WW2 Fallen - Navy lieutenant Roland Stephenson and his West Point grad brother Glenwood, B-25 pilot

Navy lieutenant Roland Stephenson and his older brother Glenwood, a West Point grad, both lost their lives serving their country in World War 2.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130706717/roland-w-stephenson
http://3rdstories.yolasite.com/glen-stephenson.php
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101954229/glenwood-gordon-stephenson#view-photo=72273151

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

He was born on September 8, 1918 in Wisconsin. His parents Gordon and Hazel were born in Wisconsin and North Dakota, respectively. His father worked as an electric shop electrician and later as a dairy farmer. Roland had two older brothers, two younger brothers, and a younger sister. Two of his three brothers who were old enough served in the Army Air Forces and the other in the Marines. Roland attend college until 1943 and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in engineering. He married Eileen Moehrke in May. They had one daughter.

His oldest brother Glenwood join the army in the 1930s and was sent overseas to Manila. While there he was nominated to attend the US Military Academy at West Point. After graduating in 1940 he took pilot training. He married Anne Grace Nall in 1941. He became a captain in the 27th Bombardment Group which was equipped with A-24 Dauntless dive bombers. He was back in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked hours after bombing Pearl Harbor. (Brother Clyde survived the raid on Pearl Harbor while serving on one of the ships that was attacked.) Captain Stephenson and his fellow flyers did not have any planes to fly because the ship with their planes never got to the Philippines and was sent to Australia. His unit was evacuated in mid-December to join the planes in Australia.

In late March Glenwood was reassigned to the 3rd Bombardment Group. On April 21, 1942 he was flying a B-25 Mitchell returning from a mission looking for the Japanese fleet that would later take part in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Under heavy cloud conditions his plane crashed into Mount Battle Frere in Queensland. It was the first combat mission loss for the 3rd BG in WW2.

Roland was commissioned an ensign in the US Navy in January 1944. He was sent to the Pacific in January 1945. Shortly before his death he was promoted to lieutenant, jg. I was not able to find out more details about his death except he died on an island in the South Pacific on June 15, 1945. It was most likely Okinawa.

Roland's grave is at Hillside Cemetery in Chilton, Wisconsin. Roland's widow did not remarry and died in 2004. I don't know more about his daughter. Glenwood's grave is at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you Roland and Glenwood for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Stephenson brothers. 

Updated 9/09/2018 from Facebook group Warbird Information Exchange (WIX):

Patrick Grogan I am related through my sister being married to the son of their brother Clyde who is still alive in Wisconsin. Clyde was a marine serving on the USS California during Pearl Harbor. He visited the site in Australia where his brother crashed. Glenwood was one of MacArthur's pilots who escaped Corregidor on the PT boats with him.

For more information about Glenwood's unit, read "Operation PLUM: The Ill-fated 27th Bombardment Group and the Fight for the Western Pacific" by by Adrian R. Martin, Dr. Larry W. Stephenson MD

Last year on this date I profiled Haskell Thrift, 4th Armored Division. You can read about Haskell 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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WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

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“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

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WW2 Fallen - UC-64 Norseman officer Etienne Labat

Etienne Labat served in the 400th Air Base in Alaska.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88075156/etienne-j-labat
https://www.si.edu/object/nasm_A19600298000

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

He was born on September 6, 1918 in Alabama. His parents Etienne and Edith were both born in Louisiana. His father worked as a refinery laborer and later a sawmill foreman in Louisiana. Etienne had one older brother, four younger sisters, and three younger brothers. By 1940 Etienne had completed three years of high school. He was stilling living at home and worked as a truck driver and sales clerk.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on October 22, 1940. While stationed in Florida, he married Julia Loyette Parramore in 1943. They had a son born in February 1944.

In June 1944 he was sent to Alaska to serve in the 400th Air Base Squadron where he had the rank of first lieutenant.

Lt. Labat was killed in an airplane accident on July 24, 1944 at Attu, Alaska. He was in a UC-64 Norseman floatplane. The cause of the accident is unknown.

His grave is at Saint Joseph Cemetery and Mausoleum in Paulina, Louisiana. His widow died in 2012. I think his son is still alive.

Thank you Lt. Labat for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Etienne.

