Archive for the ‘Zig Zag Pass’ Category

Being a northern Indiana boy, I’ve grown particularly fond of the 38th Infantry Division, and their efforts in World War II. The division was formed from units of the Indiana National Guard. So essentially, many young men from the same community would fill a company, serving together in war. One can only imagine how tight [...]

As most of you know, I’m a sucker for vintage historical photographs. Lately, we’ve been posting on the 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division, and their hard-fought victories at Zig Zag Pass and Woodpecker Ridge during World War II. I love this pic of the 152nd Infantry raising the Stars and Stripes, following their victory at [...]

Last week, we featured a couple of our soldiers’ varied reactions to war’s end.  In this edition of Letters From War Wednesday, let’s take a look at Captain Wayne Sandefur’s note home following Japan’s surrender. Sandefur served with distinction at the battles of Zig Zag Pass and Woodpecker Ridge as the commanding officer of Company [...]

Following the 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division’s hard-fought victory at Zig Zag Pass, the unit was deployed to the Sierra Madre mountain range along the northeastern coast of Luzon in the Philippines. Captain Wayne Sandefur’s Company L was assigned to take Woodpecker Ridge, part of the Japanese’s Shimbu Line. For his heroics at Woodpecker Ridge, [...]

On January 29, 1945, American troops returned to Bataan.  Company L, 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division, commanded by Captain Wayne Sandefur, landed on the west coast of Luzon, near San Narciso.  “Always the unexpected happens in war,” Comapany L trooper, Clarence De Turk said, with a laugh.  “When we made our landing, we expected a [...]

In this edition of Letters From War Wednesday, we feature a short note home from Captain Wayne Sandefur, commanding officer of Company L, 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division, upon his arrival in the Philippines. Nov. 3 1944 Dear folks, When you receive this, you will know that we have landed safely.  We had fine trip [...]

As a native Hoosier, I was particularly interested in the story of World War II hero, Wayne Sandefur. A special thanks goes out to Sandefur’s daughter, Ginny, for providing so many interesting details. Prior to war, at Purdue University, Sandefur starred as a guard on the Boilermaker’s gridiron squad. Following graduation, he took a teaching [...]

Wednesday already? Yep, and time for Letters From War Wednesday. Today we feature a short note from Sgt. Cliff Snyder to his mother. Snyder served with the 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division. He took a moment from the horrific fighting at the Battle of Zig Zag Pass in the Philippines to write home. “I suppose [...]

When we think of letters from war, we envision notes from a soldier, home to his family.  But there are also letters, typically from the U.S. War Department, that bear the most awful news, that of a soldier’s, sailor’s or airman’s death.  Notes of a more personal nature, from those who served with the recently [...]

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