Silbey said World War II was a turning point for many Americans. Wounded twice, … Prestia remembers writing letters for Valles in English to get them past the military censors. The … From stepping onto the beaches in Sicily in July 1943 until the surrender of Nazi Germany, Lt. Col. Sparks was pretty much in combat or ready to go back into combat for more than 500 days. From leadership at the company level he eventually commanded the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment. Other soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, of the US 45th (Thunderbird) Division , under command of Major General Robert Tryon Frederick killed other guards who resisted. The men of the 157th will be there, as part of their annual reunion that Sparks started in 1975. Col. Walter P. O'Brien: Assignments ", “I saw all kinds of discrimination in our own country during basic training,” Guy Prestia, an Italian American veteran of the 157th Infantry Regiment, said in an interview. But the unrest caused by Hitler and Japan prompted Sparks to join the ROTC where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Soldiers who fought abroad were not willing to be left behind at home. David Silbey, a Cornell professor who specializes in military history, says that when Americans look back at World War II, they often overlook the contributions of soldiers of color and other minority groups. 305th 306th 307th. He participated in four amphibious operations, first leading men into combat in September 1943 as captain of E Company, 157th. Brigadier General Felix Laurence Sparks (August 2, 1917 – September 25, 2007) was a United States Army officer who, during World War II, commanded the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, one of the first Allied forces to enter Dachau concentration camp and liberate its prisoners. Brigadier General Felix Sparks (August 2, 1917—September 25, 2007) was an American military commander who led the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division of the United States Army, the first Allied force to enter Dachau concentration camp and liberate its prisoners. “If you see someone get wounded, you go and help out. He taught himself how to develop film and was soon earning a considerable sum of money. The casualties suffered by a typical American infantry regiment serving in World War II were horrendous. Sparks would receive the Silver Star Medal for valor in combat. “They were very proud of their history and their ethnicity,” Kershaw said. Distinguished military commander; Colorado Supreme Court Judge. At the end of that term, he returned to his law practice in Delta. Prestia said he had not been raised to discriminate. Felix L. Sparks, a retired United States Army Brigadier General, former commanding officer with the 157th United States Army Infantry Regiment during World War II, and Secretary of the 157th Infantry Association. Similarly, Kershaw compared the experiences of Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Black Americans and other groups that saw in the military different paths to empowerment — as well as basic lifelines for employment, education and other opportunities. Dozens died from the concussive effect of nearby blasts that burst soldiers’ lungs and tore away their muddied field jackets. Company A held Heinerscheid. Sparks : The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle), WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 by Emajean Jordan Buechner A readable copy. The regiment moved out of the rest areas on 13 March 1945 and moved to staging points for the Seventh Army offensive, which kicked off on 15 March. Losing his bid for reelection in 1952, Governor Ed Johnson appointed him to fill an unexpired term on the Colorado Supreme Court. Get this from a library! Men of the 45th Infantry … The area was partially enclosed by an L-shaped masonry wall about 8 ft (2.4 m) high and next to a hospital. Both military bases are named after Confederate generals. Felix Sparks, right, who served with the 157th Infantry in World War II, and historian Jack Hallowell, also a veteran of the 157th, reflect on their war experiences. The 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment was originally organized 9 and 17 May 1861 as the 2nd and 3rd Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regimentsand mustered into Confederate service at New Orleans. A Mexican American from Port Arthur, Texas, Lucian Adams was a staff sergeant in the 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment during WWII. The exploits of WWII hero Felix Sparks (pictured, above center), who led the 157th Infantry Regiment through a campaign to liberate Europe, are being developed as a miniseries by the History channel. Growing up in Arizona, and later when he reported for duty in 1941 to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Sparks witnessed how Mexican Americans and Native Americans were treated like second-class citizens. An Army recruiter passing by ask him he if wanted to join the Army, and realizing he had little options left, he immediately signed on. Divisional information. Son of Felix Franklin Sparks and Martha Estelle Sparks Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division Particularly, it focuses on Felix Sparks and his men, an eclectic … Dachau was liberated on Sunday, April 29, […] In August 1944, the Thunderbirds encountered the German "Black Edelweiss" regiment. The 157th Infantry was constituted on 1 October 2007, and activated on 1 September 2008; it