WW2 Anzio Fallen - Urho Pitkamaki, 45th Infantry Division

Sgt. Urho Pitakamki served with the 45th Infantry Division at Anzio.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90962410/urho-v-pitkamaki
The Fighting Forty-Fifth: The Combat Report of an Infantry Division

Urho V. Pitkamaki never had a chance to reach 100 years old. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Last year I was not able to write a profile everyday from September to November because I was studying for the Certified Financial Planner test (I passed!). I feel my project to honor one U.S. serviceman for each day of the war would be incomplete if I left them off. As I have time, I am going back and adding profiles for the days I missed.

Urho was born on September 25, 1918 in Michigan. His parents Isaac and Amanda were both born in Finland. His father worked as a farmer, he died in 1931. Urho had an older brother and two older sisters. By 1940 Urho was still living on the family farm helping his mother. He had completed eight years of education.

He was drafted into the army on June 4, 1941. He became a sergeant in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Thunderbirds"). The 45th Infantry Division took part in the invasion of Sicily and the landing at Salerno. 

Next it was sent to participate in the Anzio landing. The Americans landed on January 22, 1944. On February 18, 1944 the Germans launched a major counterattack that nearly succeeded in overrunning the 180th IR. The men were outnumbered and low on ammunition and had to repel another attack on February 20. Efforts to relieve the Thunderbirds were thwarted by the Germans. Sgt. Pitkamaki's unit came under heavy artillery fire and had to deal with infiltrating German troops on February 23, 1944, the date he was killed in action. Only about one fourth of the Thunderbirds survived death or wounds during this part of the Anzio battle.

His grave is at Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham, Michigan.

Thank you Sgt. Pitkamaki for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Urho.

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 top turret gunner Robert Carter

Sgt. Robert Carter, with wife "Peggy", was a B-17 top turret gunner.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82383915/robert-taylor-carter
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/640327/person/24073946279/media/078fc37f-92e2-44ef-afc9-404aaf4efbe7?_phsrc=Jqm4&_phstart=successSource 

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

He was born on June 18, 1919 in Folsom, Oklahoma. His parents William and Cordelia were both born in Tennessee. Willam, old enough to be a Civil War veteran, died in 1919 at age 76, leaving his 42 year old widow and infant son. Cordelia worked as a farmer. Robert had older half-siblings. By 1940 he had completed four years of high school and was working as a clerk while living with one of his older half-brothers. 

He volunteered for the Army Air Corps on June 10, 1941. He married Arthurine Eva "Peggy" Flowers in 1942. He was trained as a top turret gunner and became a staff sergeant in the 563rd Bombardment Squadron, 388th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

On March 8, 1944 Sgt. Carter was aboard the B-17 Screamin' Red Ass on a bombing mission to Berlin. It was shot down by an ME-109 and crashed west of Magdeburg, Germany.

His grave is at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell, Oklahoma. His widow remarried and died in 2010.

Thank you Sgt. Carter for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.

Last year on this date I profiled B-25 co-pilot Joseph Metzger. You can read about Joseph 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 - DFC hero and B-25 pilot Edward Irving, shot down by Russians

B-25 pilot Captain Edward Irving served in the 28th Bomb Group based out of Alaska.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150022319
https://www.adn.com/alaska-life/2016/11/05/the-war-after-attu-anchorage-historian-writes-the-first-history-of-air-battle-launched-from-alaska/

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

Edward was born June 17, 1919 in Pamplin, Virginia. His parents Frank and Lacie were also born in Virginia. Edward was an only child. His father worked as a farmer and as a mail carrier. In 1940, Edward had completed three years of high school and was living at home with his parents in Clover Hill, Virginia.

Edward enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in January 1941 and rose to the rank of Captain in the 77th Bombardment Squadron of the 28th Bomb Group. The 77th was one of the first USAAC units assigned to Alaska and was initially based out of Elmendorf Field near Anchorage, flying B-26 Marauder and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. After Pearl Harbor, the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Alaska. When the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands in June 1942, the squadron was reassigned to Fort Glenn Army Airfield on Adak Island, and began combat missions to destroy enemy shipping in and around the Aleutians, and attack enemy installations on Kiska and Attu. After the Aleutians were recaptured by the US, the 77th took part in the bombardment of the Japanese Kurile islands.

On 9 June 1945 Cpt. Irving was piloting one of eight B-25 Mitchell bombers that took off from Attu tasked to bomb Araido Island to divert enemy attention while a US Navy task force approached to shell nearby Japanese military installations. After releasing their bombs and turning back for Attu, the bombers were attacked by a swarm of enemy fighters. Taking evasive action to elude the fighters, Cpt. Irving’s aircraft inadvertently strayed over Cape Lopatka on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, and was fired upon by Russian air defenses. Ground fire hit the B-25’s bomb-bay fuel tank and the resulting explosion blew out the top gun turret and flames erupted from the cavity. The aircraft quickly went out of control and crashed and exploded, with no survivors. Cpt. Irving was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross during his service and, posthumously, the Purple Heart.

