Through the Mists of Time--an Album of F Company Photographs


The following collection of photographs was contributed by John R. O'Brien, nephew of S/Sgt. William T. Oliver, one of the GIs in the Luxembourg photo at the beginning of the Brothers-In-Arms website. It is a remarkable collection that documents primarily the 2nd Platoon, F Company. Our sincere thanks to John and his aunt, Mrs. Margaret Oliver, for allowing us to present these photos.


William T. Oliver began his service in the Army with the 42nd Rainbow Division, but ended up in the 83rd Division. While he was with the 83rd, he was awarded the Bronze Star for action in Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany between November 2, 1944 and February 16, 1945, and was awarded the Silver Star for action in Loveling, Germany on March 1, 1945. It was during this action in Loveling that Lt. Larry Dalton was also awarded the Silver Star. On April 5th S/Sgt. Oliver was wounded in Germany and returned to the States. He spent the better part of a year at Hines VA Hospital recovering from his wounds. S/Sgt. Oliver and his wife, Margaret, have three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. S/Sgt. Oliver passed away on August 4, 1982.






Please click on the photographs for a larger view.

S/Sgt. Oliver in the Loire Valley


Best buddies--Lt. Larry Dalton and S/Sgt. William Oliver.


Colestro and S/Sgt. Oliver


Pfc. Tom Curry


"Doc" Berrardi


"Doc" Berrardi and Sgt. Larry Dalton taken in late 1944


Medic Berrardi, Norman Neily, and Pfc. Tom Curry


S/Sgt. Oliver, Lt. Lancaster, Lt. Dalton, Capt. Mitchell


Sgt. Mayberry, Loire Valley, 1944


Hershell McIntosh and Sherman Curry, Thanksgiving in Luxembourg


Another Thanksgiving photo with Sgt. Durwood Root in background (wearing glasses)


Sgt. Dawson, Larry Dalton, Bill Oliver, S/Sgt. Nelson, S/Sgt. Kerr


Lt. Alson E. Lancaster and Captain Robert A. Mitchell, taken in Loire Valley, 1944


Lt. Lancaster


Unidentified 331st GI, taken in Belgium or Luxembourg, 1944


Two unidentified 331st GI's, time and place unknown


Sgt. Oliver with a stogey


Sergeants Dalton and Dawson, Normandy 1944


Another photo 2nd Platoon, F Company. Front row, left to right, are Sgt. Oliver, Sgt. Dawson, Sgt. Cooper, and Lt. Lancaster. Second row, left to right, are Norman Neily, Sgt. Nelson, and unidentified GI.


Awards ceremony, Sgt. Oliver, at right (wearing 83rd Div. patch)


Five sergeants on leave in Paris. Taken in front of main railway station. Left to right, S/Sgt. Kimple, S/Sgt. Kelly, S/Sgt. Oliver, S/Sgt. Lacinski, S/Sgt. Nelson


Railway map of Paris given to GIs on leave


Lieutenants Dalton and Lancaster


Lt. Dalton and Sgt. Oliver writing home


German propaganda dropped on F Company


Hot chow for F Company


Campfire in the Hurtgen Forest


Brothers-In-Arms

Had we lived in kinder times
Would our paths have ever crossed?
A Brother's love would I have lost?

Our blood was mixed on fields of fire.
And together we watched night's glowing sky
Dreading who would be next to die.

O my Brothers, where are you now?
Do you dwell on some nearby star
Whose soft light shines God's gentle peace upon my brow?
--To remind me of what we once were
And now will always be.

Had we lived in kinder times
Would we still be Brothers-In-Arms?

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