My grandfather served in the 6th Division and is alive and well at 85. I would love to talk to someone that served with him or even better, knew him. His name is Edwin Harris from Ft Collins CO
Hello,
my grandpa served in the 6th Division and is alive and well at 85. I would love to talk to someone that served with him or even better, knew him. His name is Edwin Harris from Ft Collins CO. I have a picture of him standing next to a guy that carried a BAR. I would like to find out who he is. My grandpa said the man with the BAR saved his butt several times. He also was buddies with a Jack Coleman and would love to hear from him as well. He did visit Jack Coleman after the war and saw his family. Thanks
Krystal
Krystal,
My father was originally in Company K but became a medic. Unfortunately, he passed away 9/24/07.
I am also like you, looking for anyone that may have known him. Please ask your grandpa if he knew a medic named Vane Thomas.
Thank you
God Bless you for your research and God Bless our Veterans!
Danny Thomas
My father was the company E commander during the fighting in New Guinea and the beginning of the attack on the Japanese in the Philippines. His name was Earl L Durnil. A 1st Lieutenant at the time, later made Captain. He was severely wounded during the struggle to take the Cabaruan Hills. A week or so later his Top Sergeant, Donald E Rudolph went on to receive the medal of honor for unbelievable heroism. They would write each other an meet up at reunions. I remember visiting some of his army buddies when very young, and they talked about dad helping them a lot, and I should be proud of him. I know he went back behind enemy lines to rescue some of his men who did not get the word to pull back during a scouting mission. I have a few pictures of him.
Danny,
I will do that. I know in the past, he only remembered a man named Jack Coleman and after over 60 years of losing touch, I got them back in contact last Sep. Unfortunately Jack passed away this summer, but they had some great conversations. It may ring a bell if I mention your father’s name.
Krystal,
Hopefully it will spark a pleasant memory and we’ll both know a little more about their history.
Have a Merry Christmas.
My father was David P. K. Shew of the 63rd co.L. In approx 1995 he received a bronze star in the U.S mail, I didn’t see what is was for. anyone out their know anything on this. He was in the Army in 1944 to 1946, luzon and Korea.
Looking for anyone who knows Samuel Muoio out of Ft.leanod wood. Was in service from WW2 served asiac Pacific Korea, Vietna received Silver star,bronze,purple hearts. Was also drill sergeant at Ft. Leanord wood. Any info would be appreciate.
My father also passed away in 1996, he did talk of a man Lymond Shorb, said they went thru alot togeather.
My father, George F. Brunkalla, left Camp Roberts California, as 88th Inf Btln, 20th Inf Regiment, but was made part of the Chemical Warfare Service as he embarked for Sydney, Australia, 6/4/43. His specific designation while in Milne Bay, and Luzon, was 93rd Chemical Composite Company. He worked in a portable machine shop, repairing and water-proofing flamethrowers as a T5 Corporal. When he departed Luzon for home, he was transferred to the Battery C, 250th AAA Searchlight Battalion. He is alive and well at 89, living outside of Chicago.
My father was a sergeant in the 6th Infantry. He did his basic training at Camp Roberts. He served as a Combat Medic in New Guinea, Sansapor and other places. He is 88 and living in Lafayette, Colorado. He seldom talked about the war when I was growing up…At times now, he does talk about the war, with amazing clarity. I would like to hear from others who might have known him and/or served with him.
Iam putting together a history of my father (Cecil R Runyan) who was a Tec-4 with A company 20th Infantry Regiment.
He was wounded during the fight for Rocky Point Hill 225. He was hospitalized for two months before returning to his unit at Sansipar in Dutch New G.
His good friend Sgt. Clarence L. Sutton (37155586) was KIA. Would appreciate any idea how I could obtain after action reports pertaining to this battle.
Bradley Runyan 785-217-3510
Thank You
Mr Runyan,
Thank you for posting to our website.
