WW2 Guam Fallen - Othell Johnson, 3rd Marine Division

PFC Othell Johnson served with the 3rd Marine Division in the Battle of Guam.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10604163/othell-johnson
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Guam/index.html 

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

He was born on September 21, 1919 in Texas. His parents Moses and Nellie were born in Arkansas and Oklahoma, respectively. His father worked as a farmer. Bob had one older brother and one younger sister. By 1940 Bob had completed six years of schooling. He was married to Rachel Marlow and worked as a truck driver.

He enlisted in the US Marines in September 1943. He became a private first class in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The 3rd MD first saw action in Bougainville in November 1943 where it was engaged in 27 days of continuous action.

PFC Johnson landed on Guam on the first day of the attack which was July 21, 1944. More than two weeks later, the 3rd Marine Division was part of the final four day drive from August 7 to August 10 that would officially end the battle. The leathernecks had more trouble fighting the thick jungle than the unorganized enemy. PFC Johnson was killed on the final day of the Battle of Guam, August 10, 1944. There was a last stand from some Japanese tanks and he may have been killed in that engagement.

His grave is at Van Alstyne Cemetery in Van Alstyne, Texas. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you PFC Johnson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Bob.

Last year on this date I profiled Distinguished Service Cross hero and B-17 gunner Arizona Harris. You can read about Arizona 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”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Hurtgen Forest Fallen - Silver Star hero Robert Napier, 83rd Infantry Division

Sgt. Robert Napier served with the 83rd Infantry Division from Normandy to the Hurtgen Forest.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23096342/robert-george-napier
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805423999757/ 

This is the 1,000th profile of the WW2 Fallen 100 project. I invite you to join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook Group to show your support for these fallen heroes.

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

He was born on September 20, 1919 in Kentucky. His parents Charlie and Lou Cassie were also both born in Kentucky. His father worked as a farmer in Kentucky and, after moving to Indiana, as a sewer project worker. Robert had one older sister, two younger brothers, and five younger sisters. Robert enlisted in the army in October 1939.

Robert eventually reached the rank of sergeant in the HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division.  Before going overseas, Robert married Louise Stucker in January 1943. The 83rd ID arrived in England in April 1943. Louis gave birth to their daughter after her husband was in France. He probably never met her.

The 83rd ID landed on Omaha Beach on D+9 and fought throughout the Normandy Campaign. While taking part in this fighting, Sgt. Napier was awarded the Silver Star.

Here is his Silver Star citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Private First Class] Robert G. Napier (ASN: 6669777), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the *** Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy from 9 July 1944 to 11 July 1944, near ****, France. 

Sergeant Napier while serving as a member of the anti-tank platoon armed himself with rocket launcher and together with another man joined the front line companies as a tank-hunter team. Disregarding his own safety despite intense enemy artillery and small arms fire he made his way to within striking distance of two enemy tanks that were firing upon the rifle companies and demobilized them. This daring action enabled the line companies to reach their objective. 

Sergeant Napier's cool and courageous determination to meet the enemy and destroy him reflects great credit upon himself and the finest traditions of the military service.

By December, Sgt. Napier's unit was fighting in the Hurtgen Forest. Sgt. Napier was killed in action on December 4, 1944. This week marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. It is a lesser know battle that lasted for three months. One out of every four GIs who fought in this battle became a casualty.

His grave is at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Indiana. His widow remarried and died in 1988. His daughter died in 1993.

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

Joseph Cain, also from the 83rd Infantry Division, was born exactingly one year earlier than Sgt. Napier. 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 Normandy Fallen - Harry Dandorf, 101st Airborne Division

PFC Harry Dandorf served in the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135072304/harry-t-dandorf
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/378232068683825862/?lp=true 

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

He was born on September 19, 1919 in New Jersey. His parents Alexander and Emelia were also both born in New Jersey. His father worked as a bricklayer and later as a maintenance worker. Harry had two older brothers, three younger brothers and one younger sister. By 1940 Harry had completed six years of schooling and worked as a leather worker.

He was drafted into the army on February 5, 1942. He volunteered for paratrooper training and ended up as a private first class in Company C, 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. 

Bad weather made it difficult for the 502nd to land in its designated drop zones on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The 1st Battalion was the only one to come down on target. After securing its D-Day objectives, it was tasked with taking the key crossroads town of Carentan.

PFC Dandorf was killed on June 11, 1944, the day the paratroopers captured Carentan.

