Greatest Generation Living History Association/94th Infantry LHA

25/06/2026

“Thunder in the Hedgerows”
I Company
3rd Battalion
331st Infantry Regiment
83rd Infantry Division

Auxais, Normandy, France
July 14th – 16th, 1944

The 83rd Infantry Division earned the nickname “Thunderbolts” during training maneuvers for its exceptional speed and mobility. Originally slated to land in the first wave on Omaha Beach on D-Day, a clerical error delayed the division’s arrival in Normandy until D+17. While spared the carnage of Omaha Beach, the Thunderbolts soon faced the brutal close-quarters fighting of the Bocage.

The Bocage region of Normandy was defined by centuries-old hedgerows - dirt embankments
topped with dense vegetation that often reached 10 feet high. Over four years of occupation, German forces transformed this terrain into a formidable defensive network filled with b***y traps, machine-gun nests, sniper positions, ambush sites, armor, and artillery.

Company I, 331st Infantry Regiment, experienced some of their first combat in this landscape, particularly around the town of Auxais. There, the 331st fought elite German SS and Fallschirmjäger units. Alongside the 329th and 330th Infantry Regiments, their mission was to secure the Périers–St. Lô Highway near Sainteny in preparation for the drive on St. Lô. Despite limited anti-armor capability, the regiment, supported by the 4th and 9th Infantry Divisions, helped drive German forces from the highway and open the route to St. Lô for the 29th Infantry Division.

World War II Weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is always a busy event, but we were grateful for the opportunity to share the story of the 331st Infantry Regiment’s actions at Auxais with so many visitors. This impression was especially meaningful because one of our members, Alex Kauffman, had a family member who served in the 331st and was wounded during the period we portrayed (pictured on slide 12).

As always, our goal is to honor the stories and sacrifices of those who served, and it was a real honor for Alex, as well as our other members, to share these stories with you all.

01/06/2026

With summer on the way and the main reenacting season about to begin, let us catch up on what we’ve been up to!

•(Slides 1–4) Beginning in April, GGLHA represented K Company, 32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry Division on Okinawa in April 1945, the same timeframe and unit of one of our member’s family member. During the Battle of Okinawa, the division landed on April 1 as part of Operation Iceberg and advanced into the fortified Shuri Line. Facing caves, tunnels, reverse-slope defenses, and fortified tombs, soldiers fought through jungle and urban terrain with grenades, flamethrowers, satchel charges, and bayonets. Key gains, including at Skyline Ridge, helped pave the way for the Allied victory on Okinawa in June.

•(Slides 5–8) In May, elements of GGLHA and EPRG represented the Americal Division on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands, March 1944. As part of Douglas MacArthur’s campaign to isolate Rabaul and support the liberation of the Philippines, the division defended the Torokina perimeter, fortified positions, and conducted patrols. In March 1944, soldiers of the 182nd Infantry Regiment repelled a major Japanese assault at Hill 260, securing the island for Allied operations.

•(Slides 9–11) In mid-May, GGLHA portrayed the postwar duties of the 94th Infantry Division in Czechoslovakia. After World War II, the division maintained security, guarded POWs, arrested war criminals, supported denazification, rebuilt communities, and aided displaced persons and concentration camp survivors. It also supported the emerging Third Czechoslovak Republic, though growing Soviet influence and distrust of the West culminated in the 1948 Communist takeover.

There’s more to come in the coming summer months! Our next major event will be the Mid Atlantic Air Museum’s World War II Weekend in Reading Pennsylvania, June 5-7! We’re always very grateful to hosts of the many events we attend throughout the year, and we hope to see you all at our upcoming events!

27/05/2026

Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend; it is a time to honor and remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, preserving the freedoms we are privileged to enjoy today.

This Memorial Day, members of GGLHA were honored to participate in Gettysburg’s Memorial Day Parade, portraying the 28th Infantry Division during their historic parade through Paris in August 1944.

The parade route carried us through the historic streets of downtown Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, concluding at Gettysburg National Cemetery. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for veterans and their families from conflicts spanning the American Civil War to the Global War on Terror. Following the parade, we took time to walk the grounds and pay our respects to those whose sacrifice Memorial Day commemorates.

Although Memorial Day is observed one day each year, its message and meaning should be remembered year-round. We are deeply grateful to the town of Gettysburg for welcoming us into this important tradition, and we remain committed to honoring and preserving the legacy of our nation’s veterans and service members.

11/02/2026

“Devils with Baggy Pants”
C Company
504th Parachute Regimental Combat Team
82nd Airborne

Mussolini Canal, Anzio, Italy
February 1944
_______________________________________________
Nicknamed “The Devils in Baggy Pants” by a German officer, the 504th PRCT landed amphibiously in Anzio in late January, 1944, as standard leg infantry.

