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  3. 549th AAA AW Battalion

Battery C - 549th AAA

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549AAA549th AntiAircraft Artillery Missile Battalion8787th87th Infantry DivisionEuropeUS ArmyWWII EraWorld War II

From 549th AAA AW Battalion - Photos From Estate of Unknown Soldier

  • 549th AAA AW BN BTRY C - partial group pic.<br /> <br /> Picture dated - October - 1943<br /> <br /> Looking at pic - this is left half of large group pic in this gallery.<br /> <br /> Photo contributed by Tim Muilenburg, <br /> son of Ivan Muilenburg, who served in the 549th.
  • Cpl Ivan R. Muilenburg<br /> <br /> cropped from large Unit picture of the 549th AAA AW Bn - Btry C - 1943<br /> (top row - 1st on left)<br /> <br /> 549th AAA AW BN BTRY C<br /> 87th Infantry Division.<br /> Involved in the Battle Of The Bulge - WWII.
  • PFC Melvin O. Amelung<br /> <br /> cropped from large Unit picture of the 549th AAA AW Bn - Btry C - 1943<br /> (4th row from bottom - 21st from left)<br /> <br /> <br /> 549th AAA AW BN BTRY C<br /> 87th Infantry Division.<br /> Involved in the Battle Of The Bulge - WWII.
  • Cpl Howard A. Rishel<br /> <br /> cropped from large Unit picture of the 549th AAA AW Bn - Btry C - 1943<br /> (1st row - sitting - #21 from left) <br /> <br /> <br /> 549th AAA AW BN BTRY C<br /> 87th Infantry Division.<br /> Involved in the Battle Of The Bulge - WWII.
  • 549th AAA AW BN BTRY C - partial group pic<br /> <br /> Picture dated - October - 1943<br /> <br /> Looking at pic - this is right half of large group pic in this gallery.<br /> <br /> 549th AAA AW BN BTRY C<br /> 87th Infantry Division.<br /> Involved in the Battle Of The Bulge - WWII.<br /> <br /> 87th Infantry Division Association<br /> <a href="http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com">http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com</a><br /> <br /> Please make contact if you are connected in any way to any of these names shown in this gallery of names under this picture! <br /> <br /> Photo contributed by Tim Muilenburg, <br /> son of Ivan Muilenburg, who served in the 549th.
  • 549th AAA AW BN BTRY C<br /> 87th Infantry Division.<br /> Involved in the Battle Of The Bulge - WWII.<br /> <br /> Picture dated - October - 1943<br /> <br /> List of names are under picture.<br /> To view all 6 rows of names enlarged for easy viewing, <br /> see all other pics in this gallery - which is 4 pages. <br /> <br /> I also enlarged sections of this group pic.<br /> <br /> Please make contact if you are connected in any way to any of these names shown in this gallery of names under this picture! <br /> <br /> Also if you have timeline of where this unit was for month of <br /> December - 1944.<br /> Morning reports could not be located for this unit for this month at national records center.<br /> <br /> UPDATE 8-2007<br /> We have found and talked with two wonderful gentlemen from this unit!<br /> <br /> Cpl Howard A. Rishel (in unit pic – he is in 1st row - #21 from left)<br /> Sgt Wayne L. Luedke ( in unit pic – he is 2nd row - # 9 from left) <br /> <br /> Both were very humble in their discussing their time/place in the war.<br /> When Mr. Luedke gave me permission to give his name, he stated, <br /> “I guess that would be fine – but just don’t make me out a hero anywhere..…I was just one of 16 million – I was just a Buck Sgt.”<br /> and “put my picture small.”<br /> <br /> A news article that featured Mr. Luedke describing his time/place in the war serving in the 549th has now been posted on the main 87th ID page under "News Articles" It is titled, "CALL HIM LUCKY" <br /> <br /> He recalls maybe three more men who were from around St, Louis, MO<br /> Cpl August Mormino – <br /> (In unit pic - he is in 5th row from bottom # 26th from left),<br /> <br /> Pvt Edward C. Merkel – <br /> (In unit pic – he is in 4th row from bottom - #12 from left),<br /> <br /> Pvt Robert Smith –<br /> (In unit pic – he is in 5th row from bottom # 21 from left). <br /> <br /> The 549th AAA has had several reunions in St. Louis, and Branson, MO, but as far as he knows, there hasn’t been one in several years.<br /> <br /> Update - Aug - 2007<br /> Mr. Luedke gracioulsy sent me original pictures he took during his service and okayed me to scan and place on this gallery.<br /> It will take a few days to get all scanned and placed.