WW2 Pearl Harbor Fallen - Howard Carter, USS Dobbin

On December 7, 1941 Coxswain Howard Carter was killed on the USS Dobbin
while firing has 3" AA gun against attacking Japanese bombers.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63340049&ref=acom
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/USS_Dobbin_(AD-3)
http://www.usshullassociation.org/DD350/Hull350-3.htm 

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

He was born on July 31, 1917 in Oregon. His mother was born in Colorado and his father was born in Utah. His father worked as a railroad news agent. Howard had one older brother. By 1930 his parens were divorced. His father was living in Ogden, Utah while Howard lived in San Diego with his mother and brother. By 1940 Howard's father was living in Phoenix and working as a salesman. He had married a woman 19 years his junior and they had three boys and a girl.

Howard joined the Navy on December 11, 1936. He was a coxswain on the destroyer tender USS Dobbin which was stationed in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Approximate location of the USS Dobbin on December 7, 1941. I took the photo from the USS Utah Memorial.

During the second wave attack on Pearl Harbor, the battleships were pretty heavily damaged so the Japanese pilots looked for other targets. There were five destroyers moored alongside the Dobbin northeast of Ford Island. Only the Dobbin was hit. Around 9:10 am three Japanese planes came in low and dropped 300 lb. bombs. They were all near missed that sent shrapnel flying in the direction of the men manning the No. 4 3" A.A. gun on the after end of the boat deck. Three of the men where killed, including Coxswain Carter who was hit in the neck and chest.

His grave is at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego.

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


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

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WW2 Fallen - Saipan Navy Cross hero Thomas Clarke, 4th Marine Division

Captain Thomas Clarke lead his company in the Battle of Saipan and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/saipan/marines-head-toward-shore-for-initial-landing-on-saipan/
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=112232942&ref=acom 

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

He was born on July 30, 1917 in Iowa. His parents were also both born in Iowa. His father's parents were born in Ireland. His father worked as a bank teller and later as an auditor for Sears Roebuck. Thomas had two younger brothers.

He enlisted in the Marines on March 1, 1941. He decided to become an officer and was commissioned a Marine Corps 2nd lieutenant in June 1941. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant in June 1942 and was on station on Midway Island during the Battle of Midway. In October he was promoted to Captain and was stationed in Hawaii. He was sent back to the United States for more officer training and in July 1943 he became the commanding officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.

On June 15, 1944 Company C landed on Yellow Beach Two on the first day of the invasion on Saipan. Captain Clarke was killed in action on June 19, 1944. He was award the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism during the five days he commanded Charlie Company.

Captain Clarke's Navy Cross citation said:

Courageously leading his company in the assault operations, Captain Clarke directed the expedition's clearing out of firmly-entrenched enemy gun positions along the beaches and, reorganizing the company, led it across an open field under extremely intense artillery fire which inflicted heavy casualties and completely disorganized his men. Although knocked down several times by artillery blasts nearby, he successfully guided his company across the field and again reorganized it to continue the attack to the initial objective. Subsequently, by his fearless conduct in directing his forces from exposed positions along the front lines, he enabled his men to repulse a fierce enemy counterattack. On 19 June, when his company was held up by devastating hostile mortar and automatic weapons fire during an attack on Japanese caves, Captain Clarke unhesitatingly moved out front to procure tanks to assist the advance and was mortally wounded. His brilliant leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious devotion to duty were an inspiration to his men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

His grave is at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.

Thank you Thomas for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Thomas.


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

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WW2 Fallen - B-24 navigator and science teacher John La Castro

Science teacher John La Castro became the navigator (standing second from right) for the B-24 Thunder Bay Babe.
Old Saybrook High School 1942 Year Book
http://www.b24bestweb.com/thunderbaybabe1.htm 

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

He was born on July 29, 1917 in Connecticut. His mother was born in New York and his father was born in Italy. His father worked as a shirt cutter and later as a leather worker making belts. John had two older sisters and one older brother. By 1940 John had graduated from Rhode Island State College where he lettered in basketball. His degree was in science. He moved back in with his parents and worked as a science teacher at Old Saybrook High School, his old high school, where he also coached the basketball team to their league championship. When not working as a teacher or coach, he was a firefighter.

He enlisted in the army on October 27, 1942. He eventually became a first lieutenant and navigator in the 717th Bombardment Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. The 449th Bomb Group was equipped with B-24 Liberators. It operated out of Italy beginning in December 1943.

On March 24, 1944 Lt. La Castro was the navigator on the B-24 Thunder Bay Babe that took off from Grottie Field in Italy for a mission to bomb railroad yards in Austria. The plane took a direct flak hit in the bomb bay while flying near Mostar, Yugoslavia. Four of the airmen somehow survived and became prisoners of war. Lt. La Castro and the others were killed in action.

