WW2 Fallen - Truman Sharkey, 34th Infantry Division and famed Broadway lyricist

Truman Sharkey served with the 34th Infantry Division in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58897379/truman-d.-sharkey
http://ww2awartobewon.com/wwii-archives/edisons-soldiers-34th-infantry-division/ 

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

He was born on August 31, 1918 in Iowa. His parents David and Laura were also both born in Iowa. His father worked as a farmer. Truman had one younger brother (who became a WW2 vet). His parents divorced during the 1920s. Truman was then raised by his mother who worked as nurse. By 1940 he had completed four years of high school and was working at a camp for the Civil Conservation Corps.

He enlisted in the Iowa National Guard which was federalize in February 1941. He became a private first class in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division.

The 34th ID saw combat in French Algeria, Tunisia, and Italy. Pfc. Sharkey was probably there for all of it, including 12 straight hard-fought months from Salerno to the Volturno to Monte Cassino to Anzio to Livorno. On September 9, 1944 the 133rd IR attacked the Gothic Line near Florence. Resistance was light for a few days, but the troops lost quite a few men to mine fields and enemy fire when they approached the main German defensive position on September 12. Pfc. Sharkey was killed on September 15. By coincidence, two other men from the 34th ID, who I have previously profiled, were also killed around the same time: Bronze Star hero Donald Shelton and Edwin Steege (his twin brother was also killed in WW2).

The 34th ID suffered 16,401 battle casualties, including 2,866 men like Pfc. Sharkey who were killed in action.

His grave is at Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, Iowa.

Thank you Pfc. Sharkey for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Truman.

ALAN J LERNER

Born in New York on the same day at Truman Sharkey was Alan Lerner who would one day be one of the greatest Broadway lyricists of all time. Lerner was ineligible for military service because he lost sight in one eye in a boxing match while attending Harvard University.

https://www.singers.com/composers/Alan-Lerner/

Lerner's work included An American in Paris, Brigadoon, Gigi, My Fair Lady, and Camelot. He died in 1986.

Last year on this date I profiled Wilifred Humphrey, 32nd Infantry Division. You can read about Wilifred 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
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WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

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http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - B-24 ball turret gunner Shirley Jones and baseball legend Ted Williams

Sgt. Shirley Jones served in the 44th Bombardment Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76561592/shirley-a-jones
http://www.626-squadron.co.uk/willem21.htm 

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

He was born on August 30, 1918 in Utah. His parents Leroy and Laura were also both born in Utah. His father worked as a high school teacher first in Fillmore and later in Salt Lake City. Shirley had two older sisters, one older brother and two younger sisters. By 1940 Shirley had moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he worked as a delivery clerk and lived with a couple who took in lodgers.

Shirley married Bessie Sweat on August 9, 1942.

He was drafted into the army on January 23, 1943. He then volunteered to serve in the Army Air Forces and became a sergeant and ball turret gunner in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. The 44th BG was originally stationed in England as part of the 8th Air Force. It was transferred to the Mediterranean Theater in the summer of 1943 to be part of the 15th Air Force. One of its bombing mission was the costly August 1, 1943 Ploesti mission. It was back in England by the end of the year.

On August  8, 1944, Sgt. Jones' plane, with the name Flying Log, took off but encounter mechanical problems. The plane crashed a couple of miles away from the base. All of the crew perished.

His grave is at Clearwater Municipal Cemetery in Clearwater, Florida. His widow remarried and died in 2002. Had he lived he would have noticed the singer and actress Shirley Jones would make his name famous. She starred in movies like Oklahoma and TV shows like The Partridge Family.

Thank you Sgt. Jones for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Shirley.

TED WILLIAMS

Born on the same day as Shirley Jones was the legendary Boston Red Socks slugger Ted Williams. Born in California, he joined the Boston Red Socks for the 1939 season. In 1941 he became the last Major League player to bat over 0.400. 

Ted Williams joining the Military in 1942.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/08/30/mike-trout-angels-stats

Williams joined the Naval Reserve in May 1942. The next year we was trained as a Marine fighter pilot. He learned to fly the F4U Corsair. He served as a flight instructor and had orders to go to the Pacific when the war ended. He would fly combat missions seven years later when his baseball career was interrupted a second time for service in the Korean War.

