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Welcome to the 29th Infantry Division |
The 29th Infantry Division is a realism unit in the online World War II game, Darkest Hour: Normandy 1944. Realism is the conducting of a gaming group as close to real combat as possible.
Above, you will find our primary navigation menu with five links on it. For each of the links, a submenu is provided on the left of the page with related links.
For more information about the 29th, read our About page. | |
| Saturday, March 9, 2013 |
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[Civil Affairs] The Highest Honour by
PFC Phariss
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In the 29th Infantry Division realism unit we represent the men and women that serve and have served in the Blue and Gray. Most notably we play the role of the soldiers that stormed the beaches of Omaha in 1944 and pushed all the way to the Elbe River in 1945. In the Second World War, the 29th suffered a total of 28,776 casualties, 3,720 of those KIA. This would amount to over 200 percent of the division’s standard strength. The 29th Infantry Division paid a heavy price in the war, and in this article, I write about two soldiers that were awarded the US Military's highest award; The Medal of Honor.
T/Sgt Frank D. Peregory, Company K, 116th Infantry
In 1931, Frank D. Peregory enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard; he was only fifteen years old, lying about his age. Upon America's entry into World War 2, he along with his unit became Company K, 116th Infantry. While in Fort Meade, Peregory rescued a drowning man during a training exercise, earning himself the Soldier’s Medal.
Peregory along with the 116th would land on Omaha Beach during D-Day. His unit was among the first waves of troops; despite this, they were successfully able to make their way to the town of Grandcampe on June 8th. While advancing, the lead elements of his unit started to take fire from German forces. The Germans were entrenched on high ground overlooking the town and inflicting severe casualties on advancing allied forces, whose armour and artillery support were ineffective.
TSgt. Peregory advanced up the hill alone under heavy fire. He managed to make his way to the summit where he found a trench leading to the main fortifications 200 yards away. Without hesitation, he dove into the trench and moved toward the emplacement. Encountering an enemy squad, he assaulted the position with grenades and bayonet, killing 8 and forcing 3 to surrender. He would then single-handedly take 32 more riflemen and machine gunners prisoner, allowing for lead elements of the battalion to advance and secure the objective without further hindrance.
S/Sgt Sherwood H. Hallman, Company F, 175th Infantry Regiment
Sherwood H. Hallman joined the Army in January 1943 from his hometown of Spring City, Pennsylvania. He was assigned to the 175th Infantry Regiment and shipped off to war shortly thereafter. By September, 1944, he was a Staff Sergeant.
On September 13, 1944, in Brest, France, SSgt. Hallman was part of the 2nd Battalion’s attack on the heavily fortified city of Brest. The Allies had been assaulting the city constantly for three days at this point, with little ground gained. On the 13th, Company F was able to advance within a few hundred yards of enemy positions. Hallman ordered his squad to cover his movements with fire while he advanced alone to make an assault. He lept into a sunken road, the central point of the German defenses, which was known to have a machine gun position and at least 30 enemy troops. He used his M1 Carbine and grenades to kill or wound 4 of the enemy, then ordered the rest to surrender. 12 German soldiers gave themselves up and the Company advanced to the position. Following the capture of this strongpoint 75 more German soldiers were taken prisoner. His actions allowed the entire battalion to advance 2,000 yards and capture nearby Fort Keranroux.
Sadly, neither of these men would learn of their awards. Six days after his actions in Grandcampe, TSgt. Peregory was killed in action fighting among the hedgerows of the Bocage. SSgt. Hallman would die the day after his actions in Brest.
In the 29th Infantry Division, we uphold certain standards. Everything, from our server rules, to addressing each other correctly, to maintaining AIT’s, is a representation of Discipline, Respect, and Honour. Upon reading of these two fallen heroes, I ask that each of you remember not only what we represent, but whom we represent.
4 Comments
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| Thursday, February 14, 2013 |
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A Series of Mishaps: The Willy-D by
Maj. Wheatley
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We have all heard tales from the Second World War. It is safe to say the tales of victory, heroics, and successes are abundant. Upon reflection it appears that many units and engagements were practically flawless. This, of course, is not the case. ‘A Series of Mishaps’ is dedicated to the misfits, the unfortunate, and in today’s publication, the crew of the USS Porter (DD-579).
