“Roll On” has long been the slogan of Pennsylvania’s “Keystone” Division, but for a while in December 1944 it looked as if “Hold On” would be more appropriate. At that time, the 28th, with five months of fighting in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany already behind it, was deployed along a 25-mile stretch of the Our River, from northeastern Luxembourg to Wallenstein, Germany. And at that time Rundstedt launched the full fury of his counteroffensive against the Keystone’s lines. On the first day, five crack German divisions flung themselves over the Our, and within a few days the 28th was single-handedly fighting no less than nine enemy divisions. It held on, though, and one correspondent in the area later called its stand “one of the greatest feats in the history of the American Army.”
The 28th, whose nickname is taken from its parent state, had an impressive record in World War I, too. Noted for its fighting in the Meuse-Argonne area, perhaps its greatest single feat was the rescue of the famous Lost Battalion of the 77th Division in the Argonne. Twenty-six years later, the 28th came back to France after having sailed for Europe in October 1943, and having trained in Wales and England for the invasion of the Continent.
The Keystone Division struck its first blow at the enemy on July 22, 1944, shortly after its landing in Normandy. The fury of its assaults on enemy positions led the Germans, who felt that “Keystone” was an inadequately savage description of the 28th’s red shoulder patch, to call the division the “Bloody Bucket” outfit. After worming its way laboriously through the hedgerows, the Division broke loose and rolled through France, overrunning Verneuil, Breteuil, Damville, and other cities. It mopped up large numbers of Germans trapped west of the Seine River by the swift Allied advance, and, on August 29 entered Paris, a few days after the city’s liberation.
On September 6, the 28th crossed the Meuse, scene of much of its fighting in World War I, went on over the Belgian border, and then fanned out into Luxembourg, averaging 17 miles a day. In mid-September, it became the first division to enter Germany in strength. In November, the 28th cleaned up the Hürt gen Forest, and at the end of the month moved back to the front lines and took up positions along the Our. It was then that it was hit by the Ardennes offensive. Badly battered, the 28th nevertheless kept on fighting determinedly until it was relieved, by which time it had held on so long that the timetable for the enemy breakthrough had been irreparably upset.
After resting and reorganizing, the Division went back to the fight early in 1945. The Keystoners smashed across the Rhine-Rhône Canal and, by February, had taken up positions along the Olef River, near Schleiden. In March, the 28th moved on to the Ahr River, and two months later, as the fight ended, had penetrated into Kaiserslautern.
From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.
There are 142 soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division World War II still listed as missing in action.
| Private First Class Herman B. Ballard 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Private Albert J. Bannister 112th Infantry Regiment 04/11/1945 |
| Private First Class Harley E. Barney 112th Infantry Regiment 11/07/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Lawrence J. Bates 112th Infantry Regiment 11/08/1944 |
| Sergeant Elmer S. Beck 109th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1945 |
| Private First Class William E. Bolynn 109th Infantry Regiment 09/15/1944 |
| Second Lieutenant Jack W. Brown 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private Joseph J. Brzezicki 109th Infantry Regiment 09/11/1945 |
| Private Joseph T. Byers 110th Infantry Regiment 08/20/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Leo L. Cannon 112th Infantry Regiment 11/08/1944 |
| Private Joseph Carson 112th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1945 |
| Sergeant Richard J. Connolly 109th Infantry Regiment 08/08/1945 |
| Private First Class Leonard Cuellar 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private First Class Michael Cuozzo 112th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1944 |
| Private First Class Kenneth J. Dagman 28th Military Police Platoon 03/27/1945 |
| Private First Class Dominic De Giorgio 109th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1944 |
| Private James M. Derflinger 109th Infantry Regiment 11/03/1945 |
| Private First Class Marvin E. Dickson 110th Infantry Regiment 11/14/1945 |
| Private Henry M. Digby 109th Infantry Regiment 12/19/1945 |
| Private First Class John W. Dixon 109th Infantry Regiment 09/14/1944 |
| Technician Fourth Grade John P. Earley Band 12/23/1945 |
