATTLE OF GERMANY NOVEMBER 1944 – MAY 1945, By Lt. Theodore Draper, Viking Press, New York, 1946. Cloth covers (illustrated with 84th ID patch).  Dust jacket shows wear, and with some repair will look better, nearly all there).  Maps on end papers, Very well illustrated with photographs and map plates, etc.  266 pages. Very good copy.
• Book, ROSTER OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN  84TH INFANTRY DIVISION EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS – WORLD WAR II, A.R. Bolling, Major General, U.S. Army, Commanding. Published by The Viking Press, New York 1946. Soft covers (front illustrated), 140 pages, group photos with identified subjects for most units.  Largely text of all men in the unit; noted those KIA.  Very good usable copy.
• Newspaper, The Railsplitter, Vol 2, No., 13 “Somewhere In Germany.” April 25, 1845.  Some roughness to cover but mostly repairable. 8 pages.
• same, Star & Stripes, Germany Edition, Vol. 1, No. 29, Thursday, May 3, 1945.  4 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 3, No. 37, July 29, 1945,  4 pages.  Tear at lower right corner.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 2, No. 6, March 10, 1945. 4 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 2, No. 10, April 5, 1945.  4 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 2, No. 11, April 11, 1945.  4 pages, some small tears top center.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 3, No. 26, July 5, 1945. 8 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 3, No. 25, July 3, 1945. 8 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol.3, No.4, May 8, 1945, VICTORY, 8 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 3, No. 5, May 9, 1945.  4 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 3, No. 17, June 14, 1945. 8 pages.
• same, The Railsplitter, Vol. 3, No. 27, July 8, 1945. 8 pages, some roughness along side edges.
• Book, G.I. Stores, RAILSPLITTERS, ID’D To “Sgt. Alex. J. Savko” on cover. 32 pages, map (loose). very good overall.
• Fold out map, 22 x 29 inches, “84th Inf Div From Activation 15 Oct, 42, to V-E Day 9 may 45.” Id’d to Savko.
• Company “H” overlay, Defensive Fire Plan, Ho 2nd Bn. 334th Inf / Map Germany, Sheet Duisburg / March 15  Maj. Herbert  S-3.
• Card, Army Service Forces Transportation Corps, NY Port of Emb.  Returned home on USAT Borinquen, 8 Jan. 1946.
• 3 page Chronology Of Events, 334th Infantry. Field press beginning on 15 Oct. 1943 to 9 May, 45, V-E Day.
• Commendation, Field press, 15 March, 45, From CG. XIII Corps Wm. Simpson, Lt Gen. to CG 84th ID, A.R. Bolling.  See photo.
• Equipment document Id’d to Savko, for Co Hq, and 3 platoons, for reels of wire, friction tape, rubber tape, pyrotecnic projectors (hand M9), radio batteries, more.
• Cut out article from Yank Magazine, Jan 28, 45, about 84th ID. Tape repair.
• Cut out article from Yank Magazine, late war-occupation?  About 84th ID.
• Heerlen Rest Center, Ninth U.S. Army Rest Area, No. 26, “WHAT’S DOING.”  4 Pages with center map of city.
• New research copies on Savko, unit, etc.

The replacement division landed at Normandy in early November, 1944, and moved toward Belgium, and show its first major engagement in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), moved into Germany, capturing the City of Hannover, and eventually meet the Russian Army at the Elbe River. Duty as occupational troops until 1946.

Liberated several concentration camps, mostly Jewish men and women, over three thousand people surviving in the most horrible conditions. The 84th ID is recognized as a liberating unit by the U.S. Army Center for Military History, and the U.S. Holocaust Museum.

Casualties:

• Total Battle casualties, 7200.
• KIA, 7260.
• Wounded in action, 5098.
• MIA, 129.
• POW, 749.
• Campaigns, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
• Day in combat, 170.
• Distinguished Unit Citations, 7.
• Awards, DSC, 18; DSM, 1; SS, 598;  LM, 4; SM, 40; BSM, 3416; AM, 59.

Late war infantry division do not get due credit from collectors. These units met some of the heaviest resistance once the Allied armies moved toward and into the German homeland. The 84th Id has an excellent record.  A great, honest WWII veteran’s grouping.