WW2 Fallen - Avenger airman Ordien Herr + two brothers

AR 2/C Ordien Herr, on left, served in Torpedo Squadron 11 based in Guadalcanal.
His brothers Eugene and LeRoy also lost their lives serving their country.
http://vetaffairs.sd.gov/sdwwiimemorial/SubPages/profiles/Display.asp?P=817
http://vetaffairs.sd.gov/sdwwiimemorial/SubPages/profiles/Display.asp?P=815
http://vetaffairs.sd.gov/sdwwiimemorial/SubPages/profiles/Display.asp?P=816
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=39725433 

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

He was born on October 31, 1917 in South Dakota. His mother Mannie was born in Germany and his father Albert was from Wisconsin (with parents from Germany). His father worked as a farmer. Ordien had four younger brothers. At least three of them served in the military. By 1940 Ordien had completed an accounting degree from Chicago Business College and lived away from home. He had worked on building the Grand Coulee Dam.

Ordien enlisted in the navy on December 19, 1941. He was wounded in 1942 but remained in the navy. He became an aviation radioman 2nd class in Torpedo Squadron 11. At the time Petty Officer Herr was with the squadron, it was stationed at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal equipped with TBF Avengers. He lost his life on June 8, 1943 when his plane crashed into the sea.

His brother Eugene joined the navy in January 1943. He became a radioman 2nd class and served on destroyers including the USS Johnston. Johnston was sunk at the Battle of Samar when it attacked an unexpected superior Japanese force of battleships and cruisers. Eugene survived the sinking but died after two days in the water from exhaustion and exposure on October 25, 1944.

His brother LeRoy joined the US Naval Air Force on June 10, 1942. He completed 38 missions during the war. When the war ended he was still short some flight time needed before he could be discharged. With 12 hours lacking, he crashed his PV-1 Ventura bomber while flying over Catalina Island on September 26, 1945. He left behind a widow and a baby daughter born after he died.

Ordien's grave is at Bethany Cemetery in South Dakota.

Thank you Ordien, Eugene, and LeRoy for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ordien, Eugene, and 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!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - B-17 co-pilot Thomas Anthony

Lt. Thomas Anthony was a B-17 co-piolt in the 547th Bombardment Squadron.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37204122&ref=acom
https://wwii-bombers.tumblr.com/post/146435210611/aerial-view-boeing-b-17g-95-bo-flying-fortress 

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

He was born on October 30, 1917 in Ohio. His father also born in Ohio, while his mother was from Pennsylvania. His father worked as a bank cashier. Thomas had two older brothers, two older sisters, two younger brothers and one younger sister. All of his brothers, except the oldest one, served in the military during WW2. 

Thomas enlisted in the army on August 26, 1942. He became a first lieutenant in the 547th Bombardment Squadron, 384th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. The 384th BG was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses and arrived in England in May 1943. Lt. Anthony joined his bomb squadron on June 22, 1944 in the role of a co-pilot. He completed 8 mission over the next few weeks.

His ninth and final mission was on July 16, 1944 when his bomb squadron was part of a bombing mission to hit an airplane engine factory in Munich. His plane was disabled by flak and exploded in mid-air, crashing southwest of Munich. It was the only plane lost on that mission. Five of the airmen onboard survived and became POWs. The other five, including Lt. Anthony were killed.

His grave is at Saint Mary Cemetery in Fort Recovery, Ohio.

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!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - B-24 co-pilot Albert Irvin Prator

Lt. Albert Prator was the co-pilot of the B-24 Betty-G in India.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81778492&ref=acom

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

He was born on October 29, 1917 in Arkansas. His parents Miles and Myrtie were also both born in Arkansas. His father worked as a laundress salesman and later a furniture store salesman. Albert had two older sisters, a younger sister and a younger brother who served in the Korean War. By 1940 Albert had completed three years of college and was working as an assembly clerk while living at home with his parents, brother and sisters.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on January 24, 1942. He became a second lieutenant in the 375th Bombardment Squadron, 308th Bombardment Group. The 308 BG was equipped with B-24 Liberators and assigned to the China-Burma-India theater of operation beginning in February 1943. It's main base was Kunming, China were it provided strategic bombardment support for the Chinese National Army.

