WW2 Fallen - Medic Travis Tucker, 3rd Infantry Division

Cpl. Travis Tucker was a medic assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in the fighting in the Colmar Pocket.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35767804/travis-clark-tucker
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805402526919/

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

He was born on May 22, 1918 in Louisiana. His parents Perry and Della were also both born in Louisiana. His father worked as a farmer. Travis had one older brother, a younger sister, and two younger brothers. By 1940 Travis had completed four years of high school and was working as a truck driver for the CCC while living at home.

He was drafted into the army on March 26, 1941. He became a TEC/5 in the medical department attached to the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was sent to North Africa in April 1943. He served in North Africa, Sardinia, South France, and lastly in Eastern France. He would have aided scores if not hundreds of fellow troops.

On January 25, 1945 The 3rd Infantry Division was engaged in the Battle of the Colmar Pocket. Corporal Tucker was aiding wounded GIs when a German counterattack forced a pullback. He was killed by enemy rifle fire.

His grave is at Zion Hill Cemetery in Farmerville, Louisiana.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Robert Burrows, 42nd Infantry Division. You can read about Robert 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 Burma Fallen - Bronze Star hero Barlow Coon

PFC Barlow Coon served with Merrill's Marauders when they captured the Myitkyina airfield
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139361571/barlow-gaston-coon
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/450852612672037791/?lp=true

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

He was born on May 21, 1918 in New York. His parents Edwin and Sarah were also both born in New York. His father worked as a fruit farmer. Barlow had two older brothers, three older sisters, four younger brothers (three became army veterans), and three younger sisters. His mother died in 1940. By 1940 Barlow had completed eight years of schooling. He had moved out and was living as a hired hand not too far from home.

He was drafted into the army on April 1, 1942. A year later he was sent to India while serving in the Army Corps of Engineers. He was with Merrill's Marauders and the Chinese 22nd Division in Burma when, after a thousand mile march, they attacked and captured the airfield outside of Myitkyina on May 17, 1944. The next day, while driving the commanding officer on a reconnaissance mission, the enemy ambushed them. Despite being shot, PFC Coon drove his vehicle out of harm's way, losing blood that left him unconscious and then dead. Everyone else in the vehicle returned unharmed. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for this heroism.

His grave is at Lakeview Cemetery, Penn Yan, New York.

Thank you PFC Coon for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Barlow.

Last year on this date I profiled Howard Van Hoose, 3rd Armored Division. You can read about Howard 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 Normandy Fallen - George Lewis, 35th Infantry Division + kid brother William

This painting by Keith Rocco depicts the 35th Infantry Division fighting in Normandy
where both George and William Lewis were killed in battle.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thenationalguard/4100337639
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58909507/george-e.-lewis
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58909436/william-r.-lewis

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

He was born on May 20, 1918 in Missouri. His parents Harold and Anna were also both born in Missouri and Kansas, respectively. His mother died in 1937. His father worked as a farm laborer and later as a laborer for the New Deal Work Projects Administration. George had two younger brothers and a younger sister.

He enlisted in the army (date unknown) and became a private first class in the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Santa Fe Division"). 

Younger brother William was drafted into the army on June 30, 1942. He became a private in the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (nicknamed "Indianhead"). It landed on Omaha Beach the day after D-Day. He was killed less than two weeks later on June 18, 1944 while his unit was fighting in the Normandy hedgerows.

The 35th ID arrived in Normandy a month after D-Day. I don't know if George was aware that his brother had been killed nearby. His unit became part of the effort to breakout of Normandy. On August 4, 1944 the 137th IR completed its advance from St. Lo to Vire. They faced lighter than expected resistance, but losses mounted regardless. The after action report for this day counted 130 casualties, including nine killed. Pvt. Lewis was one of those killed in action, just miles away from where brother William lost his life.

On March 31, 1949 their father filled out the paperwork for their headstones.

The Lewis brothers are buried at Iconium Cemetery in Iconium, Missouri.

Thank you George and William for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Lewis brothers.

Last year on this date I profiled Walter Kreklow, 88th Infantry Division. You can read about Walter 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 Battle of Santa Cruz Islands Fallen - Glen Miller, USS Porter + Band of Brothers officer

Glen Miller was a fireman first class on the USS Porter at the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38073635/glen-allen-miller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Porter_(DD-356) 

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

He was born on May 19, 1918 (or perhaps May 9) in Iowa. His parents Abram and Mildred were born in Illinois and Iowa, respectively. His father worked as a farmer. He died in 1928 of meningitis at age 36. Glen had two younger sisters and a half-brother from his mother's second marriage. He completed four years of high school.

Glen joined the Navy on January 20, 1940. He became a fireman first class on the destroyer USS Porter. It missed being in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 by two days.

Porter was part of the task force protecting the carrier USS Enterprise during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942. By 9:30 am Enterprise could no longer land more planes, her deck was full with planes from both her squadrons and those from damaged Hornet. Planes began ditching into the sea and destroyers picked up the fliers. A damaged TBF ditched near Porter. Moments later Porter was struck by a torpedo. Later investigation concluded that it was likely from the TBF, an unlucky, and unindented hit. The torpedo fatally damaged the destroyer so it was sunk by gunfire from the destroyer Shaw to keep it out of enemy hands. Fireman Miller was one of 15 sailors killed by the tragic accident.