| Private Herbert W. Edwards 110th Infantry Regiment 11/12/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant John J. Farrell 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private Charles B. Feidler 109th Infantry Regiment 11/19/1945 |
| Private First Class Alfred J. Fernandes 109th Infantry Regiment 11/06/1944 |
| Private First Class Vincent J. Ferrara 110th Infantry Regiment 11/15/1945 |
| Corporal Frank J. Firenza 112th Infantry Regiment 12/16/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant John F. Flick 112th Infantry Regiment 08/03/1944 |
| Private First Class Elijah D. Flowers 110th Infantry Regiment 12/23/1944 |
| Private Lawrence M. Frohlich 110th Infantry Regiment 12/16/1944 |
| Private Floyd A. Fulmer 110th Infantry Regiment 11/15/1945 |
| Private George H. Funk 110th Infantry Regiment 12/16/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Woodrow F. Gerdes 110th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1945 |
| Private William R. Giles 109th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1944 |
| Private First Class Glenn S. Goodwin 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Paul A. Gregg 109th Infantry Regiment 12/19/1945 |
| Corporal Joseph H. Gunnoe 112th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1945 |
| Sergeant Walter A. Hall 110th Infantry Regiment 10/04/1944 |
| Private First Class Dewey W. Harris 110th Infantry Regiment 11/15/1945 |
| Private Alevin A. Hathaway 109th Infantry Regiment 11/06/1944 |
| Private William B. Hawn 103rd Engineer Combat Battalion 12/17/1944 |
| Private Wilder L. Hendricks 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant George B. Hensley 112th Infantry Regiment 11/02/1944 |
| Sergeant Lemuel H. Herbert 112th Infantry Regiment 11/07/1944 |
| Private First Class John S. Herman 112th Infantry Regiment 12/16/1944 |
| Private First Class William H. Heurich 112th Infantry Regiment 11/05/1944 |
| Private Walker Hines 112th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1945 |
| Sergeant Doyle C. Honea 109th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1945 |
| Technician Fourth Grade Quan Hong 112th Infantry Regiment 11/11/1944 |
| Private First Class Edward J. Hook 109th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1945 |
| Private Ray J. Hughey 110th Infantry Regiment 10/05/1945 |
| Private George A. Jacob 109th Infantry Regiment 02/26/1945 |
| Sergeant Edward T. Jones 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Corporal Raymond J. Jurgens 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Leonard V. Kacprzak 112th Infantry Regiment 12/16/1944 |
| Private Joseph E. Kennedy 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private First Class John F. Kevedras 112th Infantry Regiment 08/10/1944 |
| Private First Class Carl F. Kime 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Charles H. Knecht 109th Infantry Regiment 11/06/1944 |
| Sergeant Gregory V. Knoll 112th Infantry Regiment 11/07/1944 |
| Private Sidney M. Krashen 110th Infantry Regiment 03/31/1945 |
| Technician Fifth Grade Felix J. Kurmas 108th Field Artillery Battalion 02/07/1946 |
| Private First Class Elmer W. Land 109th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1945 |
| Private Alfred T. Langevin 109th Infantry Regiment 11/07/1945 |
| Private First Class Roy Larney 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Technician Fifth Grade Haldon E. Lawrence 110th Infantry Regiment 02/01/1946 |
| Private First Class Michael Loncar 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private Joseph Luciano 109th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1945 |
| Private James F. Lynn 109th Infantry Regiment 09/15/1944 |
| Private First Class Donald E. Mangan 112th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1944 |
| Private Joseph M. Markley 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Private Henry E. Marquez 112th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1944 |
| Private Herman C. Marr 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Private James L. Marshall 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Second Lieutenant Ernest E. Martin 109th Infantry Regiment 11/11/1945 |
| Private First Class Shelly S. Martin 110th Infantry Regiment 10/05/1945 |
| Sergeant Richard O. Matthiessen 110th Infantry Regiment 10/04/1944 |
| Private First Class John F. Maurin 112th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1945 |
| Private Charles E. McElyea 109th Infantry Regiment 12/17/1944 |
| Private Paul W. McMahon 109th Infantry Regiment 03/04/1945 |
| Private First Class Richard A. Meech 109th Infantry Regiment 11/06/1944 |
| Private Joseph C. Merlock 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| First Sergeant William E. Merrick 112th Infantry Regiment 09/19/1944 |
| Private First Class Norris A. Meyer 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Private David R. Michaels 109th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1945 |