By early February, the 504th PRCT was tasked with holding the Mussolini Canal sector along the East of the Anzio perimeter. The terrain of Anzio and the surrounding territory was largely flat, proving to be a deadly obstacle for the Allies. Defending the canal proved to be no easy feat for the 504th, as the land
was heavily waterlogged and freezing cold; drainage ditches in the land were filled with water and mud, fields around the area were constantly flooding, and foxholes would be filled with water and frozen overnight.
German resistance launched repeated assaults against the Allied line, especially at the Mussolini Canal. The Germans figured the key to breaking the Allied line along the beachhead would be through the canal, so fighting along it was especially brutal. German and Allied lines were often yards apart from each other,
evacuation of wounded was near-impossible due to the constant assaults, and friendly artillery landed just yards from Allied lines.
With facing heavily artillery fire, small-arms fire, trench
foot, exhaustion, and fatigue, the 504th did not break and held the line. Due to the severe losses within the regiment, the 504th PRCT was pulled from participating in the invasion of Normandy. The endurance of the 504th PRCT along the Mussolini Canal prevented the collapse of the Allied hold on the Anzio beachhead. The fighting in the Anzio beachhead would last months, ending with the Allies finally breaking out in May 1944.
Due to weather, a favorite event of ours, “The Winterline”, was cancelled. Although the event fell through, the spirit of the 504th PRCT did not, and we took it upon ourselves to showcase a few members wearing what those men wore during the defense of the Mussolini Canal. As with every impression we present, we strive to honor those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice in the war.

23/12/2025

“Hang out the Washing”
324th Infantry Regiment
44th Infantry Division
Petit-Réderching, France
18 December, 1944

The hopes of being home for Christmas dwindled fast for the Allies fighting in Europe, as December of 1944 would prove to be a tumultuous tug-o-war with the Germans. December 16th, 1944 would be the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, a massive German counter-offensive North of the positions of the 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division. After fighting to take positions along the Maginot Line, the 324th Regiment would rest and be ordered to maintain their positions within and along the bunkers of the line, not participating in the heavy fighting North of them. This rest would not last long, however, as in the coming weeks, the Germans would launch the final offensive of the war known as “Operation Nordwind”, which pushed directly through the Alsace-Lorraine region of France where the 44th was positioned. The winter months would prove brutal for the 44th Infantry Division, but the Germans would not be able to push back the Allied forces long.
Members of GGLHA portrayed a plethora of occupations within the 44th Infantry Division at Fort Mott State Park’s “Soldier’s Christmas” event. One such occupation was that of the Information and Education (I&E) Teams. The role of the I&E teams was to inform soldiers on current events around the world, distribute Army publications (Stars and Stripes, Yank, etc.) facilitate radios for Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) Programs, and administer surveys from the Army to better understand the needs and mindset of its soldiers. As always, we are very thankful to Fort Mott State Park for hosting us once again at their site, and from all of us at the Greatest Generation Living History Association, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and all of the best in the new year!

📸: Marc A Hermann

12/12/2025

Be on the lookout for us tomorrow evening!

Just a reminder, this Sat Dec 13th, 4 to 8pm, is Soldiers Christmas. Come to Fort Mott State Park to see history come alive with interpreters showing what it was like during the holiday season for soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airman. Make sure to stop by Post Headquarters (Bldg. 9) to sign a holiday greeting card for the residents at our local Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, NJ. (Cards will be provided, no cost.) Fort Mott's Park Assoc. will be serving hot cocoa & popcorn in Bldg. 9, and selling tree ornaments as a fund raiser to support the park.

Be sure to wear warm clothing as this is an outside event! Parking will be in the main parking lot and on the Parade Ground field down Cemetery Road. This is a FREE event.

22/10/2025

“Securing the Surrender”
Troop C
1st Squadron
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division

