WW2 Bougainville Fallen - Bronze Star hero Edward Joe, Americal Division

Pvt. Edward Joe was killed in action a week after seeing Bob Hope's USO show at Bougainville.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68712648/edward-joe
https://picclick.com/RARE-ORIGINAL-USED-WW2-FILIPINO-MADE-23rd-INFANTRY-332796926831.html
https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/86735487/world-war-iibob-hope-and-jerry-colonna-entertain-ussoldiers.html

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

He was born on October 15, 1918 in Nevada. His parents Jack and Winette were also both born in Nevada and were descendants of Native Americans. His father worked as a ranch laborer and later a stock farm laborer. Edward had one older sister. His mother died in the 1920s and Edward and his sister were then raised by their grandparents. By 1940 Edward had completed two years of high school, had married Elsie May Hall, and was working as a laborer. They had a boy and a girl.

He was drafted into the army on July 26, 1943 and became a private in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division. He arrived in the South Pacific in February 1944.

In his last letter home, Pvt. Joe mentioned he had seen a Bob Hope show on August 2, 1944.

Pvt. Joe was killed on August 11, 1944. Around that time his unit was engaged in long range patrols in the Solomon Islands. One source reports that Pvt. Joe was award the bronze star, but I was not able to find any details.

His grave is at Elko City Cemetery in Elko, Nevada. His widow did not remarry and died in 1958.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Royce Cash, 40th Infantry Division and a world famous historian. You can read about Royce 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 waist gunner Edward Herlihy

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

He was born on October 14, 1918 in Massachusettes. His parents John and Julia were also both born in Massachusettes. His father worked as a machinist. By 1940 Edward had completed four years of high school and was working as a stock clerk at a machinist shop.

He enlisted June, 5, 1942 and carried out gunnery and other training in the United States before joining the 407th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group based at RAF Podington, England.

Edward was a waist gunner on board a B17 flying fortress that crashed near the village of Northend, Warwickshire on 13th November 1943. All ten airmen on board perished. The plane was flying from RAF Poddington on a mission to Bremen when ice caused its engines to fail as it climbed through cloud. The bomber went into a sideward spin and broke up before it hit the ground, scattering debris - including unexploded bombs - over a quarter of a mile.

After the war, the townspeople erected a plaque commemorating the ten that perished.

His grave is at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem, MA

Thank you Sgt Edward Cody Herlihy for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.
______
This profile was researched and written by Chris Prough - "Father of eight children, just celebrated his 30th anniversary with his lovely wife Susanne. Lives in Mount Pleasant, IA, where there are no mountains and the jury is still out on the whole "pleasant" thing. Lover of history since a child. I believe in this endeavor as my own great uncle, Harold Ozmun, will be featured December 15. Many thanks to Don for affording me the privilege to help him out."

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! 

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 - Silver Star hero Marvin Webster, 4th Infantry Division

Sgt. Marvin Webster served with the 4th Infantry Division in Normandy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99110053/marvin-d-webster
http://abmc.nomadmobileguides.com/Normandy.php?page=narrative&id=cont-3069

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

He was born on October 13, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents Ardell and Martha were also both born in Pennsylvania. His father worked as a concrete building contractor and later as a farmer. Marvin had a older sister, four younger brothers (three of whom served in the armed forces the war) and one younger sister. By 1940 Marvin had completed four years of high school. He was living at home and worked as a knitting mill operator.

He was drafted into the army on June 5, 1941. He became a sergeant in Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The 4th ID landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Sgt. Webster was reported missing in action the next day. He found his way back to his unit but that news did not reach home to put his family at ease. His leadership was displayed when he took command of his squad when he squad leader was absent. He was killed in action on June 21, 1944.

Sgt. Webster was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His citation reads in part as follows:

Sgt. Webster displayed outstanding courage and utter disregard for his pwn personal safety by returning twice to the emery lines after the battalion had withdrawn from a French town. Although he was nearly deaf from concussion of shells, he moved forward to the enemy lines, the fist time, and successfully recovered a machine gun that a wounded man had lost.

The second time Sgt. Webster went up to the enemy lines, he shot two Germans, and freed two of his wounded comrades who had been captured by the enemy. Although exposed to heavy enemy fire, he never hesitated in the performance of the dangerous missions. The high qualities of  courage, initiative, determination, and devotion to duty displayed by Sgt. Webster were in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.

His grave is at Bradford County Memorial Park in Towanda, Pennsylvania.

Thank you Sgt. Webster for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Marvin.

Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero Truman Olson, 3rd Infantry Division. You can read about Truman 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 pilot Joseph Turley

Lt. Joseph Turley is shown here with the rest of the crew of the B-17 The Venus.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/21961
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141237378/joseph-h-turley 

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

He was born on October 11, 1918 in California. His parents Harry and Clara May were born in Canada and California, respectively. His father worked as an accountant. Joseph had an older sister. By 1940 Joseph had completed four years of high school.

After one year of college and working as an airplane mechanic, he enlisted in the army on March 5, 1941. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and eventually became a pilot and first lieutenant in the 508th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. The 351st BG arrived in England in May 1943.

