Milwaukee World War II veteran remembers the War in the Pacific

National Guard, Oct 1998 by Patterson, Kristin

Anticipating involvement in the second World War, Americans began preparing well before the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941 that thrust the country into conflict.

One year earlier during their training, few men from the 32d Infantry Division had probably heard of the places they were to be sent as a result of the Japanese attack-Buna, Saidor, Aitape, Morotai, Leyte and Luzon.

Soldiers like Norbert Josten Sr. never even envisioned leaving Wisconsin for the other side of the world to make history. Josten reminisced about the war when he attended the National Guard Association's conference near his suburban Milwaukee home.

ShortLy after joining the Guard in 1939, Josten began his quick ascension through the ranks when his commanders recognized the Leadership skills he brought to the cavalry unit. He chose a cavaLry unit because he liked to ride horses and had experience caring for harness-racing thoroughbreds and in handling teams of horses. ImmediateLy after joining, he was promoted to stable sergeant and then later to first sergeant. He would later leave the military as a 31-year-old lieutenant coloneL.

Not long after he joined, the 32d division wouLd be on the way to the Pacific and Josten, on his way to a promising military career.

"GEN [Douglas] MacArthur sent a note to GEN [George] Marshall to send the two most ready divisions," Josten said. "These divisions were the 32d and the 41st Infantry Division."

Most 32d men were from the Wisconsin and Michigan National Guard who were inducted into federaL service when the division was reactivated in October 1940 and Josten's cavalry unit was converted to an artillery unit. They trained at Camp Beauregard, La., until February 1941. Three months of maneuvers in Louisiana followed by two months in the Carolinas developed the division into a team. Then came the Japanese attack.

As the Japanese moved through the Pacific to the Philippines, East Indies, the Carolines, the Solomons and down New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand were next. Their troops were fighting in Germany and the Middle East. The 32d deployed to help the Australians and New Zealanders against 3,000 Japanese troops.

Josten's unit was sent to shore up the Marines at the Battle of Buna. By this time, Josten had been promoted to captain and was given command of an artiLlery battery in the 128th Infantry Regiment.

One night, as he slept in the rain, he received an order to cross the mountains to Port Morsby to help provide artillery support in the battle. He and three of his NCOs crossed the Owen Stanley Range in an Army Air Corps C-47 and immediately began to organize artillery support of the infantry.

Later, Josten was called on again to support the regimental commander who wanted him to move a 105mm howitzer across a fast-flowing river, a feat which three other artillery officers said could not be done. Josten and his NCOs drafted a plan to float the gun in two pontoons across the river. His efforts enabled U.S. soldiers to fire on the Japanese.

The regiment commander recognized Josten's talents and asked him to serve as his assistant operations officer. When it was time for his unit to Leave Buna, he demonstrated his keen understanding of how to get things done: He bribed a Navy lieutenant with a Jeep to Load out his regiment ahead of the 41st division.

Before he knew it, the young man who started his Guard career as tending horses had become-at the tender age of 25-the youngest division operations officer in the Army.

The 32d Division commander asked Josten during the brief U.S. occupation of Japan to accept a regular commission.

"The active Army was made for guys like you," he told Josten. Josten responded: "General, the reason I am a National Guard officer is so I can tell you to go to hell when I need to!"

When Josten returned home he reopened his paint manufacturing business. During his time in the miLitary, he earned the Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star with three Oak Leaf CLusters.