WW2 Fallen - B-17 waist gunner James Mabante, lost on 49th mission

Staff Sergeant James Mabante was a B-17 waist gunner in the 99th Bombardment Group
that operated in the Mediterranean Theater.
https://www.fold3.com/page/638218213-james-a-mabante/photos

James Albert Mabante 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 WWII 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 II fallen in one free-to-access central database. We are going to need a lot of volunteers. 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 July 25, 1920 in Nogales, Arizona. His parents Rufino Mabante and Constanza Romero were born in Mexico and California, respectively. His father was a steelworker. 

James had 2 brothers, Charles and Frank and 3 sisters, Carmen, Virginia, and Constance. By 1940 James was in his third year of high school, 19 years old and working at Callahan Lead and Zinc Mining, Washington Camp.

He enlisted June 3, 1942 at Nogales, AZ and was attached to the 348th Bombardment Squadron, 99th Bombardment Group (heavy), 15th Air Force as a (Gunner 5) waist gunner.

SSgt. James Mabante was killed on Dec 19 1943 when his B-17 Flying Fortress War Bird II was shot down by enemy aircraft while on a bombing mission to Austria. His plane crashed about 40 miles south of Innsbrook on the return leg to his home base in Italy. The veteran waist gunner had seen combat in North Africa, Sicilian and Italian campaigns and was on his 49th mission. He would have been transferred back to the states upon completing 50 missions. 

James was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. By the time he was repatriated to his home town of Nogales, AZ in 1949 he had received a total of 9 Oak Leaf Clusters.

His grave is at the Nogales City Cemetery, Nogales, Arizona
The inscription reads: Arizona S SGT 99 AAF BOMB GP World War II AM 8 4 LOC

 

War Bird II history: 

Delivered at Long Beach 8/3/43; Denver 13/3/43; Salina 28/3/43; Assigned 348BS/99BG Navarin 26/4/43; Oudna 4/8/43; Tortorella 11/12/43; 

Missing in Action Innsbruck 19/12/43, with Cyril Stidd, Selander, Kozumplik, Green, Campbell, Carollo, Donley (7 Prisoner of War); Brown, Garcia, Mabante (3 Killed in action); crashed Innsbruck, Ger.; Missing Air Crew Report 1527 WAR BIRD II

Source: Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

26/June/1949 Repatriation of James Mabante:

"Nogales – The body of SSgt. James Albert Mabante U.S.A. Air Corps, killed in action Dec. 19^th, 1943 while on a mission over Germany will arrive in Nogales today. Honor guards from the three veteran’s organizations will meet the train and escort the body to Carroon Mortuary. Rosary will be held at Carroon Chapel on Sunday evening. Funeral services will be held on Monday morning. Veteran’s honor guards will escort the body to the Nogales cemetery and fire the final salute.

"He graduated from Nogales High School and was 23 at the time of his death.

"Mabante’s father, Rufino Mabante died on Easter Sunday of this year.

"Surviving relatives are his mother, three sisters, Miss Carmel Mabante, Nogales, Mrs. J.
C. Henigan of San Antonio, Texas, Mrs. Constance Fay of Houston, Texas; and two brothers, Charles of Nogales and George Mabante of Phoenix."

Thank you, James A. Mabante for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for James.

___________

This profile was written by Linda Simpson. I’m retired from the floriculture field and have been an avid genealogist and historian for over 40 years. When I saw an article on Don’s project I knew I wanted to be a part of Stories Behind the Stars. What an amazing way to honor our fallen, by ‘Earning It’ for them.

This is one of the final 50 stories (40) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.

Last year on this date I profiled Burl Higgins, 91st Infantry Division. You can read about Burl 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 Stephan Piwok, 12th Armored Division

Sgt. Stephan Piwok earned the Silver Star while serving in the 12th Armored Division in France.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149764137/stephan-j-piwok
http://www.12tharmoredmuseum.com/photoalbum_02.asp?c=17th%20Armored%20Infantry%20Battalion

Stephan John Piwok 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 WWII 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 II fallen in one free-to-access central database. We are going to need a lot of volunteers. 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.

