WW2 Fallen - B-24 pilot John Suchiu

Lt. John Suchiu was the pilot of the B-24 Lady Lightning.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59124946/john-suchiu
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/7981 

John Suchiu never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 20, 1918 in Ohio. His parents Nick and Mary were both born in Rumanian speaking Hungry. His father worked as a soft drink merchant and later as a baker. John had one older sister and two younger brothers who both served in the army during the war. By 1940 John had completed two years of high school and was still living at home.

He enlisted in the army on September 23, 1941. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and despite what appears to be a lack of any college attendance, he became a first lieutenant in the 787th Bombardment Squadron, 466th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. It began operations out of Attlebridge England in March 1944.

On August 14, 1944 Lt. Suchiu was piloting the B-24 Lady Lightning on a mission to bomb Vechta Airfield. On the flight back it was shot down by German fighters over Holland. Lt. Suchiu and three other of the crew were killed. Five men were captured and one man was able to evade the Germans and return to England.

His grave is at Pineview Memorial Park in Warren, Ohio.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Ernest Carey, 2nd Marine Division in Saipan. You can read about Ernest 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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WW 2 Fallen - B-26 gunner Donald Field and his brother Ernest, 36th Infantry Division

S/Sgt. Donald Field was a gunner in the 456th Bombardment Squadron.
His brother Pvt. Ernest Field served with the 36th Infantry Division in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39290950/donald-dee-field
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56363508
http://b26marauderpilot.blogspot.com

Donald D. Field never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 18, 1918 in Wyoming. His parents Donald and Martha were both born in Utah. His father worked as a farmer and later as a garage proprietor and auto mechanic. Donald had four younger sisters and three younger brothers. By 1940 Donald had completed four years of high school and was living at home and working as a mechanic in his father's garage. 

He was drafted into the army on August 9, 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a gunner and a staff sergeant in the 456th Bombardment Squadron, 323rd Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force which was equipped with B-26 Marauders.

Brother Ernest, five years Donald's junior, became a private in the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Arrowhead").  The 36th ID took a key role in the invasion of Italy at Salerno in September 1943. It suffered more than 4,000 losses in its first major action. Pvt. Field likely joined his unit in the fall as a replacement. In late January the 36th ID again took heavy casualties trying to establish a bridgehead across the Gari River - nearly 1,700 lost in a 48 hour period. With most of the losses taken in the 141st and 143rd IRs, Pvt. Field's 142 IR had to take a lead role as the division dealt with the defeat. The 142nd was advancing on Mt. Cairo when Pvt. Field went missing in action on February 5, 1944, a time with relatively little fighting. His body has never been recovered.

Donald would have heard about his missing brother while at his airbase at Earls Colne in England. His bomb squadron focused on tactical bombing missions in France to disrupt German transportation and V1 launch sites. On June 29, 1944 Sgt. Field was a gunner in the B-26 Classie Lassie. It crashed near Omonville-la-Rogue in Normandy. All five crewmen died. His gravestone says the date was June 27, 1944 which may be in error.

His grave is at Lyman City Cemetery in Lyman, Wyoming.

Thank you Donald and Ernest for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Field brothers. Their parents actually lost three sons, they had one die in infancy in 1928.

Last year on this date I profiled decorated torpedo bomber pilot Edward DeGramo. You can read about Edward 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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WW2 Fallen - Distinguished Service Cross hero Joseph Pomber, 2nd Infantry Division

S. Sgt. Joseph Pomber served in the 2nd Infantry Division with this soldier during the Normandy Campaign.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154697345/joseph-s-pomber
http://ww2live.com/en/content/world-war-2-d1-105-story-2nd-infantry-division-usa
http://www.heroesforever.nl/William%20R%20Hinsch%20Jr.htm  

Joseph S. Pomber never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 17, 1918 in French speaking Canada. He moved to Michigan when he was five years old. His parents Joseph and Jennie were born in Vermont and Sweden, respectively. His father worked as an auto body press operator. Joseph had two older brothers, one older sister, two younger brothers, and three younger sisters. At least one of his brothers also served in the army during the war.

He was drafted into the army on May 8, 1942. Prior to joining the army Joseph had completed four years of high school and worked as a telephone lineman. Joseph became a staff sergeant in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (nicknamed "Indianhead"). The 2nd ID arrived on Omaha Beach on D+1. It was tasked with advancing on St. Lo. S. Sgt. Pomber was killed on July 2, 1944 while his unit was in the midst of dislodging the enemy from their hedgerow defenses.