Ted Williams is consider one of the best hitters in baseball history and is often included on the top ten list of all time greatest players. He died in 2002.

Last year on this date I profiled Faythe McGinnis, a pilot from the all black Tuskegee airmen. You can read about Faythe 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

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“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - B-25 pilot Laula Middleton

Lt. Laula Middleton was a B-25 pilot in the 310th Bombardment Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43617471/laula-matthew-middleton
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/380th_Space_Control_Squadron

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

He was born on August 29, 1918 in Alabama. His parents Wardlow and Evelyn were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a farmer. He died in 1938. Laula had an older brother and sister and a younger brother and sister. By 1940 Laula had completed one year of college and was living at home with his widowed mother.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on November 8, 1941 and was trained to fly bombers. He became a first lieutenant and B-25 Mitchell pilot with the 428th Bombardment Squadron, 310th Bombardment Group, 12th Air Force.

The 310th BG began flying missions in North Africa in early December 1942. It focused on bombing ships and harbors to interrupt resupply to the Germans in Tunisia.

On April 4, 1943 eighteen B-25s took off for a sea search of German shipping. The planes approached their target in boxes of six from three different directions, so no matter the evasion maneuver of the target, it could not avoid all of the bombs. While attacking a group of seven ships the bombers were intercepted by German Me-109s. American gunners killed the pilot of one enemy fighter only to see his plane hit the tail of Lt. Middleton's plane causing it to go down in an uncontrollable spin. None of the crew of five survived.

His grave is at Belleville United Methodist Church Cemetery in Belleville, Alabama.

Thank you Lt. Middleton for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Laula.

Last year on this date I profiled Stanley Forsythe, 1st Infantry Division. You can read about Stanley 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

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WW2 Fallen - Joseph Sullivan, USS Juneau, and his four brothers

Joseph Sullivan served on the USS Juneau with his brothers Frank, Albert, Madison, and George.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10092/joseph-eugene-sullivan 

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

He was born on August 28, 1918 in Iowa. His parents Thomas and Alleta were also both born in Iowa. His father worked as a railroad conductor. Joseph had two older brothers, an older sister and two younger brothers. By 1940 Joseph had completed two years of high school and was working as a plant laborer while still living at home.

He enlisted in the US Navy along with his two younger brothers, Madison and Albert on January 3, 1942. His two older brothers George and Francis had served in the Navy before and they reenlisted. Although it was against Navy policy for siblings to serve on the same ship, the Sullivans were able to get this requirement waived. They were all mustered to serve on the light cruiser USS Juneau. Joseph became a seaman second class.

Juneau supported the American effort to remove the Japanese from Guadalcanal. During the night of November 12-13, 1942 it participated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Early in the darkness of Friday, November 13, 1942, a Japanese naval force of two battleships, one light cruiser and nine destroyers approached Guadalcanal. In contrast, the Americans had two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and eight destroyers. In the costly battle, Juneau suffered a torpedo hit that broke her keel and knocked out most of its systems. Having no ability to contribute to the battle, it withdrew out of harm's way.

With many of the surviving American ships heavily damaged, they retreated away from Guadalcanal during the daylight hours of November 13. During the retreat, Juneau was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank with all but 100 of its crew. Fearing additional submarine attacks, the other ships did not remain to pick up survivors. Due to poor communications, the survivors were not picked up for another eight days at which time only ten men were left. There testimony reported that Joseph, Francis and Madison never made it off the torpedoed ship. Al survived one day after the sinking and George lasted four or five days. The five Sullivan bothers were among the 687 men who were lost at sea. 

On January 12, 1943 three navy representatives visited the Sullivan home. The naval officer told Thomas Sullivan, "I have some news about your boys." Mr. Sullivan asked, "Which one?" The officer replied, "All of them."

The destroyer USS The Sullivans was named in the honor of the brothers and was in service from 1943 to 1965.

The wreckage of the Juneau was discovered five months ago by Micro-soft cofounder Paul Allen.

Joseph's cenotaph grave is at Arlington National Cemetery.

