WW2 Fallen - Navy Cross hero Roland Kachinsky + famous psychologist

Platoon Sergeant Roland Kachinsky served with the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion at the Battle of Gavutu.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94412564/roland-f-kachinsky
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tulagi_and_Gavutu–Tanambogo 

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

He was born on October 21, 1919 in Illinois. His parents Mike and Anna were both born in Lithuanian speaking Russia. His father worked as a dairy farmer. Roland was an only child.

He volunteered for the US Marines in February 1937. He served as a drummer for about a year and later saw service at Pearl Harbor and on the USS Hampton. When the war started he was stationed in San Diego. Roland reached the rank of platoon sergeant in Company A, 1st Marine Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

On August 7, 1942 the 1st MPB was part of amphibious assault on Gavutu and Tanambogo in support of the invasion of Guadalcanal. The Marines needed to eliminate the Japanese seaplane, ship refueling, and communications base the Japanese had set up here. While the landing at Guadalcanal went unopposed, the Japanese on Gavutu put up stiff resistance. 

The 1st MPB landed its nearly 400 men at noon. The Japanese manning their machine-guns were ready and inflicted at least 10 percent casualties during the initial landing. Sgt. Kachinsky was one of the wounded, but rather than leave his men, he dressed his own wound and stayed in charge of his platoon. His actions on this day helped win the battle, though it resulted in his death. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. His citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Roland F. Kachinsky (256111), Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the FIRST Parachute Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, during the assault on enemy Japanese forces at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. 

When the right flank of Company A was subjected to withering fire from a hostile machine gun, Platoon Sergeant Kachinski, on his own courageous initiative, launched a lone attack against the enemy. Effectively throwing grenades and engaging in perilous hand-to-hand combat, he fought with such tenacious determination and fearless aggressiveness that he was able to destroy the gun position before receiving fatal wounds. 

Platoon Sergeant Kachinsky's relentless fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

His grave is at Lithuania National Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.

Thank you Sgt. Kachinsky for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Roland.

JOHN HOLLAND
John Holland was born on the exact same day as Roland Kachinsky. Holland was born in Nebraska where his father was a advertising executive. Holland went to the University of Omaha and got a degree in psychology in 1942.

Holland served in the army during the war where he was put to work as a test administrator until 1946.

http://careerkey.blogspot.com/2008/12/dr-john-l-holland-1919-2008.html

After the war he got a PhD. from the University of Minnesota. He became well known in the psychology field for his work on personality and career choice. Those who work with helping people decide on a career are familiar with the Holland Codes that John Holland invented.

Holland died in 2008.

Silver Star hero and tank commander Wiliam John was born exactly one year earlier than Roland Kachinsky. You can read about William 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 FlyingTigers Fallen - DFC hero and P-51 pilot Lawrence Smith + diamond inventor

P-51 pilot Lt. Lawrence Smith earned the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving with the 23rd Fighter Group in China.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44738652/lawrence-willie-smith
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472174342168817384/?lp=true

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

He was born on October 20, 1919 in Mont Belvieu, Texas. His parents Wille and Mosie were also both born in Texas. His father worked as an oil well laborer. Lawrence had one younger brother. By 1940 Lawrence was still living at home and had completed one year of college on a scholarship he had earned. He studied aeronautical engineering.

He volunteered for the Army Air Forces in January 1942. After being trained to fly he became a first lieutenant in the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force, which was equipped with P-51 Mustangs. The 23rd FG replaced the famed American Volunteer Group, better known as The Flying Tigers, which fought for China before America's entry into the war.

After furthering his training in India for a few months, Lt. Smith began serving with his unit in April 1943. The mission taskings of the 23rd FG included counter air campaigns, strafing and bombing Japanese forces and installations, escorting bombers, flying reconnaissance missions, and intercepting Japanese bombers.

Lt. Smith earned the Distinguished Flying Cross during his nine months with the 23rd FG.

"for extraordinary achievement while participating in forty-eight combat missions against the enemy in China, Burma and Indo-China between April 20, 1943 and Jan. 17, 1944. Lieut Smith flew these missions under adverse weather conditions and over rough and inadequately mapped terrain. Enemy fire was probably and often encountered.

"While participating in the 'Rice Bowl' campaign in China between Nov. 25, 1942 and Dec. 21, 1943, he flew fourteen offensive missions, engaging in aerial battle on five occasions. He was credited with one enemy plane destroyed and two probably shot down as a result of these engagements. His accomplishments are in accord with the Army Air Forces fine traditions."

