WW2 Fallen - Helldiver pilot Vernon Reynolds

Lt. (j.g.) Vernon Reynolds was a SB2C Helldiver pilot.
 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107493873/vernon-edward-reynolds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_SB2C_Helldiver

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

Vernon was born May 21, 1919 in Nebraska. His parents Eugene and Linnie were born in Nebraska and Kansas, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and blacksmith. Vernon had three older brothers and two older sisters. His father passed away in 1940. In 1940, Vernon had completed one year of college and was living with his brother in Saint Francis, Kansas, and working as a welder.

Vernon enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in February 1941 and became a naval aviator. He was eventually assigned to Bombing Squadron 82 (VB-82) and trained at Naval Air Station Wildwood in New Jersey.

VB-92 was equipped with the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bomber, which replaced the venerable SBD Dauntless in service with the US Navy in late 1943. The SB2C was not-quite affectionately nicknamed the “Big-Tailed Beast” and was not well liked by its pilots due to its difficult handling characteristics and high landing speed. It was much larger and heavier than its predecessor, and many accidents occurred during training as pilots graduating from the SBD adapted to the heavier aircraft. Lt. (j.g.) Reynolds was killed in a crash during training at Wildwood NAS on 3 June 1944.

Vernon Edward Reynolds is buried in Saint Francis Cemetery in Saint Francis, Kansas.

Thank you Lt. (j.g.) Reynolds for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Vernon.
_____
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 Bronze Star hero Barlow Coon. You can read about Barlow 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 - Emil Harms, 88th Infantry Division, and his brother Frank, USS Tang + TV pioneer

PFC Emil Harms served with the 88th Infantry Division in Italy. Motor Machinist Mate 2d Class Frank Harms, shown in a wedding photo, served on the submarine USS Tang.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47960866/emil-j_-harms
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26806347/frank-george-harms

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

He was born on May 20, 1919 in Humboldt, South Dakota. His parents Frank and Annie were born in Iowa and Germany, respectively. Frank's parents were also from Germany. Emil's father worked as a farmer. Emil had three older brothers, two older sisters, and a younger sister. By 1940 Emil had moved out. He was not listed with his parents in the 1940's census, nor is his name listed elsewhere. There is a chance by then that he was already married to Mary Jane Hockett. Older brother Frank was also married. His wife was the former Georgia Courtney. They had at least one child.

He was drafted into the army on July 6, 1943. He was trained for an anti-aircraft unit at first but later became a private in Company L, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Fighting Blue Devils").

The 88th ID arrived in Naples Italy in January 1944. It fought in the campaign to advance on Rome and 88th ID troops were among the first to enter Rome. Pvt. Harms was killed in action on January 7, 1945, a period during which his unit was defending the Mount Grande-Mount Cerrere sector.

When Pvt. Harms was reported killed, his brother Frank, a navy motor machinist mate 2nd class, was listed as missing in action. He had served on the submarine USS Tang. Tang was one of the most successful American submarines of the war, sinking 33 enemy vessels. After sinking two freighters on October 24, 1944, Tang suffered a misfortune when firing its last torpedo onboard. The torpedo steamed in a circular run resulting in hitting and sinking Tang. A few men, including Captain Richard O'Kane, survived. They were either on the conning tower when the torpedo struck or got out by using a Momsen lung to escape from the submarine 180 feet below. Frank was one of the 78 who did not survive. His death was not confirmed until after the war.

Emil's grave is at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Hartford, South Dakota. Frank has a memorial at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. I don't know what happened to Emil's widow. Frank's widow did not remarry and died in 1984. His son Gary died in 2006.

Thank you Emil and Frank for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harms brothers.

GEORGE GOBEL
George Gobel was born on the same day as Emil Harms. He was born in Illinois. George started as a country music singer before the war,  but joined the Army Air Forces where he became a flight instructor teaching pilots how to fly AT-9s and B-26s. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gobel

After the war he move to comedy and found success in early television in 1954 with The George Gobel's Show which ran until 1960. He produced the popular TV show Leave it to Beaver. A generation later he became a regular on The Hollywood Squares game show. He died in 1991.

Last year on this date I profiled George Lewis, 35th Infantry Division. You can read about George 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 - Clarence Justen, 95th Infantry Division

PFC Clarence Justen served in the 95th Infantry Division in France and Germany.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70075186/clarence-j-justen
https://pikstagram.com/capajo02

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

He was born on May 19, 1919 in Cando, North Dakota. His parents Stephen and Elizabeth were both born in Illinois. His father worked as a farmer. His mother died in 1935. Clarence had two older brothers, two older sisters and a younger brother. Clarence completed a grammar school level of education and worked in construction. He married Jolitta Bolanos and they had a boy and a girl.