On April 23, 1943 Lt. Prator was the co-pilot on the B-24 nicknamed Betty G. It crashed six miles from Chabau, India, probably due to carburetor icing. There were survivors, but Lt. Prator and two others died in the crash.

His grave is at Magnolia City Cemetery in Arkansas.

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

Albert Prator is the 300th of the fallen profiled so far. Thanks for your interest in reading the stories of Albert and the others so far this year.

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.

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - Triple Purple Heart hero Russell Jones, 45th Infantry Division

Staff Sergeant Russell Jones served in the 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment as did the men in this photo.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=22710063&ref=acom
http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/nordwind-the-other-battle-of-the-bulge/ 

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

He was born on October 28, 1917 in Indiana. His parents Asa and Cora were also both born in Indiana. His father worked as a farmer until he died of pneumonia in 1939. Russell had three older sisters and five older brothers. By 1940 he had completed four years of high school. He was living at home with his mother and just older brother who would serve for four years during WW2.

Russell enlisted in the army on March 18, 1941, leaving a job as a filling station attendant. He became a staff sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Sgt. Jones survived fighting in North Africa, Sicily and Italy up until September 11, 1943 when he received a head wound that kept him out of action for six month before he returned to Company C. In September 1944, Sgt. Jones was wounded a second time when the 45th ID was advancing up from Southern France. This time he was back with his men within a few weeks when it was fighting the Germans in the challenging Vosges Mountains.

The heavily wooded forest was unlike anything Sgt. Russell had seen in Indiana. The Germans had excellent positions to slow the American advance. The fields were heavily mined and the Germans engaged in house-to-house fighting that resulted in frequent casualties. Sgt. Jones died on October 20, 1944 near Rambervillers, a triple purple-heart hero.

His grave is at Goodwill Cemetery in Loogootee, Indiana.

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


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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - William Clark, Merrill's Marauders

Pfc. William Clark served with the famous jungle fighters known as Merrill's Marauders.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=50007681&ref=acom
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/65794844533293494/?lp=true 

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

He was born on October 27, 1917 in Oklahoma. His mother Hulda was born in Kansas and his father Early was from Missouri. His father worked as a farmer and died in 1938 at age 54. William had a younger brother (who served 20 years in the Marines and was a POW during WW2) and two younger sisters. By 1940 William had completed four years of high school. He was living with his widowed mother working on the family farm.

He enlisted in the army on October 31, 1942, two years after his kid brother joined the Marines. He became a private first class in Company C, 1st Battalion, 5307 Composite Unit better known as Merrill's Marauders, an all volunteer force of 3,000 men. The men in this unit were specially trained in jungle warfare with deployment deep behind enemy lines.

By late February 1944, Clark's unit was in Burma on the start of a 1,000 mile march (that's the distance from Berlin to Moscow). Merrill's Marauders were able to successfully harass larger Japanese forces time and again. On March 12, 1944 Merrill's Marauders were advancing through Mogaung Valley. The men had to face Japanese artillery and took casualties, likely including Pfc. Clark who died on March 14, 1944.

His cenotaph grave is at Gotebo Cemetery in Oklahoma.

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

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

WW2 Fallen - Battle of Midway hero Edwin Mushinski

Painting depicting TBD attack at Battle of Midway
and planes of Petty Officer Edwin Mushinski's VT-6 prior to take off at same battle.
http://steeljawscribe.com/2012/06/04/midway-70-years-later-forces-engaged-4-june-1942
http://www.historynet.com/miracle-men-of-midway.htm

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

He was born on October 26, 1917 in Missouri. His mother was also born in Missouri and his father was from Poland. Edwin was an only child.

