I have been absent for quite some time, but life has been quite crazy for awhile, so I apologize that I haven’t been keeping up with this blog. We just finished with our government furloughs recently and I’ve been putting together a class I’ll be teaching on the American Revolution (starting next week). To top it all off, I’m marrying a beautiful redhead at the end of next month, so as happy as I’ve been, I’ve also been rather stressed out. I’ll also be turning 38 in a couple of days, and I’ve been noticing more gray in the hair and beard than I want to admit too. Anyhow, mid-life depression aside, I have been (in my immense spare time) doing research on the 9th Infantry Division in Normandy in the summer of ’44. What I seem to be short on are primary source materials, especially letters, diaries, and accounts from veterans that fought there. I am therefore putting out a notice to everyone out there reading this that if they know of anyone that served in the 9th Division or any of its supporting units, please shoot me a note. I am looking for letters, diaries, even veterans that are still around and wouldn’t mind being interviewed by me. Any and all help I receive is greatly appreciated. The 9th was a veteran unit in Normandy, but never seemed to receive the esteem other divisions such as the Big Red One and the 101st did.
Also, I want to give a shout-out to my friend Yuri, who has an awesome website on the 9th, and is writing a book on the division’s actions in the Hurtgen Forest.
See his website here:
9th Infantry Division: The World War 2 Actions of the 9th Infantry Division<
Thanks again everybody!
Americans In WWII 
Hello sir,
My name is Jean-Philippe GENTIL, Iam french I am 49 years old man and I am a menber association called the flowers of memory.
I sponsor an American soldier died in combat on 30 June 1944 in Normandy and buried in the cemetery of Colleville sur Mer.
I am commited to flower her grave once a year to honor his memory, because I have a deep respet for those soldiers who came to liberate my country.
I would find one or family menber to let them know that far from home, based quelq’un a parent and think of him often (pictures)
This soldier was called June 14, 1943 in the state Illinois, the original Norwegian and JOHN OLSEN KOLSTAD born October 11 , 1907 Norway
9th division 47th régiment regimental n° 36753594.
Thank you very much for your help, if possible, or could you tell me where I should find out for retouver track of his family.
Sincerely.
Jean-Philippe GENTIL
> Message du 20/08/13 19:46 > De : “Americans In WWII” > A : overlord.jp@orange.fr > Copie à : > Objet : [New post] 9th Infantry Division Research > >WordPress.com navyphoto22 posted: ” I have been absent for quite some time, but life has been quite crazy for awhile, so I apologize that I haven’t been keeping up with this blog. We just finished with our government furloughs recently and I’ve been putting together a class I’ll be teac”
Mr. Gentil, thank you for honoring our fallen soldiers! The respect you and many other French people show to Americans killed in the war is very much appreciated.
As far as finding relatives of the dead, that is a little difficult to do. You may want to see if you can find the name of the soldier online, and then see if there
is anybody with that last name in the state of Illinois, perhaps even do a search through the whitepages.com. Or perhaps contact the 9th Division Association and see if any
relatives are members of the organziation.
Dear Jean-Philipe.
I think that you are talking about my great grand mothers brother.
His name was John (Johannes) Olsen Kolstad.
His niece is my grandmother.
This is so exciting.
Could you send me an e-mail?
Thank you so much =D
hello carina,
very happy to know you so I’m looking for information on John I sponsor in the cemetery of Colleville sur Wed I have a deep respect for your parents, has freed my research pays.Je especially a photo of John and all that concernemerci your help.
Or do you live and who was John for you (family)
A soon.
Jean-Philippe
hello carina,
very happy to know you so I’m looking for information on John I sponsor in the cemetery of Colleville sur Wed I have a deep respect for your parents, has freed my research pays.Je especially a photo of John and all that concernemerci your help.
Or do you live and who was John for you (family)
A soon.
Jean-Philippe
hello carina,
very happy to know you so I’m looking for information on John I sponsor in the cemetery of Colleville sur Wed I have a deep respect for your parents, has freed my research pays.Je especially a photo of John and all that concernemerci your help.
Or do you live and who was John for you (family)
A soon.
Jean-Philippe
overlord.jp@orange.fr
jean-philippe
hello Carina, je n’ai plus de nouvelles
Check Genral Westmorelands personal papers. As I recall he was Chief of Staff of the 9th in Normandy or shortly afterward,
Thank you Sir! I will do that.
My father served with Company E, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division from March 1944 until the autumn of 1945. He landed at Utah beach June 10 and fought with the division for the next year. I sent his papers to the US Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) in Carlisle Barracks, PA. I know there is more information there from other sources. Also, about 15 years ago I did research at the National Archives in College Park ,MD for myself and my father concerning his service during WWII. Those will be good places to start. The Archives has many boxes of primary source material and I spent days going through them. As a side note, when I joined the Army in 1980, my first posting was with the 47th Inf, 9th Inf Div. Not planned, it just happene. Best unit I served with in my 26 years.
The 9th ID in the Mekong Delta deserves some respect.
Sir, I completely agree with you. At some point in the near future I hope to post something that will highlight the valor of the men of the 9th from WWII through the Vietnam War. From things I’ve read, duty in the Mekong Delta was one of the toughest spots in Vietnam.
Hello,
I hope that your first reaction on receipt of this message was not to delete it immediately without even read it. If you are reading these lines, you maybe wonder who is this “Cosette” who is writing to you.
Actually, I do not even know if I am writing to the right person, but as we say “nothing ventures, nothing gained”. I am therefore going to explain to you why I send you this message.
My name is Cosette, I live in the south of France, in a town called Montpellier. This summer, I went to my uncle’s place in Normandy. Since I am passionate about history, I went to the American Cemetery with my children.
As we walked through the graves, my little two-year old boy suddenly sat in front of a cross, and did not want to get up anymore. His name is Louis, and he sat in front of the tomb of Louis C. Klepac, who died on July 21st, 1944. I myself was born on July 21st…
You may now understand the reason of my message. We found it was touching and we promised ourselves to try to find the family of this “Louis”, who died for a country that he may be not know, so that one day, our “little Louis” can live in a free country…
I know that my research might be complicated and even remain vain, but I also think there is no coincidence in life and that there are signs. That is why I really want to send the photo I took that day to the family of Mr. Klepac.
I know that Louis C. Klepac died in Normandy on July 21st, 1944, and that he was a soldier in 9th infantry div 60th infantry regiment.
I hope you could help me, I really want my “quest” to succeed.
If you are not a relative or that you do not think you can help me, thank you anyway for reading my story. Should my story evokes something for you, do not hesitate to contact me, I would delighted.
Thank you and maybe, see you soon,
Bonsoir,
Je m’appelle Jean-Philippe j’habite Le Mans dans l’ouest de la France, je vais essayer de vous aider dans votre recherche.
A bientôt.
Cordialement