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| Sgt. Harvey Blonigen, third of 14 children, served in the 3rd Armored Division. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=50263476&ref=acom |
Harvey A. Blonigen never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on August 23, 1917 in Wisconsin. His parents were also both born in Wisconsin. His father worked as a farmer. Harvey had two older brothers, five younger brothers, and six younger sisters - yes he had 13 siblings. Three of his brothers served in World War 2 or the Korean War and all came home.
By 1940 Harvey had completed one year of high school and was working as a mason. He enlisted on June 13, 1941, five months after his just younger brother, but nine months before his just older brother. He became a sergeant in Battery A, 67th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Armored Division (nicknamed "Spearhead").
The 3rd Armored Division was fully engaged in the Normandy campaign by July 9, 1944. It led the effort to capture Saint Lo. It was in Belgium by early September. Next it fought the enemy in the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. Sgt. Blonigen was wounded in the Hurtgen Forest fighting but he returned to his unit. His luck ran out as Battery A got close to the Rhine River. He was killed during overnight bombing on March 2, 1945.
His grave is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin. Post #478 of the American Legion, Department of Wisconsin is named in his honor.
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. Now more than 200 fallen have been profiled with more than 200,000 visits. Is there interest in seeing a video highlighting those from the group of second 100?
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100
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