Wednesday, February 28, 2018

WW2 Fallen - Multiple medal hero John Dowdy, 4th Infantry Division

Captain (later Lt. Col.) John Dowdy, 4th Infantry Division, and his medals,
which include the Distinguished Service Cross and two Silver Stars.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84162909/john-dowdy/photo
http://www.1-22infantry.org/history4/dowdy.htm
John B. Dowdy, Jr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 28, 1918 in Georgia. His parents John and Eva were also both born in Georgia. His father died in 1919 at age 26, perhaps during the worldwide influenza epidemic. John had one older brother.

John entered the army on June 15, 1939 from being a graduate of the University of Georgia. He was a lieutenant before the war started and was promoted to captain and company commander, soon after the war started, in the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Dvision. He was a major and the 2nd Battalion executive officer when he landed on Utah Beach during the second wave on D-Day. Two days later, when its commanding officer was wounded, John was put in command of the 1st Battalion.

In the next three weeks he led his men from one victory to another. When one engagement on June 15 resulted in the loss of all company officers and most of its non-coms, Major Dowdy assumed direct command and his men captured the objective. For this action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 

His DSC citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major (Infantry) John Dowdy (ASN: 0-378954), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 15 June 1944. 

On that date, fierce artillery, machinegun, mortar and small arms fire inflicted heavy casualties upon Lieutenant Colonel Dowdy's command as it attacked high ground. One assault company, having lost all of its officers and most of its key non-commissioned officers, became completely demoralized; withdrawal was imminent. Friendly tanks operating in support of the attack began to retreat. Realizing that his entire command was threatened with annihilation, Lieutenant Colonel Dowdy, disregarding completely his own safety, moved afoot through a hail of fire and personally directed the fire of the tanks upon the enemy. Courageously he proceeded forward unfalteringly to the forward elements of his command. While under fire, he organized them for an attack. 

Lieutenant Colonel Dowdy's exemplary actions spearheaded a devastating assault, which resulted in the capture of the strongly fortified position and more than 100 prisoners.

A week later his battalion held a position for six straight days, preventing the Germans from reinforcing Cherbourg. He was wounded in the right leg by German artillery shrapnel on the last day of the battle, but refused to be evacuated until the Germans surrendered. He was award the Silver Star and was sent back to England to recover.

On September 1, now Lt. Col. Dowdy returned to serve in the 22nd IR HQ staff. Three days later he was back in command of 1st Battalion. By September 14, the 22nd IR had breached the Siegfried Line. They were up against SS troops.

On September 16, 1944 the 1st Battalion took a critical hill that the SS was bound to take back. Lt. Col. Dowdy ordered everyone to dig in and then circulated about his men, making sure everything was set to repel an enemy attack. A violent German artillery and mortar attack was the heaviest ever experienced by the 22nd IR. The shelling wounded 35 men and killed eight others, including Lt. Col. Dowdy who was awarded another Silver Star for his leadership and bravery under fire.

In a letter to Lt. Col. Dowdy's mother, his commanding officer Colonel Buck Lanham wrote:

"....I have seen many officers and many men go down. Each one, no matter how humble, has been a blow and a personal loss to me. But I say truthfully that never has a death so stunned me as that of John. And the Regiment shared that grief with me. John was worshipped by his battalion; it was a form of hero worship, and John was a hero and died a hero, in the true sense of that much abused word."

You can read more about Lt. Col. Dowdy at www.1-22infantry.org/history4/dowdy.htm and
www.1-22infantry.org/commanders/dowdypers.htm.

His grave is at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Tifton, Georgia. His mother lived to nearly her 101st birthday and died in 2000, a widow for 81 years.

Thank you John for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.

Last year on this date I profiled Marlin Miller, 77th Infantry Division. You can read about Marlin here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

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“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

WW2 Fallen - Donald Casavant, 2nd Infantry Division

Pfc. Donald Casavant served with the 2nd Infantry Division when in it was in Germany in 1945.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124363891
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/674273375431628518/ 
Donald Casavant never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 27, 1918 in Vermont. His parents Bernard and Elizabeth were also both born in Vermont. His father worked as an insurance agent. Donald had three younger sisters. By 1940 his parents had divorced. Donald lived with his mother who worked as a hospital maid. He had completed one year of college and worked as a retail mens store clerk.