He enlisted in the Navy on July 13, 1937. He was stationed to the carrier USS Enterprise beginning May 23, 1938 as a fireman second class. He advance to the rank of aviation radioman second class on June 6, 1941 in Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6). This meant he flew in the rear seat of the carrier's obsolete TBD Devastators.

On the morning of June 4, 1942 Enterprise got a report on the location of the Japanese carrier fleet. Petty Officer Mushinski and his pilot Paul James Riley were part of 14 VT-6 Devastators who took off to sink the enemy carriers. 

The archaic VT-6 Devastators came in low and slow and attracted the attention of the Japanese combat air patrol. One by one 10 of the 14 VT-6 Devastators were shot up and sent crashing into the water. Riley and Mushinki's plane was one of the planes downed by the Japanese. None of the torpedoes hit any Japanese ships.

With the Japanese Zeros preoccupied with attacking the torpedo bombers, the American dive bombers were able to drop their bombs with no fighter interference. Within minutes three of the four Japanese carriers were smoldering wrecks.

Without the sacrifice of VT-6 and the torpedo squadrons from Yorktown and Hornet, it is quite possible that some of the Japanese carriers would have survived the dive bombers attack. The Japanese navy pilots on the Japanese carriers were among the finest fliers in the world. Given a chance to attack all three American carriers, the outcome of the battle could have been very different.

Petty officer Mushinki was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role in the Battle of Midway. Edwin's father died later that year. His mom lived another 29 years.

He is remembered at the Honolulu Memorial Court of the Missing.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - B-17 gunner Frank Schwagel and controversial Confederate general namesake

Staff Sergeant Frank Schwagel was a waist gunner in the 335th Bombardment Squadron shown above.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/883
http://95thbg.org/j3migr/95thbg-history/bomb-squadrons/335th-bomb-squadron
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=132763829&ref=acom 

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

He was born on October 25, 1917 in Minnesota. His parents Frank and Franciska were also both born in Minnesota. His father's parents were from Austria. His father worked as a farmer. Frank had seven older sisters and three older brothers. He also had one younger sister.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces and became a staff sergeant and B-17 waist gunner in the 335th Bombardment Squadron, 95th Bombardment Group.

On June 13, 1943 Sgt. Schwagel's plane was part of a mission of 76 bombers sent to bomb naval facilities at Kiel. For the first and only time during the war the 95th BG used a "Forrest formation." Instead of the standard box formation, the 26 planes from the 95th BG came in wingtip to wingtip. It lost 10 of it's planes, the highest percentage loss from one bomb group on one mission at that point in the war. One of those killed was Nathan Bedford Forrest III, the brigadier general in command of the 95th BG (His great-grandfather was the controversial calvary Confederate general who shared his name). It turned out that lining up bombers like a calvary charge was a bad idea. 

Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest III
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4834

Sgt. Schwagel's plane collided with another B-17 over the Baltic Sea  just northwest of Kiel and crashed into the water. Nobody on either plane survived.

His cenotaph grave is at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Cemetery in Richmond, Minnesota.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - Rafael Baldor, 10th Mountain Division

Pfc. Rafael Baldor, an experience ski instructor, served with the 10th Mountain Division with these soldiers.
http://georgy-konstantinovich-zhukov.tumblr.com/post/56851240557/us-mountain-troops-on-a-patrol-and-showing-the
https://www.pinterest.com/jessicaadza/10th-mountain-division-wwii/
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=121084204&ref=acom 

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

He was born on October 24, 1917 in Vermont. His parents were both born in Spain. His father worked as a granite quarry cutter in New Hampshire. Rafael had three older sisters, a younger sister and a younger brother who served in the army for the full length of America's involvement in World War 2. By 1940 he was living at home working as a ski school instructor.

