We do not believe that his body was ever recovered, but are still searching for information. Decades passed. They married on May 5, 1944. Skip to main content.sg. The Leopoldville disaster has been chronicled by Allan Andrade, a retired New York City police lieutenant. Near France, in the English Channel, the ship in which they were transported was hit by a torpedo fired from … James E. Hutchens (Pfc 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division) perished on the SS Leopoldville on December 24, 1944. They were destined for Cherbourg, France, to replace the 94th Infantry Division, which had been sent forward to the battle. The SS Leopoldville was a passenger ship converted to a troopship in WWII. A Christmas Eve tragedy kept secret: The story of the 1944 sinking of the SS Leopoldville By Steve Liewer Herman Lemke woke up with a feeling of dread that cold Christmas morning in 1944. The 66th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army during World War II. At 6.00 pm on Christmas Eve, a torpedo exploded into the starboard aft hold of the transport ship «Leopoldville», packed with 2,235 G.I. That call came suddenly. The Sinking of the Leopoldville. Leopoldville. 1945. The ongoing Battle of the Bulge was in full-on crisis mode, and the 66th was part of the reinforcements being … Among the 2,200 soldiers on board that day were members of the Army 66th Infantry Division, known as the Black Panthers. They were on our way to replace the troops at the Battle of the Bulge. He was assigned to the 66th Infantry Division. Bigelow was a 20-year-old staff sergeant with the 66th Infantry Division en route to fight in the Battle of the Bulge when the torpedo hit. 1944: Over 2,200 US soldiers from the 66th Infantry Division boarded the Belgium ship Leopoldville. The 66th Division was part of the Sixth Army Group and participated in the Northern France campaign. Allan has dedicated himself to honoring the 763 66th Infantry Division soldiers who perished in the S.S, Leopoldville troopship tragedy December 24, 1944. With scarcely 24 hours’ notice, the division packed up and headed for Southampton, where about 2,000 of us were loaded aboard the troopship SS Leopoldville. your own Pins on Pinterest 'The 66th Photographer' is a blog dedicated to all the members of the 66th infantry division, also known as 'The Black Panthers' My aim to find out the identity of this man who is the subject of two 5x4 negatives I bought while in New York. Just 5 1/2 miles from its destination, Cherbourg, the Leopoldville was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-486. Just five miles off shore from Cherbourg, the SS Leopoldville was torpedoed by a German U-boat. MaritimeQuest - Daily Event for December 24, 2005 SS Leopoldville. He had been married to my mother for a brief four months. During his service in World War II, Army ... he was shipped with many other soldiers, from England to France across the English Channel on the SS Leopoldville. It was the day of Christmas Eve 76 years ago. He enlisted as a private first class in the 262nd Infantry of the 66th Division, with a grammar school education and no … I was slated to cross on the'Cheshire'. So the Leopoldville story, that Christmas, slipped away until slowly, decades later, researchers began … Enter the 66th Infantry Division. It was Christmas Eve. torpedoed and sunk in English Channel: torpedoed and sunk 44-12-24: See the Final Crossing of the Leopoldville web page: 44-12-25: Southampton, England: HMS Jan Sobieski: 201st General Hospital: escorted by 2 unknown British destroyers that were both … Leopoldville. The soldiers, belonging to the 66th Infantry Division, were being transported across the English Channel to their next destination in Cherbourg, France. Stalking the English Channel were a number of German U-boats, looking to pick off Allied ships, especially those full of troops like the SS Leopoldville… All were assigned to the 262nd Infantry Regiment of the 66th Infantry Division from Pennsylvania. Sgt Norman L Rigdon, Co F, 262nd Infantry Regiment of the 66th Infantry Division was on the Leopoldville on December 24th when it left Southhampton at 9AM. The majority of the infantry troops were on board the SS Leopoldville and the HMS Cheshire. Fourteen officers and seven hundred forty-eight servicemen were lost. Part 4 of 4. Mar 22, 2017 - This Pin was discovered by Rafael Armada Llorente. Three regiments of the 66th Infantry Division arrived in Dorchester, England on 26 November 1944, and the rest of the Division joined them on 12 December 1944. They trained and prepared for deployment until 24 December 1944, then transferred to Southampton before crossing the English Channel to Cherbourg, France. Garlan was born in 1925 and joined the United States Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, GA on March 13, 1944. Anyone seeking additional information about the Leopoldville disaster or who wishes to contribute a photo of a relative to this In Memoriam page should contact Leopoldville disaster author/historian Allan Andrade via e-mail at agandrade37@msn.com. 's from the Division. The division's insignia / shoulder patch was the head of a black panther. Cons. Elements of the U.S. 66th Infantry Division (2,235 men) were hastily loaded aboard the Belgian troopship SS Leopoldville in Southampton, England, on 24 December 1944. Just five-and-a-half miles from landing, the troopship was torpedoed by the German submarine, U-486. Buy Leopoldville: A Tragedy Too Long Secret by Andrade, Allan online on Amazon.ae at best prices. The Tragedy of Hennebont. World War II heroes of the 66th Infantry Division hold final reunion at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center. Another 248 died from their injuries, or … The disorganization and miscommunication which featured prominently in the last voyage of the He was one of 763 U.S. soldiers who perished, marking the worst tragedy as a result of an enemy submarine attack to an American Infantry Division. A few minutes before 6:00PM, A German submarine, U-486, fired one torpedo that struck the Leopoldville on her starboard side. In December of 1944, we soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division