Stephan was born on 24 July 1920 in Detroit, Michigan, to Joseph Piwowarczyk (1889-1931) and Sophie Sadus (1898-1974), immigrants from Poland. Joseph and Sophie married on 15 May 1916, in Delray, in southwest Detroit. 

In April 1920 when the U.S. Federal Census was taken, Stephan had not yet been born. The Census shows Joseph, a metal worker, and Sophie, renting a home on Pulaski Avenue, Detroit. Living with them were their sons Vladislaw (“Walter”) (age 2) and Joseph (age 1). 

In January 1930, when Stephan was eight years old, Joseph and Sophie divorced. A few months later, the 1930 U.S. Federal Census recorded Sophie, now the head of the house, with her three sons, Walter, Joseph, and Stephan (“Steve”) living at 273 Richter Street, in River Rouge, Wayne County. 

In 1932, Stephan’s father, who was then working as a coal miner in Pennsylvania, died after being struck by a train in Scranton. Several months later, on 9 August 1931, Sophie married John Grzyb. 

By 1940, Stephan’s family had moved to South Edsel Street, where Stephan, now 19, was recorded in the US Federal Census as having completed three years of high school and looking for work.

Two years later, when Stephan registered for the draft on 12 February 1942, his address was 2141 South Beatrice Street, Detroit. He was now working at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn. He was 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighed 155 pounds, and had blue eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion. John Grzyb was listedas the person who would always know his address.

All three Piwok boys served in World War II. Joseph and Walter joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater, while Stephan enlisted in the U.S. Army on 28 October 1942 and was assigned to Company C, 17th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division, which fought in Europe in 1944-1945. This division, which was composed of tank, field artillery, motorized infantry battalions and support units, earned the nickname “The Hellcats,” in recognition of its toughness and readiness for combat.

On 10 December 1944, Stephan was killed in action at Bining, a small town in northeast France. He was posthumously awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action and was credited with saving the lives of many men in his platoon. 

In January 1949, Stephan’s mother applied for a bronze marker for his grave. Stephan was buried in White Chapel Memorial Cemetery, Long Lake Road, Birmingham, Michigan. 

A few blocks from South Beatrice Street, a park was dedicated to the memory of Staff Sergeant Stephan J. Piwok. Piwok Park still exists. But how many people who play there today realize that it is named for a twenty-one-year-old young man who died in service of his country 76 years ago?

SOURCES

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149764137/stephan-j-piwok/flower

Photo of Sgt Piwok; Photo of grave marker; Information on posthumous Silver Star Award in story originally postedby Jeff Hall

www.Fold3.com. Application for Headstone; in White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, Birmingham, Oakland Co., Michigan

_______________

This profile was written by Joanne Dillon. “I’m a writer, amateur genealogist, and history buff. Writing profiles of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II is a way I can use my skills to help ensure they are not forgotten. It’s truly an honor to participate in this project.” 

This is one of the final 50 stories (41) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.

Last year on this date I profiled George Baragona, 82nd Airborne. You can read about George 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 Adair, SS James Hawkins

Gunner's Mate Second Class William Adair served on the SS James Hawkins.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77004087/william-benjamin-adair

William Benjamin Adair, Jr. 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 WWII 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 II fallen in one free-to-access central database. We are going to need a lot of volunteers. 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 July 23, 1920 in Oregon. His mother, Mabel Clair Dunlap, was also born in Oregon. His father, William “Ben” Adair was born in Texas. His father worked as a police patrolman. William had two brothers, Robert D and Lyle D, and two sisters, Margaret A and Helen L. By 1940, William graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon. At the time of his draft registration, he worked for Burnwell Administrators.

William enlisted in the US Navy in March 1942, and became a gunner’s mate second class. He married Ruth Elizabeth Hansen on Sept. 22, 1942 in Stevenson, Skamania County, Washington. She was a nurse at St Vincent’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon.

Adair served as a Navy armed guard aboard the merchant marine ship James Hawkins, which was anchored off the coast of Iran on July 27, 1943. German U-boats regularly targeted merchant marine ships, making guards necessary and service dangerous. There was a fire on board of unknown origin and William died of burns. He was buried in allied-protected territory in Iran. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

He was reburied in 1949 at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland, Oregon. His widow enlisted as a navy nurse and remarried in 1946.

