County of memorial: Morris County
Location of memorial: E. Main St. (US 56), city park, Council Grove
Memorial text:
(font):
COMPANY "C", 137TH INFANTRY
SANTA FE DIVISION
(rear): Erected in honor of the soldiers who served with Company "C", 137th Infantry in World War II. Mobilized December 23, 1940 in Council Grove with men from Morris and adjacent counties. Soon expanded to include men from throughout Kansas and every state in the nation. Fought to liberate Europe marching steadily forward from Normandy, France, to the Elbe River, Germany.
Battles and Campaigns
Normandy - St. LO - Breakout
Northern France
Ardennes - Battle of the Bulge
Rhineland
Central Europe
Casualties
Over 100 Killed in Action
Over 700 wounded, Missing in Action, or
Captured
"World War II
Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Roer river, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 264.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 6.
Awards: MH–1 ; Distinguished Service Cross (United States)-44 ; Distinguished Service Medal (United States)-1 ; Silver Star-688 ; LM-10; DFC-1 ; SM-22 ; BSM-3,435 ; AM-133.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Ralph E. Truman (December 1940 – October 1941), Maj. Gen. William H. Simpson (October 1941 – April 1942), Maj. Gen. Maxwell Murray (May 1942 – January 1943), Maj. Gen. Paul W. Baade (January 1943 to inactivation).
Assistant Division Commanders: Brig. Gen. Benjamin C. Lockwood (1942 - 1943), Brig. Gen. Edmund Sebree (October 1943 - February 1945), Brig. Gen. Butler B. Miltonberger (February 1945 - December 1945)
Division Artillery Commanders: Brig. Gen. Charles G. Helmick (1942 - 1943), Brig. Gen. Theodore L. Futch (1943 - September 1945)
Returned to U.S.: 10 September 1945.
Inactivated: 7 December 1945.
Combat chronicle
"The division was activated on 23 December 1940, as a National Guard Division from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The division was transferred to the Western Defense Command following Pearl Harbor. In California, in March 1942 the division underwent 'triangularization' losing two of its regiments and both brigade headquarters. From here the division moved north for further training at Camp San Luis Obispo where a third regiment was added to complete the three regiment organization. Added to the 137th Infantry Regiment from Kansas and the 134th Infantry Regiment from Nebraska was the 320th Infantry Regiment (draftees). The division then transferred to Camp Rucker, Alabama before moving onto Camp Butner, N.C., in May of 1944.
"The division departed for Europe on 12 May 1944. It arrived in the United Kingdom on 25 May 1944, and received further training. It landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, 5–7 July 1944, and entered combat 11 July, fighting in the Normandy hedgerows, north of Saint-Lô. The division beat off 12 German counterattacks at Emelie before entering Saint-Lô, 18 July. After mopping up in the Saint-Lô area, it took part in the offensive action southwest of Saint-Lô, pushing the Germans across the Vire River, 2 August, and breaking out of the Cotentin Peninsula. While en route to an assembly area, the Division took part in the attempt to stop Operation Luttich, secure the Mortain-Avranches corridor and to relieve the 30th Division, which was taking a severe beating from the Germans' assault, 7–13 August.
"Then racing across France through Orléans and Sens, the division attacked across the Moselle, 13 September, captured Nancy, 15 September, secured Chambrey, 1 October, and drove on to the German border, taking Sarreguemines and crossing the Saar, 8 December. After crossing the Blies River, 12 December, the division moved to Metz for rest and rehabilitation, 19 December. The 35th moved to Arlon, Belgium, 25–26 December, and took part in the fighting to relieve Bastogne, throwing off the attacks of four German divisions, taking Villers-laBonne-Eau, 10 January, after a 13-day fight and Lutrebois in a 5-day engagement. On 18 January 1945, the division returned to Metz to resume its interrupted rest. In late January, the Division was defending the Foret de Domaniale area.
"Moving to the Netherlands to hold a defensive line along the Roer, 22 February, the Division attacked across the Roer, 23 February, pierced the Siegfried Line, reached the Rhine at Wesel, 10 March, and crossed, 25–26 March. It smashed across the Herne Canal and reached the Ruhr River early in April, when it was ordered to move to the Elbe, 12 April. Making the 295-mile dash in 2 days, the 35th mopped up in the vicinity of Colbitz and Angern, until 26 April 1945, when it moved to Hanover for occupational and mopping-up duty, continuing occupation beyond VE-day. The division left Southampton, England, 5 September, and arrived in New York City, 10 September 1945." ~ Wikipedia