September 1945
Tokyo, Japan

“PEACE AT LAST” and “JAPANESE SURRENDER” are some of the headlines read by the nations across of world on August 14th and 15th, 1945. The devastation of the two nuclear bombs dropped by the U.S. on August 6th and 9th, 1945, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively left Japanese leadership with no choice but to surrender. With this, the Allied Occupation period began, and the 1st Cavalry would claim the title of the first in Tokyo.
Securing and building up a new Japan would prove to be a lot of work. Recon squadrons of the 1st Cavalry Division were tasked with locating POW camps scattered all around Japan, then assisting in the evacuation of the POWs and sending them to hospitals, often to the 42nd General Hospital in Tokyo. In addition to repatriating POWs, the 1st Cavalry assisted in turning the ultranationalist pro-military imperialist government of Japan into one of democracy, while also allowing the Japanese army to demobilize itself.
At the Eisenhower National Historic Site’s Annual WW2 Weekend, we portrayed a condensed version of a repatriation camp ran by the 1st Cavalry Division. Within our display, we portrayed both Allied POWs and 1st Cavalry soldiers assisting said POWs in attaining new clothing, bathing, slowly working toward a healthy diet, and physical checkups. Among the many displays, we also showcased the captured item lottery system, in which many soldiers were able to take home many Japanese items taken from soldiers, such as weapons, uniforms, helmets, flags, and more.
Being rescued, however, was not the definitive ticket home many POWs thought it would be. The U.S. government created a “points” system to decide who gets to go home and who must remain in-country to continue demobilization and occupation duties. As of September 2nd, 1945, enlisted men and officers were required to earn 80 points to be discharged, earning points by total number of months in the service, months in service overseas, combat awards, and dependents at home. For many, the end of the war would only mean the end of combat.
We are always thankful to the Eisenhower National Historic Site and the National Park Service for hosting us and many other groups at this great event! We have many more events ahead of us, so stay tuned for more!

📸:

11/08/2025

“Hot on the Trail”
I Company
126th Infantry Regiment
32nd Infantry Division
Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippines Islands
May, 1945
“I have returned!”—the famous declaration by General Douglas MacArthur—marked his
return to the Philippines in October 1944. In 1942, MacArthur believed the Philippines was
a vital objective for Allied victory in the Pacific but was withdrawn to Australia as the islands
fell into Japanese hands. By January 9, 1945, however, the battle for Luzon—the Philippines’ largest island—had begun.

The U.S. fielded the 6th and 8th Armies for the assault. Among the infantry regiments was
the 126th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division. By February 1945, the 126th
encountered fierce Japanese resistance along the Villa Verde Trail, a winding mountain
route through the Caraballo Mountains. The Japanese, employing b***y traps, snipers,
machine guns, mortars, and artillery, had heavily fortified the trail with interlocking defensive positions, bunkers, caves, and entrenched strongholds. In addition to the armed resistance, the 126th and other regiments contended with dense jungle, constant rain, and narrow fighting passages. Severe fatigue, malaria, dengue fever, and battle exhaustion were also widespread.

Despite these hardships, the 126th steadily pushed the Japanese back from key high-
ground positions. “Wheeler Point,” a heavily defended hill, was captured by the 126th after
repeated, intense assaults. Much of the regiment’s success was due to the use of fire
teams, grenades (both fragmentation and white phosphorus), and close-quarters combat.
The adaptability of the 126th Regiment and other Allied forces to jungle warfare along the
Villa Verde Trail contributed significantly to the collapse of Japanese defenses in the
Caraballo Mountains, enabling the eventual breakthrough to the Cagayan Valley in May
1945.

We are incredibly grateful to our friends at East Penn Re-enactors Group for inviting us to help preserve the history of the 126th Regiment on the Villa Verde Trail. We are proud to share the often-overlooked stories of the Army in the Pacific Theatre. Thank you to the Boulton Historical Site and Jacobsburg Historical Society for welcoming our group to their great event!

29/06/2025

“With Old Reliable”
K Co, 3rd Batt, 47th IR
9th Infantry Division

Lozon, France
July 26th, 1944

Breakout!
With the Normandy Beachheads and surrounding towns and highways secured, along with the deep-water port of Cherbourg on the Cotentin Peninsula, it was time for the Allies to push out into greater France.

The 9th Infantry Division was staged in St. Lô in anticipation of the Normandy breakout codenamed Operation Cobra. Fighting alongside the 30th Infantry Division, the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment (3/47) was staged 200 yards of the Périers-St Lô Highway. The 9th’s initial objective during this time was to clear out German defenses Northwest of Marigny to free up the 1st Infantry Division and 3rd Armored Division to take Marigny itself.

The operation would open to a massive aerial bombardment to batter the German lines before sending in the infantry to clean up. Unfortunately, windy weather would blow the smoke indicators for the Air Corps into friendly lines and as a result, early drops would rain onto allied positions. 3rd battalion would be hit the hardest in the 47th Regiment, losing 30 men, and consequently the regiment was an hour and a half late to step off.

After the successful taking of Marigny, the 9th would set their sights for the commune Countances. The wider Operation Cobra would be viewed as a major victory for the Allies. Axis powers would attempt to form their own counter operation called Lüttich but the operation would only end in the formation of the Falaise Pocket and the subsequent collapse of the German 7th Army. By August the Allies were marching through Paris and were on the German border come September.

Yet another amazing and engaging WWII Weekend for GGLHA at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum! Special thanks to the ever-talented Marc A. Hermann for his photography!

Original photos used for reference were found at NARA and the 9thinfantry.net website!