111th Infantry Regiment — U.S Army

Introduction

When I recently learned that my maternal grandfather, Charles "Charley" Richard Mitchell, was involved in World War II, I decided to put up this page to help anyone else looking for information on the U.S. Army's 111th Infantry Regiment.

Since Charley died when my mother was only 6 months old, neither she nor I had the chance to get to know him. With the death of my grandmother a few years ago, we have lost another source of personal knowledge of his life. Regrettably, we did not get a chance to ask my grandmother about his military history, always assuming that he served in the military after the end of World War II.

The purpose of this page is to (1) give researchers of the 111th Infantry Regiment a place to start, (2) collect any information on the unit in one location, (3) hopefully give a place for members of this unit to contact old friends, and (4) to possibly find out more about the life of my grandfather.

Andy E. Wold <wold.andy@iname.com>
grandson of Charles Richard Mitchell

U.S. Army — 111th Infantry Regiment
World War II History
17 Feb 1941		111th Infantry Regiment inducted into federal service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Assigned to the 28th Division.¹
27 Feb 1941		111th Infantry Regiment moved to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania.¹
20 Dec 1941		111th Infantry Regiment transferred to Baltimore, Maryland.¹
18 Jan 1942		111th Infantry Regiment transferred to Fort Monroe, Virginia.¹
17 Feb 1942		111th Infantry Regiment relieved from the 28th Division.¹
30 Apr 1942		111th Infantry Regiment assigned to the Eastern Defense Command.¹
08 Feb 1943		111th Infantry Regiment further attached to the Chesapeake Bay sector.¹
15 Oct 1943		111th Infantry Regiment relocated to Camp Pendleton, Virginia.¹
03 Nov 1943		111th Infantry Regiment staged at Camp Stoneman, California.¹
09 Nov 1943		111th Infantry Regiment departed San Francisco Port of Embarkation.¹
12 Nov 1943		111th Infantry Regiment arrived Hawaii under Central Pacific Base Command.¹
31 Jan 1944		111th Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion assaulted Kwajalein and remained as the garrison.¹
22 Apr 1944		111th Infantry Regiment Company I assaulted Ujelan Atoll near Eniwetok.¹
06 Jun 1944		D-Day invasion of Normandy.
20 Jul 1944		Battle of Guam begins.
23 Jul 1944		Battle of Tinian (one week).
09 Aug 1944		My grandfather, Charley, inducted into the military — 111th Infantry, Company F, in the Pacific theater. He served as a Meat Cutter.¹
10 Aug 1944		Battle of Guam ends.
01 Feb 1945		111th Infantry Regiment moved to Peleliu.¹
17 Feb 1945		American forces take back the Bataan Peninsula.
19 Feb 1945		Battle of Iwo Jima begins.
16 Mar 1945		Battle of Iwo Jima ends.
01 Apr 1945		Battle of Okinawa begins.
12 Apr 1945		President Roosevelt dies. Vice-President Truman succeeds him.
08 May 1945		Germany surrenders.
15 May 1945		111th Infantry Regiment attached to the Western Pacific Base Command.¹
22 Jun 1945		Battle of Okinawa ends.
06 Aug 1945		Nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
09 Aug 1945		Nuclear bomb dropped on Nagasaki.
15 Aug 1945		Japan surrenders.
02 Nov 1945		111th Infantry Regiment leaves for the states.¹
21 Nov 1945		111th Infantry Regiment arrives at Los Angeles.¹
22 Nov 1945		111th Infantry Regiment inactivated at Camp Anza in Arlington, California.¹
06 Jan 1946		Charley is discharged from the military from Fort Lewis, WA.
10 Apr 1946		Charley dies in Preston, Idaho.

1. SOURCE: "World War II Order of Battle" by Shelby L. Stanton, p. 217 (FHL US/CAN Book 973 / M3st)

111th Infantry Regiment (Separate)

Pennsylvania National Guard

17 Feb 41 inducted into federal service at Philadelphia Pa assigned to the 28th Division and moved to Indiantown Gal {Gap} Mil{itary} Res{ervation} Pa 27 Feb 41; transferred to Baltimore Md 20 Dec 41 and to Ft Monroe Va 18 Jan 42 where relieved from the 28th Division 17 Feb 42 and assigned to the Eastern Defense Command 30 Apr 42; further attached to the Chesapeake Bay sector 8 Feb 43 and relocated to Cp {Camp} Pendleton Va 15 Oct 43; staged at Cp {Camp} Stoneman Calif 3 Nov 43 and departed San Francisco P/E {Port of Embarkation} 9 Nov 43; arrived Hawaii 12 Nov 43 under Central Pacific Base Command; 1st Bn {Battalion} assaulted Kwajalein 31 Jan 44 and remained as the garrison while Co {Company} I assaulted Ujelan Atoll near Eniwetok 22 Apr 44; regiment moved to Peleliu 1 Feb 45 where attached Western Pacific Base Command 15 May 45; departed 2 Nov 45 and arrived Los Angeles P/E 21 Nov 45 and inactivated at Cp Anza Calif on 22 Nov 45.

