Here are the contents of the US Army Divisional Public Relations Book entitled “The 6th Infantry Division in World War II, 1939 to 1945. This book was donated to our organization by Robert E. Phelps, II, whose father, Colonel, Robert E. Phelps, Colonel (now deceased), served with the 20th Infantry Regiment of the 6th Infantry Division in the Pacific during World War II.
6th Infantry Division in World War II
6thInfantry, Documents, History, Photo Galleries, WW2 | 26 comments
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I always had a keen interest in the 6 ID ever since II attended a reunion about 30 years ago. Over the years I lost touch with some of the vets I met. I have a book about the 6th in 1941. Since I am reducing my inventory I like to find somebody interested. Could you possibly help me find a point of contact?
Do you have a description or name of the book?
My dad, Donald Bommer was in 6th infantry division during New Guinea war. He proud of it. Unfortunately he passed away May 4, 2017
My Dad was in the 6th Division I am extremely proud of him. He went to the Middle East, Greece and New Guinea . He sadly passed in 1997 from an illness which commenced in 1943.
Have you found anyone interested in what you have? My dad served in Company H, 6th Infantry division.
Does anyone remember PVT 1 Loyce Rye who was killed serving in Pacific in WW11?
By doing a quick search in Fold3, I saw he was born 3/11/1924, registered at Camp Shelby MS 6/30/1942 Enlisted 12/06/1943
Service #34876988 became a part of Company F, 1st Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division
Was a passenger on LCI (L) 1006 10/28/1944 destination Sansapor, New Guinea. Wounded in the abdomen and pelvis in March 1945
Then listed as KIA 03/18/1945
Below is a soldier’s account of where (I believe) he was wounded and KIA
https://www.6thinfantry.com/soldiers-account-of-the-battle-of-munoz-by-ssgt-lelton-h-pittman-squad-leader-company-b-1st-infantry-regiment/
Great work Danny!
My Dad, TSgt. Jack T. Yandell , served with the 20th. Does anyone remember him?. He passed away in 1976…
Mr. Yandell:
Good to hear from you. I will post your submission, but sadly, most of the old WW II vets have passed away and those that have not, seldom have contact with the website. Most of the folks connect to the site now are sons, daughters, or grandchildren of the WW II vets.
My Uncle John M Duntley who was a navigator on a bomber during WWII just passed on May 10, 2019. He was 94 and the only surviving son in his family. His older brother Burton J Duntley was in the army air corps andflew the P51 Mustang. He lost His life in a plane crash in England in January 7th 1944. His oldest brother Frederic Duntley was in the 20th Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division and lost his life on February 5, 1945 in a battle in Luzon, the Phillipines.
Ms. Jenkins:
Thank you for posting this amazing account of your family’s history and sacrifice. It instantly reminded me of the Spielberg movie, Saving Private Ryan, except that your uncle’s experience and your family’s sacrifice were not a movie. Thanks again for sharing.
My father was a sergeant in the 6TH DIVISION. HE trained at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri… went to desert training at St. Louis Obispo in Calif….changed orders and then went to Hawaii for jungle training…shipped to New Guineu and fought the Japanese in the dense jungle and up into the mountain highlands…Fought on Lone tree hill as a heavy machine gun operator… He was then sent to the Phillipines during the invasion into Luzon…He was awarded 3 bronze stars with one a oak leaf….He never would sit down and discuss his time in the war except on a few occassions… I guess PTSD was never known back then….He passed away in 1994 but I will always remember him as my hero..
Mr. Pollock:
Thanks for your contribution of your father’s story to our website.
Sincerely,
Thomas Price
My grandfather, PFC Melvin L. Soutter, was a rifleman in a Machine Gun squad (2nd Platoon, Company D, 63rd Infantry and served in the 6th from November 1940 to October 1945. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 88, and I have very few items from his service (photo album, defense/campaign medals, etc). Sadly, the only story he ever told me about the war was when I was about 12 years old. He recalled the time he jumped into a foxhole during a firefight only to find a Japanese soldier already in there! I said “grandpa, what happened”? He replied “well Stevie”, I’m here today telling you the story”. Oh how I regret not being able to speak with him today.
I’m now doing my best to try and piece together information on his squad and company.
Mr. Mason:
Thank you for your contribution for the 6th Division through your conversations with your grandfather. I suspect that he had many things that he would just as soon have been able to forget that may have been too painful to convey. Thank you again for sharing this very personal story.
In search of information on my grandfather, Capt. Orville Hutchinson. He was awarded the Silver Star for conduct on April 6, 1945 on Luzon. I know nothing else but would love any information or tips for finding out more. We know he fought in New Guinea but really know nothing about what he did. From an old newspaper story, his company was down to 10 men and he was the only officer who survived. He never spoke of the war.
Mr. Hutchinson,
Do you haver his discharge papers? That is not just important, it is essential and it could help you locate his specific unit and where he was located at the time. If not you or another relative should make a request for them using Standard form 180 as next of kin for his discharge papers. That will get you started. If he was with the 6th Infantry Division, I would carefully read the section of our books online, especially, the 6th Infantry Division in World War II. Pay close attention to the activities on April 6, 1945. Good luck.
Troy: My father served with a Capt. Hutchinson but don’t know if it was your grandfather or not. I can be reached at Margedw@gmail.com. Where did your grandfather live. I am going to see if I can find an old address book of my father and see if it might be the same person. My parents went to visit Capt. Hutchinson and kept in touch for many years. If it was your grandfather they fought at Mt. Mataba in the Philippines together and may have been in the same company. It was L company.
Ms. Williams,
You replied to me by mistake. I think you were attempting to contact Troy Hutchinson. You may need to communicate with him directly.
Sincerely,
Thomas Price
We think your grandfather was my father’s commanding officer. We have some information, but not a lot. You can reach me Margaret L. Williams My father’s name is Banek and he is listed on the Silver Star list at the end of this book.
Thank you for this marvelous history of the 6th. I ran across my father’s discharge papers today which initiated the search that led me to your site. He served in the 63d, company I as an automatic rifleman. Since he was a marine machinist building ships during the early years of ww2 he was late coming to the war. By his papers, probably joining the regiment during the retaking of Bataan. He was never able to talk of the war very much. Only a few stories. It meant so much to be able to read the story of that these brave men did for our country and the cause of freedom and to read descriptions of actions my father was involved in. Thank you for maintaining this site. His name was Joseph Larkin Robinson and he died in 2007.
You’re welcome and thanks for your comments.
Sincerely,
Thomas Price
My great uncle Herbert Marx was a machine gunner in I Company, 63rd IR. He earned the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for actions during the Battle of Luzon.
My father Bernard K. Zitlow was a Sgt. with the 6th Army, 6th Infantry, 63rd division, Company “L”. He served in the Philippines was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal, Spear Head, and 2 bronze clusters. Was wounded in the Philippines.
Mr. Zitlow: Thanks for your post. To clarify how the army is organized, Your father was in Company L of the 63rd Infantry Regiment. The 63rd Infantry Regiment was a part of the 6th Infantry Division, which was a part of the 6th Army. The 63rd Infantry Division was actually in Europe. I understand what you are trying to convey, but distinction makes a big difference. Thanks again for your post.
Sincerely,
Thomas Price