WW2 Fallen - Teddy Szidlowski, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Sgt. Teddy Szidlowski served in the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion in France.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114156094/teddy-t-szidlowski
https://www.tankdestroyer.net/units/unitphotogalleries/607th-td-battalion 

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

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Teddy was born on May 24, 1920 in Houston, Texas. His parents Thomas and Josephine were both born in Russian Poland. They came to America in 1910 and 1913, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as a railroad mechanic. Teddy had one older brother. After completing high school he worked as a machinist for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

He was drafted into the army in October 1941. He reached the rank of sergeant in Company B, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion. The 607th TDB arrived in England in April 1944. By mid-June it was in Normandy, providing much needed armor support to the 90th Infantry Division. After the breakout from Normandy, the 607th TDB advanced east and by early September it had reached Reims.

On September 8, the 607th TDB ran into German panzers who counterattacked their advance to Mairy. The Americans prevailed with the German's losing most of their tanks. Sgt. Szidlowski was killed in action near Fontoy on September 10, 1944.

His grave is at Forest Park Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Thank you Sgt. Szidlowski for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Teddy.

You can read a memorial to Sgt. Szidlowski at tankdestroyer.net.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 pilot Francis Sidorek. You can read about Francis 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 - Howard Stark, LST 473 (not Ironman's dad)

MOMM2c Howard Stark served on the LST 473 in the Pacific.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74279563/howard-prentiss-stark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_LST-473 

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

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Howard was born on May 23, 1920 in Oregon. His parents Floyd and Elizabeth were both born in Iowa. His father worked as an office order clerk and later as an electric shop salesman. Howard had four older sisters and three older brothers. By 1940 Howard was married to the former Billie June Sieberts. They had one son. He had completed three years of high school and was employed as a WPA worker.

He volunteered for the US Navy in June 1942. He reached the rank of motor machinist mate second class on LST 473. This tank landing ship was commissioned in March 1943. It first saw action on September 4, 1943 when it carried Australian troops to make a landing at Lae.

The September 4, 1943 landing was unopposed on the beaches, but the Japanese sent planes to sink the landing craft. LST 473 was struck by two bombs and another two near misses, all dropped by Val bombers. Eight Americans and 37 Australians were killed and many others were wounded. Petty Officer Stark was one of those killed.

His grave is at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland, Oregon. His widow remarried and died in 1992. I don't know what happened to his son. 

Of course if Howard had lived into the 2000s he would have noted that he shared a name with the fictional Howard Stark, father of the Marvel Comics' Ironman. The fictional Howard Stark has a 1917 birthday, not that far from the real Howard Stark's birth.

Thank you MOMM2 Stark for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Howard.

Last year on this date I profiled Thomas Psar, 101st Airborne Division. You can read about Thomas 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 - Silver Star hero and B-17 navigator Richard Zahm

B-17 navigator Richard Zahm earned the Silver Star for bombing missions to Rabaul. He served in the 43rd Bombardment Group in New Guinea.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40833190/richard-eugene-zahm/photo
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/b-17/1943-new-guinea-b-17e-43rd-bomb-group-nose-art-blonde-bomber/ 

Richard Eugene "Dick" Zahm never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Richard was born on May 22, 1920 in Indiana. His parents Eugene and Edith were also both born in Indiana. His father worked in the insurance business. Dick had two younger sisters and three younger brothers. He graduated from Huntington High School in 1938 and attended Huntington College for two years.

Dick enlisted in the Army Air Corps aviation cadet program in April 1941 and trained as a bomber navigator. He graduated from navigator training three days before Pearl Harbor and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was then assigned to submarine patrol duty off the Atlantic coast, flying out of fields in New York, Virginia, and Florida. His crew flew air cover for the first convoy of American troops to Ireland and participated in the capture of persons delivering fuel to a German submarine off the coast of Florida. 

In May 1942 he was transferred to the Southwest Pacific theater, where he joined the 19th Bombardment Group in Australia and participated in the Army Air Corps’ first operation against Rabaul, as well as the Battle of the Coral Sea. According to his obituary, Captain Zahm was awarded the Silver Star due to his valor during a series of raids on Rabaul in August 1942, however I was unable to find the citation. 