He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on the day he died. His citation reads in part:

Staff Sergeant Pomber's squad was pinned down by incessant enemy machine gun and grenade fire less than twenty-five yards from a heavily defended hedgerow. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Pomber, in the face of direct machine gun fire, jumped from his covered position and charged the hostile weapon. Throwing many hand grenades and firing his sub-machine gun, he fearlessly charged the emplacement, killing two Germans and destroying the weapon. 

A second enemy machine gun from the opposite flank opened fire on Staff Sergeant Pomber, killing him instantly. 

His grave is at Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak, Michigan.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Franklin Rogers, 10th Armored Division,who died in the Battle of the Bulge. You can read about Franklin 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”

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WW2 Fallen - James Starr, 70th Infantry Division

Pfc. James Starr served with these men from Company I, 276th Infantry Regiment.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124833733/james-h-starr
http://www.trailblazersww2.org/photos_123.htm 

James H. Starr never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 16, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents Charles and Mary were also both born in Pennsylvania. His father worked as a coal miner and was later a mine owner. James had two older brothers. It appears his mother died in the 1930's. By 1940 James had completed four years of high school and was working as a miner with his father in Colorado.

He enlisted in the army through the Pennsylvania National Guard on February 24, 1941. He was single at the time but he married his wife Ruby at some point after that. He became a private first class in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Trailblazers"). The 70th ID arrived in Marseille, France in mid-December 1944. It was on the line on the west bank of the Rhine to oppose the German Operation Nordwind by early January 1945.

On February 17, the 70th ID went on the offense south of the Saar. It was engaged in house to house fighting in Forbash, Germany on February 22. Reports said casualties were astounding. One of the men killed that day was Pfc. Starr.

His grave is at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. His widow never remarried. She died in 1983 and now buried next to James.

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

Last year on this date I profiled B-25 airman James Benjamin. You can read about James 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”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Black March Fallen - B-24 waist gunner and POW Edward Yurka

Sgt. Edward Yurka served in the 446th Bomb Group represented in this digital art by Pat Spears.
He was a POW in The Black March.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/-b24-liberator-446th-bomb-group-pat-speirs.html
https://ww2thebigone.com/2016/04/22/the-long-awful-march-from-stalag-luft-iv/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72726042/edward-yurka 

Edward R. Yurka never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 15, 1918 in Nebraska. His parents Frank and Mary were both born in Bohemian Czechoslovakia when it was part of Austria Hungry. His father worked as a farmer. Edward had two older brothers, two older sisters, and one younger sister. At least one of his brothers became a WW2 vet. By 1940 Edward had completed four years of high school and was working on the family farm.

He was drafted into the army on February 18, 1941 and volunteered for the Army Air Forces where he became a sergeant and waist gunner in the 705th Bombardment Squadron, 446th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-24 Liberators.

Sgt. Yurka was the left waist gunner on July 12, 1944 in the B-24 Guess Who's Here when it was hit by flak and went down near Neuburg, Germany. The pilot and navigator were killed but Sgt. Yurka and the other seven airmen was captured. Sgt. Yurka was sent to Stalag Luft IV in Pomerania, Prussia.  

With the approach of the Russians in February 1945 the 8,000 POWs at Stalag Luft IV were marched west under brutal conditions. Despite being in weakened state, having lost on average a third of their pre-capture body weight, the POWs were forced to walk up to 20 miles a day and covered more than 400 miles in what became known as The Black March. Sgt. Yurka and the others arrived at Stalag IX-B near Fallingbostel in early April. American and British forces were getting closer from the west. The POWs could hear the sound of artillery. After a week, the Germans moved the prisoners out again, this time marching them east. They had no food and were in much weaker condition and were only able to cover about five miles a day. Sgt. Yurka died during this march on April 14, 1945.

His grave is at Virginia Cemetery in Virginia, Nebraska.

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

Last year on this date I profiled B-25 tail gunner Tony Shubat. You can read about Tony 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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WW2 Normandy Fallen - Robert Taylor, 28th Infantry Division

Cpl. Robert Taylor was in combat with the 28th Infantry Division in Normandy for less than one month.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8901849/robert-r-taylor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stGYPINibxg

Robert R. Taylor never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 14, 1918 in Texas. His father was also born in Texas and his mother was born in Nebraska. I don't know what happened to his parents but by 1930 Robert and his older sister were living with his mom's sister and his grandfather on his grandfather's farm. He completed four years of high school and worked as a mechanic.