His cenotaph grave is at Fontana Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa.

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

NORMAN DIKE

Also born on the same day as Glen Miller was Norman Dike, best known to the millions who watched the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers as the ineffectual commander of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was replaced by Lt. Ronald Spiers when Lt. Dike froze up during the attack on Foy.

https://alchetron.com/Norman-Dike
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53208215/norman-staunton-dike

Lt. Dike was the son of a New York State Supreme Court justice. His mother was from a rich well known New York family. Dike could have found a safer position than the volunteer airborne.

Perhaps by the time depicted in Band of Brothers Lt. Dike had reached the breaking point. He had already been twice awarded Purple Hearts for combat wounds and had also received two Bronze Stars -- for leading men in the defense of a vital road junction in Holland and or rescuing three wounded men while under fire during the Battle of the Bulge (not shown in the miniseries).

After being removed from command of Company E, Lt Dike went back to serve in a staff position and was eventually chosen to serve as the aide-de-camp to the Division commander. He served in the Korean War. Dike retired as a Lt. Colonel, became a lawyer, and died in 1989.

Last year on this date I profiled Robert Putnam, 35th Infantry Division. You can read about Robert 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 Normandy Fallen - John Parker, LST 314, sunk by German E-boat

Cpl. John Parker was killed off of Omaha Beach when LST-314 was sunk by a German E-boat.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9386013/john-a-parker#view-photo=54571736
https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160314.htm 

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

He was born on May 18, 1918 in North Carolina. His parents Greenberry and Nora were also both born in North Carolina. His father worked as a blacksmith. John had an older brother and a younger sister. By 1940 he had competed two years of high school and was living at home, working as a laborer.

He was drafted into the army on November 23, 1941. He became a TEC 5 in the 3422nd Ordnance Maintenance Company. His unit was part of the effort of handling the massive supplies delivered onto Omaha Beach to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Corporal Parker was listed as missing in action on June 9, 1944. In all likelihood he was killed when LST 314 was sunk in the English Channel by a German E-boat torpedo. By September his status was changed to killed in action with a date of June 21, 1944. 

His cenotaph grave is at Rutherfordton City Cemetery in North Carolina.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Audrey Harris, 37th Infantry Division. You can read about Audrey 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 Fallen - Bronze Star hero Tadashi Kijima, 442nd Infantry Regiment

Sgt. Tadashi Kijima served in the 442nd Infantry Regiment in Italy and France.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53113490/tadashi-kijima
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States) 

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

He was born on May 17, 1918 in Hawaii. His parents Seichi and Hina were both born in Japan and came to Hawaii in 1906. His father worked as a salesman. Tadashi had three brothers and a sister. After completing high school he worked at a tinsmith shop and spent his free time diving and fishing.

He was drafted into the army on February 24, 1942. After basic training he volunteered for the all Nisei 442nd Infantry Regiment. He became a sergeant in the Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion. He was sent overseas in May 1944. During June through August he saw action in the Rome-Arno Campaign. The 442nd IR was next sent to be part of the invasion of Southern France and the advance to the Vosges Mountains.

Sgt. Kijima was at the 2nd Battalion command post when it came under artillery fire on October 18, 1944. He was killed by a deadly fragments from a tree burst above. During his service he earned a Bronze Star. I was not able to determine the details for this.

The 442nd IR was a 4,000 man unit. Over the course of the war 14,000 men served in this regiment. Purple Hearts were earned by 9,486. It was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in American history.

An excellent book on this unit is Go For Broke: The Nisei Warriors of World War II Who Conquered Germany, Japan, and American Bigotry.

Sgt. Kijima's grave is at Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao, Hawaii.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Edward Gill, 3rd Marine Division, who lost his life on Iwo Jima. You can read about Edward and true love 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 Normandy Fallen - Rufe Tipps, 90th Infantry Division

S/Sgt. Rufe Tipps served with these men from Company K, 359th Infantry Regiment when they fought in Normandy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101873848/rufe-eldridge-tipps
http://www.90thdivisionassoc.org/History/Yardlongs/RegTroops/359th/CoK/359%20K%20DC%20783p62.jpg
http://abmc.nomadmobileguides.com/Normandy.php?page=narrative&id=cont-2303

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

He was born on May 16, 1918 in Tennessee. His parents Rufus and Tabitha were also both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a farmer and later as a barber. Rufe had two younger sisters and two younger brothers. By 1940 Rufe had completed two years of college at Middle Tennessee State and was working on the family farm.

He was drafted into the army on October 8, 1941. He became a staff sergeant in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division.

The 90th ID arrived in England in April 1944 and immediately began training for the invasion of France. It was in action in Normandy the day after D-Day.  A week later, Sgt. Tipps was killed on June 14, 1944 when his regiment was attacking the village of Orglandes. The 90th ID would lose more than third of its men during the fighting in Normandy.

His grave is at Riverview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville, Tennessee.

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

Rufe is the 500th of the fallen I have profiled so far. That accounts for only 5 of the 4,048 stars on the Freedom Wall at the WW2 Memorial. I plan to continue this project through September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2. Thanks to all those that are sharing this project with others so more people can learn of these men (and women) who should not be forgotten.

Last year on this date I profiled Seeber Crawford, 101st Airborne Division. You can read about Seeber 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