The mission for October 9, 1943 was to bomb the Anklam aircraft factory. It was Lt. Turley's 23rd mission. At that point in the war, 25 missions was all that was required before returning home. There was P-47 fighter protection for part of the flight, but not all the way to the target, which was their longest flight to date. Lt. Turley's plane, The Venus, completed its bomb run and made it back to the Baltic Sea coast where it was attacked by ME 109s. It exploded in midair and crashed into the sea. Only two of the crew survived.

His cenotaph grave is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Howard Miller, 45th Infantry 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 Fallen - Robert Craanen, 5th Infantry Division

Robert Craanen was a company commander in the 5th Infantry Division.
Green Bay Press-Gazette, May 5, 1948
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88935688/robert-g.-craanen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

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

He was born on October 9, 1918 in Wisconsin. His parents George and Genevieve were also both born in Wisconsin. His father worked as a machinist. Robert had three younger brothers. By 1940 Robert had graduated from St. Norbert College (where he had played guard on the football team).

He enlisted in the army on July 5, 1940. He rose to the rank of captain and commanding officer of the Headquarter Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division.

After the war started Lt. Craanen's unit was assigned to defend Iceland for 18 months where he was promoted to Captain. It was next set to Ireland and England for training to fight the Germans in France. The 5th ID arrived in Normandy a month after D-Day.  

During the breakout from Normandy, the 5th ID advanced as far as the Seine River at Montereau. Captain Craanen was killed two days later on August 26, 1944 in Brey, France.

His grave is at Allouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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

Last year on this date I profiled August Scheidt, USS Daly. You can read about August 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 - Beaufighter night fighter pilot William Emanuel

Lt. William Emanuel flew the Beaufighter night fighter for the 415th Fighter Squadron.
This painting by James Dietz shows other men from his unit.
1937 Tulane University Yearbook
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11222434/william-e-emanuel
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/417568196692378617/?lp=true  

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

He was born on October 7, 1918 in Louisiana. His parents Simeon and Lena were also both born in Louisiana. His father worked as a electrical contractor and later an electrical supplies salesman. William had an older brother and a younger brother. By 1940 he had completed at least two years of college at Tulane University. He worked as a clerk for the Civil Service Commission.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on March 24, 1941. He became a first lieutenant and pilot in the 415th Night Fighter Squadron. The 415th NFS was activated in February 1943 and was equipped with P-70s (a version of the A-20 Havoc). It was assigned to Tunisia in May 1943. It also flew the English-made Bristol Beaufighter. The unit moved up through Italy and Southern France as the war progressed. By March 1945 it was operating out of St. Dizier, France. 

Lt. Emanuel was killed on April 1, 1945 near Wessembourg, Germany when he unsuccessfully bailed out of his Beaufighter.

His grave is at Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Vernon Wells, 2nd Marine Division, who fought at Tarawa. You can read about Vernon 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 - Joe Hargette, 34th Infantry Division

Pvt. Joe Hargette served with the 34th Infantry Division in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63887564/joe-m-hargette

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

He was born on October 6, 1918 in Union, North Carolina. His parents Vernon and Bertha Lee were also both born in North Carolina. His father worked as a farm wespper at a cotton mill and later owned a barbershop. He had one older brother. By 1940 Joe had completed one year of high school and was working 50 hours a week as an office clerk at Cannon Mills Wrapping and Packaging. Interestingly, I found nothing on his brother until his Social Security application after death, other than a family reunion in May of 1944.

He entered his draft card on October 16, 1940 along with his brother, Morris.

His official enlistment was April 9, 1942.

He was a private in the 135th Infantry, 34th Division, U.S. Army.

I found very little about his time in the ETO, as it seems that he was overseas only three months prior to his death. After his death, his mother received his Bible, which he always carried in his breast pocket. The Bible had a bullet hole in it.

In his obituary, the following letter was recorded. It was received by his parents the day before he was killed.

Dear Mother and Dad, I trust that these few lines will find you well and putting all your trust in the Lord. These days I am running into things I never expected, but God has a purpose. If the Lord takes me away, I will have a good home in glory. But the way I have it pictured is that my faith in God is being tested right now. Some day after this war, I hope and I pray that I might be able to spread the gospel of love, and teach men the way to God. I know I have some one with me that I can put my cares and trust on, and can cheer me on life’s way. 1 Peter 5:7 “Putting all your cares upon Him, for he careth for you. Phillippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Pvt Hargette was killed in Italy, July 23, 1944.

His father lived until 1973, and his mother 1970.

His grave is at Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Thank you Pvt. Hargette for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Joe.

______
This profile was researched and written by Chris Prough - "Father of eight children, just celebrated his 30th anniversary with his lovely wife Susanne. Lives in Mount Pleasant, IA, where there are no mountains and the jury is still out on the whole "pleasant" thing. Lover of history since a child. I believe in this endeavor as my own great uncle, Harold Ozmun, will be featured December 15. Many thanks to Don for affording me the privilege to help him out."
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!

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