WW2 Fallen - Alburn Fountain, 45th Infantry Division

PFC Alburn Flynn, shown in the photo above with a nephew(?), served with the 45th Infantry Division in Sicily.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67613216/alburn-a_-fountain
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805405887829/?lp=true

Alburn A. "Flynn" Fountain never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on November 20, 1919 in Constable, New York. His parents Napoleon and Selina were also both born in New York. His father worked as a carpenter. Alburn had five older brothers, one older sister, and one younger brother. By 1940 Alburn had completed eight years of schooling. He was living with an older brother and worked as a battery labeler.

He was drafted into the army in February 1942. He became a private first class in Company A, 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. The 45th ID first saw combat when it made an amphibious landing in Sicily on July 10, 1943.

The 45th ID was first opposed by Italian troops. While losses were not heavy during the first few days of the battle, there were still casualties. PFC Fountain was killed in action on July 14, 1943.

His grave is at Saint Francis of Assisi in Constable, New York.

Thank you PFC Fountain for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Alburn.

Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero John Power, 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”

WW2 Fallen - P-38 pilot, John Broderick, West Point grad

Lt. John Broderick, a West Point grad, served in the 1st Fighter Group in Italy, flying P-38 Lightnings.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105918905/john-metcalf-broderick
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/226 

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

He was born on November 19, 1919 in North Dakota. His parents Leo and Genevieve were born in Minnesota and North Dakota, respectively. His father worked as a court reporter and later as a court stenographer. Still later he worked as a law clerk and a district judge. John had an older brother and sister and three younger sisters. By 1940 he was still living at home and had completed one year of college at the University of Minnesota.

John was able to transfer to the US Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1943. After first being assigned to the coast artillery, John was able to transfer to the Army Air Forces where he was trained to be a fighter pilot. He earned his wings in January 1944. He reached the rank of first lieutenant in the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force, which was equipped with P-38 Lightnings and was based in Italy. It conducted a lot of low level straffing missions to support the advance of the Allied army.

Lt. Broderick was killed in action on January 16, 1945 near Ancona, Italy. At the time, his brother William, who had been a bomber pilot in Europe, was a prisoner of war in Germany. William made it home safe after the war.

His grave is at Mandan Union Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.

Thank you Lt. Broderick for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 top turret gunner Oscar "Woody" Walrod. You can read about Oscar 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 - POW Joseph Galbally, 1st Infantry Division

Sgt. Joseph Galbally, 1st Infantry Division, was wounded and captured during the Battle of Aachen.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58778971/joseph-e_-galbally
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805416553230/?lp=true 

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

He was born on November 18, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents Edward and Anna were born in England and Pennsylvania, respectively. His father worked as a music publisher. Joseph had four older brothers, one younger sister, and two younger brothers. By 1940 Joseph was still living at home. He had completed three years of high school and worked as a pressman.

He enlisted in the army in July 1942. He became a sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Sgt. Galbally was with the Big Red One from the start of the fighting. He was in North Africa when it landed in November 1942. His father died unexpectedly a month later. Sgt. Galbally next served in Sicily. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. He was with the division through its march through France up to the German border where he fought in the battle to take Aachen.

Sgt. Galbally was wounded and then captured by the Germans on September 18, 1944. He died of wounds in a German hospital for POWs on November 6, 1944.

His grave is at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. If anyone can take a photo of this, please add it to his findagrave.com profile.

Thank you Sgt. Galbally for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Joseph.

Last year on this date I profiled P-40 officer Benjamin Duke. You can read about Benjamin 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 Okinawa Fallen - Silver Star hero Herbert Rosenberg, 7th Infantry Division

PFC Herbert Rosenberg earned the Silver Star. He fought in 4 campaigns, ending with the Battle of Okinawa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114144154/herbert-h-rosenberg
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/okinawa/7th-infantry-division-troops-mopping-up-on-okinawa/ 

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

He was born on November 17, 1919 in Minnesota. His parents Henry and Johnna were also both born in Minnesota. All four of his grandparents were from Germany. His father worked as a farmer. Herbert had an older brother, younger brother, and younger sister. By 1940 Hebert  was living at home, had completed seven years of education, and was working as a farm laborer.

He was drafted into the army in September 1941. After training stateside, he was sent to the Pacific in April 1943. He became a private first class in Company C, 1st Infantry Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. PFC Rosenberg saw action in Attu, Kwajalein, and Leyte.

