Robert Ernest Fiechter, 32nd Div married an Australian

Hi all,

I'm doing some reasearch on behalf of the family for this soldier, who was awarded the Silver Star in New Guinea. There is a family legend that he married a local girl while stationed in Australia. Later in the war he was wounded, and his wife visited him in the hospital (with their baby son) to tell him she was divorcing him. I've done some digging in the Australian records, but it appears that marriage documents would be stored in US Army records. Can anyone point me in the right direction or help with the research? Also any information about the location of his Silver Star action would be appreciated.

Robert Ernest Fiechter, born April 10, 1918 in Wood County, Wisconsin, USA
Parents: John and Margaret Rufenacht Fiechter
Serial number: 20650663; Staff Sergeant
32nd Infantry Division, Company K, 128th Infantry; inducted Oct. 15,1940
Received the Silver Star for gallantry in action near Sinemi Plantation, Buna Track, New Guinea, November 18, 1942
Discharged May 18, 1945

Cheers,

Mat

 

I can't find him in the Aussie newspapers of the day - I would have thought that her family would have posted a notice concerning her marriage.

Interesting........

 

The ozatwar site gives a potted history of the movements of the 32nd in Australia

32nd Infantry Division - 120th Field Artillery - "The Red Fox Battalion", 126th Infantry, 129th Field Artillery -X US Army

Camp Cable


The story would most match their stays at Camp Cable near Brisbane



(The article infers that the only unit in action in November 1942 was Battery A of the 129th Field Artillery, however, I think the following statement "In September of 1943" is incorrect and should be 1942)

 

Here he is arriving in New Guinea (well, he could be in the shot)

Wanigela, New Guinea. 1942-10. Members of 3rd battalion, 128th regiment, 32nd U.S. Division alighting from Lockheed Hudson transport aircraft on a rough run way on the shores of Collingwood bay, as a preliminary move in the allied coastal advance on Buna. The run way was prepared by the 2/10th Australian infantry battalion who had been flown in from Milne bay several days previously. Although rough, the run way served its purpose, for some 3,000 troops were safely landed there. 027395 | Australian War Memorial


In fact, the AWM collection has a few photos of the 128th of the 32nd

 

Here is the US Army official history on the 128th's first combat at Simemi:
HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Victory in Papua