Two months after John's death, his older brother enlisted in the army. He survived the war and died on 2004.

Lt. La Castro's grave is at St. John's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

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


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

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WW2 Fallen - B-17 gunner Cecil Campbell

Sgt. Cecil Campbell may be in this photo of this B-17 that took him on his final mission.
https://burtnerfamily.wordpress.com/tag/blithe-spirit/ 

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

He was born on July 28, 1917 in Texas. His parents were both born in Arkansas. His father worked as a farmer and later as a county road laborer. Cecil had two older sisters and one younger sister. By 1940 Cecil had completed six years of school. He was living with his parents and worked as a news office typesetter. He married his wife Mary Erma in 1941. They had one son born in July 1944, probably after Cecil left for Europe.

He enlisted in the army on June 17, 1943. At some point he was assigned to the Army Air Corp where he became a sergeant in the 711th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17s. It arrived in England in November 1943 and completed 258 bombing missions by April 1945.

On March 15, 1945 Sgt. Campbell joined the crew of Blythe Spirit as an observer/waist gunner for a mission to bomb Oranienburg, Germany. The B-17 was hit by flak and crashed near Schonhausen. Two of the crew survived and became prisoners of war. The other eight, including Sgt. Campbell were killed in action.

His grave is at Shannon Rose Hill Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas. His widow remarried after Cecil died. She passed away in 2006. His son died in 1992.

Thank you Cecil for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Cecil.


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
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WW2 Fallen - Ned Guysinger, 4th Infantry Division

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

He was born on July 27, 1917 in Ohio. His father was also born in Ohio while his mother was born in Indiana. His father worked as farm laborer and later as a butcher. Ned had one older sister and three younger sisters. By 1940 Ned had completed three years of high school. He was still living at home and worked as a farm laborer.

He enlisted in the army on March 13, 1941. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.

The 8th Infantry Regiment was the first surface-borne Allied regiment to land in Normandy on D-Day. It moved off Utah Beach to relieve the 82nd Airborne at St. Mere Eglise. Its next assignment was clearing out the Cotentin Peninsula in preparation of capturing Cherbourg. The 4th Infantry Division was in continuous action for 22 days from D-Day to June 28. It suffered over 5,400 casualties during these three weeks including 800 killed. Sgt. Guysinger was killed in action on June 22, 1944.

His grave is at Lehman Cemetery in Payne, Ohio.

Thank you Ned for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ned.


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

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WW2 Fallen - A-36 pilot Everett Fager

Lt. Everett Fager flew the A-36th Mustang in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52418298&ref=acom
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/aircrafts/north-american-36-apache/ 

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

He was born on July 26, 1917 in Kansas. His parents were also both born in Kansas. All of his grandparents were from Sweden. His father worked as a farmer. Everett was an only child. His mother died in 1920 and his father never remarried. By 1940 Everett had completed high school and moved off the farm. He was a college student in Manhattan, Kansas, probably at Kansas State University.

After two years of college Everett enlisted in the US Army Air Corp. He was an aviation cadet and learned to fly fighter planes - possibly P-40s and certainly A-36 Apaches.

He became a first lieutenant in the 526th Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force. The 86th Fighter Group first engaged the enemy in supporting the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. It went on to cover the landing at Salerno in September. The A-36 Mustang was a version of the more common P-51. It was modified to specialize as a dive bomber to support ground operations. Lt. Fager was credited with one kill during his brief service.

According to one source while on a trip in a command car to Cacerta, Italy on October 23 (perhaps to liaison with units his squadron was supporting) Lt. Fager was strafed by British Spitfires flown by Germans. It is also possible that it was a tragic case of friendly fire. Fager was wounded in the face, side and leg. These wounds resulted in complications that caused a blood clot that led to his death on October 30, 1943.

His grave is at Rapp Cemetery in Osage County, Kansas.

Thank you Everett for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Everett.


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

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WW2 Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Robert Roeder, 88th Infantry Division

Captain Robert E. Roeder, 88th Infantry Division, earned the Medal of Honor at Mt. Battaglia.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8905318&ref=acom
http://theirfinesthour.net/2014/09/captain-robert-e-roeder-usa-september-27-28-1944/ 

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

He was born on July 25, 1917 in Pennsylvania. His parents were also both born in Pennsylvania. His father worked as a farmer and later as a painter. Robert had one older brother. He enlisted in the army on June 5, 1936. His older brother enlisted in the army in February 1941 and survived the war.

Robert took a liking to the army life where he was quickly assigned to be a squad leader. He was stationed in Hawaii at the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. With the start of the war, the Army needed experienced leaders like Robert so he became an officer candidate. He rose through the ranks to become a captain and the commanding officer of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Fighting Blue Devils").