were in England preparing for the day we would be called into action. Gilbert J. Steuble of Belleville. We were in England while Bulge was happening and left for Cherbourg France on Dec 24, 1944 to relieve the 94th Division. They were on our way to replace the troops at the … On Dec 25 1944 the LEOPOLDVILLE was sunk by a U-Boat in the English Channel and went down with 762 men, most of them from the 66th Infantry Division. It is inscribed with the names of the dead, including 24 from New Jersey. He had been married to my mother for a brief four months. On Christmas Eve, 1944, the 66th Infantry Division was headed for France to replenish the troops engaged in the Battle of the Bulge. French Battle Germans South of the Loire River. The sinking of the Leopoldville and the deaths of 763 U.S. soldiers, is a WWII tragedy. On Christmas Eve, 1944, Gene was shipped with many other soldiers, from England to France across the English Channel on the SS Leopoldville. The battle was far from decided and the allies needed reinforcements on the front line. Rumburg, along with 2,234 other men from the division, boarded a transport ship, the Leopoldville (Leo-pold-ville), which was to take them from … Five miles … Leopoldville: A Tragedy Too Long Secret Allan Andrade Geen ... 1st Battalion Hdq 1st Platoon 262nd Regiment Co 262nd Regiment Hdq 264th Regiment 2nd Platoon 3rd Battalion 262nd 66th Division 66th Infantry Division American Ammo & Pioneer Army Battalion 262nd Reg Battalion Anti-Tank Platoon boat body … Posted by blackpanther66thdivision December 20, 2020 December 23, 2020 Posted in Uncategorized. He was contemplating something he never would have imagined before he realized that this war could very well kill him. After recovering from the SS Leopoldville disaster, the men of the 66th Infantry Division were tasked with containing a far larger force of German troops who were holed up around two submarine pens on the coast of France. At 5:45 on that cold Christmas Eve, tragedy struck suddenly. Attached to 66th Infantry Division, 262nd Infantry Regiment. Official Record of the 66th Infantry Division In 1997, a 66th Infantry Leopoldville memorial was finally erected at Fort Benning, Ga. My brother, Sgt. The 66th Division crossed the English Channel on Christmas Eve 1944. Leopoldville: A Tragedy Too Long Secret Allan Andrade No ... 1st Battalion Hdq 1st Platoon 262nd Regiment Co 262nd Regiment Hdq 264th Regiment 2nd Platoon 3rd Battalion 262nd 66th Division 66th Infantry Division American Ammo & Pioneer Army Battalion 262nd Reg Battalion Anti-Tank Platoon boat body … Also to find out as much information as possible on the 66th Infantry Division. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. The 66th Infantry Division was known as the "Black Panther" division active 1943 - 1945. Many loved ones would not find out for weeks and even months and even then were only told that their loved ones were killed in action. Leopoldville - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster On Christmas Eve 1944, the Belgium troopship Leopoldville, left the pier at Southampton, England with over 2,000 American soldiers assigned to the 66th Infantry Division and crossed the English Channel to France. Dr. Steve Grove, USMA Historian, West Point, New York Allan Andrade's book is an … The 66th Infantry Division was not going to the Bulge, but Saint-Nazaire. A converted Belgian luxury liner built to carry 361 passengers, the Leopoldville was now crammed with nearly 2,500 men of the 66th Division. John Wright was assigned to Company A, 264th Infantry, 66th Infantry Division. As to a Black Panther Tank Division not sure where that came … Leopoldville: A Tragedy Too Long Secret: Andrade, Allan: Amazon.sg: Books. Just 5 1/2 miles from its destination, Cherbourg, the Leopoldville was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-486. That date was Carol Coffee’s birthday. On that night, 2,235 men from the 66th Infantry Division embarked on board the Belgian troopship Leopoldville at Southhampton, England for the journey across the English Channel to Cherbourg, France. The Belgian troopship was transporting 2,235 soldiers from the 262nd and 264th Regiments 66th infantry division across the English Channel. The full, remarkable story can be found HERE . In December of 1944, we soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division were in England preparing for the day we would be called into action. Rather than tucking themselves in for a long winter’s nap, however, men of the US 66th Infantry Division were hurrying aboard a Belgian transport ship, the SS Leopoldville. Christmas Eve 1944. Malcolm B. Christopher of Nutley and S.Sgt. There were 763 American soldiers killed and the bodies of 493 … Sometimes difficult to follow. Most importantly, he was stationed near his one and only girl, Ruth Walker. Yet, once I learned that I had a family connection to the December 1944 sinking of the troopship SS Leopoldville, I started a search for an account of this tragic event that cost the lives of hundreds of soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division of the US Army.Jacquin Sanders's 1963 work A Night Before Christmas … The book, in conjunction with the monument and memorials at Ft. Benning, helps ensure that the gallantry and sacrifices of the men of the 66th Infantry Division will no longer be unrecognized … DEC. 24, 1944: Drumming motors pushed the SS Leopoldville, a Belgian passenger ship converted into a transport, through the choppy waters of the English Channel. Personal Combat Experiences. Another factor in this tragedy was that since the Leopoldville had made many crossing without incident, her crew became complacent and failed to drill the troops of the 66th Infantry Division in emergency procedures, life boat assignments, and the locations of life jackets. Leopoldville | Reviews of Allan Andrade's book, S.S. Leopoldville December 24, 1944 published in 1997 Thanks to the publication of this book and the publicity that it has received on regional and national television programs, Americans can now understand what had been a hidden tragedy.
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