Construction on the USS William D. Porter (DD-579) began on May 7th, 1942, and the ship was commissioned on July 6th, 1943. The ship was assigned a special task; to escort the USS Iowa, carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt across the Atlantic to the Big Three Conference in Tehran. The mission would be dangerous, placing the President and many top leaders in U-boat infested waters. The new captain and crew of the Porter trained, and as they prepared they learned from their setbacks and mistakes. Little did they realize, they would soon come to understand the meaning of ‘mishap’.
On the 12th of November, the Porter was being moved in preparation for her departure the next day. A rather routine procedure turned into a nightmare as the ship was backed down along her sister ship’s side, causing the Porter’s anchor to tear railings, life rafts, and the ship’s gig. With her mission a priority, the Porter continued, steaming for the Iowa the next day. Under strict radio silence the Porter joined the convoy and made way into a known U-boat sector. While in formation, the convoy was startled by the explosion of a depth charge. Two of the destroyers immediately began anti-submarine procedures and went on full alert. The alert was cut short when the Porter admitted to a charge accidentally being released from her stern. On that same day, a sailor washed overboard, never to be seen again, and a boiler lost power. Would this string of unfortunate events come to an end?
The 14th of November brought good weather, so the President asked for an anti-aircraft demonstration. The Iowa obliged, sending up weather balloons and firing off all batteries. The Iowa missed some of the balloons, which drifted over the Porter. The ship went to battle stations and began to shoot down the balloons, aiming to redeem its bad luck. Unfortunately for the Porter, they never learned the phrase ‘quit while you are ahead’.
Torpedo drills were ordered as anti-aircraft drills took place, and after asking if primers were removed, the ship’s captain ordered three dummy torpedoes be fired at their target, the USS Iowa. As “Fire 3” sounded, so too did the swooshing sound of a live five-hundred pound torpedo making way for the Iowa. Chaos erupted on the Porter as they tried to signal the Iowa, first telling it the torpedo went the opposite direction, then telling them they were going in full reverse, and finally breaking radio silence to confirm a live torpedo was fired directly at them.
President Roosevelt ordered to be moved in sight of the event as the Iowa took evasive action, narrowly missing the torpedo. The Iowa trained all of her guns on the Porter, and in those initial moments it was believed the Porter had attempted assassination. For the first time in US Naval history, an entire ship and her crew were placed under arrest. In Bermuda, Marines surrounded the ship and for several days there was an inquiry into what happened. It was confirmed a torpedo man had forgotten a primer within tube number three. The commanding officer along with other officers and crew were sentenced to shore duty, and the torpedo man was sentenced to 14 years hard labor. President Roosevelt intervened, and asked no punishment be awarded for the accident.
The Porter made her way up to the upper Aleutians where she was practically banished from combat for a time. In late 1944, she was reassigned to the Western Pacific and made preparations to leave. To quote, “…she accidentally left her calling card in the form of a five inch shell fired into the front yard of the American base commandant, thus rearranging his flower garden.”
In December 1944 the ship rejoined the fight and did quite well, shooting down several attacking Japanese aircraft… as well as three American aircraft. In their defense, this was a common event, as many gunners were quite nervous of kamikaze attacks. In April, 1945 she was set to join the invasion of Okinawa. It was at this time that American units began greeting the Porter with the phrase, “Don’t Shoot, We’re Republicans” as tales of its actions were heard all around the fleet.
Unfortunately, the USS Porter would not be given a peaceful ending. On 10 June, 1945, the ship was sunk, in a unique way: a Japanese bomber made almost entirely of canvas and wood slipped past radar defenses and made way for a ship beside the Porter. It veered away and crashed, sinking next to the ship. The cheers of the Porter crew were cut short when the bomber, sinking into the water near the ship, exploded and produced a gash in her hull which caused an uncontainable inlet of water. Within three hours, the ship sunk into the deep. In perhaps a final stroke of luck, not a single man was lost in the end.
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References
http://bobrosssr.tripod.com/porterstory.html
Written by: PFC Phariss
Edited by: 2Lt. Perdiew
Approved by: Cpt. Wheatley
29th Infantry Division-Civil Affairs Office
11 Comments
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| Saturday, December 10, 2011 |
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[Civil Affairs] The 400th Training Platoon by
2Lt. Perdiew
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Last Sunday, the 4th of December, marked a very special occasion for the 29th. The historic 400th training platoon (TP) started its journey at Fort Meade - the map that has housed basic combat training (BCT) since early 2008.
The 29th's BCT programme has a long history of providing fresh recruits their first glimpse into the workings of the 29th Infantry Division and successfully equipping them with knowledge and skills that extend far beyond the scope of our unit (from engine tricks to military etiquette).
