WW2 Fallen - Frank Stelmok, SS Leopoldville, kept secret 52 years

Pvt. Frank Stelmok, 66th Infantry Division, was killed with the SS Leopoldville was sunk by a German submarine. Painting by Richard Rockwell.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94174440/frank-stelmok
http://www.nww2m.com/2014/12/70th-anniversary-of-leopoldville-troopship-disaster/ 

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

He was born on August 7, 1918 in Maine. His parents Vincent and Margaret were both born in Lithuania and came to America in 1905. His father worked as a farmer. Frank had an older brother and a younger brother and sister. He completed a grammar school level of education and worked as a laborer.

He was drafted into the army on May 1, 1944. He became a private in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division.

The 66th ID was located in England in December 1944. With the surprised Battle of the Bulge offensive, the 66th ID was ordered to the continent to help repel the Germans. Pvt. Stelmok was among those from his unit sent to the continent on December 24, 1944. Pvt. Stelmok was on the Belgian transport SS Leopoldville. There were insufficient life vests and the crew did not speak English. Early in the evening of Christmas Eve, Leopoldville was struck by two torpedoes fired by a German submarine, five miles from their destination of Cherbourg. The ship did not sink right away and many of the soldiers believed it would be towed to port. Small British destroyers rescued as many men as they could hold. More rescue boats did not come in time due to communication breakdown and the lack of men on duty at Cherbourg due to the holiday. The ship sank three hours after being torpedoed, before belated rescue ships arrived to remove the rest of the men.

Pvt. Stelmok was one of 763 soldiers who died, about one third of those on board. The sinking was classified as secret until 1996 and survivors were threatened with loss of GI benefits if they talked to the press. Only the loss of 1,318 men on HMT Rohna one year earlier when it was hit by a cruise missile, was worse. That sinking was also kept secret. More info about that here.

His grave is at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lewiston, Maine.

Thank you Pvt. Stelmok for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Frank.

Last year on this date I profiled bomber pilot trainer Edward "Cueball" Bailiff. 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

WW2 Fallen - John Brenchley, 22nd Marine Regiment

Sgt. John Brenchley fought with the 22nd Marine Regiment at the Battle of Eniwetok.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135355065/john-marne-brenchley
https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=5042 

Thanks to all those who read and share the stories of the WW2 Fallen 100. We've just passed 900,000 visits.

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

He was born on August 6, 1918 in Canada. His parents John and Annie were both born in England. They moved to America in 1922. His father worked as a street railway lineman. John had one older brother and three younger brothers (one each served in the Marines, Navy, and Army).

He enlisted in the Marines on December 3, 1939. He became a sergeant in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment.

Sgt. Brenchley participated with the 22nd MR's assignment to capture Eniwetok. His battalion landed on D+1, February 19 when the island was declared secured. However, the Japanese still had hundreds of men holed up in spider holes who took a toll on Sgt. Brenchley's battalion for the next two days. Sgt. Brenchley was killed in action on February 20, 1944. Thirty-six other Marines were lost during this portion of the battle.

His grave is at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. 

Thank you Sgt. Brenchley for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.

Last year on this date I profiled Felix Sparks, 45th Infantry Division. Felix made it home, but his story was well worth sharing on his 100th birthday. You can read about Felix 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 - Benjamin Jackson, 545th Field Artillery Battalion

Pvt. Benjamin Jackson served in the 545th Field Artillery Battalion which used massive 240mm howitzers.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18005420/bill-franklin-jackson/photo
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2017/06/03/wwii-us-army-heavy-medium-field-artillery/

Benjamin Franklin "Bill" Jackson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on August 5, 1918 in Georgia. His parents John and Fannie were also both born in Georgia. His father worked as a cotton mill doffer. Bill had three younger sisters. By 1930, Bill's father was no longer living with the family, but census records do not show a divorce. He had three other children born between 1926 and 1942. By 1940 Bill had completed six years of schooling and was working as a mechanic while living with his mother and sisters.

He was drafted into the army in April 1941. He became a private in Battery B, 545th Field Artillery Battalion. This unit was equipped with 240mm howitzers. This was the most powerful gun deployed in the field by the US Army during WW2. Each shell weighed 360 pounds and could be fired nearly five miles.

I wasn't able to find much information about the 545th FAB except that it was in action in the Philippines in 1945. Pvt. Jackson was killed in an accident on March 30, 1945 in Hawaii when he fell under the wheels of a military vehicle.

His grave is at Air Line Baptist Church Cemetery in Gainesville, Georgia.

Thank you Pvt. Jackson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Bill.

Last year on this date I profiled baseball pitcher Henry Linville, 3rd Marine Division, who fought on Iwo Jima. You can read about Henry 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-17 bombardier George Williams

Lt. George C. Williams was a bombardier in the 533rd Bombardment Squadron.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123080767/george-c.-williams/photo
http://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000911878/ 

George C. "Whitey" Williams never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on August 4, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His mother Mary was also born in Pennsylvania. His father was born in Slovakia and came to America in 1909. His father worked as a farmer and later as a steel mill hooker. George had a younger brother (who served in the US Army during the war) and sister. By 1940 George had completed four years of high school and worked as a laborer while living at home.

He joined the US Army in 1942 and volunteered for the Army Air Forces where he was trained to be a bombardier in January 1943. He became a second lieutenant and was assigned to the 533rd Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

Lt. Williams participated in the 381st BG's seventh mission on July 4, 1943. The target that day was the aero engine factory in LeMans, France. Damaged by flak over the target, the bomber was finished off by enemy fighters and crashed near Tours. Lt. Williams and two others where killed. Three of the crew were captured and the others made it out of France.

