Tributes to Division Veterans
Gone, but not forgotten . . . The following are announcements from website visitors regarding 32D ‘Red Arrow’ Infantry Division Veterans who have passed away
First Lieutenant Harry Healy Denning Company K, 125TH Infantry WWI
Harry Healy Denning was born 22 April 1894 at Fort Meade, SD, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Denning in Brookline, MA. He attended the University of Vermont, was Class of 1917 when he left school to enter military service.
He enlisted as an officer candidate (infantry) on 2 May 1917 at Burlington, VT. He completed the First Officers’ Training Camp at Plattsburg, NY, and was commissioned 2LT on 27 Nov. 1917. Assigned to Co. K, 125TH Inf., 32D Div., he sailed from Hoboken, NJ, on 11 Jan. 1918 and arrived at St. Nazaire, France, on 26 Jan. 1918. He served as a Scout Officer and Platoon Commander in Co. K in France.
He attended the I Corps Intelligence School at Grondecourt in Feb. and Mar. 1918. He served as bayonet and marksmanship instructor for 3D Bn., 125TH Inf., in Apr. and May. He served in the trenches with Co. K in the Alsace Sector in May and Jul. of 1918. He attended the III Corps Intelligence School at Geromenil 4-20 Jul. The he fought in the Chateau-Thierry offensive from 24 Jul. until he was seriously WIA on 31 Jul. 1918 while attacking Hill 212 near Sergy. He was assigned to Base Hospital 34 at Nautes from 4 Aug. to 5 Oct. 1918. He was promoted to 1LT on 5 Sep. 1918. Transferred to St. Anguai for further medical treatment from 7 Oct. 1918 to Apr. 1919.
He returned to duty with Co. K and participated in Army of Occupation in Apr.1919. He sailed from Brest with his unit on 15 May and arrived at Hoboken, NJ, on 22 May 1919. He was discharged at Camp Devens, MA on 19 Jun. 1919. By Nov. of 1919 he was attending University of Vermont again and graduated in 1920. He was still a 1LT in the inactive reserve at that time. He became a charter member of Post No. 11 of the American Legion in Brookline, MA, and later was also a member of Post No. 2106 of VFW in Wakefield, MA. He served during WWII as a CPT at Ft. Preble, ME, and was later in charge of a POW camp at Houlton, ME. He also served in Korea. He served as a civil servant in various positions in New England until retirement. He passed away at Wakefield, MA, at age 72 in May of 1966.
From his great grandnephew, Blair Taggart.
Private First Class Winfrey Sisco 32D Division WWII
posted 27 Jan. ’13
PFC Winfrey Sisco was from Odds, KY. He joined the service in August of 1942, actually left for active duty overseas in 1943, and came home in 1945. He was awarded a Philippine Liberation Medal.
From his granddaughter, Elizabeth Lemaster.
Milburn A. Hinds Company B, 127TH Infantry WWII
posted 21 Sep. ’12
Milburn A. Hinds, 83, a retired educator, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, at Sylvia’s Hospice House in Dunnellon, FL. A native of Lima, Ohio, he moved to Ocala from Deltona in 1997. Mr. Hinds was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a recipient of the Purple Heart with Oakleaf Cluster. He was a member of Dunnellon Masonic Lodge No. 136 F&AM; Angela Santos VFW Post No. 4781; and the American Legion Post of Marion Oaks. Survivors include his wife, Rosemary Hinds, Ocala; daughter, Vicky M. Hinds, Lake Dallas, Texas; son, Stephen T. Hinds, Needham, Mass.; and two grandchildren, Josh and Jene Hinds.
From his grandson, Josh Hinds.
