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Tom [Thomas] P. Fitz of Farmington served in the United
States Army as a 1st Lt. F.A. with the 332 F.A. Battalion of the 86th Infantry Division. He served in the European Theatre and the Asiatic
Pacific Theatre.
Fitz recounts, "The 86th Infantry Division was the first
unit returned to the U.S. from the E.T.O. We
received a royal reception in New York Harbor with bands, fire boats shooting water,
blimps overhead, etc.
"The division was given 30 days rest and recuperation,
then was shipped to Camp Gruber, Okla., where we were slated to make an assault landing on
the island of Honshu, Japan.
"We were subsequently informed that a casualty rate of
30 percent was expected. We were pleased and
grateful that the atomic bombs were dropped, ending the war with Japan. Many American lives were saved by this action.
"Instead of invading Japan, our division was sent to the
Philippine Island of Luzon where we completed our tour of duty.
"To the best of my knowledge, the 86th was the only
combat division to serve in both the European Theatre and Pacific Theatre.
"Also, the 86th Division was the first unit to occupy
Bavaria and capture Hitler's retreat at Bercnesgaden in the Austrian Alps. The airplane
flown by Herman Goering, Chief of the German Luftwaffe and Goering's staff car, a huge
Mercedes with bullet proof glass, were confiscated by our division at the Salzburg
Airfield."