His grave is at Fairview Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fairview, New Jersey.

Thank you PFC Dandorf for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harry.

One year earlier on the same date, Leon Peacock was born. He served with the 78th Infantry Division at the Battle of Remagen. You can read about Leon 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 - Bronze Star hero Ronald Kiyabu, 100th Infantry Battalion

Sgt. Ronald Kiyabu earned the Bronze Star serving with the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121032135

https://www.newspapers.com/image/275582728/?terms=ronald%2Bkiyabu

https://www.nvlchawaii.org/resources/100th-infantry-battalion 

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

Ronald was born on September 18, 1919 in Olaa, Hawaii. His parents Nio and Uto were both born in Japan, and emigrated to Hawaii in 1906 and 1904, respectively. He had one older sister, three younger brothers, and two younger sisters. He graduated from McKinley High School in Honolulu and Honolulu Business College. 

Ronald served in Company A of the 100th Infantry Battalion, which was made up of Japanese Americans who had been drafted before the war and assigned to the 298th and 299th Hawaii National Guard units. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the Japanese American soldiers were placed in virtual isolation away from weapons and under armed guards, because the authorities questioned their loyalty. Because of this distrust, on 5 June 1942 over one thousand Japanese American draftees were shipped without publicity to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, where they were scrutinized for their loyalty while they trained for combat.

In August 1943, after over a year of training, the 100th Battalion departed the US for Oran, North Africa where it was attached to the 34th Infantry Division. The 34th ID left North Africa and landed in Salerno, Italy in September 1943. After crossing the Volturno River on 18 October 1943, the 34th ID was tasked to liberate the Italian town of Sant Angelo d’Alife, which was about 60 kilometers north of Naples. The soldiers were warned they would meet stiff resistance from the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division, made up of crack German troops, that were entrenched on the high ground and guarded by heavily fortified mine fields. 

The 100th was designated as the lead unit for this difficult assignment. After five days of intense combat, including house to house searches to flush out the enemy, San Angelo d’Alife and the neighboring towns were secured. Sgt. Kiyabu was killed in action on 24 October 1943, one of twenty-one 100th Battalion soldiers killed in the fiercely fought battle. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. 

Ronald Shigeo Kiyabu was initially buried in the Naples Allied Cemetery in Naples, Italy. He was later reinterred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Thank you Sgt. Kiyabu for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ronald.

_____

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 combat medic Alfred Wilson of the 26th Infantry Division. You can read about Alfred 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 Bougainville Fallen - DSC hero Emil Pavlovich, Americal Division

Pfc. Emil Pavlovich, Americal Division, earned the Distinguished Service Cross on Hill 260 in Bougainville.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80968149/emil-pavlovich
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/bougainville/armed-with-two-flame/ 

Emil Pavlovich 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.

Emil was born on November 8, 1918 in Michigan. His parents John and Julia were both born in Austria-Hungary in what became Yugoslavia. His father worked as an iron miner. Emil had an older sister, a younger sister, and a younger brother. By 1940 Emil had completed two years of high school and was working as a carpenter while living at home with his parents.

He was drafted into the army in May 1941.He became a private first class in Company B, 1st Battalion, 132nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division. This was one of the first army regiments sent overseas. It left New York in January 1942 and arrived in Australia by February. By May it was attached to the Americal Division in New Caledonia which was assigned to augment and then relieve the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal.

The Americal Division was next sent to Bouganville in December 1943 to relieve the 3rd Marine Division. In March it had to withstand the last Japanese ground offensive of the war. PFC Pavlovich was killed during this action on March 19, 1944. His contributions to the defeat of the enemy earned him a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross (citation was not found).

The December 2, 1944 Ironwood Daily Globe reported the following the week before his Distinguished Service Cross was presented to his family:

Pfc. Pavlovich was killed in action during an infantry attack on Hill 260, Bougainville, last March 19. Second Lieutenant William T. Becker, Memphis, Tenn., infantry platoon leader of Pavlovich's platoon has told how the latter was wounded when approaching the crest of the hill. 

The platoon in which Pfc. Pavlovich was scout had worked up the southwest slope of the hill and had reached a point immediately below the crest when the enemy opened with heavy rifle and machine gun fire from a fortified line 30 yards in extent along the hilltop at a distance of 15 yards. 

Pfc. Pavlovich, at the point (most forward position) of the platoon, rose to an erect position and stood fully exposed to the enemy fire in order to locate the enemy's firing positions. 