Joseph M. Gonzales 32D Division WWII
updated 21 Sep. ’12
posted 20 Jul. ’12
Joseph M. Gonzales was drafted into the U.S. Army June 6, 1944 at the age of 19. He was a proud member of the 32D ‘Red Arrow’ Infantry Division during WWII from 1944 to 1946. His service took him to the islands of Buna, New Guinea, and Leyte. While in action, he was awarded several Certificates of Commendation including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He ended his service with the rank of Sergeant. After being honorably discharged June 6, 1946, he returned home to Brawley, CA. He then met and married Reyna Ojeda Gonzales. Together they moved to Stockton, CA and had three sons, two daughters, and many grandchildren. Joseph was a member of the American Legion Quinones-Becerra Post No. 402 in Stockton, CA. He passed away November 1, 1994. In 2010, in his hometown of Brawley, CA, the city constructed the Brawley Veterans Memorial Wall of Honor in remembrance of all of the veterans from that area. His name was proudly included on this wall, which is displayed in the city’s downtown Plaza.
From his loving children.
PFC Walter Kulakovich HQ Company, 2D Battalion, 126TH Infantry WWII
posted 19 Oct. ’11
PFC Walter Kulakovich was a veteran of six operations during the 40 months in the SWPA with the 32D ‘Red Arrow’ Infantry Division. A longtime resident of South River, NJ, but he did live with his sister and husband in San Bruno, CA, for a short time. On December 5, 1941, at the age of 29, he was drafted into the Army in San Francisco, CA. About half way into basic training the 32D Division was being shipped to the South Pacific. They needed men and Walter volunteered. He joined the Division as it sailed for Australia in April 1942. He saw his first action at Buna. He fought in the subsequent actions farther up the coast at Saidor and Aitape: on Morotai Island in the Netherlands East Indies and on Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines. In northern Luzon, the Red Arrowmen fought for six and a half months in the rugged Caraballo Mountains and ended the war on their 654th day of combat. Kulakovich started home four days after Japan surrendered.
He returned home with 97 demobilization points. He was in Headquarters Platoon, Headquarters Company, 2D Battalion, 126TH Infantry – Pioneer. He received a Certificate of Commendation for action in Leyte during December 11-13, 1944, along with the Bronze Star Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 bronze service stars. He returned back to South River, NJ, after the war. He married to the late Mary Stankowitz for 51 years until his death in 1997. They raised two daughters and one son and worked as a union millwright from UBC Union 1006, Milltown, NJ. Walter was interred with military honors accorded by South River VFW Post 1451 Honor Guard in Saint Peter and Paul R. O. Cemetery in South River, NJ. He was a good man, good father and loved his country.
From his son and two daughters.
Charles ‘Charlie’ A. Gigliotti 32D Division WWII
Posted 1 January ’07.
Charles ‘Charlie’ A. Gigliotti was a member of the 32D Infantry Division during WWII, serving in the South Pacific. Charlie passed away in Herminie, PA, on Mon., Dec. 25, 2006, at the age of 84. He was born May 12, 1922, in Trafford, a son of the late Guiseppe and Jennie (Curcio) Gigliotti. He was awarded several medals for his military service, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Prior to his retirement, Charlie worked as a mechanic on the Pennsylvania Railroad for more than 40 years. He was a member of St. Edward Roman Catholic Church, its Altar Rosary Society and was a lifetime member of the Herminie VFW Post 8427, the D.A.V. and Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Italian Club. He was a social member of Lodge 432 Croatian Fraternal Union in Yukon. Charlie is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Mary (Bozek) Gigliotti; three sons; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews. He was interred with military honors accorded by Greensburg VFW Post 33 Elite Honor Guard in Westmoreland County Memorial Park.
From his grandson, Grant Gigliotti.
SSG Gerald Endl 32D Division WWII
Posted 5 November ’05.