The entire Adair family represents a legacy of public service. William’s grandfather, John William Benjamin Adair, died in Texas in 1886 as a deputy sheriff while recapturing escaped prisoners. He left a pregnant wife and two children, and William’s father was born after his grandfather’s death. William’s father served as a police patrolman in Portland, Oregon. Both of his brothers also served in the US Navy during the war. Both of his brothers-in-law served in the navy and army, and his sister Helen L Johnson enlisted in the US Navy WAVES in 1944. His widow, Ruth Adair, enlisted in the Navy Nursing Corps after his death. His nephew, US Marine Sgt William Michael Adair, son of Lyle Adair, would later give his life in the Vietnam conflict in 1970.

Thank you, William Benjamin Adair, Jr for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for William.

_____

This profile was written by Marilyn N. Clark. "I have a long-standing interest in World War 2. My grandfather and numerous great-uncles served in that conflict. I have a BA in history from the University of Utah and have a lot of experience with volunteer genealogical research. It’s an honor to find and share information about these heroes that made such great sacrifices. Many thanks to Don for organizing this effort to share their stories.”

This is one of the final 50 stories (42) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.

Last year on this date I profiled antisubmarine B-24 pilot John Dale. 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

WW2 Fallen - Lloyd Price, 80th Infantry Division

PFC Lloyd Price served in the 80th Infantry Division in France.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84270491/lloyd-george-price
https://www.militaryimages.net/media/soldiers-of-the-us-80th-infantry-division.86804/

PFC Lloyd George Price never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom on September 14, 1944 in France. He was killed in action at age 24 while serving with the 319^th Infantry Regiment, 80^th Infantry Division.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WWII 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 II fallen in one free-to-access central database. We are going to need a lot of volunteers. 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.

 

Lloyd was born on July 22, 1920 in Paducah, Kentucky. His father, Paul Minor Price, was also born in Kentucky, and his mother, Lillian Woodford Price, was from Indiana. His father is shown in the 1940 census as a laborer in marine services. Paducah is an Ohio River town, so the father likely worked for a barge operation. A younger brother, Paul M. Price, Jr., also served in the Army during the war. He survived the war and passed away in 1996.

He attended Reidland High School in Paducah. PFC Price’s enlistment record indicates he had two years of high school and was employed in the architectural field. He was a tall, slender man, standing six-feet-four and weighing 176 pounds when inducted at Louisville, Kentucky on July 17, 1942. 

PFC Price was sent overseas in July 1944. The 80th ID was sent to Normandy two months after D-Day. As a fresh unit it played a key role in General Patton's Third Army breakout during Operation Cobra. After taking Jouy Sous Les Cotes on September 3, the 80th ID was tasked with taking the high ground southeast of Toul. It took 12 days to accomplish this. PFC Price was killed in action on September 14. On this day the 319th IR was part of a task force that advanced on the high ground west of Nancy.

His remains were returned to the United States for burial in 1948. He is interred at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah.  

Thank you, PFC Lloyd George Price, for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Lloyd.

This profile was written by John F. Schlatter (whose birthday is today!). “I’m from Knoxville, Tennessee and a retired corporate public relations manager, living in Las Vegas. I served as an active duty and reserve Army officer 1974-82. I’ve written two books about veterans. One tells the stories of WWII veterans through postcards they wrote to the folks back home, and the other honors about 50 of the 168 Americans who died in Vietnam on the Fourth of July. I’ve also been a volunteer in the effort to find photographs of all 58,000 Americans who died in Vietnam. Researching and writing the stories of those who died to preserve freedom has gone from a hobby to a passion for me. If we don’t honor and remember, who will?”

This is one of the final 50 stories (43) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.

Last year on this date I profiled P-38 pilot George Brewer. You can read about George 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

WWII Operation Husky Fallen - Gene Andersen, USNR

Fireman Gene Andersen served in the US Navy during Operation Husky.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75706388/eugene-phillip-andersen
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1943/sicilian-campaign/husky-images.html

Eugene Philip "Gene" Andersen 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 WWII 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 II fallen in one free-to-access central database. We are going to need a lot of volunteers. 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.

