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The Sergeant
John W. Gabersek Jr. Memorial Scholarship
T. Sgt Cliffe
H. Wolfe - 28th
Infantry Division
109th Infantry Regiment - Missing in Action
I recently received an email from a special man living in the Netherlands asking me to help locate the family of T. Sgt Cliffe H. Wolfe. Bart van der Sterren of the Netherlands has been adopting American serviceman's gravesites as a show of appreciation to those who lost their lives fighting for the liberation of his homeland. He has certainly earned my respect and admiration by taking on such an important and uplifting endeavor. He is hoping that by highlighting Sgt Wolfe's name on my site may assist him in identifying the family of Sgt Wolfe. Mr. van der Sterren has adopted the Sergeants grave which is located in Margraten in the Netherlands.
Here's the message I received from Mr. van der Sterren.
In September
2008 I adopted the name of an US soldier who is missing since 17 November 1944.
His name is etched
on the “Wall off the Missing” at the military cemetery in Margraten in the
Netherlands . His name is CLIFFE H
WOLFE.
He
was born in Michigan;
I
don’t know where exactly.
His
serial number
is
36506694
and he served in
the 109 INF 28 DIV
reaching the rank of Technical Sergeant.
People
around here still consider it to be an honour to remember the fallen U.S.
soldiers.
For
me it is the least I can do to show my gratitude and respect for what so many
young men from far over the ocean did for us more than 60 years ago. The
adoption of a name on the “Wall of the Missing” means visiting the cemetery on a
frequent basis, placing of flowers on special days or occasions (like e.g.
Memorial Day or
Christmas) and when
relatives wish to do so
and
corresponding with the homeland.
I just
started my search for relatives in the US of this soldier so I could sent them
pictures of the cemetery and let them know that he is not forgotten.
I hope you can help me and that you can tell me where I can get more information. Bart van der Sterren
The Cemetery at Margraten - The Netherlands
If anyone reading this page has any information on Sergeant Wolfe, family contact, picture, etc, please contact Mr. Bart van der Sterren and/or myself. We would love to share the good work of Mr. van der Sterren with all.
Thank you Bart for remembering Sgt. Wolfe and those who gave
their lives to restore freedom to the Netherlands!
Please visit the gravesite and story of
PFC Hans Bergmayr, Mr. van der Sterren's
first sponsored soldier.
UPDATE! 3-21-2009
Bart just informed me that brother Charles who
died in a car accident in 1990.
Charles had also 2 daughters Susan Miller and Nancy Humphrey,
whereabouts unknown.
The History of the 28th Division in WWII
On Feb. 17, 1941, the 28th Division
Pennsylvania National Guard was ordered into federal service for one
year of active duty. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec.
7, 1941 led soldiers of the 28th to remain on active for the duration
of the war. Having conducted specialized combat training in everything
from offensive maneuvers in mountainous terrain to amphibious warfare,
the Division's intensive training agenda culminated in its deployment
to England on Oct. 8, 1943.
After another 10 months of training in England and Wales, the first
elements of the Division entered combat on July 22, 1944, landing on
the beaches of Normandy.
From Normandy, the 28th advanced across western France, finding itself
in the thick of hedgerow fighting through towns such as Percy,
Montbray, Montguoray, Gathemo, and St.Sever de Calvados by the end of
July 1944. The fury of assaults
launched by the 28th Infantry Division led the German Army to bestow
the Keystone soldiers with the title "Bloody Bucket" Division.
In a movement north toward the Seine in late August, the Division
succeeded in trapping the remnant of the German 7th Army
through Vorneuil, Breteuil, Damville, Conches, Le Neubourg, and Elbeuf
before
entering Paris to join in its liberation.
The famous photographs of American troops before the Arc de Triomphe,
marching in battle parade down the Champs Elysees, shows the men of 1st
Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. With no
time to rest, the Division moved on to fight some of the most bloody
battles of the War the day following the parade.
The 28th continued to advance through the Forest of Compeigne, La Fere,
St. Quentin, Laon, Rethel, Sedan, Mezieres, Bouillon and eventually
across the Meuse River into Belgium. The Keystone soldiers averaged 17
miles a day against the resistance of German "battle
groups." The city of Arlon, Belgium, fell to a task force as the
Division fanned out into Luxembourg in early September. On
September 11, 1944, the 28th claimed the distinction of being the first
American unit to enter Germany.
After hammering away in assaults which destroyed or captured 153
pillboxes and bunkers, the Division moved north toward the Siegfried
Line, clearing the Monschau Forest of German forces. After a brief
respite, the Keystone soldiers made another move northward to the
Huertgen Forest in late September. Attacks in the forest began November
2, 1944. The 28th Infantry Division stormed into
Vossenack, Kommerscheidt and Schmidt amid savage fighting and heavy
losses.
By November 10, the 28th began to move south, where it held a 25-mile
sector of the front line along the Our River. It was against this thinly
fortified division line that the Germans unleashed the full force of
their winter Ardennes "blitzkrieg" offensive.
Five Axis divisions stormed across the Our River the first day,
followed by four more in the next few days. Overwhelmed by the weight
of enemy armor and personnel, the Division maintained its defense of
this sector long enough to throw Von Runstedt's assault off
schedule. With allied forces able to a move in to counterattack, the
"Battle of the Bulge" ensued, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy
forces.
Clervaux and St. Vith December 1944
Having sustained a devastating 15,000 casualties, the 28th withdrew to
refortify. But within three weeks, the Division was back in action. By
January 1945, Division soldiers had moved south where they served with
the French First Army in the
reduction of the "Colmar Pocket. The 109th Infantry Regiment was
awarded the French Croix de Guerre for its action which helped lead to
the liberation of Colmar, the last major French city in German hands.
By February 23, 1945, the Division returned north to the American First
Army. The 28th was in position along the Olef River when an attack was
launched on March 6, 1945, carrying the Division to the Ahr River.
Schleiden, Germund, Kall, Sotenich, Sistig and Blankenheim all fell in
a raid advance. By early April, the Division moved west
of the Rhine and took up occupation duties in the area north of Aachen
along the Holland-German border. Permanent occupation came two weeks
later at the Saurland and Rhonish areas. In early July 1945, the 28th
began its redeployment to the U.S.
The Division was deactivated on December 13, 1945. Five campaign streamers -
Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe - were
earned during World War II, in addition to the Croix de Guerre.
Nearly 6 decades later, World War Two enthusiasts and historians formed
companies of the 110th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division.
The group formed to
recreate, educate, and enlighten the public to the events previously
recorded above. It is our honor to pay tribute in a small way to
those who fought so valiantly to preserve freedom and liberty for
generations to come. Based in the Western Pennsylvania and
Eastern Ohio the group boasts a membership of nearly 30 men. Some are
even active duty members of our current Armed Forces serving the
cause of liberty and freedom in our time. May all of those who so
proudly wore and wear the flag of the United States, carry with them
the torch of freedom for millions of Patriots across a thankful nation.
Roll On!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thebloodybucket/ <<< === For Veterans, Friends, and Reenactors
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rollon28th/ <<< === Honors our Veterans
www.bloodybucket.com <<<=== An all inclusive website for the 28th Division Reenactors