is technically a completely new regiment with no lineage connection to the 157th Field Artillery, though it inherits campaign participation credit and a decoration from Colorado field artillery units. Nearly 70 years after they returned home, Rex Raney, 93, and Karl Mann, 90, both members of the 157th Infantry Regiment in WWII attended the festivities of the reunion. L'ordre de bataille de la division en 1942 est le suivant [1] : . Private First Class Leonard E. Adams 157th Infantry Regiment 01/21/1945 : Private Howard M. Anchors 180th Infantry Regiment 06/03/1944 : Private Zeno P. Babarski 157th Infantry Regiment 06/04/1945 : Sergeant Harold E. Baird 179th Infantry Regiment 05/03/1945 : Staff Sergeant Casimer Bernat 180th Infantry Regiment 05/15/1944 : Sergeant Elmer E. Blake 179th Infantry Regiment 01/31/1944 Men from the 157th Regiment of the 45th “Thunderbird” Infantry Division—holding positions about five miles inland, along a 2,000-yard front flanking a road connecting Anzio to Rome—were bounced around their foxholes. The 4th Medal of Honor was earned on 18 March while breaching the Sigfried line, by Edward G. Wilkin. Later, as captain of E Company in the 157th Infantry Regiment, Sparks’ talent for leadership came through in how he treated his Mexican American subordinates. 75th Infantry Division. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. He died from complications due to pneumonia. Sparks in 1942. The four-part, live-action animated series tells the story of Col. Felix Sparks and the diverse soldiers he led in the 157th Infantry Regiment. SPARKS, FELIX LAURENCE Felix Laurence Sparks (born August 2, 1917 in San Antonio, TX) was the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry Regiment, from the 45th Division of the Unit Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 System of Arrangement Arrangement is thematic. The 158th Infantry Regiment ("Bushmasters"1) is an infantry unit of the Arizona National Guard. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. Gen. Felix Sparks at Crown Hill Cemetery Wheat Ridge, Colorado, as part of the final reunion of the 157th Infantry Regimental Association, including 1/157th Infantry Veterans from World War II and their families, hosted by member of the 1st Battalion 157th Infantry, Colorado Army National Guard, May 31, 2015. 157th Inf 158th 90th Inf Bde 179th 180th. Dozens died from the concussive effect of nearby blasts that burst soldiers’ lungs and tore away their muddied field jackets. Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In all, about 30 were killed, according to the commanding officer Felix Laurence Sparks, the commander who led the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry Regiment . 66th Infantry Division. He writes for La Opinión A Coruña and has been published in Fusion, Univision and City Limits. He later served on the Colorado Supreme Court. Rememberances from Cpl. Prestia, 98, initially trained at Camp Wheeler in Georgia and Fort Pickett in Virginia, before joining Sparks’s regiment. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Those men - 1,100 at last count - are the last of the 157th Infantry. For example, by the end of January, 1945, the 47 th Infantry Regiment (which fought in France and Germany) had lost well over 100% of their strength to battle casualties, where men were either killed, wounded, missing, or taken as prisoner of war. (G Company, 157th Infantry Regiment) The Story of Ray H. Drullinger (F ... (K Company) Newspaper Article About General Felix Sparks (3rd Battalion Commander) Memories of Dr. Peter Carl Graffagnino ( 2nd Battalion Surgeon) Gerald Hall Photo Collection (Mechanic, 157th Infantry) Newspaper Article About Private Bob Sheridan . Sparks : the combat diary of a battalion commander (rifle), WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In some cases, Silbey said, the war made people more self-aware that their actions not only had implications for themselves as individuals but as members of a larger community. Sparks … Sparks : The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle), WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 by Emajean Jordan Buechner A readable copy. See more ideas about infantry, dachau, wwii. 262nd 263rd 264th. He later served on the Colorado Supreme Court. The 157th Infantry Regiment was once again in the attack. Private First Class Leonard E. Adams 157th Infantry Regiment 01/21/1945 : Private Howard M. Anchors 180th Infantry Regiment 06/03/1944 : Private Zeno P. Babarski 157th Infantry Regiment 06/04/1945 : Sergeant Harold E. Baird 179th Infantry Regiment 05/03/1945 : Staff Sergeant Casimer Bernat 180th Infantry Regiment 05/15/1944 : Sergeant Elmer E. Blake 179th Infantry Regiment … The 157th Infantry was a Colorado National Guard regiment, and when it was called up it was composed of men from that state for the most part. And the majority of those identified as Mexican Americans. Texas-born Felix Sparks began WWII as an executive officer with 157th Infantry Regiment. 1st Battalion inactivated 1 February 1975 and relieved from assignment to the 157th Infantry Brigade . IE 11 is not supported. You do what is needed because you have a lot of soldiers but very few medics.”