Thank you George and Francis and Joseph and Madison and Albert for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Sullivan brothers.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 waist gunner Cletis Campbell and the man who created Marvel Comic's Captain America. You can read about Cletis 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
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WW2 Okinawa Fallen - Elmer Williams, USS Braine

Seaman Elmer Williams served on the USS Braine when it was struck by kamikaze planes near Okinawa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78870630/elmer-e-williams
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/pix1/0563008.jpg

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

He was born on August 27, 1918 in California. His parents Elmer and Mary were born in California and Washington, respectively. His father worked as a truck driver and later as a school janitor. Still later he worked as a farmer. Elmer had one older sister and one younger sister. By 1940 Elmer had completed four years of high school (where he played in the band) and was working as a sheet metal apprentice.

He enlisted in the navy and became a seaman second class. By May 1945 he was serving aboard the destroy USS Braine. While positioned as a radar picket ship on May 27, 1945, Braine was hit by two kamikaze planes. The first severely damaged the bridge and the second hit amidship. Although grievously damaged, the fires on the ship were put out after four hours. Sixty seven men, including Seaman Williams, were killed and another 102 were wounded. It was the highest casualty rate on any destroyer during WW2 that was not sunk.

His grave is at Union Cemetery, Bakersfield, California. 

Thank you Seaman Williams for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Elmer.

Last year on this date I profiled Dennis Sikes, USS Boise. You can read about Dennis 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

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WW2 Fallen - Auville Eager, 45th Infantry Division

Lt. Auville Eager served in the 157th Infantry Regiment in France.
http://www.militaryuniformsupply.com/45th-infantry-division-full-color-dress-patch
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62056885/auville-eager
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805421970147/?lp=true

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

He was born on August 26, 1918 in Maryland. His parents Auville and Clara were also both born in Maryland. His mother's father was the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States. His dad's father was Baptist missionary in Italy. His father worked as a securities salesman and later as an investment banker. Auville had three younger sisters and one younger brother. By 1940 Auville was still living at home, having completed three years of college.

He enlisted in the army on May 7, 1942 after graduating from Williams College. He was commission as an officer and became a first lieutenant in Company G, 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. I am not sure when he joined the 45th ID. If he was with this unit in 1944 he may have visited some of the same places in Italy where his grandfather had been a missionary. He was wounded in battle but stayed with his platoon.

Lt. Eager's unit was fighting the enemy in the area near Rothbach, France in mid-January 1945. He was killed in action on January 17, 1945 the same day the 157th IR was pulled off of the line.

His grave is at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville, Maryland.

Thank you Lt. Eager for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Auville.

Last year on this date I profiled B-26 gunner George Dusang. 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

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WW2 Iwo Jima Fallen - Double Navy Cross hero Francis Fagan, 3rd Marine Division

Captain Francis Fagan fought from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima
where he was a company commander in the 3rd Marine Division.
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15052299/person/18020375183/facts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94413104/francis-louis-fagan
https://www.flickr.com/photos/medicalmuseum/3790433898

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

He was born on August 25, 1918 in Wisconsin. His parents Edward and Alma were also both born in Wisconsin. His father worked as a milk plant laborer and later as a farmer. Francis had two older brothers, one older sister, and two younger sisters. By 1940 Francis was still living at home and was a college student, having complete two years of college. He married and had a son who he never saw.

He enlisted in the US Marines on May 5, 1941. He became a captain and company commander of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. Prior to his captaincy, he fought at Guadalcanal, New Hebrides, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Bougainville, a true Leatherneck veteran.

While serving as a captain, he was twice awarded the Navy Cross. He fought at Guam in July 1944, where he was wounded in battle, and fought at Iwo Jima, where he was killed in action on February 27, 1945.

Here is the citation for his first Navy Cross:

The Navy Cross is presented to Francis L. Fagan, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Marianas Islands, 28 July 1944. 