The 88th Infantry Division joined the fighting in Italy in February 1944. A month later, Captain Roeder's 54 year old father died. Six months of combat brought the Fighting Blue Devils to the Gothic Line.

On September 27, 1944 Captain Roeder was ordered to take and hold Mount Battaglia with his Company G. Many of his men were new reinforcements with no combat experience. After taking the hill, Roeder's men were subject to tremendous and incessant artillery barrages. The Germans were determined to retake the hill -- they launch five separate counter-attacks in fourteen hours including a bayonet charge that killed many of the Company G troops. Despite the danger of the continuous shelling, Captain Roeder moved from foxhole to foxhole, encouraging his men to hold on.

During a sixth attack at daybreak on September 28, Captain Roeder was in an exposed position and was wounded in the shoulder by a shell fragment that also rendered him unconscious. He was taken to the command post located at a castle on the hill. He regained consciousness, and despite much blood loss, refused to be treated. He grabbed the rifle of a dead soldier and dragged himself to a stone wall were he fired point blank on the Germans overrunning the hill. He was killed by a shell that landed near where he was fighting.

Inspired by Captain Roeder's fearless leadership, his men repulsed every German attack and kept possession of the hill. By the time Company G was relieved, all its officers were either killed or wounded and the company was down to 50 men.

His grave is at Arlington National Cemetery.

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


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
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WW2 Fallen - D-Day casualty Howard Littell, 101st Airborne Division

Lt. Howard Littell was in the same 3rd Battalion Headquarters Company, in the 506th Parachute Regiment, as his commanding officer Lt. Colonel Robert Wolverton, shown here checking his chute the evening before D-Day.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23992685&ref=acom
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805418191398/

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

He was born on July 24, 1917 in New Jersey. His parents were also both born in New Jersey. His father worked as a coal dealer and died in 1937. Howard had one younger sister. By 1940 Howard had completed four years of high school and was still living with his mother and sister and worked as an accountant.

He enlisted in the army infantry on September 14, 1940. He was drawn to volunteer for the airborne and was recognized to be officer material. He became a first lieutenant in the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He was in command of its 81 mm mortar platoon.

Lt. Littell safely made the jump into Normandy in the early hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944. He lost his cricket toy which the men click-clacked to identify each other and he was almost shot by a private in his platoon. His luck did not last the day. He died of wounds after being hit by multiple fragments when a German artillery shell exploded near him.

His grave is at Christ Church Cemetery in South Amboy, New Jersey.

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


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
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WW2 Fallen - James Elvington, 4th Marine Division

Pvt. James Elvington, Sr. landed on Iwo Jima with the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment marines in this photo.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=108415506&PIpi=108570219
http://fightingfourtharizona.com/images/azsemper/2ndBn-23rd.jpg 

James G. Elvington, Sr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on July 23, 1917 in South Carolina. His father was also born in South Carolina while his mother was born in North Carolina. His father worked as a farmer and died in 1939. James had six older brothers, an older sister and three younger sisters. By 1940 James was married to his wife Geritlee and they had a one year old son - James Jr. Over the next few years they would add two more boys and a daughter. He worked as a salesman and later worked in a service station.

He enlisted in the US Marines on May 11, 1944. He was assigned as a replacement private to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.

The 4th Marine Division took part in the battles of Kwajalein, Saipan, and Tinian before its final battle on Iwo Jima. I don't know if Pvt. Elivington was with the 2/23 before Iwo Jima.

The battle began on February 19, 1945. Pvt. Elvington would have landed with the first wave. His regiment's mission was to capture Airfield #1 the Airfield #2. Within two days the 4th Marines had suffered 32% casualties but still managed to be in control of both airfields by February 22. The tenacious defenders continued to inflict horrific casualties day after day (or at night from regular Banzai attacks). By March 3, the 4th Marines were under 50% combat efficiency. On D+15: March 6, the 4th Marines was still on the attack, though on this day the average daily advance was only 200 yards. Pvt. Elvington died on this day.

His grave is at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia South Carolina. His widow never remarried and died in 1981. His four children are quite possibly still living since they would be in their seventies.

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


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
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WW2 Fallen - Captain Samuel Ogden, 82nd Airborne Division

Captain Samuel Ogden commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 325th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of the Bulge.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=77253696&ref=acom
12524123_1642614736061836_7934452426248479523_n.png 

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

He was born on July 22, 1917 in Tennessee. His father was also born in Tennessee while his mother was born in Alabama. His father worked as a school teacher and later as an agronomist. Samuel had a younger sister and a younger brother. By 1940 Samuel had completed four years of college at the University of Tennessee and was a reserve army officer living in New York.

He accepted a commission in the regular army on March 16, 1940. He was probably an officer in the 401st Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Infantry Division while it was still stateside. At some point he joined the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division. He ended up as a captain in command of the 3rd Battalion in the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment.

