MERCHANDISE OFFERED

$25 Softcover

Part of 'Our Family Series'

243 pages 

Compiled 11/2006 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3), 

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

This is the first book in the Family Series of compiled books of history and stories by the men about the 65th Infantry Division in WWII, with specific focus on the major division units. In this case, the 259th Infantry Regiment, with an authorized strength of 3,256 men. 

The book begins with the 65th Infantry Division activation in 1943, training and then shipment over the Atlantic Ocean to France in early 1945. Then the combat history of the entire 65th Division is summarized through “After Action Reports” to provide a general background. At this point the history, route, maps, and stories by the men concentrates on the 259th Infantry Regiment. 

From fourteen books, totaling 4,520 pages compiled between 1989 – 2006 about the 65th Infantry Division in WWII, Robert Cardinell (Association Historian) has extracted a variety of stories by and about the 259th Infantry Regiment men of their combat experiences which provides the personal touch lacking in official reports. In this way relatives of the 259th men can absorb the feelings of what he also went through with his unit of the 259th even though he may never have recorded or told of his own wartime adventures.  

***The quality of the book is not of today’s standards. This book was done using copy machine technology but is still the history of these men. We lack the original material to redo this book with today’s improved technology.

$25 Softcover

Part of 'Our Family Series'

441 pages 

Compiled 01/2007 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3),   

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

This is the third book in the Family Series of compiled books of history and stories by the men about the 65th Infantry Division in WWII, with specific focus on the major division units. In this case the 261st Infantry Regiment with an authorized strength of 3,256 men. 

The book begins with the 65th Infantry Division activation in 1943 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. It continues with training and then shipment over the Atlantic Ocean to France in early 1945. The combat history of the entire 65th Infantry Division is summarized to provide a general background. At this point the history, route, maps, and stories by the men concentrates on the 261st Infantry Regiment. Starting at the French border, through Germany to the middle of Austria where the war ended combat details including towns passed through by date down to battalion level will help follow the action of the 261st. The official 261st daily journal covers the period 2/25 through 5/16/1945 which reviews the entire combat action of the regiment. Stories cover both the entire combat scene or else focus on a specific location or battle. Sidelights include experiences at German concentration camps, how men became casualties and experiences of veterans when they returned to these combat areas in later years. Robert Cardinell (Association Historian) has extracted a variety of stories by and about the 261st Infantry Regiment men of their combat experiences which provides the personal touch lacking in official reports. In this way relatives of the 261st men can absorb the feelings of what he also went through with his unit of the 261st even though he may never have recorded or told of his own wartime adventures.  

***The quality of the book is not of today’s standards. This book was done using copy machine technology but is still the history of these men. We lack the original material to redo this book with today’s improved technology.

$25 Softcover

177 pages 

Compiled 10/2009 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

Despite having had only two years of active duty and just over two months in combat in Europe as the last U.S. infantry division to be activated, the 65th Infantry Division performed adequately in combat. It took its lumps but was right there in Patton's Third Army advancing from the French border, through Germany and into the middle of Austria when the war ended on May 9, 1945. Despite having to go into combat with men who had only 6 months or less of unit infantry training at Camp Shelby, Major General Stanley E. Reinhart was pleased with their performance and said they had "A Right to Be Proud". Over the years a great deal of credit has been awarded to members or units of the 65th Infantry Division in one form or another. The purpose of this book is to highlight some of those honors through photos or words. Some may feel that highlighting how some men were killed (KIA) or wounded (WIA) in action is not something to be honored. Not true in the sense that they were there with us while attempting to drive the enemy backwards so they would lose the war. Without such deeds and loses, no war can be won. A total of 799 medals were awarded to men out of a total division authorized strength of 14,253 men. These medals range from the highest, the Medal of Honor, down to the Bronze Star and Air Medal. Wording of what the men had done to earn their medal covers quite a few pages. 65th Infantry Division men killed are buried in four different cemeteries in Europe unless their families had them brought to the U.S. for burial.

