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A WWII KIA Letter

The 136th Infantry Regiment consisted of 3 battalions composed of the following companies:

• 1st Battalion
  Company A, B, C and D (Weapons Company)
• 2nd Battalion
  Company E, F, G and H (Weapons Company)
• 3rd Battalion
  Company I, K, L and M (Weapons Company)

The federal mission of the 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, is to mobilize and deploy by air and/or sea, occupy assembly areas, and organize for combat; and on order, effect a passage of lines to conduct a movement to contact. The state mission of the unit is to provide organized, trained and equipped units and personnel to protect life, property and to preserve peace, order and public safety under the orders of the Governor of the State of Minnesota.

The 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry traces it lineage back to the 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The 2nd Minnesota was mustered into service on June 26, 1861. In January 1862, they fought in the battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky. At the Battle of Chickamauga they withstood repeated Confederate attacks. Two months later, the 2nd Minnesota and the rest of the Army of the Cumberland attacked Confederate troops dug in on Missionary Ridge; this was a spontaneous attack not ordered by any officer and resulted in a Union victory. The 2nd Minnesota then fought to capture Atlanta under General Sherman and continued the famous "March to the Sea". The 2nd Minnesota fought under General Sherman until the end of the Civil War.

When the Spanish-American Was broke out in 1889, the 2nd Minnesota was designated as the 12th Infantry Regiment. The Regiment was mustered into federal service but did not serve outside the United States. Ten years later, they were re-designated the 2nd Regiment.

During World War I, the 2nd Minnesota was renamed the 136th Infantry but remained in the United States. Later, the 136th Infantry was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division. After completing its training at Camp Cody, New Mexico, the 136th Infantry, as part of the 34th Infantry Division, was shipped overseas. There is suffered the frustration of having its members dispersed to other units, rather than entering the war as a unit. Thus, while many members of the 136th Infantry saw combat in World War I, it was the fate of the unit simply to provide replacements.

The 136th Infantry was again activated in April of 1942 (B Company Photo) for World War II and assigned to the 33rd Division. After a stay in New Guinea, they moved to the island of Morotai where for 20 days they fought virtually alone against fanatical Japanese resistance. The next fight for the 136th Infantry was Luzon, in the Philippines. The 136th Infantry overcame resistance at such places as Kennon Road and Skyline Ridge to help secure the island.

Inactivated from federal service in February 1946 at Otsu, Japan, the 136th Infantry was returned home to Minnesota and assigned to the 47th Infantry Division.

The 47th Infantry Division was activated during the Korean War and assigned to Camp Rucker, Alabama. Many members were reassigned and sent to Korea with various combat units.

Starting in 1976, the 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry was assigned as a round-out unit to the active duty forces. This relationship with the 1st Infantry Division and later with the 194th Separate Armor Brigade, enhanced the war fighting capabilities of the unit. Today, after twenty years as a round-out unit, the 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry (BEARCATS) are proud to be attached to the 34th Infantry Division.

Information from http://www.globalsecurity.org

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