He was drafted into the army on February 8, 1943. He became a private first class in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (nicknamed "Indianhead"). From October 1943 to June 1944 the 2nd ID was in training in North Ireland and Wales. It landed on Omaha Beach on D+1. Pfc. Casavant likely joined his unit as a replacement. During the war the 2nd ID suffered more than 16,000 casualties so it needed new troops to replace all those wounded, killed, or captured.

The 2nd ID crossed the Rhine on March 21, 1945. Pfc. Casavant was killed on April 14, 1945 when the 2nd ID established a bridgehead on the Saale River.

His grave is at Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Thank you Donald for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Donald.

Last year on this date I profiled Minoru Nakayama and there is also a tie-in to the JFK assassination. You can read about Minoru here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

Monday, February 26, 2018

WW2 Battle of Midway Fallen - Navy Cross hero Frank O'Flaherty, USS Enterprise pilot

Ens. Frank O'Flaherty was a SBD-3 Dauntless pilot on the USS Enterprise at the Battle of Midway.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56127242/frank-woodrow-o_flaherty
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/sbd/sbd-2-vs-6-1941/ 
Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 26, 1918 in Nevada. His parents William and Carrie were also both born in Nevada. His father worked as an ore mill machinist. Carrie died of Spanish Flu in 1918. Frank had four brothers and two sisters. The children were split up after the death of their mother and Frank was raised by his mother's sister. By 1940 he had completed three years of college and was working as an accountant while living in Kansas.

He enlisted in the navy in September 1940. He became an aviation cadet in January 1941. By September 1941 he was an ensign and pilot in Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) on the USS Enterprise. He flew SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers. He was one of 19 pilots in his squadron who participated in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. At the battle Ens. O'Flaherty was flying one of 27 planes that chose the carrier Kaga as the target, leaving it in ruins. The mission was unlucky for the six planes in Ens. O'Flaherty's division - none of them made it back to Enterprise. O'Flaherty was seen ditching his plane in the ocean and he and his radioman Bruno Gaido got in a life raft. While other downed airmen were found, O'Flaherty and Gaido were not.

His posthumous Navy Cross award in December 1942 said in part: Participating in a devastating assault against a Japanese invasion fleet, Ensign O'Flaherty, with fortitude and resolute devotion to duty, pressed home his attacks in the face of a formidable barrage of anti-aircraft fire and fierce fighter opposition.

After the war US investigators discovered that O'Flaherty and Gaido were picked out of the water by the IJN destroyer Makigumo on June 4. Best guess is they were kept alive until June 15 at which point they were bound with weights and thrown overboard into the ocean to drown.

The destroyer escort USS O'Flaherty was named in his honor and commissioned in April 1944.

https://www.desausa.org/images/uss_o_flaherty_de_340.htm
His cenotaph marker is at the Honolulu Memorial.

Thank you Frank for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Frank.

Last year on this date I profiled Arthur Isken, 3rd Armored Division, who was MIA for 55 years. You can read about Arthur here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

WW2 Battle of Midway Fallen - Navy Cross hero Frank O'Flaherty, USS Enterprise

Ens. Frank O'Flaherty was a SBD-3 Dauntless pilot on the USS Enterprise at the Battle of Midway.
http://www.ilbe.com/8279168119
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/sbd/sbd-2-vs-6-1941/ 
Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 26, 1918 in Nevada. His parents William and Carrie were also both born in Nevada. His father worked as an ore mill machinist. Carrie died of Spanish Flu in 1918. Frank had four brothers and two sisters. The children were split up after the death of their mother and Frank was raised by his mother's sister. By 1940 he had completed three years of college and was working as an accountant while living in Kansas.

He enlisted in the navy in September 1940. He became an aviation cadet in January 1941. By September 1941 he was an ensign and pilot in Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) on the USS Enterprise. He flew SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers. He was one of 19 pilots in his squadron who participated in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. At the battle Ens. O'Flaherty was flying one of 27 planes that chose the carrier Kaga as the target, leaving it in ruins. The mission was unlucky for the six planes in Ens. O'Flaherty's division - none of them made it back to Enterprise. O'Flaherty was seen ditching his plane in the ocean and he and his radioman Bruno Gaido got in a life raft. While other downed airmen were found, O'Flaherty and Gaido were not.

