Pvt Odis White The Twenty Third United States Infantry, 1812-1945 2nd Infantry Division

Dec. 1944 and on to Jan. - Feb. 1945 ~~~~ ETO.

"The German break-through on 16 December found all three battalions of the 23d Infantry fighting savagely in the line. The failure of the enemy to accomplish a penetration in the division sector, despite repeated tank and strong infantry. attacks, upset the entire German plan of action to reach and cut off the vital supply nets at Liege. The Regiment stopped attack after bloody attack.

This action was summed up by General Courtney Hodges, Commanding General of the 1st Army, who declared, »What the 2nd Division has done in the last four days will live forever in the history of the United States Army.«

During the period of 13 to 23 Jan. while attached to the First Division, the Regiment fought under the most severe climatic conditions. It spearheaded a drive that broke the determined enemy resistance in the vital *** Ondenval-Iveldingen Pass *** to clear the way for armored thrusts into *** St. Vith, Belgium. ***

Sleet, rain and bitter cold froze the men's clothing to their bodies as they, struggled through waist-deep snow over rough terrain. The enemy forces, principally the 8th Regiment, 3rd Panzer Division, were decimated. So heavy were enemy losses in men and material that the 8th Regiment ceased to exist as a fighting force.

Soon after, the 23d Infantry Regiment was again on the offensive in the Siegfried Line, pushing through the Schleiden Forest to reach the vitally important Roer River dams. Early in March the Regiment drove to the Rhine. The crossing was made on the 23d of March in the vicinity of Niederbreisig, five miles south of the famed Remagen bridge.

"God Bless our Brave Men" Odis had just turned 19 years old.

ODIS WHITE, Birth: 8 Jan. 1926 in Louisianna Death: 24 Feb. 1945 KIA in Belgium during WWII

Pvt Odis White was with the US Army 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division WWII

From the 1930 census:   1930 United States Federal Census    Name: Otis White
Gender: Male   Birth Year: abt 1926    Birthplace: Louisiana    Race: White
Home in 1930: Police Jury Ward 7, Catahoula, Louisiana   Marital Status: Single

Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: M.W White
Father's Birthplace: Louisiana
Mother's Name: Mary White
Mother's Birthplace: Louisiana
Household Members: Name Age
M.W White 46
Mary White 43
Virdia White 15
Myrtel White 15
Wesley White 13
Howard White 9
Otis White 4
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Alvin White 1
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