We currently have a lengthy project that we’re working on. Gary Johnson, a member of ours purchased morning reports for the 20th Inf Reg. It is my task to take each element of the 20th IR, inspect every day of every month, trying to improve on it clarity. I then convert each month of jpg’s to a pdf and upload it to the website.
Hill 225 was involved in the Battle of Lone Tree Hill.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_wakde_sarmi.html
Are you sure he was with Company A?
I just did a quick look at the morning reports and didn’t see his name.
https://www.6thinfantry.com/companies-am-and-at/
Thank you so much for your quick response and for what you do. In dads written document he said they relieved the 158 infantry regiment. “…our first objective was Rocky Point hill 225 after many casualties the 1st and 20th infantry also 63rd took the hill, it was in this fight I was wounded and sent back to a general hospital in Miline Bay…”
As I noted in my first text his friend Clarence L Sutton was killed in close proximity to Dad. Family members told me Sutton’s wife tried to talk to Dad after the war but he was emotionally unable to talk to her. There was talk that he was killed by a mortar round.
It was very common for our heroes not to talk about the war after returning home. My father was the same way. Only after his passing in 2007, did I find out more of what he was involved with. After exhausting my own research sources, I eventually hired a researcher.
from our website;
https://www.6thinfantry.com/about/a-brief-history-of-the-u-s-army-6th-infantry-division/#D
My father’s name is John Robert Leong from California (at the time he entered the service.
Jackie,
I’m glad to hear your father is still alive and now starting to be able to talk about the war. My father, Vane Thomas was also a medic in the 20th infantry. He passed away 9/24/07. He would have been 91 now. I was wondering if your father new him. I believe mine was also at Camp Roberts.
I sent pictures to Thomas Price for posting on this website but I understand he’s had trouble uploading them. Hopefully it will be done soon and your dad can see my dad’s pictures.
Thanks for posting.
Danny Thomas son of Vane Thomas
My father, Lt.Earl Durnil was the leader of company E during the assault in the Philippines. I have an article describing some heavy fighting when they were ambushed behind enemy lines. Some pretty heroic stuff. His sergeant at the time, Donald Rudolf went on to win the medal of honor a day or so after dad was shot pretty badly. I’m certain your dad would have known him. Dad passed away in 2005, he was 86.
Don, saw your message in info on 20th Inf Regt. I know it was many years ago that you talked about your Dad. My dad was LT Murph Witherel, 1st Plt Ldr in New Guinea. He was retired disabled after the battle of Lone Tree Hill. My dad passed away in 2013, but he mentioned your Dad’s name. He and LT Rudolf and a couple of others from 1st Plt were honored at the deactivation of the 6th Inf in Alaska in 1992. Contact me and we can talk.
HI jeff, Wow, I am very interested in contacting you. I am sending you my email and I am on facebook as Donald Earl Durnil. I have a few pictures and a pretty cool letter my dad wrote to his dad right after fighting in New Guinea. There was a lot of action. He said he and 4 of his men went back a second time to rescue a couple of others who did not pull out, and they really caught hell. Dad was shot through his ear.
Don,
I suggest sending a copy of that article to Thomas Price, the owner of this website. Hopefully, he will have the sites uploading issues solved soon and we can all see it.
Thanks for your input.
Don,
If you can, please send a copy of the article to Thomas Price, owner of this website. Hopefully, he can get his upload issues resolved and we can all read it.
Thanks for posting.
Danny
This is very hard to believe, but I was watching the new footage of the Sixth and I found my father, he was walking through the water in the jungles of New Guinea. Thank you so much for posting this. It was truly a gift and so ncredible to see my Dad at 24 years old! Do you know of anyway I can obtain a copy of this on DVD so that future generations will be able to see him.
I am gratified to hear that you found your father on the link to the video footage!
The original video is from the national archives. You may have to do some searching on the internet.
