103d INFANTRY DIVISION WORLD WAR II ASSOCIATION
World War II Members
Left to Right - Arnie Marzullo (3d Plt/I Company/410th Infantry Regiment; Michael Passaro, son of 3d Platoon Leader, Lieutenant Francis Passaro, and First Sergeant Audrey Walters (I Company, 410 Infantry Regiment).
First Sergeant Walters brought 2Lt. Passaro's field jacket with him to the Nashville reunion and present the field jacket to Lt. Passaro's son, Michael 64 years after he had switched field jackets the day Lt. Passaro was killed. On March 15, 1945, Lt. Passaro and 1Sgt Walters exchanged field jackets as the 3d Platoon was moving forward through Uhrwiller. While trying to determine where Germany machine gun fire was coming from, the Lt. directed 1Sgt Walters to gone was as the two approached a large church. The choice of direction proved fatal to Lt. Passaro as German machine gun fire cut him down, killing him instantly.
Michael was not aware of the Association and its reunions. This gave him an opportunity to meet men his father soldiered with in the 103d Infantry Division (Cactus).
William "Bill" Krul of Mount Clemens, Michigan came to his first 103d Infantry Division Association of WWII reunion in Nashville to find anyone who might have known his father, S/Sgt William J. Krul who was killed in action on December 19, 1944 near Bollenhorn, Germany. S/Sgt Krul was a member of Company A, 409th Infantry Regiment.
The 103d Infantry Division Association of World War II has a total of 1858 members, many who are sons, daughters, nephews, and wives of deceased veterans of the Division.
There is a growing interest among descendants of those who fought with the 103d Infantry Division (Cactus) during World War II. These family members are extremely interested to learn about their relatives and their service during this trying time in our nation's history.
NOTIFICATIONS:
Dave Gilbert, the son-in-law of Cactus man Earl Hayes is searching for anyone who might have know his father-in-law, Earl Hayes who served with Company I 410th Infantry Division.
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