In January 1943 he joined the 64th Bombardment Squadron of the 43rd Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force in which he served as the squadron navigator and intelligence officer. The 64th was based in Port Moresby, New Guinea and was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers and was tasked to attack enemy shipping. During the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943, Captain Zahm and his crew participated in multiple attacks on a Japanese troop convoy approaching the coast of New Guinea, sinking or damaging several enemy vessels. As a result of these actions, the crew was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing three successful missions in a period of less than 36 hours while scoring hits or near misses on all enemy vessels attacked. In all, Captain Zahm flew more than 50 missions during his service in the Pacific. 

On 14 June 1943, Captain Zahm was the navigator aboard B-17 41-2664, nicknamed The Jersey Skeeter, as it took off from 7-Mile Drome in Port Moresby on a routine reconnaissance mission. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed and exploded roughly 1,000 yards beyond the end of the runway. Eight of the crew, including Captain Zahm, were killed instantly in the crash. The cause of the crash was never determined. Six citations were awarded posthumously to his father, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart. 

Captain Zahm was initially buried in Ipswich, Australia and was later reinterred in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Huntington, Indiana.

Thank you Captain Zahm for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Dick.

_____

This profile was written by Bob Fuerst, a third cousin twice removed of Captain Zahm. "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."

Editors Note: Captain Zahm was a cousin of Bob's. I did not know this when I wrote his story, so Bob updated it to add more details.

Last year on this date I profiled Leyte fallen medic Merle Lehmkuhl, 24th Infantry Division. You can read about Merle 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 Tinian Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Robert Wilson, 2nd Marine Division

PFC Robert Wilson, 2nd Marine Division, was posthumously award the Medal of Honor at Tinian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._Wilson
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Tinian/index.html

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

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

He was born on May 21, 1920 in Centralia, Illinois. His parents Joseph and Anna had seven other children. His father worked as an oil field worker. Robert grew up on the family farm.

He volunteered for the US Marines in September 1941. He became a private first class in the 1st Marine Division and later the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. The 2nd MD saw action at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Saipan. PFC Wilson was wounded at the Battle of Tarawa but was back with his unit in time for the Battle of Tinian which lasted from July 24 to August 1, 1944.

Although the Battle of Tinian had officially ended, there were still pockets of Japanese refusing to surrender. PFC Wilson was killed on August 3, 1944 when he threw himself on a grenade in order to shield the other men in his squad from being killed or wounded. He was posthumously recognized with the Medal of Honor.

His citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Tinian Island, Marianas Group, on August 3, 1944. 

As one of a group of Marines advancing through heavy underbrush to neutralize isolated points of resistance, Private First Class Wilson daringly preceded his companions toward a pile of rocks where Japanese troops were supposed to be hiding. Fully aware of the danger involved, he was moving forward while the remainder of the squad armed with automatic rifles closed together in the rear, when an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the group. Quick to act, Private First Class Wilson cried a warning to the men and unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, heroically sacrificing his own life so that the others might live and fulfill their mission. 

His exceptional valor, courageous loyalty and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave peril reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Wilson and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

His grave is at Hillcrest Cemetery in Centralia, Illinois.

The destroyer USS Robert Wilson was named in his honor and launched in January 1945 It was in service until 1974.

Thank you PFC Wilson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.

Last year on this date I profiled Helldiver pilot Vernon Reynolds. You can read about Vernon 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 Leyte Fallen - Medic Glenn Hughes, 32nd Infantry Division

PFC Glenn Hughes was a medic in the 128th Infantry Regiment in Leyte.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94053231/glenn-e-hughes
http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/leyte/limon2.jpg 

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

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Glen was born on May 20, 1920 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents Rulon and Emily were born in Utah and England, respectively. His father worked as a steam railroad boiler maker and died in the 1934. Glenn had an older brother. Prior to joining the army he worked at Safeway.

He was drafted into the army in June 1942. He was a private first class and a medic attached to the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. Glenn was sent to South Pacific in December 1942. He was with the 32nd ID in Australia, New Guinea, the East Indies, and at Leyte.

