Floyd V. Reinert

Staff Sgt. Floyd V. Reinert
137 INF 35th DIV
Dec. 8, 1913 - Aug. 7, 1944

Floyd Vincent Reinert was born in Dodge City, Kansas, on December 8, 1913 to parents George G. Reinert and Catherine Hurley Reinert. Floyd was the second of four children, three boys and one girl. While specific details about his early life are limited, records indicate he completed the eight grade. He was recognized in the Dodge City Journal for perfect attendance in Nov. 1922 at the Prairie Flower school. Floyd married Nora Lucille Blake in March of 1941. They had one child. Floyd entered the military on Dec. 23,1940. Reinert served as a Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was assigned to the 137th Infantry Regiment, part of the 35th Infantry Division. (Help in locating a picture of this veteran would be appreciated.)

This division was actively involved in the European Theater, participating in significant operations following the D-Day landings.

On August 7, 1944, the 137th Infantry Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division was actively engaged in the Battle of Mortain in Normandy, France. This battle was part of the German counteroffensive known as Operation Lüttich, aimed at halting the Allied breakout from Normandy. The 137th Infantry Regiment, alongside other units of the 35th Infantry Division, played a crucial role in resisting this offensive. During the period from August 7 to 13, the regiment suffered 23 killed, 140 wounded, and 40 missing in action. It is possible that Staff SGT Reinert was killed while participating in this action.

The 35th Infantry Division landed on Omaha Beach in July 1944 and engaged in combat operations across France. During this period, the division encountered fierce resistance, contributing to its total of 2,970 battle deaths by the end of the war.

Staff Sergeant Reinert was killed in action on August 7, 1944, amid the intense fighting in France. In recognition of his sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is interred at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, a resting place for many American soldiers who perished during the Normandy campaign.

Floyd Vincent Reinert’s service and ultimate sacrifice are emblematic of the courage and dedication exhibited by countless soldiers during World War II. His contributions remain a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the valor of those who serve.

A BRIEF REVIEW OF The 137 Infantry Regiment

The 137th Infantry Regiment, part of the 35th Infantry Division, played a significant role in the U.S. Army’s operations during World War II. Below is a detailed account of their activities from 1940 to 1945.

1940–1941: Mobilization and Early Training

On December 23, 1940, the 137th Infantry Regiment was inducted into federal service at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, as part of the 35th Infantry Division. The regiment comprised companies from various Kansas towns, including Atchison, Emporia, Council Grove, Dodge City, Holton, Newton, Kansas City, Lawrence, Wichita, Kingman, Topeka, and Cottonwood Falls. In 1941, the division participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers, large-scale training exercises designed to evaluate U.S. military readiness.

1942–1943: Coastal Defense and Intensive Training

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 137th was deployed to San Luis Obispo, California, to perform coastal defense duties against potential Japanese attacks. In early 1943, the regiment moved to Camp Rucker, Alabama, and later to Camp Forrest, Tennessee, for intensive combat training. These preparations included participation in the Second Army Tennessee Maneuvers from November 1943 to January 1944.

1944: Combat Operations in Europe

Normandy and Northern France

The 137th Infantry Regiment arrived in England on May 25, 1944, and landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, between July 5 and 7. Entering combat on July 11, the regiment engaged in fierce fighting in the hedgerows north of Saint-Lô, repelling multiple German counterattacks before capturing the city on July 18.

Afterward, the regiment advanced through France, participating in operations at Mortain, where they helped repel a German counteroffensive, and continued through Orléans and Nancy. By mid-September, they had reached Nancy, contributing to its liberation.

Lorraine and the German Border

In October, the 137th secured Chambrey and pushed toward the German border. They crossed the Saar River on December 8 and the Blies River on December 12, before moving to Metz for rest and rehabilitation on December 19 & 20;

1945: Final Offensives and Occupation

Battle of the Bulge and Advance into Germany

In late December 1944, the 137th was deployed to Arlon, Belgium, to participate in the Battle of the Bulge. They engaged in heavy fighting to relieve Bastogne, successfully repelling attacks from four German divisions. Afterward, the regiment returned to Metz for rest on January 18, 1945.

In February, the 137th moved to the Netherlands to hold a defensive line along the Roer River. On February 23, they attacked across the Roer, pierced the Siegfried Line, and reached the Rhine at Wesel by March 10. They crossed the Rhine on March 25–26, advanced through the Herne Canal, and reached the Ruhr River in early April. By April 12, they had moved to the Elbe River, where they conducted mopping-up operations until April 26.

Following Germany’s surrender in May 1945, the 137th Infantry Regiment occupied and governed its assigned zone south of Hannover, Germany, from May 8 to 16. They continued occupation duties until returning to the United States, where the regiment was inactivated on December 5, 1945, at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky.