WW2 Hurtgen Forest Fallen - Donald Kinney, 1st Infantry Division

Donald Kinney served with the 1st Infantry Division in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84972052/donald-j-kinney
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/481603753884462469/?lp=true

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

He was born on January 21, 1919 in New York. His parents Pentrice and Eva were also both born in New York. His father worked as a steel work laborer and later as a carpenter. Donald had an older brother, an older sister, two younger brothers and one younger sister. By 1940 Donald's parents were living in different cities in New York. Donald lived with his mother. He had completed eight years of education. He was listed has having a forestry occupation, but other sources show he enlisted in the army on October 25, 1938.

Donald became a tech sergeant in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. The 1st ID saw action in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Sicily. It landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Sgt. Kinney likely was part of all or most of these campaigns. During November 1944 the 1st ID was engaged in fighting in the Hurtgen Forest. Sgt. Kinney was killed in action on November 23, 1944. American soldiers who fought in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest had a one in four chance of becoming a casualty.

His grave is at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Fayetteville, New York.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Pearl Harbor Medal of Honor hero Herbert Jones, USS California. You can read about Herbert 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 - Marven Fritza, 122nd Liaison Squadron

Marven Fritza served with the 122nd Liaison Squadron that flew OSS missions behind enemy lines.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94814267/marven-andrew-fritza
https://www.roblox.com/games/180391869/68th-Observation-Group-Algeria-April-1943 

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

I originally published this on January 21 because his name was on a list of those born that date. However, a reader noticed his gravestone shows June 21, which proved to be the correct date.

Marven was born on June 21, 1919 in Mitchell, South Dakota. His parents Jakob and Annabelle were also both born in South Dakota. His paternal grandparents were German immigrants. His father worked as a farmer and died in 1935. Marven had one younger sister and two younger brothers. By 1940 Marven was still living with his mother and had completed four years of high school. He worked as a plaster helper.

He volunteered for the Army Air Forces on February 11, 1941. He became a sergeant in the 122nd Liaison Squadron, 68th Observation Group. It was sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operation under the 12th Air Force. The 68th OG provided visual and photographic reconnaissance for the army. The 122nd LS also provided transportation for OSS missions behind enemy lines.

Sgt. Fritza was killed when his plane was shot down over Africa on January 18, 1943.

His grave is at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Thank you Sgt. Fritza for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Marven.

Last year on June 21 I profiled Donald Chamberlain, 4th Infantry Division, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. You can read about Donald 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
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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 - B-17 tail gunner Robert Cross and his paratrooper brother Thomas

Robert Cross served as B-17 tail gunner while his brother was a paratrooper. Neither survived the war.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30440087/robert-e_-cross
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30440110/thomas-g_-cross 

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

He was born on January 20, 1919 in Missouri. His parents Thomas and Fern were also both born in Missouri. His father worked as a farmer and later as a state highway patrolman. Still later he did highway maintenance. Fern died in 1935. Robert had one older sister and one older brother. By 1940 Robert had completed three years of high school and found work as a salesperson. He had moved out and was living on his own.

Older brother Thomas enlisted in the army on April 20, 1942. Two months later Robert, two years his junior, also enlisted in the army. Thomas decided to volunteer for the paratroopers and became a sergeant in the Headquarters Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Robert became a staff sergeant in the the 527th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group, which flew B-17s.

Thomas was possibly not yet with the 82nd when it participated in the invasion of Sicily. We don't know if Thomas arrived in England in time to spend any leave time with his brother who was also in England by late 1943. 

On December 30, 1943, Robert's B-17 Judy was part of a mission of 710 bombers to bomb the chemical works at Ludwigshafen, Germany. Robert  was the tail gunner. After successfully releasing its bombs, one of Judy's engines was knocked out by flak. The pilot tried to make it back to England as a straggler, but while flying over Oise, France, the damaged plane was attacked and shot up by three German fighter planes. Now flying an uncontrollable plane, the pilot ordered everyone to jump. Three men did not get out and crashed with the plane, including Robert Cross.

