WW2 8th Inf Div, 28th Inf M1903-A3 Rifles

[Mike in Wis.]

I had posted this pic some time ago on the "old" list, but thought it important to post again here. The guy on the right holding the "Stars and Stripes" is my Uncle. The other guys are his friends and fellow Scouts assigned to the Anti-tank Company, 28th Infantry, 8th Infantry Division.

The photo is poor quality, it was carried around in a pocket by my Uncle for years to remember the other guys pictured... most all of these guys were KIA not too long after this pic was taken.

The men were armed with M1903-A3 rifles during training in the states and this is what they shipped to Europe with and carried throughout the War... except for NCO's who usually carried a Thompson SMG. The rifles were issued with leather M1907 slings. The guy on the bridge on the right carried a M1903-A4 and was the squad's sniper.

These guys were involved in gathering intellegence, looking for tanks, vehicles, artillery and pill boxes and assaulting same. Not what I'd call a "rear enchelon unit".

This pic was shortly before the battle of the Hurtgen Forest ... where my Uncle was severely wounded on December 10, 1944 by direct fire from a Panzer tank they were stalking... they had developed a tactic where they disabled a tank by approaching from the side with a section(s) of Bangladore Torpedo and by shoving it into the track mechanism and detonating it they disabled the vehicle. Ironic that he made it through the battle in the Forest.... but was wounded as they pushed forward of the lines on a recon mission.

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