PFC Rosenberg last saw action during the Battle of Okinawa. His unit landed on April 1, 1945. After 39 days of continuous action and heavy casualties, the 7th ID was pulled off the line and sent to the reserves. With only a few days rest the 7th was sent back on the line with fresh replacements. The 7th ID made slow progress during the continuous rains of May against a well concealed enemy that sometimes gave up no more than 300 yards a day. By the time the battle was officially ended on June 21, 1945, the 7th ID had been in action for another straight 43 days. Despite declaring the official end of hostilities in Okinawa, PFC Rosenberg was killed in action the next day - June 22, 1945, making Herbert one of the last American soldiers killed by the enemy in World War 2.

One source states that PFC Rosenberg was awarded the Silver Star. Unfortunately, I was not able to locate the citation.

His grave is at Tenhassen Cemetery in Ceylon, Minnesota.

Thank you PFC Rosenberg for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Herbert.

Last year on this date I profiled Carl Cooper, 4th Marine Division. You can read about Carl 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-26 Navigator Robert Weisbecker

Lt. Robert Weisbecker was a B-26 navigator in the 17th Bombardment Group in North Africa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116004815/robert-k-weisbecker
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/22278 

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

Robert was born on November 16, 1919 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His parents Kingston and Winifred were also born in Wisconsin. Robert’s father worked in a foundry and later as a bookkeeper in a printing office. Robert was an only child. In 1940, Robert had completed two years of college, was living at home in La Crosse with his parents, and was doing delivery work for a printing office.

Robert enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November 1941 and entered flight training. He trained as a navigator and upon graduation in June 1942 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to the 432nd Bomb Squadron of the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium). The 17th BG was initially equipped with B-25 Mitchell bombers, and supplied many of the aircrews for the Doolittle Raid. By the time 2nd Lt. Weisbecker joined the 17th BG, it had transitioned to flying B-26 Marauder medium bombers. Robert was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on his 23rd birthday.

In December 1942, the 17th BG deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with the XII Bomber Command shortly following Operation Torch, the North Africa invasion. The 17th BG began combat operations over North Africa on 30 December 1942, supporting American ground forces in Tunisia. The unit flew interdiction and close air support, bombing bridges, rail lines, marshalling yards, harbors, shipping, gun emplacements, troop concentrations and other enemy targets. On 7 January 1943, twenty-two B-26s of the 17th BG, escorted by fourteen P-38s of the 52nd Fighter Group, took off to bomb the enemy military barracks in the area of Gabee, Tunisia. During the mission, the bombers were attacked by Me109 fighters. Twenty-one B-26s returned to base after the mission. Aircraft 41-17894 was declared missing in action, and all crew aboard, including 2nd Lt. Weisbecker were presumed killed. 

Robert K. Weisbecker is memorialized in Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

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

_____

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 Pearl Harbor fallen PFC Robert Taylor of the USS Oklahoma. 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 Fallen - PB4Y-1 gunner Kendall Dungey + Judge Wapner

Aviation Machinist Mate 1/c Kendall Dungey was killed on an anti-submarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay.
His plane was shot down by a German BV 222 Wiking
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25744656/kendall-leroy-dungey
https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170525/part-2-historian-recounts-fateful-mission-that-took-her-fathers-life--video

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

He was born on November 15, 1919 in South Dakota. His parents Roy and Laura were born in South Dakota(?) and Pennsylvania, respectively. His father was a World War I veteran who must have fallen on hard times because he worked as a bootlegger during prohibition. He was jailed in 1925 but escaped out-of-state for two years. He was recaptured when he returned to South Dakota. He finished his sentence and paid a fine. Roy may have been single at the time since no mention is made in the newspapers about him having a wife. Kendall's mother remarried Clyde Ward, probably in the 1920s. Roy died in October 1929 at a sanitarium.

Kendall had one younger brother. By 1939 Kendall had completed high school and worked first at the local country club and then started his own delivery business. Later he got a lumber job.

He enlisted in the US Navy in April 1941. He was trained as an aviation machinist mate, graduating at the end of December 1941. He was assigned to duties first in the Caribbean and then based in the east coast, dealing with convoy escorts and coast patrol duties flying PBYs. 

He married Gloria Cyr in June 1943 while he was stationed in Rhode Island. 

In July 1943 his unit was reassigned to anti-submarine (ASW) duty first in Bermuda and then in England. In September the Army Air Forces turned over ASW duties to the three Navy squadrons - VB-103, VB-105, and VB-110. AMM1 Dungey served in VB-105. He flew on missions that sank five German submarines.