In the face of machine gun, rifle and grenade fire, Pfc. Pavlovich observed four enemy pillboxes and dropped his rifle in order to point out their locations to our machine gunners by means of phosphorus grenades hurled at the pillboxes. 

Midway during his action, Pfc. Pavlovich was seriously wounded in the chest. 

In spite of his wound, the infantryman continued to stand in his place and hurled grenades until he had thrown a total of 75 at the enemy and three of the four pillboxes had been knocked out by his efforts and his platoon's. 

At this point Pfc. Pavlovich collapsed from loss of blood, dying 15 minutes later.

His grave is at Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood, Michigan.

Thank you PFC Pavlovich for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Emil.

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 Operation Varsity Fallen - C-47 pilot William Frye

Captain William Frye was a C-47 pilot for the 436th Troop Carrier Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49923879/william-miller-frye
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/436th_Operations_Group 

William Miller "Bill" Frye, Jr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on September 17, 1919 in Wardensville, West Virginia. His parents William and Hilda were also both born in West Virginia. His father worked as a farm manager and later as a general store manager. Still later he was a merchant. William Jr. had three younger brothers and two younger sisters. By 1940 William was living at home and had competed one year of college and worked as a clerk. At some point he married Lorraine Johnson.

He enlisted in the Army in February 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces, was accepted to flight school, and was trained as a C-47 pilot. He reached the rank of captain and flew for the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group.  On D-Day, the 436th TCG transported the 101st Airborne to Normandy. That evening it returned and towed in gliders from the 82nd Airborne. A month after that it towed in gliders for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. In September it brought in troops and gliders of the 101st Airborne Division for Operation Market Garden in Holland. Captain Frye likely participated in all of these actions. 

On March 24, 1945 Captain Frye piloted a C-47 towing two gliders across the Rhine as part of Operaton Varsity. His plane was shot down by enemy fire as it approached the landing zone and Captain Frye was killed.

His grave is at Wardensville Cemetery in Wardensville, West Virginia. His widow remarried and died in 2002.

Thank you Captain Frye for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Bill.

Last year on this date I profiled artillery officer Norris Gee. You can read about Norris and his brother Richard 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 - William Eldredge, Arisan Maru POW

PFC William Eldredge drowned in the greatest American loss of life at sea from one sinking on the Arisan Maru.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56760108/william-e-eldredge
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/161921-one-pow-and-survivor-one-of-only-nine-of-the-arisan-maru-passes/

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

He was born on September 16, 1919 in Massachusetts. His parents William and Mildred were also both born in Massachusetts. His father worked as a railroad clerk and later as a hospital intern and orderly. William had three younger brothers. By 1940 William had completed four years of high school and was a soldier in training at Fort Logan, Colorado.

He enlisted in the medical department of the army on April 3, 1941 and he was sent to serve in the Philippines where he had the rank of private first class. Once the Japanese attacked the Philippines, PFC Eldredge was assigned to do his medical duties on Corregidor Island. When Corregidor fell in May 1942, PFC Eldredge became a POW.

Because the Japanese never signed the Geneva Convention and they looked down on the Americans who surrendered, rather than commit suicide, they had no qualms to turn them into slave laborers. For the first couple of years, PFC Eldredge was a POW in the Philippines, but he was eventually picked for transport for slave labor in Manchuria or Japan.

On October 11, 1944 the former freighter and transport ship Arisan Maru embarked 1,782 Allied POWs in Manilla. Traveling north at only seven knots, the 6,800 ton ship was a tempting target for American submarines. Because the Japanese did not mark ships used to transport prisoners, there was no way for the US Navy submarine captains to know a ship carried fellow Americans.

On October 24, 1944 Arisan Maru was torpedoed by the submarine USS Shark. While Arisan Maru foundered, Japanese destroyers were able to find Shark and sink her. They returned to the sinking hell ship but only rescued the Japanese survivors. The POWs were left to drown.  Only nine of the POWs survived by finding a lifeboat. PFC Eldredge was one of those who drowned. The loss of life was the most Americans lost in WW2 from a single ship sinking, exceeding Arizona (1,177), and HMT Rohna (1,015). 

His cenotaph memorial is at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manilla, Philippines.

Thank you PFC Eldredge for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for William.

Last year on this date I profiled D-Day fallen Bedford Boy Frank Draper, 29th Infantry Division. You can read about Frank 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