Campaigns: Central Pacific, Eastern Mandates, Western Pacific

Aug 1945 Location (Japanese Surrender): Peleliu Island Palau Islands

[Appendix I, p. 596]

Central Pacific 07 Dec 1941 - 06 Dec 1943

Eastern Mandates 31 Jan 1944 - 14 Jun 1944

Western Pacific 15 Jun 1944 - 02 Sep 1045

Unit Members

Obituary of Charles "Charley" Richard Mitchell
SOURCE: Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Apr 1946, p. 17 (Salt Lake City Library, roll #492)

Charles Richard Mitchell

PRESTON, Ida. — Charles Richard Mitchell, 25, World War II veteran, died suddenly Wednesday at 6 a. m. of undetermined but natural causes.

Mr. Mitchell felt ill Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning complained of suffocation. A physician was called, but he died shortly after.

He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 20, 1920, the son of John Richard and Artense Hitsman {sic} Mitchell. He married Aphrodel Perkins of Preston. He served in the armed forces for 1 ½ years in the Pacific theater of operations, and was discharged Jan. 6, 1946.

He is survived by his widow; three daughters, Charlene, Aphrodel and Melanie Mitchell, Preston; his parents, Salt Lake City; one brother and two sisters, Arthur Mitchell, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Rhoda Krenz, Hailey; Mrs. Edna Ogden, Jerome.

Funeral arrangements are being made with Hendricks mortuary.

SOURCE: Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Apr 1946, p. 19 (Salt Lake City Library, roll #492)

Charles R. Mitchell

PRESTON, Ida. — Funeral services for Charles Richard Mitchell, 25, World War II veteran, who died suddenly Wednesday morning, will be conducted Saturday in the Preston, L D S ward chapel by Ernest Everhard, bishop.

Friends may call at the home of Marion Perkins Friday evening and Saturday until time for services. Burial will be in Preston cemetery under direction of Hendricks Mortuary.

Obituary of Kenneth W. Stallsmith
SOURCE: http://herald-mail.com/news/1997/10/31/lifestyle/wwwobits_for_11_1.html

Kenneth W. Stallsmith

FAYETTEVILLE, Pa. - Kenneth W. Stallsmith, 81, of 106 Crider Ave., died Friday, Oct. 31, 1997, at Chambersburg Hospital.

Born June 23, 1916, in Adams County, Pa., he was the son of the late George W. and Maude C. Wierman Stallsmith.

He was a 1936 graduate of Biglerville High School, Biglerville, Pa.; and a graduate of Carlisle Business School, Carlisle, Pa.

He was retired from Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, Pa., after 26 years.

He served with the U.S. Army, Company 1, 111th Infantry during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He received the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.

He was a member of Open Door Church, Chambersburg.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Yates Stallsmith; two sisters, Julia Bucher of Aspers, Pa. and Lena Miller of Gettysburg, Pa.; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Fair and Mildred Miller.

Services will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Open Door Church, 600 Miller St., Chambersburg. The Rev. Keith Skelton, the Rev. Jerry Traister and the Rev. Arthur Brown will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, with military graveside services conducted by members of Charles M. Nitterhouse Post 1599 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

There will be no viewing.

The family requests the omission of flowers.

Memorial contributions may be made to Open Door Church, 600 Miller St., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Arrangements are by Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg.

Possible Relative Items

According to the "S. S. Australis Homepage" (www.users.zetnet.co.uk/australis), the cruise liner "America" was converted to a military troop transport ship — the "U.S.S. West Point", and transported this Regiment to Hawaii. After the war, it was re-made into a cruise ship, and renamed the "S.S. Australis" in 1964. The ship wrecked on the Canary Islands on 18 Jan 1994.

I am basing the above simply on the dates of departure and arrival in "World War II Order of Battle" versus the World War II Troop Ship Crossings website (hometown.aol.com/troopship/sswestpt.htm) which give the following:

World War II Order of Battle
Departure		Arrival
09 Nov 1943	San Francisco	12 Nov 1943	Hawaii

World War II Troop Ship Crossings website
Departure		Arrival		Passengers	Miles	Total Miles	days out	mi / dy
08 Nov 1943	San Francisco	12 Nov 1943	Honolulu, Hawaii	7,931	2,142	199,381	4	428

The slight discrepancy in the departure dates may be the difference between leaving dry land to board the ship on the 8th of November, versus actually leaving port on the 9th of November.

U.S.S. West Point with grey paint.

U.S.S. West Point with camouflage paint.

U.S.S. West Point under steam.

U.S.S. West Point's return to a cruise liner.

SOURCES:

E-mail from my aunt summarizing his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge paper: [image]
"A photo copy of Daddy's "Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge" paper. Date of induction is 09 Aug 44 and no date of enlistment. Thus Vic says he was probably drafted. He was inducted from Brigham City {Utah}. He was a meat cutter. Reason for separation was for the convenience of the government. His decoration and citations were Asiatic-Pacific service medal and Victory medal."
E-mail from my aunt summarizing his Honorable Discharge paper: [image]
"A photo copy of his Honorable Discharge paper. He served in Co F 111th Inf. Separated from Fort Lewis Washington on 09 Jan 1946. His military number is: 39-933-450."