Dedicated to the
9th Infantry Division
and Assigned Units
of World War II

Kasserine pass, Sicily, Normandy, Hurtgen Forest, first Division into Belgium, Battle of the Bulge, Seigfried Line (the first to cross), Bonn, Luddendorf Bridge (Remagen), Berlin

8 Battle Stars Algeria-French Morocco Tunisia Sicily Normandy Northern France Ardennes-Alsace Rhineland Central Europe

 Graphics courtesy of Leon Baldwin - visit his 9th ID page at http://www.oldreliable.org

The insignia on the right is the current shoulder patch of the 9th Infantry Division. Originally approved on 18 November 1925, it was redesigned on 1 August 1942. Dimensions were finalized 0n 27 February 1970. 

On the left is the 9th Division Distinctive Unit insignia. Approved on 2 February 1966 it is a metal and enamel pin (one and an eighth inch) inspired by campaigns during WWII.
The red crescent is for the Tunisian campaign; the nine rays of the sun denote the unit's numerical designation and also refers to the campaign in Sicily; the gold disk in the center is for Central Europe, and the fleur-de-lis thereon represents service in Northern France.

Thomas Lutz, USN and nephew of Charles Uczkuronis, B Company 15th Engineers (1940-1945) is in the process of preparing in-depth descriptions of all the battles, including the approximately 40 Distinguished Unit Citations awarded, that the 9th Infantry Division participated in during World War II. This not a small task and the postings will take place over a long period of time.

As Tom is able to forward the information, the links below will become active (Blue in color and underlined) and you will be able to click and read about what happened. Use your BACK button to return here.

General Omar Bradley's Comments About the 9th Infantry Division:
Forward of "Eight Stars to Victory"

9th Division Reactivated 8/1/40

Algiers-Morocco

Tunisia
Sicily
England
Normandy
Northern France
Belgium
Germany
Ardennes
Rhineland
Central Europe & Victory

Click here for Otto Himottu's photos of Ft. Bragg and Tunisia
1940 - 1942

Stranger Than Fiction

John Silvasi - 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th ID 1945. Click here to view his photos and articles.

When a Name is highlighted in Blue click on the Name to see text about that person. Use the Back Button to return.

Otto Himottu - 15th CEB, A Company

A note to Thomas Lutz - Nephew of Charles Uczkuronis:

My friend Pete takes care of my email, I started looking through my old year book. I found a picture of your Uncle Charley. I couldn't believe it I can't say that I didn't know him it was a long time ago. If you want to know more about where we were here are some of the battles that I will never forget.  Kassarine pass, Hurtgen Forest, Battle of the Bulge, first unit into Belgium. The worst was the Luddendorf Bridge (Remagen). A good program was on the History Channel. The damn Engineers at Remagen, the 15th, took a lot of casualties there. I hope I can help you more. I will try to find more of my pictures from WWII and try to scan them so you will have at least 1 pic of your Uncle Charles. Best wishes Otto.

Click photo to enlarge - use the Back button to return here

Charles Uczkuronis - 15th CEB, B Company, 3rd Platoon

Information forwarded by Thomas Lutz:

    My uncle, Charles Uczkuronis, Pvt or PFC, served with the 15th Combat Engineer Battalion, Company B, Platoon 3. (1940-1945) He was drafted in the 1st draft, November /December 1940 at age 28. He served in all the major engagements with the 9th Infantry: Africa, Sicily, Normandy, France, Belgium, the Bulge, Germany. The 9th Infantry'  s activities are documented in the book "Eight Stars to Victory", written by Capt. Mittelman, published in 1948. I recall Charlie returning to Pawtucket, RI sometime after VE Day with 7 or 9 "battle" stars, apparently it was eight.
    He was born in the US on November 9th , 1912. His family returned to Lithuania and Charlie accompanied them as an infant. He returned to Pawtucket, RI in 1936, staying for a while with his aunt, Helen Uczkuronis Stanis, my grandmother, and Anthony Stanis, my grandfather.
Drafted in 1940, Charles Uczkuronis, would have been released on Monday, December 8th, 1941 with others of age 28 or older, but something happened on December 7th that delayed his release. .... and as they say, the rest is history. ... Charlie never married and his one remaining cousin of WWII vintage can not supply me with any information about his activities in WWII.
    I did locate a gentleman in Florida, Joseph E. Allison, who remembers  Charlie.Charlie Uczkuronis is buried in St. Mary's cemetery in Uxbridge, MA, along with his cousin who buried him, Mike (Uczkuronis) Gresian, himself a WWII veteran of the Army Air Force.

Joseph Allison - 15th CEB, B Company, 1st Platoon

A note to Thomas Lutz from Nancy Zenich who is Joseph Allison's daughter:

   His daughter writes: "My father, Joseph E. Allison, remembers your uncle.  When I mentioned your uncle's name, he remembered immediately, and said, "Ah, Charlie", and then laughed. Poppa was in the 9th Infantry, 15th Engineers. He recalls that your uncle spoke broken English and remembers a time when this worked to 'Charlie's' advantage. Pop said there was a time  when their company was having an inspection by the company commander. The  commander stopped at the end of your uncle's bed and asked if it was his bunk. Your uncle pretended he did not understand the commander (perhaps  fearing it was not made up according to standards) and told the commander, "No my bunk." Dad said the whole company found this reply amusing because your uncle was able to avoid calling the commander "sir" and was able to  avoid a "chewing out" for not having his bunk made up to specs.  Dad further recalls that 'Charlie' was a very big and powerful man. He also states that your uncle was good natured and very popular with the other men because of his pleasant personality.
   Dad says he was in a different platoon from your uncle as your uncle was in  the third platoon and dad was in the first. During the war, Poppa recalls,  their platoons laid and dug mines, made roads, and fought the enemy. (Dad  says they did all they could to annoy the enemy!) Dad points out that he did  not work with your uncle much because each platoon was separated from the other for several weeks while they each completed their assignments, and  then the various platoons would reconnect again, for a short time, only to separate again. Dad says he and your uncle's platoon fought in these  battles: Normandy, Saint Lo (France), and the Battle of the Bulge. Dad reports that most of the time, they were moving "pretty fast" towards Germany, especially after the fighting at Saint Lo. Pop mentioned that the  fighting was heaviest at the Battle of the Bulge.

Howard Gaertner - 3/47, M Company

From Tom Gaertner on behalf of his Father:

Howard joined the Ninth on the last week of June, 1944 and was assigned to M Co, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry in a heavy machine gun squad.  He was wounded on September 16th in the Meuse River crossing in Belgium and evacuated to the 114th US Army hospital in Kidderminster, England.  The war had ended by the time he recovered from his wounds and he was subsequently reclassified; not to return to the Ninth.  He was award the Purple Heart and Bronze Star (with clusters).