Although the Battle of Leyte began in mid-October 1944, the 32nd ID was held in reserve. It was not until mid-November that the 32nd ID was placed in the line in western Leyte. The attack along the Pinamopoan-Ormoc highway often found the Red Arrow Division GI's in hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese.

PFC Hughes was killed on November 21, 1944 while the 128th IR was in the process of taking Corkscrew Ridge.

His grave is at Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Thank you PFC Hughes for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Glenn.

Last year on this date I profiled Emil Harms, 88th Infantry Division and his brother Frank, USS Tang. You can read about the Harms brothers 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 - Harold Newman, 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion

Sgt. Harold Newman served in the 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion in France and Germany.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15503244
https://www.tankdestroyer.net/units/unitphotogalleries/702nd-td-battalion 

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

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Harry was born on May 19, 1920 in Picnic, Florida. His parents William and Edith were born in South Carolina and Florida, respectively. His father worked as a logger for a sawmill. Harry had two older sisters, three younger sisters, and three younger brothers. In 1940, Harry had completed 6th grade and was living at home with his parents in Tampa and working as a machine operator. 

Harry was drafted into the US Army in November 1941 and served in the 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. The “Seven O Deuce” was activated 15 December 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia and arrived in England on 25 February 1944. The 702nd was equipped with the M10 Tank Destroyer, sometimes referred to as the Wolverine. The M10 was based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank fitted with a 76.2 mm gun, and was the most important U.S. tank destroyer of WW2. M10 battalions were attached to infantry and armored divisions to provide additional direct and indirect fire support. Typical missions included providing indirect artillery fire by augmenting divisional artillery units, following and supporting the lead elements of an infantry assault, attacking obstacles such as fortifications and enemy vehicles (including tanks) that hampered the advance of friendly units, and setting up an antitank defense once the objective was secured.

The 702nd landed at Omaha Beach on 11 June 1944 and entered combat operations at Livry, France on 2 July. It formed part of the 2nd Armored Division’s spearhead during Operation Cobra in late July, the US Army’s breakout from the Normandy beachhead. The 702nd fought at Mortain, France and established first contact with Canadians during encirclement of the Falaise Pocket. It then entered Belgium on 5 September 1944, crossed the German border near Gangelt, and fought against the Siegfried Line along the Wurm River in October. Sgt Newman was killed in action on 6 October 1944. 

Harold H. Newman is buried in Mathews Cemetery in Seffner, Florida.

Thank you Sgt. Newman for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harry.

_____

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 Clarence Justen of the 95th Infantry Division. You can read about Clarence 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 Battle of the Bulge Fallen - Gordon Jackman, 99th Infantry Division

1st Lt. Gordon Jackman was an artilleryman in the 99th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105606005/gordon-wayne-jackman
https://www.eucmh.be/2015/10/16/393rd-infantry-regiment-99th-infantry-division-battle-babies-1944-1945/ 

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

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Gordon was born on May 18, 1920 in River Falls, Wisconsin. His parents William and Alma were also both born in Wisconsin. Three of his grandparents were from Norway. His father worked as a flour mill laborer and later as a grill work laborer. Gordon had two older brothers, one older sister and one younger sister. By 1940 Gordon had completed one year of college and was working as a farmer. He was still living at home. He married Lois Webb on December 21, 1942.

He enlisted in the US Army in September 1938 via the Wisconsin National Guard. He reached the rank of first lieutenant in Battery B, 370th Field Artillery Battalion, 99th Infantry Division. The 99th did not get to France until November 1944 and it was still a pretty green unit when it found itself directly in the path of the 6th Panzer Army on the north end of what became the Battle of the Bulge. Beginning on December 16, the 99th ID continued to thwart the German plans day after day, despite being greatly outnumbered. 

Any chance the Germans would be able to break out were pretty much stopped for good on December 19, although attacks would not end for days. The Americans would not be dislodged from the Elsenborn Ridge, but loses numbered in the hundreds, including Lt. Jackman. He was reported missing for over two weeks but it was later determined that he was killed on December 20, 1944, the day before his second wedding anniversary.

His grave is at Greenwood Cemetery in River Falls, Wisconsin. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you Lt. Jackman for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Gordon. 

Last year on this date I profiled Charles Shisley, 26th Infantry Division. You can read about Charles 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