Essential information regarding realism scrimmages and rifle technique is imparted through five days of instruction under the careful guidance of the Lighthouse Corps' Assistant Drill Instructors (ADIs) and Drill Instructors (DIs) and is often regarded as most members' fondest memory.
400 BCT programmes are an impressive feat that stand testament to the unending dedication of Lighthouse Corps staff, both past and present. One hundred weeks ago, Lt. Col. Wilson thanked and proposed that we all extend our gratitude to the ADIs, DIs, enlistment liaisons, secretaries and chiefs whose work has literally shaped the 29th as it is today - a notion reiterated in celebration of the 400th TP.
Notable TPs include the 153rd, which has given us two officers (Maj. Cooke and Cpt. Wheatley) and the 287th which brought us another two officers (1Lt. Jacobsson and 2Lt. van Schuuren) in addition to platoon sergeant Sgt. Lorbek.
Do you want want to be part of an organization that exemplifies honour, respect, and professionalism? Do you want to experience one of the finest realism units and BCT programmes? Don't take my word for it, go ahead and visit http://www.29th.org/enlist and see for yourself!
Written by: T/5 Kear - Publications Journalist
Edited by: T/4 Ionita - Editor in Chief
Approved by: 2Lt. Perdiew - Chief of Civil Affairs
9 Comments
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| Friday, October 14, 2011 |
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Juno Beach - History Made Real by
Sgt. Bergstrom
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Recently, I participated in some excellent drills alongside the third Squad of Charlie Company's first Platoon (CP1S3) under Sgt. Moates and his Assistant Squad Leader, PFC Frank. The location for this drill was one that, as a Canadian, is well known to me: Juno Beach. As I advanced alongside the talented members of CP1S3 I saw in the broken cobblestone and shell-holed sandy beaches a moment of history suddenly brought back to life.
Juno Beach was one of five sectors chosen by the Allies for landing as part of Operation Overlord. Two brigades of the 3rd Canadian Division were tasked to land there in two subsectors, named Mike and Nan. Though the Canadian preparations were thorough, it was at Nan that the highest Canadian casualties were suffered. Within moments of arrival, the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada bore the brunt of Canadian losses while disembarking. One of the leading landing craft reported 10 out of 11 soldiers killed or wounded within moments of lowering the ramp. Indeed, over half of the landing craft were disabled or destroyed by underwater mines while coming ashore. Covering the beachhead, unscathed by the naval bombardment, were multiple machine gun nests and an 88mm gun emplacement, all manned by men from one of the two battalions of the German 716th Infantry Division. Facing off against this formidable obstacle was B Company of the Queen’s Own Rifles, who, due to drift and heavy fire, landed 200 metres off position and directly in front of the prepared defenses.
The original plan was for the Queen’s Own Rifles to advance with Sherman Duplex Drive tank support but, due to the stormy seas, these specialized swimming tanks could not be launched and had to wait until the landing craft could reach the beach. In the meantime, a small group of men succeeded in flanking one bunker and clearing it with grenades and small arms. Soon, a jammed rudder on a landing craft meant that one platoon landed even further off course and was able to outflank and destroy the 88mm gun emplacement. B Company was soon able to move up off the beach and into the town of Bernières-sur-Mer, as the tanks and reserve forces from Le Régiment de la Chaudière landed. Since the first men hit the beach roughly twenty minutes had passed. By the end of the day, the 3rd Canadian Division had pushed farther inland than any other landing force on D-Day.
In Darkest Hour, the mappers have captured Bernières-sur-Mer down to incredible detail. The famous hotel at Bernières-sur-Mer, along with the accompanying bunkers, has been recreated with great accuracy, as can be seen in many photos from the time period. The late arrival of the Sherman DD is recreated by its appearance after the initial capture of the bunkers at the beachfront. However, Allied armor was not a deciding factor at Nan sector on Juno Beach; instead it was the presence of artillery support from the largest invasion fleet in world history standing behind the Allies in their advance that helped break the back of German defences.
Darkest Hour provides the 29th and all players with realism and historical accuracy and it is in maps like Juno Beach that we can see the hard work has paid off. To the creators of Juno Beach and to Sgt. Moates, PFC Frank, and the rest of CP1S3, thank you for sharing with me a part of my nation’s history.
Written by: PFC Bergstrom - Publication Journalist
Edited by: T/4 Ionita - Editor in Chief
Approved by: 2Lt. Perdiew - Chief of Civil Affairs
11 Comments
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