The 407th Infantry Regiment in World War II

The 102nd Infantry Division was activated 15 September 1942 at Camp Maxey, Texas. Earlier, Special Orders No. 119, dated 8 July 1942, HQ, 38th Infantry Regiment, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Subject: Cadre Personnel for New Divisions, designated those individuals who would form the cadre of the 102nd. The 38th, from which these personnel came, was then part of the 2nd Infantry Division. My father was one of the cadre.
Some two years later, on the night of 11-12 September 1944, and after intensive training, the division departed Staten Island, NY, for Europe and the war. The 407th, 3000 strong, was on two of the six transports (the 'Marine Wolf' and the 'Santa Paula' - my father was on the former), carrying the 102nd in a convoy of some 46 vessels and escorts. On 22 September, the Cornish coast was sighted and they anchored in Weymouth Harbor in the shelter of Portland Bill, England. At dawn on 23 September, they weighed anchor for France, arriving in the bombed out Cherbourg harbor the same afternoon and disembarked 23-24 September 1944.

The Ozarks were trucked to a bivouac area about 9 miles E of Cherbourg, the Valognes Staging area, where the division remained from 24 Sep to 29 Oct 1944. But on 20 October, motorized elements of all three regiments left for Tongres(Tongeren), Belgium, by way of Paris; dismounted elements of the three regiments followed by train, the 407th on 23 October. Once there, they moved on, with the 407th to an area near Brunssum, Holland ,on 27 October, where they relieved the 115th and 175th Infantry Regiments of the 29th Infantry Division and took over responsibility of the entire sector of the 29th Division effective 28 October. They were now poised to thrust into the enemy heartland of Central Germany.

The initial mission of the 407th was to defend approximately 14,000 yards of the front extending through Kreuzrath, Birgden, Hatterath, Gillrath and Teveren, Germany. (in progress)

The first night combat patrol of the 407th took place the night of 1-2 November in the area known as Ganderfeld, between Kreuzrath and Birgden, and Schierwaldrath to the north. (in progress)

(in progress)

(in progress)

(in progress)

(in progress)

Here is a listing of the command posts of the 407th Infantry Regiment, as documented by their unit history. CPs were established wherever command and control were optimal, whether in an urban environment, or rural. I do not have inclusive times at each location, just that the CP was in the specified location on the specified date.

4 Nov 44 in woods just S of Niederbusch
29Nov44 in countryside between Floverich and Loverich
24Dec44 Gereonsweiler
27Jan45 Gereonsweiler
22/23Feb45 established in Linnich within sight of Roer river
24Feb45 Linnich
14Mar45 Linn (E of Krefeld)
30Mar45 Linn
4Apr45 Bielefeld
17-23Apr45 in woods N of Oebisfelde-Kaltendorf
8May45 (V-E Day) in woods just W of Angern
1Jul45 Ohrdruf
18Jul45 Deggendorf

* Cpl. William N. Mackinnon, of Cannon Co., 407th, tells us (25Mar09) about crossing the Atlantic on the transport 'Marine Wolf', "Cannon Co. was detailed to help the navy gun batteries on the ship, which was pretty good duty. Never fired anything, but this duty allowed us to go first in the chow lines." Later, "When we disembarked we were trucked to a pasture just outside St Mere Eglise where we stayed until we moved up to the front."

* Another survivor of Cannon Co., 407th, has been located and is in contact with William Mackinnon (above); he is Jack Hogben. Are there any others out there?

* A friend of the 102nd, Robert Wolfe, has been searching for some four years for a photo of his deceased friend, John Simon of Cannon Co., 407th, and thanks to William Mackinnon, he now has a photo of the company taken at Camp Swift, Texas, which shows John Simon. Robert Wolfe will publish the photo of his friend on the WWII memorial.

* Homer V. Wagnon, Jr., (two Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart) seems to be the surviving member of Company B, 407th, and is actively involved in maintaining the memory of 102nd soldiers.

1. 'With the 102nd Infantry Division Through Germany', by Captain Allan H. Mick, a booklet published in Vilshofen, Germany, September 1945.

2. 'With the 102nd Infantry Division Through Germany' edited by Major Allan H. Mick, Washington: Infantry Journal Press, 1947.

3. '102d Infantry Division', published by Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta, Georgia, 1944.

4. 'A Combat Record of the 407th Infantry Regiment', published in Coburg, Germany, during the occupation.