Last year on this date I profiled P-47 pilot Marvin Leinweber. You can read about Marvin 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 - Gerald White, 8th Infantry Division and a famous radio personality

Pfc. Gerald White served with the 8th Infantry Division from Normandy to Brest.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34195316/gerald-l.-white
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/caught-in-the-crosshairs/

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

He was born on September 4, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents Frank and Myrtle were also both born in Pennsylvania. His father worked as a steel plant car fitter and died in 1924. His mother found a job as a burler (rug inspector). Gerald had one older sister and one younger sister. By 1940 Gerald had completed four years of high school. He was living with his mother and younger sister and worked as a laborer.

He was drafted into the army on March 3, 1942. He became a private first class in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division.

The 8th Infantry Division arrived in Normandy a month after D-Day. After fighting through the hedgerows, the 8th ID participated in the Battle of Brest.  After days of combat near Kergroas and Kergaclet, the 8th ID was running low on ammunition so actions against the enemy were limited to patrols. It was during this part of the battle that Pfc. White was killed on September 5, 1944.

His grave is at New Rosemont Cemetery in Espy, Pennsylvania.

Thank you Pfc. White for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Gerald.

PAUL HARVEY

On the same day that Gerald White was born in Pennsylvania, Paul Harvey was born in Oklahoma.  Harvey started his radio career at age 14 and would continue working on the radio as a commentator for eight decades.

One of Harvey's prewar assignments was to do a story about the US Navy in Hawaii. He was returning back to the mainland when the Japanese attached Pearl Harbor. (And now you know the rest of the story.)

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces but was discharged early after a training accident injured his foot.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/258675572318188090/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/8585055513339354/?lp=true

Harvey began working for ABC Radio in 1951. He would keep working for ABC Radio for nearly 60 years where his Paul Harvey News and Comment and The Rest of the Story were mainstays and a welcome daily habit for millions of listeners. Harvey was award the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. He died in 2009.

Last year on this date I profiled Clifton Scott, 29th Infantry Division. You can read about Clifton 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 - B-17 co-pilot John Mayes

John Mayes was a B-17 co-pilot in the 97th Bombardment Group in England and North Africa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39981640/john-bernard-mayes
https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/97th-bombardment-group-heavy/ 

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

He was born on September 2, 1918 in South Carolina. His parents John and Agnes were also both born in South Carolina. His father worked as a book store proprietor. He died in 1934. John had two younger sisters. He attended The Citadel before transferring to Emory University in Atlanta. By 1940 John was attending his final year of college. 

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on July 12, 1941. He became a first lieutenant and co-pilot in the 342nd Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. The 97th BG flew the first US missions to bomb Europe in August 1942. It was transferred to the Mediterranean Theater where it provided operational bombing support for the fighting in North Africa.

Lt. Mayes was killed on December 18, 1942 during a mission to Bizerte, Tunisia.

His grave is at Rosemont Cemetery in Newberry, South Carolina.

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

Last year on this date I profiled B-25 pilot Seymour Wesiberg. You can read about John 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 - B-24 gunner Nicholas Kish

Sgt. Nicholas Kish served in Italy with the 98th Bombardment Group.
The Indiana Gazette, February 8, 1946
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149510965/nicholas-z-kish
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/98th_Operations_Group

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

He was born on September 1, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents Paul and Katherine were both born in Hungary. His father worked as a coal miner and died in 1931. Nicholas had five older brothers, one older sister, and two younger sisters. Nicholas went to college at Indiana State Teachers College there in Pennsylvania. He played on the baseball, football and boxing teams. 

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on February 22, 1943. He became a gunner and staff sergeant in the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. It operated in the Italian Theater.

Sgt. Kish joined his unit in 1944. He successful completed 34 missions. His final mission was on June 26, 1944. I was not able to find any details, but he was originally reported as missing in action.

His grave is at Greenwood Cemetery in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Thank you Sgt. Kish for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Nicholas.

