32nd Red Arrow Division by Harold

The Red Arrow Brigade Company B, 138th Infantry, 32nd Division, October 1940

Soldiers from the Chippewa Valley made up an important part of the 32nd Red Arrow Division. This division was the first sent overseas after the U.S. officially entered the war. One hundred men from the 32nd were flown into combat early in 1942. They were the first troops in history ever to be flown into combat. Of those one hundred men, only eight survived the war. Roy Campbell of Eau Claire was one of those eight men of the 32nd Red Arrow Division who survived the war.

Jim White of the Eau Claire 32nd Red Arrow Division was wounded in the knee and hip by a Japanese .25 caliber machine bullet. He laid in the jungle for some time, before Bob Toske of Eau Claire and Rex John of Marshfield found him and carried him to safety. Jim credits these two men with saving his life.

It is now common to fly troops to the front but, prior to and during most of World War II, troop transport was done by ship.

32nd Red Arrow Division Reunion in 1986 at the Holiday Inn: Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Ed Ludwikoski, Gerald Westberg, Art Prueher, Neil Verdon, M. G. Lassek, Ray Bailey, Cliff Davidson, Robert Toske, Peter Edington, Dr. Vern Olson, Lloyd Gibson.

Barney Kirchoff, Jack Roessler, Glen Blakeslee, Roy Campbell, John Ludwikoski, Clarence Kramer, Dudley Brice, Jim White, Eugene Pesso, Robert Kolstad, Leo Kramer, Darrell Lang, Jean Rolland.