His posthumous Navy Cross award in December 1942 said in part: Participating in a devastating assault against a Japanese invasion fleet, Ensign O'Flaherty, with fortitude and resolute devotion to duty, pressed home his attacks in the face of a formidable barrage of anti-aircraft fire and fierce fighter opposition.

After the war US investigators discovered that O'Flaherty and Gaido were picked out of the water by the IJN destroyer Makigumo on June 4. Best guess is they were kept alive until June 15 at which point they were bound with weights and thrown overboard into the ocean to drown.

The destroyer escort USS O'Flaherty was named in his honor and commissioned in April 1944.

https://www.desausa.org/images/uss_o_flaherty_de_340.htm
His cenotaph marker is at the Honolulu Memorial.

Thank you Frank for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Frank.

Last year on this date I profiled Arthur Isken, 3rd Armored Division, who was MIA for 55 years. You can read about Arthur here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

Sunday, February 25, 2018

WW2 Fallen - B-24 copilot Kenneth Barber

Lt. Kenneth Barber was the copilot of the B-24 Ready Willing and Able, shown here at the crash site.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113035884/kenneth-arthur-barber
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/1263
Kenneth Arthur Barber never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 25, 1918 in Minnesota. His parents Garnett and Florence were both born in French speaking Canada. His father worked as a clerk and later as a truck driver. Kenneth had an older brother and an older sister. By 1940 Kenneth had completed four years of high school. He worked as an account clerk and lived at home.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on March 3, 1943. He became a second lieutenant and copilot in the 579th Bombardment Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-24 Liberators.

On April 29, 1944 Lt. Barber was flying the B-24 Ready Willing and Able on a mission to bomb the Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station in Berlin. It was a big raid with 751 bombers. It was thirteenth mission for Barber's crew. It proved to be the second most deadly mission in terms of men killed in the 392nd BG during the entire war. The bombers were attacked by 50 German fighters that made a level pass through the bomber formation in double line-abreast. On the return flight, the B-24s and their fighter protection did not link up and the bombers were attacked by another 100 German fighters.

Lt. Barber's plane was badly shot up but managed to make the flight back to England, However, while in a landing pattern over Wendling Air Base the plane exploded and all 10 crewmen were killed. A likely cause was gas fumes that leaked into the fuselage, a frequent cause of midair explosions in B-24s. Seven other planes also failed to return.

His grave is at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Thank you Kenneth for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Kenneth.

Last year on this date I profiled Albert Castagnoli, 85th Infantry Division. You can read about Albert here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

Saturday, February 24, 2018

WW2 Fallen - C-47 pilot Lawrence Jones

Captain Lawrence Jones went missing in action while flying his C-47 from America to North Africa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/851846
http://abmc.nomadmobileguides.com/Normandy.php?page=narrative&id=cont-985
Lawrence E. Jones never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 24, 1918 in Nebraska. His parents Wallace and Ruth were born in Nebraska and Kansas, respectively. His father worked as a postal clerk. Lawrence had one younger brother who served in the navy in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. By 1940 Lawrence had completed three years of college and was living at home.

He enlisted in the army on January 10, 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a pilot and captain in the 94th Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group which was equipped with C-47 Skytrains. The 439th TCG was ordered from the United States to England in February 1944. Captain Jones was listed as missing in action on February 21, 1944, three days before his 26th birthday.. My best guess is that his plane was lost over the Atlantic and never made it to its interim stop in North Africa.

His cenotaph grave is at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska.

Thank you Lawrence for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Lawrence.

Last year on this date I profiled Leonard Tracy, 88th Infantry Division. You can read about Leonard here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

Friday, February 23, 2018

WW2 Fallen - Ray Kessler, 85th Infantry Division

Staff Sergeant Ray Kessler served in the 85th Infantry Division and was killed in the vicinity where this photo was taken.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42049804/ray-k-kessler
http://user.pa.net/~cjheiser/index.htm 
Ray K. Kessler never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 23, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents Ralph and Tillie were born in Kansas and Pennsylvania, respectively. His father worked as a butcher. Ray had two older brothers who both served in the war. By 1940 he had completed four years of high school and was working at a paper mill while living with his parents.

He was drafted into the army on May 2, 1942. He became a staff sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Custer Division").

