The dougboys' dream—a ringside seat at a decisive battle, with someone else doing the fighting—came true to the footsloggers of the 102nd Infantry Division.
One of the last battles fought in Germany, just before the unconditional surrender of the Nazi war machine, was fought near Tangermiinde, and the men who call themselves the Ozarks, and who wear an O and a Z on their shoulder patch to prove they aren’t fooling, were witnesses, not participants.
The battle was fought between the Russians advancing on the Elbe River, and the Nazis who were trying to get across the river to surrender to the men of the 102nd.
The fire fight went on for hours, but the Ozarks didn’t dare join in—even if they had craved another chance at combat—for fear of hitting the Russians. So, they just took it easy on their bank of the river, and watched the Reds and the Nazis slug it out.
The Germans finally managed to cross the Elbe, cutting through thousands of civilians who were retreating in face of the onrushing Reds, to lay down their arms to the 102d. They then boasted of their cleverness in escaping the Russians. These German soldiers, craven quitters, were the last elements of the once mighty German Ninth and Twelfth Armies.
The Ozarks went overseas in September 1944, but did not see action until near the end of the year. Serving under the Ninth Army, the Ozarks entered combat near the Roer River, taking Lovenich, and then fighting in the Miinchen-Gladbach area. Late in February 1945, the Ozark Doughs spearheaded the Ninth’s crossing of the Roer, and then attacked north, toward the Rhine. In their dash to the Rhine, the “Hillbillies,” as they do not mind being called, overran 86 towns and cities.
One of the most important spots to fall to the 102nd was Krefeld, a key railroad and communications center. At this city the Division stored its supplies in caves that the Romans had used centuries before as barracks, and, when taken by the Yanks, were the site of a tremendous rocket factory.
The Ozarks chased the Gennans from the Rhine to the Elbe, and, on reaching the Elbe north of Magdeburg, did extensive patrol duty while awaiting the arrival of the Russians. On May 4, the German Ninth and Eleventh Armies surrendered to the 102nd at Worgl. The Division was at this town on V-E Day.
From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.
There are 37 soldiers of the 102nd Infantry Division World War II still listed as missing in action.
| Staff Sergeant John D. Adair 405th Infantry Regiment 11/25/1945 |
| Private Byron M. Allison 405th Infantry Regiment 02/26/1945 |
| Private First Class Arthur C. Bamm 405th Infantry Regiment 11/23/1944 |
| Private Jesse L. Barnes 407th Infantry Regiment 12/17/1944 |
| Private First Class Robert L. Barnett 405th Infantry Regiment 03/01/1945 |
| Private First Class Martin L. Birek 406th Infantry Regiment 11/21/1944 |
| Private Nick Botsis 406th Infantry Regiment 04/27/1946 |
| Private First Class Donald R. Centen 407th Infantry Regiment 02/08/1945 |
| Private Charlie Davidian 407th Infantry Regiment 11/30/1945 |
| Private Roy B. Etzin 327th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/13/1944 |
| Private Rudie R. Garza 406th Infantry Regiment 11/25/1945 |
| Second Lieutenant Donald D. Gill 407th Infantry Regiment 03/20/1945 |
| Private Daniel H. Green 327th Engineer Combat Battalion 12/12/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Julius D. Grier 407th Infantry Regiment 12/01/1945 |
| Private First Class Preston Harris 405th Infantry Regiment 11/22/1944 |
| Private Myron G. Josh 405th Infantry Regiment 06/07/1946 |
| Private First Class Isidor Kline 407th Infantry Regiment 12/17/1944 |
| Captain Boles S. Knapik 405th Infantry Regiment 11/22/1944 |
| Sergeant Harry E. Lance 406th Infantry Regiment 04/26/1945 |
| Sergeant James P. Leahy 327th Engineer Combat Battalion 03/17/1945 |
| Private Eugene A. Lockwood 407th Infantry Regiment 12/01/1944 |
| Private First Class Alfred S. Martinez 407th Infantry Regiment 12/09/1944 |
| Private First Class Woodrow H. Mason 407th Infantry Regiment 10/31/1944 |
| Second Lieutenant John E. May 407th Infantry Regiment 12/17/1944 |
| Sergeant Marvin B. McKie 405th Infantry Regiment 02/26/1945 |
| Second Lieutenant John T. Mulder 405th Infantry Regiment 11/25/1945 |
| Private Earl R. Philbrick 407th Infantry Regiment 12/12/1944 |
| Private Edward A. Reinehr 406th Infantry Regiment 11/20/1944 |
| Private Herbert Rivera 405th Infantry Regiment 02/23/1945 |
| Private First Class Robert C. Schapka 407th Infantry Regiment 11/30/1944 |
| Private First Class Jesus A. Tavarez 405th Infantry Regiment 02/23/1945 |
| First Lieutenant Jack Tomlin 406th Infantry Regiment 01/27/1945 |
| Private First Class Walter Traudt 406th Infantry Regiment 11/21/1944 |
| Private First Class Thomas F. White 405th Infantry Regiment 02/23/1945 |
| Private Harry W. Wingate 405th Infantry Regiment 02/23/1945 |
| Private First Class Melvin E. Wittenberg 405th Infantry Regiment 02/25/1945 |
| Technician Fourth Grade Joe R. Ybarra 405th Infantry Regiment 02/23/1945 |
Do you have items such as papers, photos, uniforms, gear, guns, weapons and other artifacts? Read more and Support Us.
If you have any data on units and those who served we would be interested in adding it to our digital project-library; please Contact Us
One way we promote public education of military history is through our exhibits. View some pictures of recent Exhibits.
Copyright, 2021, Sons Of Liberty Museum, Inc.,
All Rights Reserved