He was drafted into the army on November 2, 1943. He became a corporal in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Keystone"). The 28th ID arrived in Normandy on July 22, 1944 and was assigned to fight in the St. Lo sector. I was not able to determine the details of Cpl. Taylor's demise east of the Egrenne River on August 16, 1944. The 28th ID saw heavy fighting in WW2. The Germans referred to them as the Bloody Bucket Division and it suffered nearly 17,000 casualties during ten months in action.

His grave is at Union Springs Cemetery in Corrigan, Texas.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Pearl Harbor survivor B-17 navigator Leo Eminger, who later crash-landed in the waters off Guadalcanal. You can read about Leo 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”

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WW2 Fallen - James Potts, 113th Cavalry Group, and Medal of Honor hero Edward O'Hare

Red Horses cavalry Lt. James Potts and fighter pilot Lt Cmdr. Edward O'Hare shared the same birthday.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157027905/james-m.-potts
https://thelexicans.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/edward-butch-ohare/ 

Page views of WW2 Fallen 100 just past 600,000. Thanks to those who read and share these stories.

James M. Potts never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 13, 1918, probably in Alabama. I was unable to find any census records on James or his parents Jessie and Elizabeth. James had one sister. He had a grammar school education and worked as a farm laborer.

James was drafted in the army on June 15, 1941. He became a private first class in the reconnaissance squadron of the 113th Cavalry Group know as the Red Horses. The unit was fully mechanized with jeeps, half-tracks, armored cars, light Stuart tanks, and trucks to allow for long distance reconnaissance. It arrived in England in January 1944 and joined the fighting in Normandy on July 7, 1944. Unable to take advantage of its mobility in the hedgerows of Normandy, it fought as an infantry unit alongside the 29th Infantry Division and 35th Infantry Division. By the end of the month it was able to use its mobility as the Americans began to breakout from Normandy. On August 1, 1944 Pfc. Potts was checking a hedge for German positions when he was killed by a sniper.

His grave is at Stevenson City Cemetery, Stevenson, Alabama.

Edward O'Hare

Edward "Butch" O'Hare's birthday was also March 13, but he was born four years earlier in Missouri. His story warrants attention because of the important contributions he made as a Navy flier.

Edward's father was a lawyer who worked closely with the gangster Al Capone. He was killed by unknown gunmen, in 1939, most likely because his testimony sent Capone to prison. By this time Edward had graduated from the US Naval Academy and decided to became a carrier pilot. He was quickly recognized for having outstanding flying skills.

On February 20, 1942, Lt. O'Hare was flying F4F-3 Wildcats from the USS Lexington. Lexington was on a deep raid into Japanese territory. The Japanese discovered its presence and sent bombers to sink it. Lexington used radar to see the enemy planes arrive and sent out fighters to oppose them. The American fighters were all committed save Lt. O'Hare and his wingman Marion Dufilho when 9 new Japanese bombers appeared on radar. O'Hare and Dufilho were sent to intercept this latest threat. Dufilho's guns jammed, leaving only O'Hare to take out 9 Betty bombers. He had 34 seconds of ammunition. He managed to shoot down three of the planes including the leader and damage two more. The disrupted attack was ineffectual and Lexington was likely saved from grievous damage. 

For his incredible marksmanship, Lt. O'Hare became the first naval aviator awarded the Medal of Honor. He would go on to earn the Navy Cross and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

After being recognized at home as a hero and to sell war bonds, Lt Commander O'Hare returned to service flying F6F-3 Hellcats. On the night of November 26, 1943, O'Hare participated in the very first carrier based night fighter mission. The Japanese had developed a new tactic of night attacks in the hopes of avoiding American fighters which as a rule did not fly at night. Relying on radar from an accompanying torpedo bomber, O'Hare and his wingman sortied to take on a flight of Betty bombers sent to attack USS Enterprise. A Japanese Betty got the drop on O'Hare and shot him down. He remains missing in action.

Chicago's O'Hare Airport is named after Lt. O'Hare.

Thank you James and Butch for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for James and Butch.

Last year on this date I profiled Lloyd Naugle, 2nd Infantry Division. You can read about Lloyd (and his brothers Lemon and Orange!) 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”

http://www.tggf.org