Captain Ogden fought in Salerno, Normandy, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.

The 82nd was rushed to Werbomont, Belgium on December 18, 2017 to halt the German breakthrough during the Battle of the Bulge. It successfully held it's position again repeated attacks from two German divisions. By early January, the 82nd was retaking lost ground. On January 2, 1945 the 325th came under intense artillery fire. Captain Ogden died the next day near Fontainebleu, Belgium.

His grave is at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

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WW2 Fallen - Bataan Death March Survivor Paul Basinger

Pvt. Paul Basinger survived the Bataan Death March, but died two months later while a POW.
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/04/bataan_death_march_75_years_ago.html 

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

He was born on July 21, 1917 in Texas. His parents were also both born in Texas. By 1920 his mother was living with her widowed mother and her brother, a cotton farmer. They were back living with his father in 1930. His father worked as a machinist and later a mechanic. Paul had a younger sister. By 1940 Paul had completed four years of high school and worked as a plumber while still living at home with his parents.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on May 31, 1941. He was sent to the Philippines and was a private in the 7th Material Squadron. His job was to provide supplies and maintenance for the B-17s at Clark Field. When the planes were destroyed on the first day of the war, the 200 men in Pvt. Basinger's unit were issued WWI Springfield rifles and sent to help defend Bataan, despite having no infantry training. Bataan surrendered on April 9, 1942. Pvt. Basinger survived the 60 mile Bataan Death March, but he did not survive long as a prisoner of war. He died on June 10, 1942.

His grave is at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.

Thank you Paul for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Paul.


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
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WW2 Fallen - Charles McCoy, 90th Infantry Division

Pvt. Charles McCoy was one of the 90th Infantry Division troops who cross the swollen Saar River in December 1944.
http://www.everytownusa.com/90th-infantry-division/90th-infantry-division-pic-of-the-week-saar-river-germany/ 

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

He was born on July 20, 1917 in Illinois. His parents were also both born in Illinois. His father worked as a farmer. Charles had a younger brother and a younger sister. By 1940 Charles was still living at home, working on the family farm. He had completed eight years of schooling.

He married his wife Virginia Cruise and they had a boy born in 1941, another boy born either as a twin or one or two years later, and a girl born in 1944.

He enlisted in the army on January 5, 1944.  He was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 359th  Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division where he held the rank of private.

The 359th Infantry Regiment landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. I don't know if Pvt. McCoy was with the unit at that time. Most likely, he joined later as a replacement since he was from Illinois and the unit originated in Texas and Oklahoma.

The division cross the Saar River on December 6, 1944 and establishing a bridgehead north of present-day Saarlouis. The bridgehead was tenuous. The Germans would not allow a bridge over the river so the troops on the east bank had to be supplied by boats during the nights. The Americans had no armor while the Germans did. They were on defense as the Germans unsuccessfully tried to push the Americans back into the river. Pvt. McCoy died in the midst of this battle, on December 10, 1944. Ten days after his death, the 90th pulled back across the Saar so it could counterattack German units that had overrun American positions during the early days of the Battle of the Bulge.

His grave is at the Calvary Cemetery in Brimfield, Illinois. His daughter died in 2010, his oldest son died in 2013, and his widow, who remarried, died in 2014.

Thank you Charles for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Charles.


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

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WW2 Fallen - LeRoy Elliott, 37th Infantry Division

Cpl. LeRoy Elliott with wife and child prior to his deployment to the South Pacific.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18878964&ref=acom 

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

He was born on July 19, 1917 in Ohio. His parents were also both born in Ohio. His father worked as a machine shop machinist and later a lathe operator. LeRoy had three younger brothers and four younger sisters. By 1940 LeRoy had completed four years of high school. He was working as a machinist while still living at home.

He enlisted in the army on October 15, 1940. While in the service he married his wife Eva Marie. They had one child.

He advanced to the rank of corporal in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Buckeye Division").

The 37th Infantry Division was first assigned to a defensive roll in Fiji in June 1942. Its first offensive assignment was the New Georgia Campaign to capture the Japanese airbase at Munda in July 1943.  Cpl. Elliott was part of a night beach landing on July 5, 1943. He was moving through heavy jungle on the way to attack the airbase when he was wounded on July 7.

On what would have been LeRoy's 26th birthday, his family no doubt celebrated his birthday at home in Sidney, Ohio, hoping it would be his last away from home. They did not know that he had been wounded 12 days earlier and had died two days before on July 17, 1943. It would be two more weeks before they got the telegram with the terrible news.

His grave is at Graceland Cemetery, Sidney, Ohio. I don't know what happened to his wife and child.

Thank you LeRoy for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for LeRoy.


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!

To mark having over 100,000 visits to my project to honor the fallen of WW2 on their 100th birthdate, I created this video to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
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