His grave is at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Warren, Ohio.

Thank you Lt. Williams for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for George.

Last year on this date I profiled Thomas Green, 4th Infantry 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 - B-17 waist gunner Clarence Gallamore + famous historian

Sgt. Clarence Gallamore was a B-17 waist gunner killed on the first mission of the 379th Bomb Group.
http://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/379th-Air-Expeditionary-Wing/News/Display/Article/351584/historian-highlights-heritage-of-379th-aew/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76460342/clarence-ernest-gallamore
 http://www.uswarmemorials.org/admin/images/memorials/1398190650Crach%20monument.jpg

Clarence Ernest Gallamore, Jr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on August 3, 1918 in Florida. His parents Clarence and Grace were born in Illinois and Nebraska, respectively. His father worked as a cafe cook while he and his family lived in Oklahoma in 1920. He owned his own cafe in South Dakota by 1930. Clarence had two younger brothers. By 1940 the family had moved to Wyoming. Clarence complete a grammar school level of education and worked as a driver.

He was drafted in the army on April 1, 1942. He volunteered to serve in the Army Air Forces and became a staff sergeant and waist gunner in the 526th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

The 379th BG began operations in England on May 19, 1943.

Sgt. Gallamore flew on the very first combat mission on May 29, 1943 to bomb U-Boat pens in St. Nazaire, France. His bomber, Up & At 'Em, along with two others, were shot down by AA fire and German fighter planes. Sgt Gallamore was killed in action when he crashed with the plane. Three of his crew survived as POWs. The 379th BG would lose another 140 bombers by the time it flew its 330th and final mission on April 25, 1945.

His grave is at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.

Thank you Sgt. Gallamore for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Clarence.

JAMES MACGREGOR BURNS

Also born on the same day as Clarence Gallamore was the prolific historian James MacGragor Burns. Burns grew up in Massachusetts where he attended college at Williams College. After being drafted into the army, Burns was sent to the Pacific Theater where he served as an enlisted US Army combat historian. He earned a Bronze Star and four Battle Stars.

Burns with President Kennedy.
http://www.wamc.org/post/panel-discussion-honors-pulitizer-winning-williams-college-professor

After the war he earned a PhD from Harvard University and then taught at Williams College for 40 years. He received the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for his book Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom. He wrote more than 20 books with many of them focused on government and leadership, a writing career that spanned more than 60 years.

Burns died in 2014.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 navigator Francis Moke, who died on D-Day. 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 - Silver Star hero Virgil Sowders, 45th Infantry Division

Pfc. Virgil Sowders served in the 45th Infantry Division in Italy in 1943.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14518445/virgil-clark-sowders
http://spiritualpilgrim.net/03_The-World-since-1900/07_World-War-Two/07g_N-Africa+Italy.htm 

Virgil Clark Sowders never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on August 2, 1918 in Texas. His parents Virgil and Martha were also both born in Texas. His father worked as a cotton farmer. Virgil had an older sister, three older brothers and a younger brother. Three of his brothers died at a young age, ranging from 16 to 21. His father died in 1939. By 1940 Virgil had completed eight years of schooling and was working as a farm laborer while living at home.

He was drafted into the army on December 2, 1942. He became a private first class in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.

The 45th Infantry Division was one of the workhorse division that carried a disproportionate share of the fighting in Europe. It fought in Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio taking heavy casualties that required constant replacements such as Pfc. Sowders. 

In early November 1943 the 45th ID cross the Volturno River to face the Germans in the mountainous Gustav Line. Pfc. Sowders was killed in action on December 1, 1943, one day shy of his one year enlistment anniversary. One source claims that Pfc. Sowders earned a Silver Star. I was not able to find any additional information about this.

His grave is at Eutaw Cemetery in Kosse, Italy.

Thank you Pfc. Sowders for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Virgil.

Last year on this date I profiled Navy Cross hero Gust Swenning, whose selfless actions helped keep the cruiser USS New Orleans from sinking. One of my favorite profiles. You can read about Gust 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 engineer Byron Hassett

Sgt. Byron Hassett was the engineer on the B-24 "El Lobo" on its final mission to bomb Berlin.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26439593/byron-e.-hassett
http://sundrycollectibles.blogspot.com/2012/09/el-lobo.html 

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

He was born on August 1, 1918 in Michigan. His parents Levilla and Caroline were also both born in Michigan. His father died in 1925 and his mother died in 1940. Byron had an older brother and sister.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in April 1941. He became a tech sergeant in the 579th Bombardment Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. It began flying missions in September 1943.

The 392nd BG's mission on April 29, 1944 was to bomb targets in Berlin, always a tough assignment. On that day the Americans were attacked persistently by 50 or more German fighter planes. Six bombers were lost, the second worst day for the 392nd BG during the war. Sgt. Hassett was the engineer on El Lobo, flying its 38th mission of the war. He was not the normal engineer with this crew, but had the ill luck to be assigned for this mission. Both right engines were knocked out and the bomber crashed into a forest on the outskirts of Dinklage, Germany.

His grave is at Maple Grove Cemetery in Elk Rapids, Michigan.

Thank you Sgt. Hassett for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Bryon.

Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero Aloysius Noud, 76th Infantry Division. You can read about Aloysius 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