Lt. Smith was killed on January 18, 1944 when his plane crashed during a storm.

His grave is at Mont Belvieu Methodist Cemetery in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

Thank you Lt. Smith for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Lawrence.

TRACY HALL
Tracy Hall was born on the exact same date as Lawrence Smith. Hall was born in Utah. At an early age he decided to become a scientist. He managed to earn both a BSc and MSc from the University of Utah by 1942.

Hall joined the US Navy and served for two years as an ensign during World War 2.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/06/10-bonus-h-tracy-hall-invention-synthetic-diamond/

After the war he earned a PhD in chemistry. Dr. Hall is best know for inventing the process to create a synthetic diamond in 1954. (Coincidentally, Dr. Hall was a neighbor of my wife's family when she was growing up.) He died in 2008.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 pilot Leroy Madson. You can read about Leroy 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 - Fred Coburn, USS Grayback

Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class Fred Coburn served on the submarine USS Grayback.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56117999/fred-martin-coburn
http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-grayback-208.htm 

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

He was born on October 19, 1919 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. His parents Ernest and Myrtle were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a farmer and later as a road commissioner. Fred had one older sister, four younger brothers and two younger sisters. By 1940 Fred had completed four years of high school and was still living at home.

He enlisted in the navy and by January 1943 he was on the muster rolls of the submarine USS Grayback, where he served as a motor machinist mate, second class. Grayback went on its sixth patrol one month later with no results. However, the seventh patrol had better results with multiple sinkings.

While on leave back home in Alabama, he married Doris Lucille Cantrell in July 1943. MM Coburn return to Grayback and served on three more missions.

Grayback's final patrol was in the East China Sea where it sank or damaged six ships. It was caught on the surface on February 27, 1944 and sunk by an arial attack by carrier based planes south of Okinawa. Eighty men were lost, including MM Coburn.

He is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing of the Honolulu Memorial. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you Machinist Mate Coburn for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Fred.

Football star Eso Naranche, 34th Infantry Division was born exactly one year before Fred Coburn. You can read about Eso 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 - Roy Waldron, 3rd Infantry Division

PFC Roy Waldron served in the 3rd Infantry Division in France.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172070966/roy-p-waldron
https://www.flickr.com/photos/unc-tv/5218306634

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

He was born on October 18, 1919 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents Roy and Etta were also both born in Minnesota. His father worked as a car inspector and later a railroad laborer. Still later he worked as an air brakeman. Young Roy had three older sisters, one older brother and one younger brother. By 1940 Roy had completed eight years of schooling. He was living with his parents and worked as an assistant baker.

He was drafted into the army on December 20, 1943. He became a private first class in Company B, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. PFC Waldron joined his unit as a replacement. The 3rd ID had been in action since North Africa, Sicily, and Salerno. It took part in the invasion of southern France and then fought through the Vosges Mountains and reached Strasbourg by late November 1944.

PFC Powers was killed in action on December 19, 1944. While most of the attention was further north in the Battle of the Bulge, the 3rd ID, was in the process of smashing through German positions outside of Strasbourg.

His grave is at Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Thank you PFC Waldron for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Roy.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 engineer Alton Elkin. You can read about Alton 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 - Walter McGaff, 1st Armored Division

Cpl. Walter McGaff (shown in the photo with sister or fiancé, served with the 1st Armored Division in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120274815/walter-j-mcgaff/photo
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/410179478558723809/ 

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

He was born on October 17, 1919 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents James and Mary were also both born in Ohio. His father worked as a tank company boiler maker. Walter had two older brothers and four older sisters. By 1940 Walter had completed four years of high school. He was living with his parents and worked as a chauffeur. His fiancé's name was Dorothy Raming.

He was drafted into the army on December 2, 1941. Walter became a corporal in Company B, 751st Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Division. The 1st Armored first engaged the enemy in North Africa in November 1942. It fought the Germans across Algeria and Tunisia. It was next part of the invasion of the Italian mainland at Salerno in September 1943.

On November 9, 1943, Cpl. McGaff's tank was advancing near Mignano Italy when it hit a mine. Everyone in the tank, including Cpl. McGaff, was killed.

His grave is at St. Joseph New Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Thank you Cpl. McGaff for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Walter.