The Janesville Patriotic Society will hold a ceremony to unveil a statue honoring SSG Gerald Endl of the 32D Div. The ceremony will be held at the Medal of Honor Veterans Walkway Dedication, Location: Traxler Park, Veterans Plaza Date: November 11th, 2005 Time: 10:30 to 11:30 AM. I hope anyone who reads this can spread the word and participate if possible. I am posting this on behalf of SSG Endl’s family and wife, who will be in attendance. You can get further information contacting: RSVP: Tom Stehura – 756-1127 or myself, SSG Morris, 2-128TH Inf., 32D Bde., at 703-695-1822 or leslie.morris@hqda-aoc.army.pentagon.mil
TSgt. Michael 'Mutz' Rebenock 32D Division WWII
Posted 10 April 05.
Michael ‘Mutz’ Rebenock (23 Feb. 1921 to 23 Feb. 1993) went in to the Army at the beginning of the 2nd World War, sometime in 1942. He went to the Pacific Theater of war right after basic training. He was with the US 32D Infantry Division, which was a highly decorated division from the 1st World War. It was called the ‘Red Arrow’ Division and its shoulder patch showed the arrow as such. Mutz rose in rank very quickly and was a platoon Sgt. as you can see he has 3 stripes and three rockers which is a tech sgt. Mutz was wounded several times and was awarded the Purple Heart and three oak leaf clusters for this. He also has the infantry badge and a Silver Star. He served from the New Guinea Island Campaign across the Pacific Islands to the invasion of the Philippines. He spent 36 months overseas without coming home. This is indicated by the six gold hash marks on his left sleeve.
From their cousin, Corinne.
John W. Klein 114TH Engineer Battalion WWII
Posted 6 March 04.
John W. Klein, from Pittsburg, KS, was inducted into the service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 4 June 1942. Departed for overseas duty in the Pacific Theater on 27 December 1942. Upon arrival in Australia, assigned to the 114TH Engineers, 32D ‘Red Arrow’ Infantry Division. Took part in action against Japanese forces in the New Guinea Campaign (Saidor; Aitape, Driniumor River and Morotai Island), in the Southern Philippine Campaign (Leyte), and the Luzon Campaign. Awarded Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with 3 bronze campaign stars, Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze star, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Government Liberation Medal, Philippine Government Victory Medal. Returned to California from foreign service on 2 November 1945. Discharged at Fort Logan, Colorado, on 8 November 1945.
From his daughter, Yvonne ‘Klein’ Hall.
PVT Clifton R. Fields Company D, 128TH Infantry WWI
Posted 13 Jan. 04
Private Clifton R. Fields (later Sr.), Dover, Pope County, Arkansas, was inducted into the U.S. Army at Russellville, Arkansas on 18 Sep. 1917, and was assigned to Co. L, 345TH Infantry, Arkansas National Guard. The Arkansas National Guard moved by train to Camp Beauregard in Alexandria, Louisiana. The Arkansas troops were demobilized after their transfer to Camp Beauregard, and reorganization of the troops was made under a new system of organization. Fields was transferred on 13 Sep. 1918 to Company D, 128TH Infantry Regiment, 32D Division of the AEF. On 20 Sep. the 32D Division left the Joinville rest area and moved by bus to the Meuse-Argonne front. FIELDS was seriously wounded 15 Oct. advancing from Montfaucon through the Meuse Argonne Forest, and left on the battlefield as dead (for more info see: http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/ow_7.htm ). Clifton R. Fields Sr. died on April 16, 1985, and is buried in the Rest Haven Cemetery, Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas.
From his son, Lee Fields
MSG (Ret), US Army
Vietnam Veteran
Joseph J. Grass 121ST Field Artillery Battalion WWII
My father, Joseph J. Grass served with the 121ST Field Artillery Battalion, 32D Division, as a communication sergeant from 1940 to 1945 during World War 2.
He died on October 13, 2003, at the age of 81, at the Tuscon, AZ, VA hospital and the memorial mass was held on October 27, 2003. He belonged to the Greenvalley, AZ, American Legion. A five member team presented the American flag to my mom and the taps were played in church.
From his son, Richard J. Grass
1969 Vietnam Veteran