He was drafted into the army in May 1942. He became a private first class in Company B, 1st Battalion, 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. The 95th ID arrived in England in August 1944 and in October went into combat near Metz in northeastern France, where it earned the nickname “The Iron Men of Metz” for repulsing repeated German attacks. 

Having reached the east side of the Rhine near Beckam, Germany by early April, the 95th ID was tasked with attacking across the Lippe River on April 4, 1945. PFC Justen was killed during this action.

His grave is at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in McHenry, Illinois. I don't know what happened to his widow, after she remarried, or their children.

Thank you PFC Justen for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Clarence.

Last year on this date I profiled Glen Miller, USS Porter and Band of Brother's officer Norman Dike. You can read about Glen 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 - Charles Shisley, 26th Infantry Division

Pvt. Charles Shisley served with the 26th Infantry Division in France.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124290738/charles-edwin-shisley
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/342344009156951173/

On this Armed Forces Day we remember Charles Edwin Shisley who never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on May 18, 1919 in Sturgis, Michigan. His parents Forrest and Clara were both born in Indiana. His father worked as a linotype operator. Charles had one older brother. By 1940 Charles had completed four years of high school and was working as a clerk while living at home. In October 1940 he married Lenore Edna Raudman.

He was drafted into the army in November 1943. He became a private in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Yankee Division"). The 26th ID arrived in France in September 1944 and was sent to the front one month later. 

The 26th ID captured Dieuze, France on November 20 with the next goal to cross the Saar River to take Saare-Union, a small French village. 

On December 1, 1944 Pvt. Shisley's unit was tasked with attacking a well entrenched enemy on the high ground east of Saare-Union. Company K took heavy casualties. Among those killed was Pvt. Shisley. By evening Company K had to be combined with Company L due to their losses.

His grave is at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Michigan. His widow remarried and died in 1999.

Thank you Pvt. Shisley for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Charles.

Last year on this date I profiled John Parker, whose LST was sunk by a German e-boat. 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 - Tank platoon leader David Gebbie, 760th Tank Battalion

Tank platoon leader Lt. David Gebbie served in the 760th Tank Battalion in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142099329/david-ogden-gebbie
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/question-for-steve-zaloga-on-the-760th-tank-battal-t92436.html 

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

He was born on May 16, 1919 in New York. His parents David and Helen were born in New York and New Jersey, respectively. His father worked as an accountant, first for private industry and later for the post office. Still later he worked as a chief clerk for the county welfare department. David had an older sister and a younger brother. By 1940 David had completed one year of college and was working as an inspector in an automobile radiator factory while living at home.

He enlisted in the army on November 21, 1942. He completed officers candidate school and was sent to North Africa in May 1943. He became a first lieutenant in Company B, 760th Tank Battalion which was equipped with M4 medium tanks.

Lt. Gebbie first saw action in Tunisia and then in Sicily. He was wounded in action by mortar fire while trying to extract his tank from mud near Casino on January 6, 1944. Many others from his company were killed during this battle. By May he was back with his unit which was supporting the 85th Infantry Division as it advanced on Rome.

On June 1, 1944 the 760th TB was attacking northward from the Velletri-Volmontone Road. After his platoon captured 14 German prisioners, Lt. Gebbie's platoon was returning to link up with the infantry troops he was working with. The prisoners were walking in front of the tanks when German sniper fire starting hitting the prisoners. Lt. Gebbie grabbed a sub-machine gun, jumped off his tank, and moved in the direction of the sniper fire. He was killed by a sniper. His unit completed their assignment for that day. Battalion records report that he was the only officer killed from his battalion killed during June 1944.

His grave is at Cold Springs Cemetery in Lockport, New York.

Thank you Lt. Gebbie for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for David.

Last year on this date I profiled Rufe Tipps, 90th Infantry Division. You can read about Rufe 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 Pearl Harbor Fallen - Albin Mrace, USS West Virginia, and his brothers Anton and Frank

Albin Mrace and his two older brothers Anton and Frank all lost their lives in WW2 serving their country.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143771215/albin-john-mrace 

Today, I chose to write about two men born on May 5, 1919. The other one is Gerald Henderson, a multiple Purple Heart recipient and Distinguished Service Cross hero.

