Commentary - pcgazette.com

Commentary
pcgazette.com

Inside the Portage County line

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
HISTORICAL SOCIETY WANTS WWII ITEMS: The Portage County Historical Society is looking for photos and memorabilia on World War II involving Portage County residents.

Tim Siebert, president of the society, said the items are needed for the society's planned exhibit on Portage County during the war. He said the items should have some connection with the county, preferably through a resident or relative.

"We're looking for everything," Siebert said, including a short biography of an individual during the service years.

Items would go permanently into the society's collection, but the society is willing to make a copy of a photo.

"We would like to focus on photos or letters if someone is willing to give them up," Siebert said. The society can be contacted through PO Box 672, Stevens Point.

Portage County has a rich history in World War II.

On Oct. 15, 1940, Headquarters and D Batteries, 2nd Battalion, 120th Field Artillery, 32nd Division, Wisconsin National Guard, were mobilized at the old armory here, now the Stevens Point Parks and Recreation Center, 2442 Sims Ave.

That was before the U.S. entered the war, but Nazi Germany's blitzkrieg had overwhelmed western Europe and the Japanese were threatening much of the Far East.

The Stevens Point units headed to Camp Beauregard, La., supposedly for 12 months of training. That year stretched to nearly five years as the division became the first massive U.S. troop movement overseas in World War II.

By the time the war ended, the division had served the most days in actual combat (between 600 and 654) of any division, was the first to be flown into combat, was the first U.S. division to fight an offensive action against the Japanese and was the first to win a decisive victory against the Japanese.

Once the war broke out, the division initially sent to Fort Devens, Mass., for deployment to England but was diverted to the West Coast because General Douglas MacArthur wanted a combat infantry division.

From there the division was off to Australia where training was cut short because of Japanese advancements in New Guinea. Some units of the division became the first infantry troops in U.S. military history to be part of an airborne movement.

A U.S. gun crew, with Robert Soik of Stevens Point as section chief, became the first airlifted into battle.

After forcing the Japanese out of New Guinea, the division returned to Australia to reorganize, then returned to combat and headed northward, participating in the invasion of the Philippines late in 1944.

The division was in Japan for occupational duty at war's end, but all the original Stevens Point guardsmen were no longer with the unit by that time. Most had rotated home after spending about three years or more overseas. Seven never returned. Three died in vehicle crashes in the U.S., two died of tropical disease during the New Guinea campaigns and two were killed in action in the Philippines.



	Inside the Portage County line By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette HISTORICAL SOCIETY WANTS WWII ITEMS: The Portage County Historical Society is looking for photos and memorabilia on World War II involving Portage County residents. Tim Siebert, president of the society, said the items are needed for the society's planned exhibit on Portage County during the war. He said the items should have some connection with the county, preferably through a resident or relative. "We're looking for everything," Siebert said, including a short biography of an individual during the service years. Items would go permanently into the society's collection, but the society is willing to make a copy of a photo. "We would like to focus on photos or letters if someone is willing to give them up," Siebert said. The society can be contacted through PO Box 672, Stevens Point. Portage County has a rich history in World War II. On Oct. 15, 1940, Headquarters and D Batteries, 2nd Battalion, 120th Field Artillery, 32nd Division, Wisconsin National Guard, were mobilized at the old armory here, now the Stevens Point Parks and Recreation Center, 2442 Sims Ave. That was before the U.S. entered the war, but Nazi Germany's blitzkrieg had overwhelmed western Europe and the Japanese were threatening much of the Far East. The Stevens Point units headed to Camp Beauregard, La., supposedly for 12 months of training. That year stretched to nearly five years as the division became the first massive U.S. troop movement overseas in World War II. By the time the war ended, the division had served the most days in actual combat (between 600 and 654) of any division, was the first to be flown into combat, was the first U.S. division to fight an offensive action against the Japanese and was the first to win a decisive victory against the Japanese. Once the war broke out, the division initially sent to Fort Devens, Mass., for deployment to England but was diverted to the West Coast because General Douglas MacArthur wanted a combat infantry division. From there the division was off to Australia where training was cut short because of Japanese advancements in New Guinea. Some units of the division became the first infantry troops in U.S. military history to be part of an airborne movement. A U.S. gun crew, with Robert Soik of Stevens Point as section chief, became the first airlifted into battle. After forcing the Japanese out of New Guinea, the division returned to Australia to reorganize, then returned to combat and headed northward, participating in the invasion of the Philippines late in 1944. The division was in Japan for occupational duty at war's end, but all the original Stevens Point guardsmen were no longer with the unit by that time. Most had rotated home after spending about three years or more overseas. Seven never returned. Three died in vehicle crashes in the U.S., two died of tropical disease during the New Guinea campaigns and two were killed in action in the Philippines.