John. F. Peters, A.S.N. 20320758. Easy Company 110th Infantry Regiment.
The picture above shows a fresh faced PFC John Peters. Born in 1919 and resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania he answered his country's call to arms on 3rd February 1941 at Pittsburgh, PA. He was enlisted as a National Guardsman in the states Keystone Division and thus his part in this great units history was sealed.
Before going overseas John had been initially placed in the 29th Infantry Division and had gone on army maneuvers in North Carolina. Having always had a great love of music, (his occupation upon enlisting was given as "musician or teacher of music"), John became a member of the US Army Show Band and toured 18 cities in America, as a trumpet player.
At one point the band the newly formed 17th Airborne Division at camp McCall, North Carolina before going overseas.
It was later Summer 1944 when John found himself among the rolling hills of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. He was camped at Codford and underwent six weeks of further training. He was now about to become a replacement in the 28th Infantry Division as that unit embarked on one of the biggest moments in it's history.
John went into the line as a rifleman in the second Battalion, Easy Company, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division went into combat in the Hürtgen forest. Despite of, or perhaps because of the fighting in this part of Germany John saw no civilians during his time in the line. Somehow he managed to come through the fighting in the "Death factory" unscathed and breathed a sigh of relief when the Division was finally moved to a "quiet" part of the front on November 13th, 1944 to recover from the fighting and for losses to be replaced.
For John, that "quiet" part of the front was the town of Clervaux on the Western banks of the Our river in the Luxembourg area of the Ardennes!
The Division was arrayed from North to South along the Our; 112th, 110th,109th. For this Division, and the Allies this quiet sector was about to erupt.
In the early hours of December 16th, the frontline came alive as German artillery and mortar fire began to fall heavily and accurately upon the soldiers of the Keystone Division as they sheltered in their foxholes.
Deadly shrapnel cut through the air. One piece injuring John in the face. He was evacuated to the Battalion Aid station (located at Clervaux rail station), for medical attention and it was here that he was later captured.
For John the war was over. He was taken by road march and truck journey to Bitburg and initially to Stalag 12A near Limburg. During this time his wounds were dressed before another harrowing train journey to his final destination of Stalag 3A at Luckenwald.
His capture was noted by the Division on 20th December, 1944. His release came with confirmation of his repatriation back home on a ship on the 6th June, 1945. Once back on American soil a very thin John Peters was able to truly relax, with two weeks R&R in Miami, before finally being mustered out at Indiantown Gap, PA.
Happily married for 60 years and having raised two daughters John F. Peters has earned his time of peace.
Below: Linked to the story above by the town of Clervaux is this German Erkennungsmarke, identity disk which was discarded by the owner some time before the liberation of Clervaux by the Americans in September 1944.*
*It may be worth reminding visitors that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was, from May 1940 part of Germany. It formed part of Moselgau.
The information transcribes as Kommandeur der Gendarmerie, Klerf (Clervaux). The owners roster number being 31. Former Customs and Gendarmerie Officers (Freiwilligen Corps etc) were often members of this Deutsche Volksbewegung (German Peoples Movement), but not all. This would mean that these former officers would be classed as German Gendarmerie members, members of the Zollgrenzschutz etc. As such they would also be able to serve in the Wehrmacht, SS, OT and even German Security forces such as Gendarmerie.
This being a Police rather than a military unit there may have been a very good reason why the owner discarded it. Klerf is the "German" term for Clervaux, Luxembourg having it's own distinct language. Since writing this article I have been told of a similar disc being found nearby by another digger. Perhaps several men chose to change their identities at a crucial moment?