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

He was born on May 15, 1919 in Ely, Minnesota. His Slovenian speaking parents Anton and Mary were both born in what became Yugoslavia. They came to America in 1904/1905. His father worked as an iron miner. Albin had two older brothers (Anton and Frank), an older sister, and three younger brothers.

Albin enlisted in the US Navy in September 1937. By 1941 he was a water tender second class on the battleship USS West Virginia.

West Virginia was sunk by seven torpedoes and two bombs during the Japanese Pearl Harbor surprise attack on December 7, 1941. Quick fire control action counter-flooded the ship so it didn't capsize like the Oklahoma. As a water tender, Albin was likely below decks and may have been killed from the torpedoes or in the effort to counter-flood the ship. The crew tried to fight the fires until 2 pm when they finally abandoned ship. Over 100 West Virginia sailors were killed in the attack including Albin Mrace. 

Brother Anton, seven years his senior, was drafted into the army in March 1942. His brother Frank, four years his senior, also joined the army (date unknown). Anton served as a TEC 4 in the medical department of the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Tough Hombres") while Frank became a staff sergeant in the 289th Field Artillery Battalion.

The 90th ID landed on Utah Beach on D-Day and D+1. Anton was killed in action on July 23, 1944 while his regiment was still in Normandy. The 289th FAB was sent to the Pacific. Frank was killed in action on April 10, 1945.

All three brothers are buried at Ely Cemetery in Ely, Minnesota.

Thank you Albin, Anton, and Frank for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Mrace brothers.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS NO PHOTO OF THE MRACE BROTHERS. IF ANYONE CAN FIND ONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO WE CAN ADD IT.

Last year on this date I profiled P-38 pilot Robert Crosswait. 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 D-Day Fallen - Distinguished Service Cross hero Gerald Henderson, 1st Infantry Division

DSC hero and 3 time Purple Heart recipient Tech Sergeant Gerald Henderson
served with the 18th Infantry Division on D-Day.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58731537/gerald-m-henderson/photo
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/844776842573537126/

Today I am writing about two men born on May 15, 1919. The other one is Albin Mrace, a sailor on the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor. He and two brothers were all killed in World War 2.

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

He was born on May 15, 1919 in Arkansas. His parents Hugh and Ora were also both born in Arkansas. His father worked as a farmer and later as a bakery truck driver. Still later he worked as a service station manager. Gerald had one older brother. Gerald competed three years of high school.

He volunteered for the army in November 1938. He rose to the rank of tech sergeant in the anti-tank company, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (nicknamed “The Big Red One”). In November 1942, the 1st ID took part in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, and was in combat from January 1943 to May 1943, helping to secure Tunisia. Gerald earned a Purple Heart in North Africa. In July 1943, the division took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily. Gerald earned a second Purple Heart in Sicily. The 1st ID returned to England in November 1943 to prepare for the eventual invasion of Normandy.

The 18th IR  began landing on Omaha Beach at Easy Red on D-Day June 6,1944 at 0930. Casualties were not as great when compared to the units that arrived earlier. However, Sgt. Henderson selflessly made himself a target while retrieving needed equipment and wounded soldiers out of harms way. He was wounded once again, this time mortally, when a shell exploded near him. He died later that day.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Technical Sergeant Gerald M. Henderson (ASN: 6292907), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Anti-Tank Company, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in Normandy France, on D-Day. 

Technical Sergeant Henderson, while exposed to intense enemy artillery mortar, machine gun, and small arms fire, heroically supervised the unloading of men and vehicles from his landing craft. Observing that a vehicle from an adjoining craft had stalled, he voluntarily drove a truck along the fire swept beach, plunged in the water and fastened a cable to the disabled vehicle. After towing it safely to shore he personally carried two wounded occupants to covered positions and rendered first aid. 

He returned to the beach and amid bursting shells and devastating small arms fire, courageously continued his rescue work. While carrying a wounded solider across the beach to safety a shell landed near this valiant soldier fatally wounding him. 

His heroic achievements during the initial landing resulted in the saving of many lives and much vital equipment. The self sacrificing devotion to duty, personal bravery and valorous leadership displayed by Technical Sergeant Henderson exemplified the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Sgt. Henderson's parents were presented with his Distinguished Service Cross in 1947.

His grave is at Hillcrest Cemetery in Texarkana, Texas.

Thank you Sgt. Henderson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Gerald.

Last year on this date I profiled P-38 pilot Robert Crosswait. 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