No doubt Rafael's skiing prowess led him to enlist in the very first American army division trained to fight on skis. He became a private first class in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. 

The 10th ID first engaged the enemy in February 1945. In keeping with its training, it was given the mission to dislodge the Germans from the Northern Apennines Mountains. The 10th ID advanced into the Po Valley in April 1945. On April 21 the 3rd Battalion led a march to get deep behind the enemy lines. That day Pfc. Baldor marched through villages where the villagers passed out wine, cheese, bread and flowers to their liberators. When dusk arrived, things turned deadly. Pfc. Baldor was killed along with 13 other men by a bomb that may have been from a German plane, or perhaps, tragically, from an American plane.

His grave is at North Conway Cemetery in New Hampshire.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Anzio Fallen - Julian Holley, 3rd Infantry Division

Pvt. Julian Holley, 3rd Infantry Division, was killed during a major German attack at Anzio.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=60030075
https://history.army.mil/brochures/anzio/72-19.htm 

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

He was born on October 23, 1917 in Virginia. His parents Coleman and Tessie were also both born in Virginia. His father worked as a farmer. Julian had two younger sisters and three younger brothers, one of whom also served in the army during World War 2. By 1940 Julian had completed one year of high school. He worked in a spinning room and still lived at home.

He enlisted in the army on December 23, 1942 and became a private in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Pvt. Since Holley enlisted after the 3rd ID was already in North Africa, he joined his unit later as a replacement. Perhaps it was in time for the 3rd ID's involvement attacking Sicily and Salerno. For sure he was with E Company when it landed on Anzio on January 22, 1944. 

On February 29, 1944 The Germans launched an unsuccessful assault sending three divisions to attack the 3rd Infantry Division. It was a costly victory for the Americans. The 3rd Infantry Division suffered more than 900 casualties. One of those killed was Pvt. Holley.

His grave is at Highland Burial Park in Danville, Virginia.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Navy Fallen - PBY flight engineer Arvo Ranta

PBY flight engineer Arvo Ranta died after his plane crashed in Asiatic waters.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/537687642983646824/ 

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

He was born on October 22, 1917 in Minnesota. His parents were both born in Finland. His father worked as a farmer. Arvo had an older brother and sister and a younger brother.

He enlisted in the Navy in March 1942. He became a flight engineer and aviation machinist's mate second class on PBY-5 Catalinas. On March 31, 1944 his plane was on patrol over Asiatic waters when it crashed into the ocean. Ranta survived the crash but he died the next day while in a raft. The survivors were rescued by a PBY that landed on the water to pick them up.

His grave is at Gilbert Cemetery in Minnesota.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - Triple Purple Heart warrior John Thomas, 3rd Infantry Division

Staff Sergeant John Thomas, 3rd Infantry Division, earned three Purple Heart medals.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6823589 

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

He was born on October 21, 1917 in Ohio. His parents Ralph and Maude were also both born in Ohio. His father worked as a heat worker in a steel forge works. John had six younger brothers and three younger sisters. By 1940 John had completed two years of high school. He was still living at home and worked as a truck driver.

He enlisted in the army on August 21, 1940. He became a staff sergeant in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Sgt. Thomas was part of the first American fighting against the Germans in North Africa. He was wounded in Tunisia but returned to his unit in time for the invasion of Sicily. While fighting on mainland of Italy he was wounded again at Salerno. He rejoined Company L in time for the Battle of Anzio. He died on May 24, 1944, most likely during a night attack toward Cisterna that encountered enemy machine-guns and mortars.

His grave is at Fountain Cemetery in Fostoria, Ohio.

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!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - Frederick Toll, 30th Infantry Division

Pfc. Frederick Toll, 30th Infantry Division.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7509735&ref=acom

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

He was born on October 20, 1917 in Ohio. His parents were also both born in Ohio. His father worked as a railroad painter and died in 1935. Fred had two older brothers and one older sister. By 1940 Fred was living with his widowed mother. He had completed four years of high school and was working as a clerk.

