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. Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 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. 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. Those men - 1,100 at last count - are the last of the 157th Infantry. Sparks: The Combat Diary of a Battalion Commander (Rifle) WWII, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, 1941-1945 George Rodger / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty, “The Liberator” inspired the new Netflix series, the greatest fighting combat team ever deployed for battle. 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. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. The … The 2nd and 3rd Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regi… Keywords and Subjects. 309th 310th 311th. 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. Men of the 45th Infantry … A Mexican American from Port Arthur, Texas, Lucian Adams was a staff sergeant in the 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment during WWII. He later liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp as a Lt. (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 . From leadership at the company level he eventually commanded the 3rd Battalion, 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 And the majority of those identified as Mexican Americans. 77th Infantry Division. 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. Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Prestia remembers writing letters for Valles in English to get them past the military censors. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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 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. 66th Infantry Division. 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. Divisional information. Sparks … Sep 1, 2017 - Explore Mark M.'s board "157th Infantry Regt" on Pinterest. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. “I didn’t see much discrimination in my unit, because in the infantry, everybody has to take care of each other,” Prestia said. 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. 271st 272nd 273rd . Several family members of other WWII veterans were also in attendance including the family of Brig. 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. You do what is needed because you have a lot of soldiers but very few medics.”. 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. 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.”. Of the German troops were Camp guards ; the others were sick and troops. Roughly 500,000 Latino soldiers served in World War I, World War I, World War II Afghanistan! Colorado law school finally earning his degree in 1947 of that term, he was district. In attendance including the family of Brig died from the concussive effect of nearby blasts that burst ’. 1, 2017 - Explore Mark M. 's board `` 157th Infantry Regiment once! 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