 

Gene was born on July 21, 1920 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parents Alfred and Nellie (Babcock), who lived past 100, were also both born in Iowa. His father worked as a furniture store laborer and later as a furniture crater. Still later he was employed as a stock keeper. Gene had two younger brothers and two younger sisters. By 1940 Gene had completed four years of high school and was still living at home. He found work as a warehouse man.

He volunteered for the navy in June 1942. He reached the rank of fireman first class. Navy Muster Roll for August 31, 1943 shows Eugene P Andersen F1c on USS LST#3. It appears LST#3 was involved in Operation Husky and was damaged about that time. Fireman Andersen was killed in action on August 6, 1943. At this point in the campaign the Americans were advancing east along the north side of Sicily. The navy was supporting landings that put Americans behind enemy lines. The US Navy lost 546 killed or missing during the Sicily operation.

His grave is at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Thank you Fireman Anderson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Gene.

This is one of the final 50 stories (44) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.

Last year on this date I profiled James Bromley, 1st Armored Division. You can read about James 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 Iwo Jima Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Darrell Cole, 4th Marine Division

Sgt. Darrell Cole earned the Medal of Honor while serving with the 4th Marine Division on Iwo Jima.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6403422/darrell-samuel-cole
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/1st_Battalion,_23rd_Marines

Darrell Samuel Cole 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 WWII 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 II fallen in one free-to-access central database. We are going to need a lot of volunteers. 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.

 

Darrell was born July 20, 1920, in Esther, Missouri to Samuel Randall Cole and Mary Magdaline Williams. He had three brothers Private Herbert Francis Cole, Private Howard George Cole, and Private Homer Dennis Cole.

Before graduating high school, his main interests were sports; particularly basketball, hunting, and photography. He also learned to play the french horn which later led to him being assigned as a bugler.

After graduating from high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), where he became an assistant forestry clerk and assistant educational advisor for his company. He left after one year and he went to Detroit, Michigan where he worked at a company that made engine gaskets.

On August 25, 1941, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Following the United States Marine Corps Recruit Training at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, he was appointed to the Field Music School for training as a Marine Corps Field Musician as a bugler. He applied for a change in rating to be a machine-gunner but was refused due to the shortage of buglers. After completing field music school, he was transferred to the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

After completing his first overseas tour, he returned to the United States in February 1943 and was assigned to the First Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. When his unit moved to California he again asked for relief as a field musician; and for permission to perform line duties. Again, due to the shortage of buglers in the Marine Corps, his request was denied.

Cole arrived on Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands on August 7, 1942, for the first American offensive of World War II. In the absence of the regular gunner, he was given the first opportunity to fill in as a machine-gunner in the absence of the regular gunner. After Guadalcanal, Cole served in several more battles throughout the Pacific theatre, including the battles of Kwajalein, Saipan, and Tinian.

When Cole was sent to fight with his unit in Saipan, he was assigned to a machine-gun unit; and was designated as a machine gun section leader. During the battle, his squad leader was killed and Cole, although wounded, assumed command of the entire squad. He was awarded the Bronze Star and was awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds he received.

When fighting began on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from July 24 to August 1, 1944, Cole's unit was sent in a few days after the battle began. Cole again led his squad ashore in the invasion and defeat of the neighboring islands of Tinian; and continued to build his reputation as "The Fighting Field Musician.” Soon after Cole’s request for change of rating was approved and he was promoted to Sergeant in November 1944.

On February 19, Sergeant Cole led his machine gun section ashore in the D-Day assault of Iwo Jima. Moving forward with the initial assault wave, a hail of fire from two enemy emplacements halted his section's advance. Sergeant Cole personally destroyed them with hand grenades. His unit continued to advance until pinned down for a second time by enemy fire from three Japanese gun emplacements. One of these emplacements was destroyed by a machine-gunner in Cole's squad. When his machine guns jammed, armed only with a pistol and one hand grenade, Sergeant Cole made a one-man attack against the two remaining gun emplacements. Twice he returned to his own lines for additional grenades and continued the attack under fierce enemy fire until he had succeeded in destroying the enemy strong points.