Assuming command of a company which had lost all its officers with the exception of one, Captain Fagan immediately pushed an attack to the top of a ridge and, when a strong enemy counterattack forced his company's right flank to fall back after the lapse of only ten minutes, ran one hundred and fifty yards along the front line through heavy hostile fire to the right flank. Braving intense fire from screaming Japanese troops only fifteen yards away, he rallied his men and halted the withdrawal, thus preventing a break-through and repulsing the counterattack. Although wounded during the action, he continued to command his company. 

His inspiring leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Here is the citation for his second Navy Cross:

The Navy Cross is presented to Francis L. Fagan, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 25 and 26 February 1945. 

Determined to break the entrenched network of emplacements concealed in the massive rock formations and twisting ridges which constituted the natural ramparts of the enemy's cross-island defenses, Captain Fagan skillfully coordinated and led a combined tank-infantry assault against a salient Japanese strong point on the high ground west of Airfield Number Two. 

Boldly defying the powerfully organized opposition, he continuously exposed himself to intense machine-gun, antitank, grenade and mortar barrages as he directed the sustained fire of his automatic weapons against heavily fortified pillboxes which he personally located and, driving his tanks relentlessly forward in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles, blasted one death trap after another to make slow but steady progress toward the fanatically defended ridge position. 

Painfully wounded during the violent exchange of hostilities, he consistently refused evacuation and held his ground indomitably throughout the night, despite the uninterrupted bombardment of exploding mortar shells and slashing machine-gun fire maintained by the enemy. 

Fiercely resuming his planned close-in tactics the following morning, he led his intrepid men with dauntless courage and iron determination in a hand-to-hand assault of the contested area and succeeded in destroying several hostile fortifications before he fell, mortally wounded while leading a furious charge against a stubbornly resisting pillbox. 

By his outstanding valor and brilliant combat skill, Captain Fagan had effected the annihilation of approximately one hundred fifty Japanese, the destruction of more than thirty enemy fortifications and the seizure of key positions which materially furthered the operations of his division against this vital outpost of the Japanese Empire. 

His superb leadership and dynamic aggressiveness throughout the bitter conflict enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Captain Fagan was buried at sea. His cenotaph grave is at St Jeromes Cemetery in Columbus, Wisconsin. I don't know what happened to his widow or son.

Thank you Captain Fagan for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Captain Fagan.

Last year on this date I profiled Neal Snell, 5th Marine Division, who also fought at Iwo Jima. You can read about Neal 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

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WW2 Devil's Brigade Fallen - John Lanzi, 1st Special Service Force

Sgt. John Lanzi served with the 1st Special Service Force at Anzio.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121413002/john-lanzi
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1st_Special_Service_Force_members_being_briefed_at_Anzio_3396066.jpg 

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

He was born on August 24, 1918 in New Jersey. His parents Peter and Banno were both born in Italy and came to America in 1912 and 1914, respectively. His father worked as a plumber. John had one older brother, two younger brothers, and two younger sisters. After finishing a grammar school level of education he worked as a watchman. He joined the National Guard in 1936 and the army in 1938.

He reenlisted into the army on February 11, 1942. He became a sergeant in Company C, 3rd Regiment, 1st Special Service Force, better known as The Devil's Brigade.

This elite American-Canadian commando unit was created in the summer of 1942 with a goal to be deployed in winter combat, likely in Norway. The Americans in this unit were all volunteers but they joined up not knowing any details about the unit, only being told it was a parachute unit. The men were trained to fight behind enemy lines and worked on specialized skills like skiing, rock climbing, and demolitions. 

The 1st SSF's first combat assignment in July 1943 was to retake the Alaskan island of Kiska from the Japanese, but the enemy withdrew before it happened. It was next sent to fight in the Italian mountains in November 1943. 

The 1st SSF was brought to Anzio as reinforcements on February 1, 1944, about a week after the Americans landed. It was while at Anzio that this unit was named "The Devil's Brigade" by the Germans.  It would be 99 days before the unit was relieved. Sgt. Lanzi was killed on February 8, 1944, a time when the 1st SSF was sending out numerous aggressive patrols to keep the Germans at a distance.