It is now difficult to find, but here is a free link to it on hulu.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/299284
Sincerely,
Thomas Price
To all 6th ID vets. I wanted to tell you that the FT Wainwright, Alaska Range Complex is being dedicated to MOH Donald Rudolph (Mr Rudolph recieved his MOH for his actions at Luzon, Philippines Feb 1945. Mr Rudolph was a member of Company E 20th Infantry. I was a member of the 6th ID in the 1990’s and now a retired MSG. I just wanted to share this information with all. I will post pictures of the monument and ceremony soon.
I am looking for information about my father, F. Robert Maxwell who served with the 6th army, army air corps. He was a corporal and served as an engine mechanic. He died 2/8/85 but I have recently learned that he earned 2 bronze stars. Am looking for anyone who may have known him. I can only imagine how hard this must have been for our men and women who served in the South Pacific. My father would never talk about his years in the service. Please contact Barbara Maxwell at Tubajew@aol.com. Thank you.
Mr Skupin. After reading your post, I was wondering if you ever received the DVD you were looking for. I may be able to help.
I am planning to travel to New Guinea (the Indonesian half of the island) in Jan. 2013. My father served there in the 1st regiment (Co C) and in the Philippines. I was wondering if anyone knows where individual units of the 1st would have been and if anyone would be interested in photos of those locations now.
Mr. McColgan,
Yes we’d be very interested! The 1st Infantry Regiment would have been with the 6th Infantry Division at:
1. Milne Bay
2. Maffin Bay (near Sarmi)
3. Sansapor.
If you take some interesting pictures that would be outstanding!.
Sincerely,
Thomas PRice
Kevin, did you go to New Guinea?
Roger Bonuchi
Son of Albert Bonuchi 20th Infantry, Company E, 1941
Don Durnil,
In reference to your post dated June 9, 2012. If you’re still monitoring this website, I’d very much like to see that article. Please contact me dbt63@att.net
Thank you very much.
Danny son of Vane Thomas
Been way from the website since my father passed away last Feb. He was 95…
1st. Sgt. John W Mangione 1st. Field Artillery Battery B…the last known person he served with was Jack Miller who also has also passed away. They served in New Guinea and the Philippines with occupation duty in Korea. I remember him naming all his Battery even in his last days could recall every member of hid gun battery. One name was Schoder who lived in Washington State and went on the serve in the CIA I believe.
He had sent me tyne invasion plans for the 6th if they had invaded Japan.
I know it is a long shot but thought I would keep in touch in case any vets or family..
Jon
978 994 5923
jmangion@necc.mass.edu
New number is 978 994 3072
Thank you
Jon
My relatives all the time say that I am killing my time here at net, but I know I am getting familiarity every
day by reading such good content.
So glad to hear they are again honoring Donald Rudolph again. My father, Lt. Earl Durnil was his company commander (E). Dad was in contact with him throughout the years and corroborated with us on the whereabouts where Dad was shot in the Cabarruin Hills in the Philippines. I tried to organize an expedition when I too was stationed in the PI but my jeepny driver vanished into thin air.
my dad served in luzon and new guinea. he served in the pacicic theater from 1943 to 1945.
I have several pictures my grandpa shared with me Edwin Harris E company, if there is a way I can email them on to be shared on this site and hopefully some of the men identified, that would be great. One is a great big tall man with his arm stretched out over my grandpa (who was very short). This man carried a BAR and spent a lot of time with my grandpa, my grandpa says he is one of the reasons he is still alive. Would love to know who he is. It was taken during their occupation duty in Korea. vfburrseye@gmail.com
Krystal, my Dad, who passed away in 2013, was 2LT Murven J. Witherel of 1st Platoon, E Co, until he was seriously wounded at Lone Tree Hill in 1944. He spoke highly of his unit and he and my Mom (92 and living at his home in Pittsburgh) attended many 6ID reunions over the years. BTW, Congress authorized in 1947 the awarding of the Bronze Star to WWII recipients of the CIB. Take care.