***The quality of the book is not of today’s standards. This book was done using copy machine technology but is still the history of these men. We lack the original material to redo this book with today’s improved technology.

$25 Softcover

396 pages 

Compiled 05/2004 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

In January 2004 I compiled & had printed a 253 page book of World War II combat stories by the men of the 65th Infantry Division titled "Just Good Stories". No official history or after action reports were included. Regardless, through these varied stories by the men, an unofficial combat history emerges of their impressions, thoughts, and experiences during WW II. 

This book 2 of "Just Good Stories" is an offshoot because the first book omitted many good stories from letters and publications such as the 65th Infantry Division Association Halbert newsletters. I offer you this second book that starts with the activation of the 65th in summer of 1943 & carries the action through our war in Europe to the final inactivation of the division in Austria in August 1945. I have tried not to include the same story in both books.  

In combination these two books of "stories" cover the history of the 65th Infantry Division from beginning to end in a more personal and exciting nature than the official history, journals and after action reports on file in museums and archives or in my own 500+ page history book compiled on the 65th Infantry Division in WWII.  

Note in these 360 pages, 151 different 65th Division men have contributed stories, reports, or photos and 656 65th men are named alphabetically.

***The quality of the book is not of today’s standards. This book was done using copy machine technology but is still the history of these men. We lack the original material to redo this book with today’s improved technology.

$25 Softcover

337 pages 

Compiled 04/2006 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

 Former title on order blank was: The 65th Inf Div at German Concentration Camps & End of War

35 U.S. military divisions are credited with liberating German concentration camps in Europe during WWII. These liberations took place as U.S. ground forces were rapidly driving east or southeast from Germany into Austria. All 35 liberations took place between April 4th (Ohrdruf) and May 7th, 1945 (Falkenau an der Eger) toward the end of the war.

Men of the 65th Infantry Division were involved in one way or another with the following three camps. Both photos and maps follow the progress as the division drives southeast in April and May.

Ohrdruf – Observation and Photos     The 4th Armored and 89th Infantry Divisions are credited with the liberation of Ohrdruf on the 4th of April 1945. It was a horrible sight and the first concentration camp to be liberated by U.S. troops, so the call went out to have men from nearby troop units visit the camp. It was about April 12th when over twenty 65th Division men located nearby documented in words and photos their gruesome tour of the grounds at Ohrdruf.  

Hersbruck – Camp Liberation     By the 3rd week in April the 65th Infantry Division had moved southeast toward Bavaria. By April 18th, mostly motorized, the division had passed Bamberg advancing on secondary roads east of Nuremberg. On the 20th the 1st Bn, 261st was in the town of Hohenstadt, just east of Hersbruck. The 3rd Bn, 261st was behind in regimental reserve and while moving through the city of Hersbruck, men of K Co, 3rd Battalion found and liberated Hersbruck Concentration Camp before pushing on south to Kucha

.Mauthausen – Visit then Participation     Gusen sub-camp and Mauthausen main camp were liberated by the 11th Armored Division on May 5th and 6th.  However, as soon as the war was over, men and units of the 65th Division were very active at Mauthausen. First visiting the camp in person and noting the stench and horrible conditions. Then men and units were assigned for active participation at the camp, installing communications, helping the 131st Evacuation Hospital staff take care of the inmates and organizing burials of inmates who didn't survive.

The last section of the book covers the end of the war and the return of inmates or displaced persons to their homes. 

***The quality of the book is not of today’s standards. This book was done using copy machine technology but is still the history of these men. We lack the original material to redo this book with today’s improved technology.

65th Lapel Pin - Large - 1 1/4 inch                $5

65th Lapel Pin - Small - 3/4 inch           $5

75th Anniversary Lapel Pin - Large 1 1/4 inch               $4

Postage for pins is $5