| Private Robert O. Miller 110th Infantry Regiment 10/05/1945 |
| Second Lieutenant William S. Miller 112th Infantry Regiment 12/23/1944 |
| Private Owen G. Minnix 109th Infantry Regiment 09/16/1945 |
| Private First Class Robert L. Mohr 109th Infantry Regiment 05/07/1945 |
| Private William R. Monk 109th Infantry Regiment 09/18/1945 |
| Private First Class Bill Morrison 110th Infantry Regiment 11/08/1944 |
| Technical Sergeant Thomas O. Moss 112th Infantry Regiment 11/07/1944 |
| Sergeant Albert Murr 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private First Class James L. O'Bryant 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private First Class Sherwin W. Olsen 109th Infantry Regiment 12/23/1945 |
| Private Armand L. Ouillet 110th Infantry Regiment 09/13/1944 |
| Private Otto R. Parrish 110th Infantry Regiment 10/05/1945 |
| Private First Class Ory S. Patten 110th Infantry Regiment 10/01/1945 |
| Private First Class Lyle Paxton 109th Infantry Regiment 11/06/1944 |
| Private First Class Edwin F. Perdue 109th Infantry Regiment 12/19/1944 |
| Technical Sergeant Bruce M. Pitman 112th Infantry Regiment 11/08/1944 |
| Private First Class Lewis E. Price 109th Infantry Regiment 11/07/1945 |
| Private Earl H. Richardson 112th Infantry Regiment 11/05/1945 |
| Private Edward Ricks 112th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Private First Class Larry E. Roberts 112th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1944 |
| Private First Class Mickel N. Robinson 110th Infantry Regiment 12/18/1944 |
| Private First Class Julian H. Rogers 112th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1944 |
| Private First Class Warren W. Schneider 110th Infantry Regiment 12/26/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant George S. Schroyer 109th Infantry Regiment 09/14/1944 |
| Private Gustave J. Seiler 112th Infantry Regiment 11/08/1944 |
| Private First Class Bernard E. Shannon 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private Howard F. Sheffer 110th Infantry Regiment 11/12/1945 |
| Private First Class William L. Simon 109th Infantry Regiment 11/05/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Edward P. Skinner 109th Infantry Regiment 09/14/1944 |
| First Lieutenant Theodore Slobodzian 103rd Engineer Combat Battalion 12/18/1944 |
| Private Simon F. Stallings 112th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1944 |
| Private First Class Edward J. Stevens 112th Infantry Regiment 12/02/1944 |
| Private Oscar Strauss 110th Infantry Regiment 10/06/1945 |
| Corporal George F. Taylor 110th Infantry Regiment 09/21/1945 |
| Private First Class Roy S. Thoren 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Staff Sergeant Max W. Thurston 109th Infantry Regiment 11/06/1944 |
| Private Norbert C. Tice 110th Infantry Regiment 12/21/1945 |
| Private Thoma Triantafilakos 110th Infantry Regiment 08/25/1944 |
| Private James I. Trick 109th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1944 |
| Private David H. Trotter 112th Infantry Regiment 11/04/1944 |
| Private James W. Turner 112th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1945 |
| Private Evaristo E. Valdez 112th Infantry Regiment 11/02/1944 |
| Private Richard L. Ward 112th Infantry Regiment 11/08/1944 |
| Sergeant Howard R. Watson 109th Infantry Regiment 03/30/1945 |
| Private Sydney E. Weaver 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Private First Class Norman E. Wegner 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| First Lieutenant Clarence E. West 109th Infantry Regiment 11/06/1945 |
| Private Harry W. Wilder 110th Infantry Regiment 11/15/1945 |
| Technician Fifth Grade Carl D. Williamson 109th Infantry Regiment 09/18/1944 |
| Private Arnold H. Wilmoth 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1944 |
| Private First Class Mark P. Wilson 112th Infantry Regiment 11/08/1944 |
| Private First Class Gerald F. Wipfli 112th Infantry Regiment 11/09/1945 |
| Technical Sergeant Cliffe H. Wolfe 109th Infantry Regiment 11/17/1944 |
| Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Wren 109th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1945 |
| Private Ottie C. Yant 110th Infantry Regiment 01/31/1946 |
| Private Willie T. Young 110th Infantry Regiment 03/05/1945 |
| Second Lieutenant Robert H. Zwicky 112th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1944 |
There are 3 soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division World War II that have been identified and recovered.
| Private Lyle W. Reab 112th Infantry Regiment Missing: 11/09/1944, Recovered: 6/1/2018 |
| Private First Class John J. Sitarz 110th Infantry Regiment Missing: 11/02/1944, Recovered: 2018 |
| Private First Class Lawrence E. Worthen 112th Infantry Regiment Missing: 09/17/1944, Recovered: 4/2019 |
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