Being the only remaining son, Thomas was most likely given the option of avoiding dangerous frontline duties. He chose to stay with the 82nd and jumped with his unit in the early hours of D-Day. Encountering heavy clouds, the 508th PIR troops were mostly scattered miles away from their drop zones. Despite being short on weapons, the 82nd Airborne kept the Germans from closing in on Utah Beach. Sgt. Cross was killed on D+4: June 10, 1944.

The Cross brothers' graves are both located at Emery Chapel Cemetery in Bucyrus, Texas.

Thank you Robert and Thomas for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Cross brothers.

Last year on this date I profiled James Singleton, 197th Anit Aircraft Artillery Battalion. 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
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WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

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WW2 Fallen - Italy POW Clarence Rice, 1st Infantry Division

Clarence Rice, 1st Infantry Division, was captured by the Italians in Tunisia.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7685250/clarence-r-rice
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805405872077/?lp=true

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

He was born on January 19, 1919 in Laurel, Kentucky. His parents Robert and Ollie were also both born in Kentucky. His father worked as a railroad section hand. He lived to be 100 years old. Clarence had four younger brothers and a younger sister. By 1940 Clarence had completed one year of college and was still living at home.

He was drafted into the army on January 30, 1942. He became a private in Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. 

Pvt. Rice took part in the 1st ID's invasion of North Africa in November 1942. He had the bad luck of being one of the first Americans captured by the Axis forces on December 23, 1942. He was sent to an Italian prison camp in Italy. When the Italians quit the Axis, the Germans took control of all the American prisoners.

In May 1944 his family received a letter from the International Red Cross that reported Pvt. Rice had been killed in a landslide on April 27, 1944.

His grave is at Andes Cemetery in East Bernstadt, Kentucky.

Thank you Pvt. Rice for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Clarence.

Last year on this date I profiled P-47 pilot Claude Rahn. You can read about Claude 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 - Submariner Theodore Feiock, USS Pickerel

Torpedoman's Mate 3/c Theodore Felock served on the USS Pickerel until it was sunk by the Japanese.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26401987/theodore-gustav-feiock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pickerel_(SS-177)#World_War_II

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

Theodore was born January 18, 1919 in Naper, Nebraska. His father Christian was born in Russia, his mother Johanna was born in Nebraska to Russian immigrants. He had four older sisters, three older brothers, three younger brothers, and two younger sisters. At some point prior to the 1920 census, the family relocated to Bowdle, South Dakota, where his father worked as a farmer. In 1940, Theodore was living at home with his parents and younger siblings.

Theodore enlisted in the US Navy in February 1941, and following basic training, was assigned to submarine school. After completion of sub school, he went to sea aboard the USS Pickerel (SS-177) as a Torpedoman’s Mate Third Class. Pickerel initially was based at San Diego, but after Pearl Harbor was relocated to Manila Bay in the Philippines. Between December 1941 and February 1943, Pickerel completed six war patrols in the Pacific theater and sank five enemy ships totaling 16,100 tons, and damaged another ten, totaling 9,100 tons. On March 22, 1943 Pickerel departed Midway Island on her seventh war patrol, headed for the eastern coast of northern Japan, and was never heard from again. The Pickerel was reported lost at sea on May 12, 1943, with all hands officially declared dead on August 10, 1945.

After the war, captured Japanese documents provided insight to the Pickerel’s likely fate. The documents noted that a submarine was attacked and damaged by depth charges launched from aircraft and ships off Shiramuka Lighthouse in northern Honshu on April 3, 1943. Although damaged, the sub managed to carry on with her combat operations, sinking a 440-ton submarine chaser on April 3 and a 1,113-ton cargo ship on April 7. The submarine described in the Japanese reports was most likely the Pickerel, since she was the only Allied submarine operating in that area at the time. She was likely sunk shortly after April 7.

Theodore Gustave Feiock is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii. There is also a memorial stone for him at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, South Dakota.

Thank you Theodore for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Theodore.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."

Last year on this date I profiled Wesley Bales of the USS Pensacola. You can read about Wesley 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 Battle of the Bulge Fallen - James Smith, 30th Infantry Division

James Smith fought with the 30th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22436899/james-r-smith
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30th_Infantry_Division_(United_States) 

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

He was born on January 17, 1919 in Michigan. His parents Rex and Lucile were also both born in Michigan. His father worked as an electrical laborer and later as a trucker. Still later he worked as a decorator. James had one older brother. By 1940 James had completed four years of high school and was also working as a decorator while living with his parents. One source says he was a pretty good baseball player and had hopes to play first base for the Detroit Tigers. 