Edward Jamerson Irving was initially buried close to the crash site by Russian soldiers. He was later reinterred in Gilliam Cemetery on the family farm in Pamplin, Virginia.

Thank you Cpt. Irving for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.
_____
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 B-24 gunner Louis Kne and his brother Joseph. You can read about Louis and Joseph 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 - John Frysiek, 77th Infantry Division

PFC John Frysiek served with the 77th Infantry Division in Hawaii.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158621681/john-m-frysiek

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

He was born on June 16, 1919 in Pennsylvania. His parents Frank and Mary were both born in Polish speaking Austria. They immigrated in 1900 and 1910, respectively. His father worked as a oilcloth pressman and later as a linoleum press operator. Still later his job was an ironworker. John had three older sisters, an older brother, and a younger brother. By 1940 he had completed high school and worked for a textile manufacturer while living at home.

He was drafted into the army on April 14, 1942 and became a private first class in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. The 77th ID arrived in Hawaii in March 1944 where it conducted amphibious landing and jungle warfare training in preparation for the recapture of Guam. On June 1, PFC Frysiek wrote home to his brother, who was also in the service, that he was feeling fine and was hoping that the silver star in the family window would not turn to gold, a reference to the colors representing a family member in the service and one who had been killed. PFC Frysiek drowned the next day on June 2.

His grave is at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. 

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

Last year on this date I profiled Guadalcanal fallen Gerald Roberts, Americal Division. You can read about Gerald 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

The stories of 18 Battle of Saipan Fallen - 75th anniversary

June 15 marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Saipan. It will not receive the same attention as D-Day, but it still played a very important role in the road to winning the war.

Due to the victory on Saipan, the Americans captured an island close enough to send B-29 bombers to bring the war directly to Japan. The bombers that carried the atomic bombs that forced the Japanese to finally surrender were based on Saipan.

The Battle of Saipan cost nearly 3,500 American lives (and around 30,000 Japanese lives).

In 2019, few Americans know about the Battle of Saipan and even fewer know about the fallen who paid the price for the victory. Over 29 months, this project has profiled 18 of the Saipan fallen. 

Here they are in the order they lost their lives:

Sergeant Jack Shelly, Ohio, 2nd Marine Division. Died June 15, the first day of the battle, probably from friendly fire. Earned the Bronze Star. Read about Jack here.

PFC Edward Buckshot, Illinois, 2nd Marine Division. Died June 16. Read about Edward here.

Sergeant Robert McCard, New York, 4th Marine Division. Died June 16. Earned the Medal of Honor while saving his tank crew when surrounded by the Japanese. Read about Robert here.

Frank Sheehan, Colorado, 2nd Marine Division. Died June 16. Read about Frank here.

PFC Cleave Sinor, Arkansas, 27th Infantry Division. Died June 17. Named by the War Department as one of the 20 outstanding heroes of the Battle of Saipan and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Read about Cleave here.

Corporal Ernest Carey, Indiana, 2nd Marine Division. Died June 18. He was awarded the Silver Star. Read about Ernest here.

Captain Thomas Clarke, Iowa, 4th Marine Division. Died June 19. He was award the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism during the five days he commanded Charlie Company. Read about Thomas here. 

Private Hubert Hoenck, California, 4th Marine Division. Died June 22. Read about Hubert here.

Sergeant Bernard Bova, New York, 27th Infantry Division. Died June 24 in what became known as Death Valley. Read about Bernard here.

PFC Donald Mikeles, Indiana, 27th Infantry Division. Died June 27. Read about Donald here.

Sergeant Leon Aliano, New York, 27th Infantry Division. Died June 30 when his unit captured Purple Heart Ridge. Read about Leon here.

Lieutenant John Creel, Louisiana, 2nd Marine Division. Died July 2. Read about John here.

Lieutenant Holstein Harvey III, Delaware, 27th Infantry Division. Died July 2. He was awarded the Silver Star. Read about Holstein here.

PFC William Priddy, Ohio, 27th Infantry Division. Died on July 7, the date of the most deadly Japanese Banzai attack of the war. Read about William here.

Sergeant Frederick Timmerman, Kansas, 2nd Marine Division. Died July 8. Earned the Medal of Honor on the next to last day of the battle. Read about Frederick here.

Private Carmelo Parsi, New York, 27th Infantry Division. Died July 9. Served as a medic. Read about Carmelo here.