He enlisted in the army on November 17, 1942 and became a private first class in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. The 30th ID landed at Omaha Beach on D+5. I don't know if Pfc. Toll was with his unit at that time or joined later as a replacement. The 30th ID took part in Operation Cobra, the attack on Aachen, the Battle of the Bulge and crossing the Rhine to pursue the remnants of the enemy across Germany. Pfc Toll was killed on April 10, 1945 after his unit attacked Hamelin. 

His grave is at Greenwood Cemetery, Zanesville, Ohio.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Pearl Harbor Fallen - Welborn Ashby, USS West Virginia

Welborn Ashby was a fireman 3rd class who was killed after the Japanese bombed and torpedoed the USS West Virginia.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56114274&ref=acom
http://secondbysecondworldwar.com/?p=4834

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

He was born on October 19, 1917 in Kentucky. His parents were also both born in Kentucky. His father worked as a farmer. Welborn had an older brother, two younger brothers, and three younger sisters. By 1940 Welborn had completed four years of high school. He was still living at home and working on the family farm.

He enlisted in the US Navy on September 24, 1940. He became a fireman third class on the battleship USS West Virginia. 

West Virginia was sunk by seven torpedoes and two bombs during the Japanese Pearl Harbor surprise attack on December 7, 1941. Quick action by firemen such as Ashby counter-flooded the ship so it didn't capsize like the Oklahoma. The crew tried to fight the fires until 2 pm when they finally abandoned ship. Over 100 West Virginia sailors were killed in the attack. Fireman Ashby's body was never found, even after West Virginia was raised and repaired.

He memorialize at the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - B-17 bombardier Robert Greenwell

Captain Robert Greenwell was a bombardier on a B-17 in the 419th Bomb Squad like this one.
https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=207591
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/251 

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

He was born on October 18, 1917 in Illinois. His mother was also born in Illinois. His father was from Kentucky. His father worked as a farmer, first in Illinois and later in Texas. Robert had five younger brothers. At least one served in WW2 and two served in the Korean War and one of them was MIA. By 1940 Robert had completed three years of college. He was living at home and worked as a salesman.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on August 20, 1941. He reached the rank of captain in the 419th Bombardment Squadron, 301st Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. He was trained as a bombardier. His unit was based out of Tunisia. Captain Greenwall completed at least 40 combat missions, more than enough to qualify to return home. Captain Greenwell decided to keep flying.

On November 16, 1943, Captain Greenwell's plane was part of a mission to bomb German war facilities at Istres Le Tune, France. As his plane neared the target, the #4 engine was set on fire by flak. Slowed and separated from the rest of the formation, Captain Greenwell's plane was attacked by German fighter planes. It crashed into the Mediterranean Sea twenty miles south of Marseilles. There were no survivors.

His cenotaph grave is at Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial in Draguignan, France.

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!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen - B-17 ball turret gunner William Whitt

Sgt. William Whitt and the crew of the B-17 Stump Jumper.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=43717432&ref=acom
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/229972 

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

He was born on October 17, 1917 in Virginia. His parents were also both born in Virginia. His father worked as a pipe shop crane man and later as a gardener. By 1940 he was working as a cemetery caretaker. William had one sister and was the youngest of eight boys. By 1940 William had completed three years of high school and was working as a pressing and cleaning shop deliveryman.

He enlisted in the army on June 30, 1942. He became a staff sergeant in the 526th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-17s.

On June 19, 1944 Sgt. Whitt was the ball turret gunner on the B-17 nicknamed Stump Jumper on a mission to bomb V-1 buzz bomb launch sites near Zudausques, France. Stump Jumper was downed by flak before it reached the target. Sgt. Whitt was killed. I think the rest of the crew survived.

His grave is at West View Cemetery in Radford, Virginia. I don't know if that was the same cemetery where his father was the caretaker.

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

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
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100