On October 23, 1943, AMM1 Dungey's PB4Y-1 bomber 63917 (a modified B-24 Liberator) was sent on an anti-submarine patrol in the Bay of Biscay. He was the top turret gunner. The plane never returned and all 10 crewmen were declared lost. It had been shot down by a German BV 222 Wiking, a flying boat with six engines and a wingspan longer than a football field. This was the largest seaplane of World War II. Only 13 were built. The Wiking was not a fighter plane, but it was armed and it caught the American bomber by surprise when it appeared out of a cloud bank. The photo above, of Dungey's plane after it was shot up, was taken from the German Wiking.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blohm_%26_Voss_BV_238

Kendall Dungey had one daughter born after he was killed.

His cenotaph grave is at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Thank you AMM1 Dungey for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Kendall.

You can read more about Kendall Dungey and his wife and daughter May-li Anne here.

JOSEPH WAPNER
Joseph Wapner, the judge and TV personality, was born on the exact same day as Kendall Dungey. Wapner was born in California. His father was from Romania and his mother was from Russia.

Wapner graduated from the University of Souther California in 1941, after which he joined the US Army. He served as a lieutenant in the Pacific and earned the Bronze Star.

https://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Son-says-Joseph-Wapner-unlikely-TV-star-dead-at-97-414819023.html

After the war, Wapner attended USC Law School and was in private practice for 10 years. He then served as a judge until retiring in 1979. For twelve years, beginning in 1981, he presided over the TV show The People's Court. It was the first, and longest running reality show in the courtroom genre.

He died in 2017 at age 97.

Last year on this date I profiled B-25 bombardier and navigator Melvin Fox. You can read about Melvin 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 - Medal of Honor hero Ted Tanouye, 442nd Infantry Regiment

Tech Sergeant Ted Tanouye earns the Medal of Honor for action in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19396/ted-t_-tanouye
http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2013/11/28/go-for-broke-2/ 

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

He was born on November 14, 1919 in Torrance, California. His parents Nikuma and Momoye were both born in Japan. Nikuma came to America in 1903 and Momoye came in 1918. Ted's father worked as a farmer and had a hobby teaching Japanese sword fighting. Ted had four younger brothers and a younger sister. By 1940 Ted had completed four years of high school where he lettered each year in both football and basketball. He found work with a produce company.

He was drafted into the army on February 20, 1942. Ironically, the day before President Roosevelt issued an executive order that would forcibly remove all people of Japanese ancestry from the west coast and send them to live in relocation camps. The next day, on February 21, Ted's father was arrest as a suspected spy and was held for two months before being let go because of lack of evidence. The family ended up at Camp Jerome in Arkansas.

Sgt. Tanouye's first experience in combat was on July 4, 1944. Three days later he lead his men in a successful attack to take a needed hill north of Rome during which he was wounded. This action would one day be recognized with the Medal of Honor.

He was wounded again on September 1, 1944 while his unit was fighting near the Arno River. He died five days later on September 6, 1944.

Sgt. Tanouye was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his July heroism. His parents were  still at Camp Jermone when the Army delivered Ted's medals to them. The citation reads as follows.

Technical Sergeant Ted T. Tanouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 July 1944, near Molino A Ventoabbto, Italy. 

Technical Sergeant Tanouye led his platoon in an attack to capture the crest of a strategically important hill that afforded little cover. Observing an enemy machine gun crew placing its gun in position to his left front, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crept forward a few yards and opened fire on the position, killing or wounding three and causing two others to disperse. 

Immediately, an enemy machine pistol opened fire on him. He returned the fire and killed or wounded three more enemy soldiers. While advancing forward, Technical Sergeant Tanouye was subjected to grenade bursts, which severely wounded his left arm. 

Sighting an enemy-held trench, he raked the position with fire from his submachine gun and wounded several of the enemy. Running out of ammunition, he crawled 20 yards to obtain several clips from a comrade on his left flank. 

Next, sighting an enemy machine pistol that had pinned down his men, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crawled forward a few yards and threw a hand grenade into the position, silencing the pistol. He then located another enemy machine gun firing down the slope of the hill, opened fire on it, and silenced that position. Drawing fire from a machine pistol nest located above him, he opened fire on it and wounded three of its occupants. 

Finally taking his objective, Technical Sergeant Tanouye organized a defensive position on the reverse slope of the hill before accepting first aid treatment and evacuation. 

Technical Sergeant Tanouye's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Ted's youngest brother Yukiwo was killed in action in the Korean War on September 7, 1951, seven years and one day after Ted died.

In 1996, a special review was conducted to determine if some World War 2 medals were downgraded due to prejudice against minorities prevalent in the 1940s. Sgt. Tanouye's DFC was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

An extensive article about Ted and his family can be read here.

His grave is at Evergreen Cemetery in Log Angeles, California.

Thank you Sgt. Tanouye for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ted and his brother Yukiwo.

Last year on this date I profiled Gerald Keys, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion. 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