Posted by Allan Wilford Howerton Sgt Byers would have participated in the major battle for Lindern, Germany which commenced on November 29, 1944. The capture of Lindern by Company K and one platoon of Company I-335 was a significant factor in the breaking of the Siegfried Line which opened the approach to the Roer River leading to the drive to the Rhine which followed. The battle for Lindern is described in detail in my memoir, "Dear Captain, et al.: the Agonies and the Ecstasies of War and Memory." As to Byers, the memoir notes: "On that day (December 13, 1944) Sergeant Charles F. Sparks, was evacuated suffering "frostbite, bilat.feet" and Private Victor Sabbagh, Private Robert E. Shaeffer, Sergeant Ivan Byers, and T/5 Jack B. Dismuke, who had so recently joined us with Egan, ended up in hospitals with various stages of trenchfoot, the most deadly enemy of wintertime foot soldiers other than enemy fire. None of them returned. Aside from Byers, who had been with the company since December '42 at Howze, they were all replacements. At this rate of attrition among them we were to remain understrength for a long time."
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on July 8, 2007, 3:45 pm, in reply to "TSgt. Ivan H. Byers Co. K 335th"
64.12.116.201
Private Ivan (no middle initial indicated) Byers, ASN 35683635 of Riggs, Kentucky was assigned to Company, K, 335th Infantry, at Camp Howze, Texas, December 12, 1942. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant December 10, 1944 at Lindern, Germany. Three days later, December 13, 1944, he was medically evacuated with a diagnosis of "Trenchfoot, moderate." He was transferred to the 91st Evacuation Hospital the following day. He never returned to the company and there is no further record. If he achieved the rank of T/Sergeant it was most likely while serving with another unit after returning to duty following hospitalization.
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