Jeff Witherel, LTC, US Army (Retired)
I was curious if anyone knew my Uncle, Lawrence Bunten. He never spoke of WWII and would always change the subject if anyone brought it up. I’m pretty sure he was in the 20th Infantry, 6th Division, Company E. He was from Bowling Green MO and passed away 9-2-1998. His service has always been a mystery to me and my family. Thank you for any information you can provide!
Hello Michael. Just got back into this site. My dad was Lt. Earl Durnil, company commander of company E. I posted something about him a few years ago. You can scroll to view it. I have a few photos in a scrapbook that have some names. I’ll take a look, who knows?
I would love to learn more about my uncle who served in the 20th Infantry, 6th Division. He was killed in New Guinea on June 20, 1944. His name was Quentin Huston from Arkansas. My mother was only 9 when he died so she doesn’t know much about his service. I have his purple heart and cherish it!
Thank you for any information and all my appreciation for those who served!
Dear Ms. Dahn:
The best I can do is point you in the right direction. We are unpaid volunteers and most of what we have on the site (in fact 99% of it) is what we have learned from people like you. So, I would encourage you to do your research, and start here with the website. Then please share what you find with us.
I would suggest that you examine the website carefully, including the two books available on the site: (1) “The 6th Infantry Division in WW II” in which you can read what was happening with the units of the Division in chronological sequence. Your uncle was likely killed during the Battle for Lone Tree Hill, which is described in that book; and (2) The “Pictorial Review of the 6th Infantry Division, 1941. The second book is organized by unit and it is possible that you might find your Uncle in that book. There are roughly 15,000+ soldiers in a Division. If you had his discharge papers, you might be able to learn more about where he was precisely located. Knowing the company in which he served is usually very helpful.
Good luck in your quest and keep in touch.
I have a copy of the Morning Report, dated 02 June, 1944, which reports Quentin Huston killed in action, vicinity of Snake River, witnessed by S/Sgt. Howard. I can send you a copy of this report if you send me your email address. garyjohnson936@gmail.com
Gary,
Thank you SO much! That is very interesting. I told my mom about it and she had not seen that report.
She remembers being notified of his death via telegraph on July 4, 1944. Communications were very slow back then.
I appreciate you getting this to me!
Thank you, Thomas! He was in company K. I have found his picture, so that is a start! You are right, there is a LOT of information here and I have just touched the surface. I appreciate all of your time in organizing this. I will keep you posted as to anything I find.
My father-in-law, Staff Sergeant Harold Pettys, was in Company E during New Guinea and the Philippines. He caught some shrapnel in his hand trying to lead the capture of a hill. It took him out of the war. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. I always had great respect for him. He was buried with military honors. In fact, an unknown Viet Nam War vet attended the funeral in the church and, as a pallbearer, I noticed the vet saluting the flag-draped coffin. He didn’t stick around for me to talk with him, but I was really impressed by his respect.
My dad passed away in 1995. He didn’t talk about his service. Recently I was reading his discharge papers. He was 20th Infantry 6 Division Co A, Sykes Regulars. It states he returned to the USA late August 1945. I read on Google that the 20th Infantry 6 Division was in Luzon but no information about which company’s were there. Does anyone know if CO A was in Luzon the summer of 1945?
Ms Pistulka,
The 20th Regiment is one of three infantry regiments in the 6th Infantry Division; 1st IR, 20th IR and the 63rd IR. Each regiment contained three battalions. Each of those battalions had an A Company. The entire 6th Infantry Division was in Luzon, landing on Jan 9, 1945. VJ Day was Aug 15, 1945.
Danny Thomas, I just read this post. I have Morning Reports for the 20th Inf for June and July 1944 and Jan to Sept 1945, if you could get her fathers name I might be able to locate something in those reports
I responded by sending email to you both.
Thank you for reaching out and sharing. It helps us all reconnect with our loved ones.