Upon returning to his own squad, he was killed by an enemy grenade. As a result of his one-man attack, Sergeant Cole's company could move forward against the fortifications and attain their ultimate objective.

Sergeant Cole was initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, but at the request of his father, his remains were returned to the United States to be buried in Parkview Cemetery, Farmington, Missouri.

February 19, 1945, was a United States Marine who posthumously received the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his conspicuous gallantry at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

In addition to the Medal of Honor and Bronze Star Medal, Sergeant Cole was awarded the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second award, the Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

In 1996 the United States Navy named USS Cole (DDG-67), a destroyer, in his honor. This destroyer was damaged in a suicide attack in Yemen but subsequently repaired and is currently in service. 

Reference: Darrell S. Cole. (2020, May 06). Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_S._Cole

Thank you for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Sergeant Darrell Samuel Cole.

___________

This profile was summarized by Brianne Ellison. I am a business owner and stay at home mom of 4 children in Utah. I have been an independent family history researcher for over 12 years now. I have also had a passion for U.S. war history since I was a child. WWII is my most passionate research project aside from family history. I am so grateful to be able to contribute to a memorial of such a courageous soldier that never gave up. It is because of men like Cole, that we have our freedom today. “Land of the Free because of the Brave.” Thank you, Sargeant Cole. You will never be forgotten.

Last year on this date I profiled Distinguished Flying Cross hero and B-24 waist gunner Gerald Murphy. You can read about Gerald here.

This is one of the final 50 stories (45) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.

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 - Medic Hubert McKelvey, 29th Infantry Division

Pvt. Hubert McKelvey served as a medic with the 29th Infantry Division on Omaha Beach and in Normandy.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99465343/hubert-wall-mckelvey

https://history.army.mil/html/reference/Normandy/TS/MD/MD7.htm

Hubert Walls McKelvey 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 WWII 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 II fallen in one free-to-access central database. We are going to need a lot of volunteers. 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.

 

Hubert was born on July 19, 1920 in Grant, Alabama. His parents Thomas and Ruby were both born in Alabama. His father worked as a farmer and passed away in 1927. His mother remarried in 1939. Hubert had one older brother, one older sister, and a twin brother. He married the former Marjorie Lucille Parker on 5 January 1940 in Madison County, Alabama and they were living in Huntsville at the time of the 1940 census. He and his twin brother Herbert registered for the draft together on 16 February 1942.

 

Hubert was inducted into the Army on 4 January 1943 and served as a Private in Company B of the 104th Medical Battalion, 29th Infantry Division. The 29th Infantry Division arrived in England in September 1942. While other units were sent to fight in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, the 29th ID stayed in England, training for 21 months and then being selected to be the first to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

 

On 6 June 1944, Company B was attached to the 116th Infantry Regiment, which was in the first assault wave to hit Omaha beach in Normandy. Members of the 104th began arriving on Omaha beach two hours later as a group of litter bearers landed and gave first aid to the men on the beach and evacuated them to a point above the high water mark. Throughout the day, more men of Company B landed on the beach even though it was under a heavy concentration of enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire. The 104th transported the wounded to an Aid Station on the beach, which provided first aid, plasma, and prepped them for evacuation off the beach in small boats. 

 

Over the next days and weeks, the 104th accompanied the 116th Infantry as they moved inland, continuing to provide aid to the wounded and evacuation of casualties to the rear. Pvt McKelvey’s wife and mother were notified in July that he was missing in action, and in August received the tragic word that he had been killed on 2 July 1944. I could not find any details on the circumstances of his death.

 

Hubert Walls McKelvey was initially buried in France and was reinterred in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama in November 1948. In addition to his wife Marjorie, he left behind two young daughters and a son. His widow remarried and passed away in 2004. Hubert’s twin brother Herbert also served in the Army and survived the war.

 

Thank you Pvt. McKelvey for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Hubert.

_____

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 William Obuchowski of the 4th Infantry Division. You can read about William here.

This is one of the final 50 stories (46) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.

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