He was drafted into the army on March 3, 1944. He became a private first class in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Old Hickory"). The 30th ID landed on Omaha Beach on D+5. Throughout its participation in the march to Germany, it suffered more than 18,000 casualties (more than the size of a WW2 infantry division) so was in frequent need of replacements.

I don't know when PFC Smith joined his unit, but he was part of the Battle of the Bulge. The 30th ID stopped the 1st Panzer Division, a foe it had faced before, which had made the furthest penetration of all the Germans. After nearly a month on the defensive, on January 13, 1945 the 30th ID began a two week offensive that pushed the Germans back to St. Vith. PFC Smith was killed during this operation on January 21, 1945.

His grave is at Maple Grove Cemetery in Ovid, Michigan.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Lyle Peterson, USS Warrington, lost in the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane. You can read about Lyle 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”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Robert Waugh, 85th Infantry Division

Robert Waugh earned the Medal Honor for action on the Gustav Line in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56315623/robert-t_-waugh 

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

He was born on January 16, 1919 in Ashton, Rhode Island. His parents John and Emma were born in Ireland and Rhode Island, respectively. His father worked as a yarn mill foreman and later a cotton mill superintendent. By 1940 the family moved to Augusta, Maine where he worked as a carding overseer. Robert had an older brother and sister. Robert completed four years of high school. He left a job as a mechanic at the same business as his father to join the army on December 1, 1939. 

He served overseas from January 1941 to August 1942 as a airplane mechanic and clerk and reached the rank of sergeant. Upon his return he decided to apply to be a pilot. He was passed over so he decided to join the infantry as an officer. He married Helen Sabol in December 1942 and made their home in Pennsylvania.

After completing officer candidate school, he was commission a second lieutenant in the 339th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division. He was later promoted to first lieutenant and was made a platoon leader. The 339th IR arrived in Italy in March 1944. It was sent to the Gustav line where Lt. Waugh's unit was assigned to take a position named Rocky Ridge. 

The hill was defended by two companies of veteran German soldiers. Two pill boxes at the top held a commanding presence over any attack from below. Six bunkers lower down were set up to stop any attempt to take out the pill boxes. During the dark hours of May 11, his first time in combat, Lt. Waugh had his platoon provide cover fire while he single handedly used phosphorus grenades to flush out each bunker and then killed or captured the occupants. By repeating this tactic with each bunker he managed to capture all six by morning.  For two more days, his men were pinned down. Communications were lost when enemy artillery kept knocking out the phone line. Rather than put the life of a runner at risk, Lt. Waugh ran across the open field twice each day to report to this company commander.

Lt. Waugh noticed a blind spot between the two German pillboxes at the top of the hill. On May 14 he once again had his platoon provide cover fire while he repeated using grenades to flush out both pillboxes and then killed and captured all the Germans. Lt. Waugh pretty much single handedly captured a key hill that broke the Gustav line at that point of the front.

Five days later on May 19, 1944, Lt. Waugh was once again leading his platoon with this characteristic courage at Itri when he was mortally wounded. He died the same day.

Lt. Waugh was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. 

In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on 11 May, 1st Lt. Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on 6 bunkers guarding this hill, 1st Lt. Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades into it and as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his tommygun. He repeated this process on the 5 remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants. 

On the morning of 14 May, 1st Lt. Waugh ordered his platoon to lay a base of fire on 2 enemy pillboxes located on a knoll which commanded the only trail up the hill. He then ran to the first pillbox, threw several grenades into it, drove the defenders into the open, and killed them. The second pillbox was next taken by this intrepid officer by similar methods. 

The fearless actions of 1st Lt. Waugh broke the Gustav Line at that point, neutralizing 6 bunkers and 2 pillboxes and he was personally responsible for the death of 30 of the enemy and the capture of 25 others. He was later killed in action in Itri, Italy, while leading his platoon in an attack.

His grave is at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy. His widow did not remarry and died in 1963.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Brady Woods, USS Mullany. You can read about Brady 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