His grave is at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Robert Green, 5th Infantry Division. You can read about Robert 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

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“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

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WW2 Okinawa Fallen - Gerald Baker, USS Hugh W. Hadley

Gerald Baker was on the USS Hugh W. Hadley when it was attacked by dozens of kamikaze planes.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44241118/gerald-wallace-baker
https://www.facebook.com/USSHadley/ 

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

He was born on August 23, 1918 in Illinois. His parents Lewis and Erma were also both born in Illinois. Gerald had an older brother and three younger sisters.

He and his brother enlisted in the navy in September 1939. Gerald became a water tender first class. His brother (who had the unusual first name of Friend) was also a water tender first class. They served on the same ship up until 1944 when they were mustered onto different ships. Gerald was transferred to the destroyer USS Hugh W. Hadley which was commissioned in November 1944.

Hugh W. Hadley was sent to Okinawa and escorted LST's toward the beach on the day of the invasion, April 1, 1945. Later it was given anti-submarine and radar picket duty.

On May 11 Hugh W. Hadley and the destroyer Evans spent two hours under constant attack from 150 kamikaze planes. After Evans was hit and became dead in the water, all the attention of the enemy turned to Hugh W. Hadley. At 0920 ten kamikazes simultaneously attacked the ship. All of the planes were shot down but two still hit the ship and another bomb hit too. Hugh W. Hadley survived the attack but 30 of its crew were lost including Gerald Baker. 

His grave is at Atlanta Cemetery in Atlanta, Illinois. 

Thank you WT1C Baker for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Gerald.

Last year on this date I profiled Harvey Blonigen, 3rd Armored Division. You can read about Harvey 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

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“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 D-Day Fallen - Hiram Collins, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion

Hiram Collins never got onto Omaha Beach after his LCI was hit by a German shell and set on fire.
https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/material/warships/landing-craft/lci
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56643363/hiram-h-collins
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144166521/hiram-h-collins

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

He was born on August 22, 1918 in Maryland. His parents Hiram and Mayne were also both born in Maryland. His father worked as an assistant postmaster and later as a surveyor/engineer. He died in the 1930s. Hiram's mom got a political job. Hiram had one older brother.

He enlisted in the army on May 16, 1942. By Christmas time he had advanced to the rank of staff sergeant and was training cadets at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He ended up with the rank of First Sergeant in Company B, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion. It was given the D-Day assignment of clearing obstacles and mines from Omaha Beach.

Sgt. Collins was a passenger on LCI #531 on D-Day when his boat was hit by a German artillery shell and set ablaze just as it got to the beach at 0900. His remains were never recovered. Half of the men in his unit were either killed or wounded that day.

His cenotaph grave is at American Legion Cemetery in Crisfield, Maryland.

Thank you Sgt. Collins for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Hiram.

Last year on this date I profiled Milton Butler, 2nd Armored Division. You can read about Milton 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

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“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

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WW2 Pearl Harbor Fallen - Lawrence Anderson, USS Arizona

Ensign Lawrence Anderson was on the battleship Arizona when the Japanese surprise attacked Pearl Harbor.
http://www.ussarizona.org/index.php/features/lists/uss-arizona-casualty-list/392-anderson-lawrence-donald
https://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/online-exhibits/items/show/931

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

He was born on August 21, 1918 in Illinois. His parents August and Mabel were born in Illinois and Iowa, respectively. His father worked as a poultry dealer. Lawrence had one older brother, two younger brothers, and one younger sister. They grew up in Iowa. By 1940 Lawrence had completed two years of college. He was living at home and was employed as a waiter.

He enlisted in the navy in August 1940 and was commissioned an officer in March 1941. He became an ensign serving on the battleship USS Arizona. He was give responsibility over the ship band and football team. 

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Ensign Anderson was on duty onboard the Arizona when it was  hit by four Japanese bombs. The final one penetrated to the forward magazine and exploded with devastating loss of life. His battle station was Turret IV, far away from the massive explosion that sent Arizona to the bottom of the harbor. He somehow got off of the ship.

Ensign Anderson was badly injured when he was rescued and taken to the hospital ship USS Solace. He died at 0045 on December 8, 1941.

His grave is at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Waukon, Iowa.

Thank you Ensign Anderson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Donald.

Last year on this date I profiled Philippines guerrilla captain James Hart. 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