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| 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.
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.
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| https://www.singers.com/composers/Alan-Lerner/ |
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.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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