World War II Honoree

Woodrow J. Ostergaard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Omaha, Nebraska

Honored By

Albert J. Ostergaard

Relationship

Brother

INDUCTED INTO ARMY SERVICE ON MAY 19, 1944 AT CAMP DODGE, IOWA. ARRIVED AT CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA ON JUNE 1, 1944 COMPLETING ARMY BASIC TRAINING AT THE INFANTRY REPLACEMENT CENTER, 3RD PLATOON, COMPANY D, 87TH INFANTRY BATTALION. HE ENTERED THE MESSAGE CENTER SCHOOL (MORSE CODE, CRYPTOGRAPHY, TELEPHONE, SWITCHBOARD AND RADIO) AT CAMP ROBERTS. HE TRAINED WITH THE 5TH INFANTRY COMBAT REGIMENT AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA AS A 57MM ANTI-TANK GUNNER AND SERVED AS A STAFF REPORTER ON THE REGIMENT NEWSPAPER, THE SHIELD. THE 5TH INFANTRY COMBAT REGIMENT OF THE 71ST DIVISION ARRIVED ON BOARD THE GENERAL T. H. BLISS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER ON FEBRUARY 6, 1945. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 5TH INFANTRY COMBAT REGIMENT THAT SPENT 16 MONTHS IN FRANCE, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA, TRAVELING 829 MILES AND 54 DAYS IN COMBAT IN RAIN, SLEET AND SNOW; WITH 54 KILLED IN ACTION AND 320 WOUNDED IN COMBAT. THE MAJOR FIGHTS ENGAGED IN BY THE REGIMENT WERE IN 1945: AT KIRVILLER MAY 9, BITCHE MARCH 18, GERMERSHEIM MARCH 24, BUDINGEN APRIL 2, BAYREUTH, GERMANY MAY 5, REGENSBURG APRIL 27, BRAUNAU, AUSTRIA MAY 2 AND STEYR, AUSTRIA MAY 5. AFTER THE GERMAN SURRENDER ON MAY 8, 1945 HE AND THE 5TH INFANTRY COMBAT REGIMENT TRAVELED FROM STEYR, AUSTRIA IN 40' AND 8' RAILROAD BOX CARS TO WERTINGEN, GERMANY. THE 5TH INFANTRY COMBAT REGIMENT TRAVELED THE FURTHEST EAST OF ANY AMERICAN UNIT AT THE BRIDGEHEAD IT FOUGHT FOR WON ACROSS THE INN RIVER AT ERNSTHOFEN, AUSTRIA. THE REGIMENT MADE CONTACT WITH UNITS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY AT STEYR, AUSTRIA, AFTER TAKING OVER 80,000 GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR, THE FIRST BEING TAKEN AT ALTENHOF, AUSTRIA. INITIALLY, THE 71ST DIVISION WAS ATTACHED TO THE 7TH ARMY, BUT LATER WAS ASSIGNED TO THE FAST MOVING 3RD ARMY. HE AND MANY OF HIS BUDDIES TOURED HITLER'S EAGLE NEST AT BERCHTESGADEN, AUSTRIA. PRIVATE 1ST CLASS, HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE 115TH GROUND FORCES BAND IN MUNICH, PLAYING THE FLUTE. ARRIVED IN U.S. AT THE PORT OF NEW YORK JUNE 6, 1946 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS JUNE 12, 1946. DECORATIONS: THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN RIBBON WITH 2 BATTLE STARS FOR RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY RIBBON.