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The Fighting 69th Infantry Division – Unit Histories

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Click the Coat of Arms of the 69th unit in which you are interested.

271st Infantry Regiment

272nd Infantry Regiment

273rd Infantry Regiment

History of the 271st Infantry Regiment – Tresspass Against Them History of the 272nd Inantry Regiment – Battle Axe Regiment History of the 273rd Infantry Regiment – Steadily Advance –
     

461st AA Battalion

724th Field Artillery Bn

777th Tank Battalion

     

661st TD Battalion

69th Infantry Band

880th Field Artillery Bn

History of the 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion 69th Infantry Band History History of the 880th Field Artillery Battalion – Ready Support
     

369th Medical Battalion

69th Cavalry Recon Troop (Mechanized)

269th Engineer Combat Battalion

History of the 369th Medical Battalion History of the 69th Cavalry Recon Troop (Mechanized) – Observe & Report History of the 269th Engineer Combat Battalion
     

69th Division Artillery

   
History of the 69th Division Artillery    

 

Introduction

The music you may hear on some of these history pages (if your computer has speakers) is the type of music the GIs listened to during WWII. In Europe, we had our own radio stations, called the Armed Forces Radio Network, and we also used Radio Luxemburg. “Axis Sally,” in her propaganda broadcasts, played the same type of music in an effort to destroy the morale of the U. S. forces. It had just the opposite effect. The GIs listened and laughed at her efforts, but appreciated the good music. “Tokyo Rose” in Japan tried the same thing with the GIs in the South Pacific, with no success either. Sgt. Johnny Mercer (later of Capitol Records fame) was the most popular disc jockey, with a program he called the “The Duffle Bag.” His theme song was “Pompton Turnpike” by Charlie Barnett. 

These are the tunes you’ll hear (in the “MIDI” format ): On the 272nd History page is “Moonlight Serenade,” Major Glen Miller’s theme song. “Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie,” on the 461st History, was made famous by Tommy Dorsey. On the 273rd History, “Don’t Get Around Much Any More” was made famous by Count Basie. “Getting Sentimental Over You," on the 271st History, was a Tommy Dorsey hit. “In the Mood,” on the 271st History, was another of Glen Miller’s famous recordings. “Jersey Bounce,” another dance tune of that era, is heard on the 777th Tank Battalion History. Another famous recording artist during WWII was Artie Shaw. “Begin the Beguine,” as heard on the 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion history, was one of his big hits. The music heard on the 880th Field Artillery history is "Take the A Train".

Some may be wondering how GIs managed to listen to radio during combat. Well, combat was not a 24/7 affair – there were lots of lulls during hostilities, and our GIs were very innovative in finding ways to entertain themselves. 

If the Coat of Arms of the unit you are looking for is not on this page, the history has not as yet become available, or is being constructed. As soon as a history is available we will post it.

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