The 85th ID arrived in Italy in March 1944. By April it assumed a defensive position on the Gustav Line. It launched Operation Diadem on May 11 with the objective of taking Solacciano, Castellonorato, and Formia. Sgt. Kessler died on May 12, 1944, the second day of the attack.

His grave is at McKean County Memorial Park in Lafayette, Pennsylvania. 

Thank you Ray for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ray.

Last year on this date I profiled Captain Ira Wilson, USS Atlanta, who died in the seas off of Guadalcanal. You can read about Ira here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

Thursday, February 22, 2018

WW2 Fallen - William Nelson, Medal of Honor hero, 9th Infantry Division

Sgt. William Nelson served with these men from the 60th Infantry Regiment.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7126852/william-lloyd-nelson
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805405843140/ 
William L. Nelson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 22, 1918 in Delaware. His parents Clarence and Carrie were also both born in Delaware. His father worked as a farmer. William had a younger sister.

He was drafted into the army on January 9, 1941. While in the army he married Rebecca M. Pyle on September 8, 1941. He became a sergeant and mortar section leader in Company H, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.

The 9th Infantry Division was one of the first units to see action in World War 2. It landed in Morocco in November 1942. Sgt. Nelson's first major engagement with the Germans was at the Battle of Sedjenane in northern Tunisia which occurred from April 23 to April 24. It was during this battle that Sgt. Nelson's actions would result in a posthumously awarded Medal of Honor.

His citation includes the following:


On the morning of 24 April 1943, Sgt. Nelson led his section of heavy mortars to a forward position where he placed his guns and men. Under intense enemy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, he advanced alone to a chosen observation position from which he directed the laying of a concentrated mortar barrage which successfully halted an initial enemy counterattack. 

Although mortally wounded in the accomplishment of his mission, and with his duty clearly completed, Sgt. Nelson crawled to a still more advanced observation point and continued to direct the fire of his section. 

Dying of hand grenade wounds and only 50 yards from the enemy, Sgt. Nelson encouraged his section to continue their fire and by doing so they took a heavy toll of enemy lives. 

The skill which Sgt. Nelson displayed in this engagement, his courage, and self-sacrificing devotion to duty and heroism resulting in the loss of his life, was a priceless inspiration to our Armed Forces and were in keeping with the highest tradition of the U.S. Army.

Sgt. Nelson died the next day from his wounds.

His grave is at Silverbrook Cemetery and Memorial Park in Wilmington, Delaware. His widow remarried and died in 2000.

Thank you William for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for William.

ALFRED GROSS
Alfred Gross was born on the same day as William Nelson. Although he was born in Canada, he grew up in Ohio. From childhood he exhibited a keen interest in radio. At the age of 19 he obtained a patent a "walkie-talkie". During the war he worked on a top secret air-to-ground communication system that was successfully used behind enemy lines. Its existence was not made public until 1976.


He was an early developer of CB radios and other wireless communications.

Alfred Gross died in 2000.

We will never know what similar accomplishments Willam Nelson and the other WW2 fallen could have achieved if they had survived the war.

Last year on this date I profiled Saipan medic Carmelo Parisi. You can read about Carmelo here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

WW2 Hurtgen Forest Fallen - Tank destroyer crewman Floyd Tolman

Sgt. Floyd Tolman was in a tank crew in the 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54678060/floyd-denzil-tolman
https://www.tankdestroyer.net/units/battalions800s/247-803rd-tank-destroyer-battalion
https://imgur.com/gallery/nJ4F3CC
Floyd Denzil Tolman never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 21, 1918 in Oklahoma. His parents Napoleon (yes, Napoleon) and Anna were born in Tennessee and Texas, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as a contractor. Floyd had three older brothers, two younger brothers, and a younger sister. Two of his brothers served in the army and another one served in the navy. By 1940 Floyd had completed eight years of schooling and was working as a laborer while living at home.

Floyd was drafted into the army and enlisted in California on October 8, 1941. He became a sergeant in Company B, 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. The 803rd TDB was sent to England in June 1943. It landed on Omaha Beach on June 13, 1944. Equipped with M10 tank destroyers, it supported the attack on St. Lo. It raced across France and reached the Siegfried Line in September. In October it was in the Hurtgen Forest supporting the 30th Infantry Division where needed. On October 15, 1944, Sgt. Tolman's TD was hit, killing him and one other soldier with the other two crewmen wounded. It was the only casualties from his unit that day.