<br /> Again, we would appreciate any posting of comments or info after viewing these photos. <br /> <br /> Update - September - 2007 - <br /> Found PFC Laverne White <br /> Mr. Ivan Muilenburg's son, Tim Muilenburg, saw Mr. White's picture in the latest edition of the Golden Acorn (the magazine of the 87th ID)!<br /> From there he made contact and met him -both living in Iowa.<br /> He shared information - and gave Tim a Roster with names/addresses.<br /> We are so grateful.<br /> My dad sent letters to many but most were returned - now deceased.<br /> Mr. White's individual photo has been added to this gallery. <br /> <br /> Update - December - 2007<br /> Cpl August Mormino's son, Tony Mormino contacted me after finding his Dad's name listed here!<br /> I sent him my research story and information about all contacts made and then he called Mr. Luedke.<br /> We have added Cpl August Mormino to the individual men in this gallery.<br /> <br /> Update May – 2009<br /> Another contact from this unit!!<br /> 1st Sgt Oliver Santangelo<br /> An email from his stepson, Charlie Craig:<br /> My daughter and I had a recent conversation with my step dad. <br /> He showed us his Army discharge papers and we wrote down his unit number. <br /> To our surprise we found his pic on that 87th site. <br /> He is Oliver Santangelo. <br /> He is 1st. row 7th from the left. <br /> We bought the picture and are having it framed and giving it to him on Memorial day to honor him and the men he served with. <br /> He is 89 and still sharp as a tack. <br /> Thanks,<br /> Charlie<br /> <br /> I replied asking him to send more info which I will place here once I receive it.<br /> I also cropped his photo from the large unit photo and have placed it in the gallery.<br /> Isn’t this amazing!<br /> <br /> Update - June 1 - 2009<br /> Email from Mr. Santangelo's stepson, Charles Craig:<br /> <br /> On Memorial Day, we gave Ollie (Mr. Oliver Santangelo) the framed photo <br /> of the 549th AAA unit – Btry C. <br /> He was shocked and really touched that we were able to find it. <br /> *see photo of this special moment in the 549th photo gallery.<br /> <br /> I did ask him about the names you gave – <br /> He remembers Mr. Luedke.<br /> He said that during training at Camp Davis, <br /> he and Mr. Luedke had to escort the body of a young man back home. <br /> The soldier had accidentally killed himself while cleaning his rifle.<br /> <br /> He could not recall where they were for the early part of December of 44,<br /> But claims that the 549th was in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. <br /> Ollie says that they couldn't get air cover for 4 days due to the weather.<br /> <br /> Ollie and my Mom attended a reunion in St. Louis/Branson, but he couldn't recall what year.<br /> I will ask him about more of his memories when I see him again this week.<br /> <br /> We might try to call Mr. Luedke.<br /> <br /> Thanks to you and all of those who have contributed to the site.<br /> <br /> Charlie<br /> <br /> Update - June 5, 2009<br /> Email from Charles Craig - <br /> "Ollie was the 1st Sgt. He was the one who had the company clerk do the daily journal. It was his responsibility for that to happen.<br /> Don't know why but it is on onion skin paper, but it's legal size paper.. <br /> He has had the journal since he left the Army.<br /> Ollie did engage in combat and tells of being in the foxholes freezing.<br /> He actually came face to face with Patton who called Ollie a "son of a bitch" Ollie isn't happy to be called that, but he has great respect for Patton."<br /> <br /> Original Unit Journal giving time line!! <br /> Thanks to Oliver's grandaughter, Katie, who typed this journal out since it was hard to read original.<br /> <br /> Charles has passed on from Mr. Santangelo other memories and photos which now has given this unit enough history collected that I have asked webmaster to add this unit under link of "our History" so I can place all items.<br /> <br /> As a side note - several have photos of the horrors they saw when they went into the concentation camps after they were liberated.<br /> At this point - I have deferred for now placing them here.<br /> Do know, the men who wtinessed these atrocities want to make it clearly understood - - <br /> it was real....and it was horrible. .<br /> ---------------<br /> <br /> <br /> Unit Photo contributed by Tim Muilenburg,<br /> son of Ivan Muilenburg, who served in the 549th.
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