
<p>Jim Schmidt, 89, of Hayden spent more than 600 days in combat in the European-African-Middle East Theatre of World War II. The Army's 34th Infantry Division, 109th Engineer Battalion was known as the "Champion Hard Luck Division" because it was in the combat zone for the longest period of time for any American unit during the war.Ê</p>
July 4, 2011
Stories this photo appears in:

July 4, 2011 9 p.m.
The price of freedom
Schmidt reflects on more than 600 days in WW II combat zone for the ‘Champion Hard Luck Division’
HAYDEN - Jim Schmidt wondered if his time serving in World War II would ever end.