. He later liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp as a Lt. Some of the German troops were camp guards; the others were sick and wounded troops from a nearby hospital. In the simple words of American battalion commander Felix Sparks, “The war slowed down.” Sparks’s unit would be the main American combatant in the coming fight at Reipertswiller. Lt. Col. Sparks, a battalion commander of the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division wrote about the incident. When his two years were up with the Army he enrolled at the University of Arizona and was on his way to earning his long coveted law degree. 253rd 354th 355th. 70th Infantry Division. Company E, commanded by Captain Felix Sparks, was assigned to one end of the battalion’s line, where it bordered the division’s 179th Regiment. “Lots of diverse Americans were fighting to defeat Nazism, and they were also fighting to protect and preserve their idea of America,” said the New York Times bestselling author Alex Kershaw, whose book “The Liberator” inspired the new Netflix series. Here are some of the details I do know about him. Twice he lost huge numbers of the men he commanded when overwhelmed by enemy force. American troops wading ashore from a landing craft during the World War II Allied invasion of Salerno, Italy, Sept. 1943. Mark Dolan Sergeant John L. Dolan 10/8/1923 Army Serial #31289300 Second Squad Company K 157th Infantry Regiment 45th Infantry Division Enlisted … Sparks watched as about 50 German prisoners captured by the 157th Infantry Regiment were confined in an area that had been used for storing coal. 274th 275th 276th. An infantry officer with the 157th Infantry Battalion of the 45th Division, Sparks led a racially-integrated group of soldiers across the battlefields of Europe — and through the horrors of war. Known as "The Thunderbirds," the unit - as told through voiceover narration - was trained Fort Sill, Oklahoma and consisted of Apache, Seminole, Cherokee, Sioux, Choctaw, and Mexican Americans. The area was partially enclosed by an L-shaped masonry wall about 8 ft (2.4 m) high and next to a hospital. Reorganized 7 January 1963 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 157th Infantry Brigade. He helped dig out fellow soldiers while facing enemy machine gunfire. Men from the 157th Regiment of the 45th “Thunderbird” Infantry Division—holding positions about five miles inland, along a 2,000-yard front flanking a road connecting Anzio to Rome—were bounced around their foxholes. The four-part, live-action animated series tells the story of Col. Felix Sparks and the diverse soldiers he led in the 157th Infantry Regiment. He later served on the Colorado Supreme Court. The date is April 29, 1945, and the man with the pistol is 27-year-old Felix Sparks, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, one of … 77th Infantry Division. Brigadier General Felix Sparks (August 2, 1917—September 25, 2007) was an American military commander who led the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division of the United States Army, the first Allied force to enter Dachau concentration camp and liberate its prisoners.. brief biography. 110th Infantry Regiment, Col. Hurley Fuller’s command post was in Clervaux; Executive Officer was Col. Daniel B. Strickler 1st Battalion held the northern section with Col. Donald Paul’s command post at Urspelt:. The … [Emajean Jordan Buechner] "Numbers don't mean a hell of a lot to anybody anymore. They had been buried in a bomb explosion. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. Brother of Private; Private; Private and Private. By the end of the conflict the 157th IR would accrue nine Medals of Honor, 61 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,848 Silver Star Medals, 38 Legion of Merit Medals and 59 Soldier’s Medals. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Return to Liberators | Return to Witnesses Excerpts from General Sparks personal account of the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, edited by Charles V. Ferree The following is a page from the World War II history book of the 157th.Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Seventh United States Army. Keywords and Subjects. He had just about completed the first semester of law school when the notice to report to the Army came. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. “Many, like the Blacks, were fighting for what they called the ‘Double-V’ — victory over racism abroad, and victory over racism at home.”. In a second incident, the Army considered court-martialling several officers of the 157th Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Felix L. Sparks after servicemen were accused of massacring German soldiers who were surrendering at the Dachau concentration camp in 1945. Topical Term World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation. Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division And there's only a handful of men left here in the state who served with the 157th," Sparks says. He lost his entire company other than one man at Anzio in February 1944 and almost all of his battalion to the SS in January 1945 in the Vosges. He was a member of the 157th Infantry unit. The 2nd Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment surrendered on 9 April 1865 at Appomattox, VA, with the Army of Northern Virginia; the 3d Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment disbanded on 20 May 1865 at Shreveport, LA. Some women who worked in different industries during the the war became determined to find careers outside the home. … As Kershaw explained on The Art of Manliness podcast, Sparks was a real person who led the 45th infantry division aka the Thunderbirds. 63rd Infantry Division. 