Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 70th Infantry Division, known as the Trailblazers, worn by Master Sergeant Harold Alden Hornbeck during his service in the United States Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. On March 5, 1941, Harold enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 883rd Field Artillery Battalion, 70th Infantry Division. In December 1941, the United States entered World War II. In January 1945, Harold’s Division was deployed to France as part of the Seventh Army. The 70th advanced through France and on March 20, took Saarbrucken, Germany. In April, the Division joined the Third Army. On April 11, US soldiers liberated Buchenwald concentration camp. Harold was among those soldiers at Buchenwald, and wrote about the terrible conditions there in a censored letter to his family On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered and the 70th Infantry Division remained on occupational duty until deactivation in October 1945.
- Date
-
use:
1943-1945
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Meda F. Hornbeck
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Harold A. Hornbeck
- Biography
-
Harold Alden Hornbeck was born on February 13, 1917, in Stockton, Missouri, to Clarence and Nellie Keith Hornbeck. Both of his parents were born in 1889 in Missouri. On June 20, 1915, Clarence and Nellie married and settled in Stockton, Missouri, where Clarence was a farmer. In fall 1918, their second son, Paul was born. In early 1919, the family moved to Las Animas, Colorado, and Clarence continued farming. On July 27, 1926, Harold’s twin sisters Mildred and Meda were born. In 1927, Harold's father died. His brother Paul died in 1934. Harold completed high school and became a company foreman. In late 1940, Harold married Joyce Bigham (1923-2005) of Maricopa, Arizona.
On March 5, 1941, Harold enlisted in the US Army. He was assigned to the 883rd Field Artillery Battalion, 70th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Trailblazers, and rose to the rank of Master Sergeant. On December 7, 1941, folowing the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II. In January 1945, the 70th Infantry was deployed to the European Theater of Operations and landed in France as part of the Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. In January and February, the Division advanced across France and into southwestern Germany. On March 20, 1945, the 70th took Saarbrucken, Germany. In April, the Division became part of the Third Army, 12th Army Group, and pushed deeper into Germany. On April 11, 1945, Buchenwald concentration camp was liberated by US soldiers. Harold was among those present to see the horrible conditions first hand. He took photographs, and in a letter to his family about the camp, he wrote “believe everything you read, it’s true.” The remaining portion of the letter was censored. The Division continued to advance through the region until May 7, 1945, when Germany surrendered.
The 70th remained on occupational duty in Germany until early fall. The Division arrived in the United States on October 10, 1945, was deactivated the following day. Harold and Joyce settled just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Harold did not speak of his wartime experiences to his family after his return. Harold, age 78, died on December 6, 1995, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Military Insignia
- Category
-
Badges
- Object Type
-
Color patches (military patches) (aat)
- Physical Description
- a. Rectangular axe-head shaped military patch with a curved, slightly flared top edge machine embroidered on white net backing. The field and embroidered border are red. A white axe descends from the upper right corner and hangs over a white mountain with jagged sides. At the base of the mountain and along the bottom of the patch is an uneven line of green that extends into an evergreen tree on the right side of the patch.
b. Rectangular axe-head shaped military patch with a curved, slightly flared top edge machine embroidered on white net backing. The field and embroidered border are red. A white axe descends from the upper right corner and hangs over a white mountain with jagged sides. At the base of the mountain and along the bottom of the patch is an uneven line of green that extends into an evergreen tree on the right side of the patch. - Dimensions
- a: Height: 3.125 inches (7.938 cm) | Width: 2.250 inches (5.715 cm)
b: Height: 3.125 inches (7.938 cm) | Width: 2.250 inches (5.715 cm) - Materials
- a : thread, net
b : thread, net
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Western Front--Personal narratives, American. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Germany--Weimar (Thuringia)--Personal narratives, American.
- Corporate Name
- United States. Army. Infantry Division, 70th
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The patches were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Meda F. Hornbeck, the sister of Harold Alden Hornbeck.
- Record last modified:
- 2024-10-02 14:44:52
- This page:
- http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn50595
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Also in Harold Alden Hornbeck collection
The collection consists of two military patches, Buchenwald scrip, a certificate, and photographs relating to the experiences of Harold Alden Hornbeck as a soldier in the United States Army in Germany during World War II and in France and Scotland after the war.
Date: 1945
Harold Alden Hornbeck papers
Document
Consists of original post-war photographs of Harold Alden Hornbeck in Germany, France, and Scotland while part of the United States military. Also included are liberation photographs of Buchenwald concentration camp, a photograph of displaced persons returning home and of German POWs, and United States certificate of recognition
Buchenwald Standort-Kantine concentration camp scrip, 3 Reichsmark, with an inscription found by a US soldier
Object
Inscribed three Reichsmark Buchenwald Kantine coupon found by Master Sergeant Harold Alden Hornbeck following the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp on April 11, 1945. Buchenwald opened on July 19, 1937, and issued undated notes in .5, 1, 2and 3 mark denominations. On March 5, 1941, Harold enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 883rd Field Artillery Battalion, 70th Infantry Division. In December 1941, the United States entered World War II. In January 1945, Harold’s Division was deployed to France as part of the Seventh Army. The 70th advanced through France, and on March 20, took Saarbrucken, Germany. In April, the Division joined the Third Army. On April 11, US soldiers liberated Buchenwald. Harold was among those soldiers, and wrote about the terrible conditions there in a censored letter to his family. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered and the 70th Infantry Division remained on occupational duty until deactivation in October 1945.