Last year on this date I profiled B-26 bombardier William Williamson. You can read about William 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 Jenkins, 65th Infantry Division

Tech Sergeant John Jenkins served with the 65th Cavalry Recon Troop in Germany.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177696024/john-arthur-jenkins
https://www.lonesentry.com/unithistory/65th_campshelby/pg/pg152.html 

John Arthur "Art" Jenkins never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 16, 1919 in Detroit, Michigan. His parents Neal and Helen were born in Michigan and Missouri, respectively. His father worked as an office draftsman. By 1930, the family had moved to St. Louis, Missouri where Neal was a furniture salesman. Art had three older sisters and a younger brother and sister. By 1940 Art had completed three years of college. He was living at home and worked as a gas station attendant. At some point he married his wife Shirley.

He was drafted into the army on March 18, 1941. He eventually reached the rank of tech sergeant in the 65th Infantry Division's Reconnaissance Troop. The 65th ID did not reach France until late January 1945. It was sent to the front lines in early March. Because this division joined the fighting so late, it suffered relatively few casualties. Reports show less than 200 men killed in action. Sgt. Jenkins ended up in Linz, Austria when Germany finally surrendered.

With the fighting done, the 65th ID switched to an occupation role, waiting for orders to go back to America. On August 11, Sgt. Jenkins wrote his family that he was excited to return home. Surprisingly, he was killed under mysterious circumstances on August 22, 1945, which happened to be his wedding anniversary. It could have been an accident. One buddy later told the family it was murder. The official cause of death was suicide, because any other classification would have required his unit to remain in Germany and not return home as planned. His family did not accept this reason, but it looks like the truth was never discovered.

His grave is at Valhalla Cemetery in Bel-Nor, Missouri. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you Sgt. Jenkins for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Art.

B-17 co-pilot Aaron Cuddeback was born on the same date as John Jenkins, but one year earlier. You can read about Aaron 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-24 radio operator Prosdocimo Della Betta and record setting balloonist

Staff Sergeant Prosdocimo Della Betta served in the 392nd Bombardment Group in Europe.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88072891/prosdocimo-della_betta
https://www.b24.net/aircraftListings.htm 

Prosdocimo "Dutch" Della Betta never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

His parents Olivo and Maria were both born in Italy. And while most Italian immigrants usually found a home in cities like New York and Chicago, the Della Bettas immigrated to Iowa in 1919 and Prosdocimo was born in Hocking on October 15, 1919. His father worked as a coal miner and later as a quarry laborer. Prosdocimo had three older brothers, a younger sister, and a younger brother. By 1940 Prosdocimo had completed four years of high school, was living at home, and working at a part time job that later turned into a construction job.

He was drafted into the army on February 5, 1943 and decided to volunteer to serve in the Army Air Forces. He became a staff sergeant in the 576th Bombardment Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. He was trained to be a radio operator. The 392nd BG arrived in England in 1943. Sgt. Della Betta joined at a later time, probably in December 1943. It operated out of Wendlingin East Anglia.

The target for March 15, 1944 was Brunswick, Germany. It was an overcast day and the bombers made it to target without encountering any enemy fighters. The only plane that failed to return from the mission was Della Betta's plane Pocatello Chief 42-99976 which was flying its 18th mission. After dropping its bombs it could not close its bomb bay doors and fell behind the rest of the returning Liberators. A German fighter found the lone bomber and shot it down at Riddenhausen-Ennepo. All crewmen perished in the crash.

His grave is at St. Mary's Cemetery in Albia, Iowa.

Thank you Sgt. Della Betta for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Dutch.

MALCOLM ROSS
On the same day that Dutch Della Betta was born in Iowa, Malcolm Ross was born in Illinois, growing up on farms. He got a physics degree from Purdue University in 1941.

In January 1943, Malcolm was commissioned an ensign in the US Naval Reserve. The Navy leveraged his background by training him as a meteorologist. He served in that role on the carrier USS Saratoga in 1944 and 1945.

After the war he decided to open an advertising agency in Pasadena, California, but he was called back to the service for the Korean War but stayed stateside. He got involved in the Navy's unmanned balloon program. During the 1950s he worked on many projects involving high altitude balloons. On May 4, 1961 he set the altitude record of 113,740 feet in an open gondola wearing only the Navy Mark IV full-pressure suit. This successful testing of the suit resulted in it being adapted for the Project Mercury astronauts. To this date, this open air altitude record has never been exceeded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Ross_(balloonist)

Ross eventually reached the rank of captain and died in 1985.

Last year on this date I profiled Bronze Star hero Edward Joe, Americal Division who fought at Bougainville. You can read about Edward 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