304th 385th 417th. “While the American government did not treat many diverse groups well, these soldiers nonetheless had an idea of a community," Silbey said, "a place that made them want to fight for it in America.”. He practiced law in Delta, Colorado where he was elected district attorney. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. The 157th Field Artillery Regiment (First Colorado) is a United States Army Regimental System field artillery parent regiment of the United States Army National Guard, represented in the Colorado Army National Guard by the 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 169th Field Artillery Brigade at Colorado Springs. 309th 310th 311th. From stepping onto the beaches in Sicily in July 1943 until the surrender of Nazi Germany, Lt. Col. Sparks was pretty much in combat or ready to go back into combat for more than 500 days. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The photo behind them shows Capt. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. It was called into service 16 Feb 40 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where it was based, so naturally most of the units were Okie in origin. Born on August 2, 1917, Brigadier General Felix Laurence Sparks was a United States Army officer who, during World War II, led the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, one of the first Allied forces to enter Dachau concentration camp and release its prisoners. The exploits of WWII hero Felix Sparks (pictured, above center), who led the 157th Infantry Regiment through a campaign to liberate Europe, are being developed as a miniseries by the History channel. Buy Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 by online on Amazon.ae at best prices. The 158th Infantry takes its lineage directly from the Confederate Arizona Scout Companies raised by Arizona Territory Governor, John Robert Baylor The Arizonians engaged in hit and run tactics against the invading Union forces of the California Column, their most successful encounter being the Battle of Picacho Pass. World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities. Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 by Emajean Jordan Buechner (1992-09-01) [Emajean Jordan Buechner] on Amazon.com. The four-part, live-action animated series tells the story of Col. Felix Sparks and the diverse soldiers he led in the 157th Infantry Regiment. Colonel of an infantry regiment at the age of 26. “It was the victory of all the diverse groups of America.”. 157th US Infantry Regiment. “What the stories of these Mexican American and Native American soldiers make clear is that World War II was not the victory of white America,” says historian David Silbey, but of "diverse groups.". Born in Pacoima, California, he was only 21 when he was killed in action in the Philippines in 1945. Thanks for your time. The military unit endured 500 days of fierce combat from the war-torn beaches of Sicily to the gates of the oldest concentration camp in Nazi Germany. Sparks watched as about 50 German prisoners captured by the 157th Infantry Regiment were confined in an area that had been used for storing coal. Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 [Buechner, Emajean Jordan] on Amazon.com. SPARKS, FELIX LAURENCE Felix Laurence Sparks (born August 2, 1917 in San Antonio, TX) was the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry Regiment, from … Geni requires JavaScript! Pfc. The 2nd and 3rd Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regi… From leadership at the company level he eventually commanded the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment. 271st 272nd 273rd . As Americans honor veterans nationwide, a new series pays special tribute to a diverse group of WWII soldiers that included Mexican Americans, Native Americans and white Americans from Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and other parts of the West. 76th Infantry Division. However Confederate forces were soon forced to abandon Arizona and retreat into Texas. After Brig. Starring Bradley James as Sparks, The Liberator centers on the U.S. Army's 157th regiment. David M. Gonzalez received the medal of honor posthumously. George Rodger / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty, “The Liberator” inspired the new Netflix series, the greatest fighting combat team ever deployed for battle. Buy Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 by online on Amazon.ae at best prices. “I didn’t see much discrimination in my unit, because in the infantry, everybody has to take care of each other,” Prestia said. And nearby bars posted signs reading "No Mexicans" and "No Indians. … Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 “The Liberator” centers around the men of the 157th Infantry Regiment. Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 by Emajean Jordan Buechner (1992-09-01) [Emajean Jordan Buechner] on Amazon.com. Several family members of other WWII veterans were also in attendance including the family of Brig. “In the South, those people were still fighting the Civil War.”. After leaving the army, Sparks graduated from the University of Colorado Law School finally earning his degree in 1947. “What the stories of these Mexican American and Native American soldiers make clear is that World War II was not the victory of white America,” he said. Ultimately, Latinos would earn 12 Medals of Honor during World War II, and Gen. Douglas MacArthur would also champion some of them in Arizona’s 158 Infantry Regiment as “the greatest fighting combat team ever deployed for battle.”