Sergeant Perry McElreath, Texas, 4th Marine Division. Died July 9. Read about Perry here.

Private Gerald Larsen, Utah, 4th Marine Division, Died July 12 while the Americans were mopping up the Japanese soldiers still in hiding. Read about Gerald here.

Most people get to these stories from a very popular social media site. That website cut traffic to my blog by 80% last October. Recently it has taken further steps to block my efforts to share these stories. No explanation was given. There may come a time that I will no longer be able to share them at all. Here is what you can do to help: 1. Scroll to the bottom of this page and either subscribe to the daily post or follow via email. 2. Share the URL on your social media. It should not have the same restrictions coming from you as it does from me. Who would have thought that a project meant to honor our WW2 Fallen would be treated like spam?

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 Benajah Burkitt

Lt. Benajah Burkitt, 303rd Bomb Group, and his whole crew were killed on a January 5, 1944  mid-air collision.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42689099/benajah-g-burkitt
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/096.pdf

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

He was born on June 15, 1919 in Tennessee. His parents William and Jennie were also both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a dairy farmer. Ben had four older sisters, two older brothers and one younger brother. By 1940 Ben had complete four years of high school was was working on the family dairy farm.

Ben volunteered for the Army Air Corps in January 1941. Sixteen months later, while stationed in Florida, he married Laura Ford. Ben trained as a pilot and reached the rank of second lieutenant in the 360th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. By November 1942, the 303rd BG was one of the first bomb groups sent to fly bombing missions out of England.

Lt. Burkitt and his crew were flying missions by November 1943. They were assigned to a brand new plane (42-314410) on January 5, 1944. The mission was to bomb Kiel, Germany. Takeoff was made in semi-darkness under poor visibility. As Lt. Burkitt's plane reached the assembly area, it collided with Rikki-Tikki Tavi II from the 379th Bombardment Group. All 20 men from the combined two planes were killed.

A son, who never knew his father, was born four months later.

His grave is at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you Lt. Burkitt for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ben.

Most people get to these stories from a very popular social media site. That website cut traffic to my blog by 80% last October. Recently it has taken further steps to block my efforts to share these stories. No explanation was given. There may come a time that I will no longer be able to share them at all. Here is what you can do to help: 1. Scroll to the bottom of this page and either subscribe to the daily post or follow via email. 2. Share the URL on your social media. It should not have the same restrictions coming from you as it does from me. Who would have thought that a project meant to honor our WW2 Fallen would be treated like spam?

Last year on this date I profiled A-36 Comanche pilot John Claus, Distinguished Flying Cross nominee. 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.orgWW

WW2 Fallen - B-25 pilot Victor Brooksby

Lt. Victor Brooksby was a B-25 pilot with the 345th Bombardment Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17258239/victor-versailles-brooksby
https://irandpcorp.com/products/345bg/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/160792649167699955/

On this Flag Day we honor Victor Versailles Brooksby. He never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on June 14, 1919 in Fredonia, Arizona. His name suggests he was named after the Allied victory in World War I. His parents William and Emma were born in Australia and Utah, respectively. His father worked as a merchant. He died in 1937. Victor had two older brothers, three older sisters, three younger sisters and one younger brother. By 1940 Victor had completed one year of college and was working as a truck driver while living with his mother and his siblings.

He enlisted in the army on September 24, 1940. Originally he served as an airplane mechanic. He was posted in Alaska in February 1941. While there he volunteered for the Army Air Forces and was sent to California for training. He became a B-25 pilot and a bombardier instructor. He was sent to the South Pacific in the spring of 1943. He became a first lieutenant in the 498th Bombardment Squadron, 345th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-25 Mitchells. It began operating out of New Guinea in June.

On July 14, 1943, Lt Brooksby was given the assignment to fly his plane over an Allied shipping lane from New Guinea to Australia. A destroyer spotted his plane a couple of hours after takeoff, but after that it disappeared, never returning to base. The lost plane has never been found and is probably at the bottom of the Coral Sea.

His cenotaph grave is at Fredonia Cemetery in Fredonia, Arizona.

Thank you Lt. Brooksby for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Victor.

Most people get to these stories from a very popular social media site. That website cut traffic to my blog by 80% last October. Recently it has taken further steps to block my efforts to share these stories. No explanation was given. There may come a time that I will no longer be able to share them at all. Here is what you can do to help: 1. Scroll to the bottom of this page and either subscribe to the daily post or follow via email. 2. Share the URL on your social media. It should not have the same restrictions coming from you as it does from me. Who would have thought that a project meant to honor our WW2 Fallen would be treated like spam?

Last year on this date I profiled Iwo Jima fallen John Purvis, 4th Marine Division. 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