His grave is at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Thank you Floyd for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Floyd.

Last year on this date I profiled Major Arthur Burke, 26th Infantry Division. You can read about Arthur here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

WW2 Fallen - B-17 navigator Alfred Nichols

Lt. Alfred Nichols was a navigator flying B-17s in the 326th Bombardment Squadron.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100334642/alfred-a.-nichols
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/326th_Bombardment_Squadron
https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/326th-bombardment-squadron-heavy/ 
Alfred A. Nichols never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 20, 1918 in New York. His parents Burdette and Ida were also both born in New York. His father did repair work for a garage. He died in 1923. His mother got a job as a bakery servant. Alfred had one older brother 17 years his senior. By 1940 Alfred had completed three years of college and was living as a lodger working as a soda dispenser. I don't know if his mother was alive at that time.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on March 9, 1942. He became a second lieutenant and navigator in the 326th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-17s. By September 1943 the 326th BS was based in Podington, England where it would operate from for the rest of the war in Europe.

On October 19, 1944 the mission was to bomb the airbase and industrial centers at Mannheim and Rudescheim. During the mission, Lt. Nichols was killed when his plane was hit by flak and a piece hit his head. The planereturned safely without losing any other crewmen.

His grave is at Cortland Rural Cemetery in Cortland, New York.

Thank you Alfred for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Alfred.

Last year on this date I profiled Eugene and Charles Skiles who died on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. You can read about Skiles brothers here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

Monday, February 19, 2018

WW2 Fallen - Combat engineer Robert Kuehn

Pvt. Robert Kuehn was a combat engineer in North Africa in January 1943.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83677564/robert-k-kuehn 
Robert K Kuehn never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 19, 1918 in Illinois. His parents August and Lillian were also both born in Illinois. His grandparents were from Germany and Norway. His father worked as an elevator repairman and later as a machinist and still later as a pressman. Robert had two older brothers. By 1940 Robert was still living at home. He had completed four years of high school and worked as an attendant.

He was drafted into the army on February 19, 1941 and became a private in Company A, 19th Engineer Combat Battalion. The 19th was part of America's attack in North Africa in November 1942. He was killed on January 29, 1943 as the Allies were advancing into Tunisia. He may have been killed by a mine since there were thousands of them placed by the Germans and combat engineers cleared mines as one of their duties.

His grave is at Acacia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago, Illinois.

Thank you Robert for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.

Last year on this date I profiled Harold Booth, 12th Armored Division. You can read about Harold here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

Sunday, February 18, 2018

WW2 Fallen - A-36 Mustang pilot Herbert Estep

Lt. Herbert Estep flew A-36 Mustangs in the 86th Fighter Bomber Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49046774/herbert-clayton-estep
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/a-36/the-ground-crew-of-a-36a-42-84067-527th-fbs-86th-fbg/
Herbert Clayton Estep, Jr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 18, 1918 in Maryland. His parents Herbert and Anna were also both born in Maryland. His father worked as a farmer and later as a lumber mill-wright. Still later he was a postmaster. Herbert had a younger brother and a younger sister. By 1940 Herbert Jr. had completed four years of high school and was working as a cable splitter while living with his parents.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on May 9, 1941. He became a first lieutenant and pilot in the 310th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, 12th Air Force. This unit started off in 1942 as a fighter group using A-24 Banshee and A-31 Vengeance aircraft. The results were not up to expectations so these were changed to A-36 Mustangs (a P-51 modified as a dive-bomber) when they became available and the unit designation was changed to a fighter-bombardment group. The unit operated out of North Africa and provided close air support to ground units in Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy.

By late August 1943 the 86th FBG was stationed in Barcelona, Sicily. In September the focus of the unit was to disrupt German communications in Northern Italy. Lt. Estep's last mission was flown on September 12, 1943. Reports say his plane was hit by flak near Casalbuno or Legonegro, Italy. His plane failed to return to base and he was listed as missing in action. I don't know if his body was ever found. Lt. Estep was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross. I don't know if it was awarded or not.

His grave is at Mount Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery in Lothian, Maryland.

Thank you Hebert for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Herbert.

Last year on this date I profiled Richard McMullen, 6th Armored Division, who died in the Battle of the Bulge. You can read about Richard here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

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