Joseph Morrison Harley, A Call to Arms

Name: Joseph Morrison Harley

Enlistment:
Age: 19
Status: Enlisted
Date: 1 Dec 1939
Place: Port Angeles, Clallam, Washington
Term: 4 Year; Re-enlisted
Branch: 3rd Army Combat Unit; Infantry
Division: 76th
Unit: 417th
Company: HQ Company
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: S/Sgt
Disposition: Died of gunshot wound, April 10th, 1945 near Thamesbruck, Germany.

Joseph Morrison Harley was born on the 7th of July, 1920, in Port Angeles, Clallam Co., Washington to Joseph Lee Harley and Laura Edna [Morrison] Harley.

His initial Army training was as a pilot in the Army Air Corp. He attended flight school in Wisconsin, at Camp McCoy, now Fort McCoy. Ultimately, however, he was sent to Europe as a Staff Sergeant in the infantry...this change was brought about due to two events. The first was a broken arm which failed to mend properly, and the second was a detached retina which occurred as dad and his army buddies were 'horsing around'. I have read several letters he sent home, and they are very poignant. He tells of the disillusionment of the German people with the Nazi movement. They were kind and sympathetic to the invading American and Allied forces, eager for the war to end! He also told of his anger at seeing many German tanks and equipment that had been produced by American automotive plants, then used to kill American soldiers.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
The 76th Infantry Division was first activated for service during World War One. It was the first Division raised for the National Army to be manned almost entirely with draftees. "Onaway" is an old Chippewa battle cry and was adopted by the Division after they had completed training on Chippewa land. The Division was sent overseas to France but never fought as an entire Division. Its units were detached and sent to reinforce other Divisions. After the War, the Division returned home and was deactivated.

The 76th was reactivated for service in World War Two on June 15, 1942. It served as a Training Division for most of 1942 and 1943; then it received orders to prepare for overseas deployment. In November 1944, the 76th was certified for service in Europe and embarked on board troop transports in New York in December. The 76th arrived in Hampshire, England on December 21, 1944 and moved into a training area to receive its equipment. On January 17, 1945 the Division landed in France and was assigned to the Third Army under General Patton. On January 20, the Division crossed into Belgium in support of VIII Corps' attack.

By the 26th of January, the 76th had driven across Belgium and into Luxembourg. After several weeks of bitter fighting, the 76th Division entered Germany in the vicinity of Holsthum. For the next three months, the Division protected the flanks of XX and VIII Corps as they drove into the heart of Germany. Throughout March and April, the Division was constantly on the move. The Division command post rarely stayed in one place longer than 2 days. By mid-April the Division had reached the Saxony Region of Germany and was ordered into Corps Reserve. When the war ended in May, the Division was ordered to return to France for embarkation home and deactivation.

The 76th Infantry Division spent 95 days in combat during World War Two. 667 Soldiers were killed and 2,197 were wounded. 10 Soldiers for the 76th were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism on the field of battle. Interestingly, there were a total of 3,126 Battle Casualties (total of killed & wounded) and 2,430 Non-battle Casualties listed for this Unit.

The Campaigns included:

• Rhineland
  
• Ardennes
  
• Central Europe