Photo Collection: Rich & Steve Abels
Pfc Norman Abels
Co G, 319th Infantry Regiment
These pictures are from an album from Pfc Leonard Biggs. He served with my father, Pfc. Norman Abels, in G Company, 319th Regiment. My father was wounded in April 1945 during the assault on Kassel. He is not in any of these pictures because these are post VE Day in Germany and possibly some from Czechoslovakia. You'll see the caption about the Three Musketeers holding the Russian line. As a note, the picture labeled "Van and Ables" is not my father.
The story behind Pfc Louis Ortegas is interesting. After diligent research (thanks to your site's archives) I determined he was from a native American tribe in Arizona. He volunteered to join the Army (maybe in 1943) and was wounded attacking the Siegfried line in February 1945. He obviously returned to service and re-enlisted in December 1945 to later serve in the Army Air Corps at Davis-Monthan Air Base in Arizona. From what I was told, he and my father were the squad scouts. When Louis was wounded my father became scout #1.
Company G, 319th Inf Reg
Louis Ortegas
Louis Ortegas & Addaway
Piccolo, Leonard Biggs, Pesock, Louis Ortegas
Third Squad, Co G, 319th Inf Reg (Sep 1, 1945)
Standing: Lee, Ward, Maggio, Zuigairelte, Gallison
Kneeling: Leonard Biggs, Sgt Bernard Anderson ("Andy"), Tusley, Harold Amsden, Carl Pulford
Third Squad Names
Three Muskateers
Carl Pulford, Frank Piccolo, Leonard Biggs
Van & Ables
Pfc Norman Abels
Camp Wheeler, GA basic training (1944)
Pfc Norman Abels
Back home (1946)
Plaque found on 1969 family trip to Bastogne.
Tec5 Leonard Biggs' uniform.
Tec5 Leonard Biggs' awards.
Tec5 Leonard Biggs' shoulder patches.