. Twice he lost huge numbers of the men he commanded when overwhelmed by enemy force. His best friend at the beginning of the war was a Mexican American soldier from Tucson, Arizona, named Jesús (which he pronounces “Hey-Zeus”) Valles. Sparks earned … Roughly 500,000 Latino soldiers served in the U.S. military during World War II. ; Company B held Marnach. The regiment has served in World War I, World War II and Afghanistan. Commanding Officer (CO) 30.08.1944. Those same men, the Army’s 157th Infantry Regiment, part of the 45th Infantry Division, had borne the war on their backs from Sicily to the heart of Germany during more than 500 days of combat in less than two years.. Sparks, and the regiment’s companies under his command, are now the focus of a four-part animated series released on Veterans Day on Netflix, “The Liberator.” 78th Infantry Division. By the end of the conflict the 157th IR would accrue nine Medals of Honor, 61 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,848 Silver Star Medals, 38 Legion of Merit Medals and 59 Soldier’s Medals. 110th Infantry Regiment’s Defensive Positioning in Bastogne Corridor. Gen. Sparks led his troops on 4 beach landings and even went AWOL from a field hospital after getting patched up from shrapnel wounds to get back to his unit fighting to the death in the hills around Anzio. Prestia pointed out that combat made everyone equal on the battlefield. But their path to glory was often diminished by the racism they faced at home. 1940 - Broad St, Inspiration, C S D#2, Gila, Arizona, USA, Ladelle Sparks, Frances Sparks, Margaret Sparks, Earl Sparks, Aug 2 1917 - San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, United States, Jefferson, Park County, Colorado, United States, Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, Attorneys to Judges - the American Legal System, U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007, "The Last Battle - Felix Sparks vs the NRA". 69th Infantry Division. The entire 45th Infantry Division was composed of National Guard units from several states. Sep 1, 2017 - Explore Mark M.'s board "157th Infantry Regt" on Pinterest. Husband of Mary Frances Sparks The 45th Infantry Division’s 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment had advanced overnight to take positions on the west side of the roadway, assuming its place on the front line. Gen. Felix Sparks. He lived through 511 days of combat, serving in Patton's army and used his leadership with great skill again for the state of Colorado in the 60's and 70's as an attorney, supreme court judge, Ground Commander for the Colorado Army Guard and as an official on the Water Board. Memorial ceremony for Brig. He was awarded the medal of honor for single-handedly destroying enemy machine gun nests in central France on a mission to re-establish supply lines for U.S. troops. 289th 290th 291st. The Arizona Scout Companies formed under the comm… Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 by Emajean Jordan Buechner (1992-09-03) | | ISBN: | Kostenloser Versand für alle Bücher mit Versand und Verkauf duch Amazon. Reorganized 6 April 1959 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System to consist of the 1st Battle Group, an element of the 79th Infantry Division. Kershaw points out in his book that the legendary Apache leader, Geronimo, died as a prisoner in the same fort where Native Americans and Mexican Americans were training to fight in World War II. From left: a wedding portrait taken in 1941; a portrait taken in 1961; and a 1942 portrait taken when he was a captain. The German POWs were watched over by a machine gun team from Company I. British author Alex Kershaw's book, "The Liberator," tells the story of World War II hero Felix Sparks and his men in the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, which has a … Arturo Conde is an editor and a bilingual freelance journalist. In order to attain his goal of getting a law degree he convinced the Captain that the Army was needed a Photography Shop. I have been researching my grandfathers WW2 history and was wondering if you had any additional information about him or his company during the time he was in Europe. Born the oldest of five children he left home at age 18 in search of a job traveling by boxcar first to Corpus Christi Texas and then on to San Francisco. In 1967 then Governor of Arizona Jack Williams signed into law that December 3 would be "Bushmaster Day" in the State of Arizona in honor of the regiment's service. Born on August 2, 1917, Brigadier General Felix Laurence Sparks was a United States Army officer who, during World War II, led the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, one of the first Allied forces to enter Dachau concentration camp and release its prisoners. 71 e régiment d'infanterie (71st Infantry Regiment) ;; 114 e régiment d'infanterie (114th Infantry Regiment) ;; 324 e régiment d'infanterie (324th Infantry Regiment) ;; 156 e bataillon d'artillerie de campagne (156th Field Artillery Batallion) ;; 157 e bataillon d'artillerie de campagne (157th Field Artillery Batallion) ; Unsuccessful in gaining employment he found himself broke and hungry sleeping on park benches. Later, as captain of E Company in the 157th Infantry Regiment, Sparks’ talent for leadership came through in how he treated his Mexican American subordinates. Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 [Buechner, Emajean Jordan] on Amazon.com. 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