103rd Cactus Division

CHARLES G. RAHN

CAMP CLAIBORNE

TOP ROW:  Unknown, Charles Rahn, Unknown, Louie Michalski

BOTTOM ROW:  Jack Niklas, Unknown, Philip Yates.

‘HANDE HOCH’ (Hand’s High)

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ENTERED SERVICE ON 12/9/1942 FROM DETROIT, MI.  

COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LA.  

ASSIGNED TO COMPANY D (Heavy Weapons), 409TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 103RD DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE 3^RD ARMY LOUISIANA MANEUVERS.  

WAS PART OF CADRE MOVED TO CAMP HOWZE IN NOVEMBER, 1943.  

BOARDED THE USS MONTICELLO ON 10/06/44 AND ARRIVED IN MARSEILLES, FRANCE 

ON 10/20/44 AS A MEMBER OF GENERAL ALEXANDER PATCH’S 7^TH ARMY. 

CORPORAL RAHN SERVED AS SQUAD LEADER FOR A 1^ST PLATOON, .30 CAL 

WATER-COOLED MACHINE GUN CREW IN RHINELAND AND ALSACE BEFORE BEING 

CAPTURED IN SELESTAT, FRANCE ON 12/2/1944. HE SPOKE FLUENT GERMAN AND 

SERVED THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR AS A P.O.W. AT STALAGS XII-A, III-B AND III-A.  

HE KEPT A DIARY WHILE IN CAPTIVITY AND LATER WROTE A BOOK TITLED, 

‘HANDE HOCH’ (Hand’s High) ABOUT HIS TIME AS A P.O.W.    

HE WAS LIBERATED BY THE RUSSIANS ON 4/22/45 NEAR LUCKENWALDE, GERMANY.

 

 

  Combat Infantry Badge