Last year on this date I profiled C-46 pilot Estes Swindle. You can read about Estes 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 - Truman Sharkey, 34th Infantry Division and famed Broadway lyricist

Truman Sharkey served with the 34th Infantry Division in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58897379/truman-d.-sharkey
http://ww2awartobewon.com/wwii-archives/edisons-soldiers-34th-infantry-division/ 

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

He was born on August 31, 1918 in Iowa. His parents David and Laura were also both born in Iowa. His father worked as a farmer. Truman had one younger brother (who became a WW2 vet). His parents divorced during the 1920s. Truman was then raised by his mother who worked as nurse. By 1940 he had completed four years of high school and was working at a camp for the Civil Conservation Corps.

He enlisted in the Iowa National Guard which was federalize in February 1941. He became a private first class in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division.

The 34th ID saw combat in French Algeria, Tunisia, and Italy. Pfc. Sharkey was probably there for all of it, including 12 straight hard-fought months from Salerno to the Volturno to Monte Cassino to Anzio to Livorno. On September 9, 1944 the 133rd IR attacked the Gothic Line near Florence. Resistance was light for a few days, but the troops lost quite a few men to mine fields and enemy fire when they approached the main German defensive position on September 12. Pfc. Sharkey was killed on September 15. By coincidence, two other men from the 34th ID, who I have previously profiled, were also killed around the same time: Bronze Star hero Donald Shelton and Edwin Steege (his twin brother was also killed in WW2).

The 34th ID suffered 16,401 battle casualties, including 2,866 men like Pfc. Sharkey who were killed in action.

His grave is at Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, Iowa.

Thank you Pfc. Sharkey for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Truman.

ALAN J LERNER

Born in New York on the same day at Truman Sharkey was Alan Lerner who would one day be one of the greatest Broadway lyricists of all time. Lerner was ineligible for military service because he lost sight in one eye in a boxing match while attending Harvard University.

https://www.singers.com/composers/Alan-Lerner/

Lerner's work included An American in Paris, Brigadoon, Gigi, My Fair Lady, and Camelot. He died in 1986.

Last year on this date I profiled Wilifred Humphrey, 32nd Infantry Division. You can read about Wilifred 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 - B-24 ball turret gunner Shirley Jones and baseball legend Ted Williams

Sgt. Shirley Jones served in the 44th Bombardment Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76561592/shirley-a-jones
http://www.626-squadron.co.uk/willem21.htm 

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

He was born on August 30, 1918 in Utah. His parents Leroy and Laura were also both born in Utah. His father worked as a high school teacher first in Fillmore and later in Salt Lake City. Shirley had two older sisters, one older brother and two younger sisters. By 1940 Shirley had moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he worked as a delivery clerk and lived with a couple who took in lodgers.

Shirley married Bessie Sweat on August 9, 1942.

He was drafted into the army on January 23, 1943. He then volunteered to serve in the Army Air Forces and became a sergeant and ball turret gunner in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. The 44th BG was originally stationed in England as part of the 8th Air Force. It was transferred to the Mediterranean Theater in the summer of 1943 to be part of the 15th Air Force. One of its bombing mission was the costly August 1, 1943 Ploesti mission. It was back in England by the end of the year.

On August  8, 1944, Sgt. Jones' plane, with the name Flying Log, took off but encounter mechanical problems. The plane crashed a couple of miles away from the base. All of the crew perished.

His grave is at Clearwater Municipal Cemetery in Clearwater, Florida. His widow remarried and died in 2002. Had he lived he would have noticed the singer and actress Shirley Jones would make his name famous. She starred in movies like Oklahoma and TV shows like The Partridge Family.

Thank you Sgt. Jones for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Shirley.

TED WILLIAMS

Born on the same day as Shirley Jones was the legendary Boston Red Socks slugger Ted Williams. Born in California, he joined the Boston Red Socks for the 1939 season. In 1941 he became the last Major League player to bat over 0.400. 

Ted Williams joining the Military in 1942.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/08/30/mike-trout-angels-stats

Williams joined the Naval Reserve in May 1942. The next year we was trained as a Marine fighter pilot. He learned to fly the F4U Corsair. He served as a flight instructor and had orders to go to the Pacific when the war ended. He would fly combat missions seven years later when his baseball career was interrupted a second time for service in the Korean War.

Ted Williams is consider one of the best hitters in baseball history and is often included on the top ten list of all time greatest players. He died in 2002.

Last year on this date I profiled Faythe McGinnis, a pilot from the all black Tuskegee airmen. You can read about Faythe 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