WW2 Fallen - Airman Cecil Lanning, his sailor brother, and Band of Brothers Lewis Nixon

Airman Cecil Lanning and Band of Brother's Lewis Nixon were both born 100 years ago today.
Cecil and his brother Charles both lost their lives during WW2.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37392522/cecil-s.-lanning
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56646747/charles-m-lanning
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19055819/lewis-nixon

Today is National Gold Star Mother's Day, created by Congress in 1936 to recognize and honor the mothers who lost a son or daughter while serving in the US Armed Forces.

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

He was born on September 30, 1918 in Indiana. His parents James and Anna were also both born in Indiana. His father worked as a farm manager, farmer, and metal worker through his life. Cecil had two older brothers and two younger brothers. Cecil completed four years of high school. He married Helen Jean Godfrey on April 18, 1942.

He was drafted into the army on October 14, 1942. He became a sergeant and ground crewman in the 34th Transport Squadron, 315th Air Transport Group which was equipped with C-47 Skytrains. The 315th ATG arrived in England in December 1942. Sgt. Lanning likely joined his unit at a later time. 

Meanwhile, his younger brother Charles joined the navy and served on the freight carrier USS Miantonomah. Miantonomah was sunk by a mine near Le Havre on September 25, 1944. Charles was one of 58 men lost. His remains were not recovered.

Cecil was mortally injured when the air transport he was in crashed in Cambriac, France on November 1, 1944. He died the same day.

His grave is at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville, Indiana. If anyone takes a photo of this and sends it to me, I would love to include it in this profile.

Thank you Cecil and Charles for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Lanning brothers. And lets remember Anna Lanning, a two time Gold Star mother.

LEWIS NIXON

Lewis Nixon was born on the same day as Cecil Lanning, in New York City. Raised in a well-to-do family he spent time in youth boating around New York City and traveling in Europe. He attended Yale University for two years.

After being drafted into the army, Lewis was sent to Army Officer Candidate School. He volunteered for the Airborne and was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Division which later became part of the 101st Airborne Division. He became a captain and the S2 intelligence officer for the 2nd Battalion. His participation and experiences, from D-Day to Operation Market Garden to the Battle of the Bulge and beyond, are shared in Stephen Ambrose's well known book, Band of Brothers and the TV miniseries of the same name.

After the war, Lewis worked at his family's New Jersey nitrate plan. He died in 1995. His good friend and comrade from Company E, Dick Winters, gave his eulogy.

Last year on this date I profiled Glenn Midgarden, Americal Division and the greatest drummer in history. You can read about Glenn 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

WW2 Saipan Fallen - Frank Sheehan, 2nd Marine Division + Band of Brothers Harry Welsh

Pfc. Frank Sheehan served in the 2nd Marine Division at Saipan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Marine_Division_(United_States)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100659570/frank-vincent-sheehan
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/saipan/ 

Frank Vincent "Babe" Sheehan never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on September 27, 1918 in Colorado. His parents John and Catherine were both born in Ireland. His mother died in 1919, perhaps from the influenza that killed millions that year. He was raised in his uncle's family. Frank had one older sister and three older brothers. By 1940 Frank had completed four years of high school and worked as a shipping clerk while still living at home.

He enlisted in the US Marines and became a private first class in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

The 2nd MD fought in the Battle of Tarawa in November and December 1943 and then fought in the Battle of Saipan beginning on June 15, 1944. Frank died during the second day of the battle, probably from wounds sustained in fighting during the first day on the island.

His grave is at Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo, Colorado.

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

HARRY WELSH

Born on the same day as Frank Sheehan, was Harry Welsh, who was born in Pennsylvania. He is well known because he became a first lieutenant in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne. This unit became famous from Stephen Ambrose's book Band of Brothers and the HBO miniseries of the same name.

https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Harry_Welsh.html

Lt. Welsh took Dick Winter's 1st Platoon position after Lt. Winters was promoted to company commander during the fighting in Normandy. Lt. Welsh twice earned the Bronze Star and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. He survived the war and working for the public schools when he came home. He died in 1995.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 pilot Raymond Check and his fighter ace brother Leonard. You can read about the Check brothers here. If you missed it, it is definitely worth reading.

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

WW2 Doolittle Raid Fallen - Distinguished Flying Cross hero, B-25 pilot, and POW William Farrow

Lt. William Farrow was a pilot in the Doolittle Tokyo raid who was captured and executed by the Japanese.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9529372
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Farrow

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

He was born on September 24, 1918 in South Carolina. His parents Issac and Jesse were both born in North Carolina. His father worked as a state insurance department auditor. William had one younger sister. His parents separated in the 1920s and divorced in the 1930s. William stayed with his mother who found work as a hotel housekeeper. As a youth William became an Eagle Scout. By 1940 William had completed two years of college at the University of Southern Carolina and was still living at home.

Already a trained pilot, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces in November 1940. His mother moved to Washington and became a wartime stenographer. William became a lieutenant and trained to fly B-25 Mitchells in the 34th Bombardment Squadron. After Pearl Harbor he volunteered for a secret mission which turned out to be the Doolittle Raid.

Lt. Farrow and the rest of the Doolittle Raiders steamed out of San Francisco harbor on April 1, 1942 aboard the carrier USS Hornet. Those watching the carrier leave saw the unusual sight of army B-25s tied down on the deck of the carrier. 

The attack on Japan was launched on April 18, earlier than planned, but the American ships had been spotted by Japanese boats and the task forced needed to turn around to avoid retaliation. Lt. Farrow flew Bat out of Hell, the final of 16 planes to take off. After bombing an oil tank and aircraft factory in Nagoya, Farrow flew to China but crashed in a Japanese occupied area. He and his crew were captured, imprisoned and tortured with another crew. A mock trail of the eight captured airmen found them guilt and three were sentenced to death, including Lt. Farrow.

He was allowed to write a final letter to his mother which read in part:

"You have given much, so much more to me than I have returned, but such is the Christian way. You are and always will be a real angel. Be brave and strong for my sake. I love you, Mom, from the depths of a full heart...Don't let this get you down. Just remember God will make everything right and that I'll see you all again in the hereafter...So let me implore you to keep your chin up. Be brave and strong for my sake. P.S. My insurance policy is in my bag in a small tent in Columbia. Read Thanatopsis by Bryant if you want to know how I am taking this. My faith in God is complete, so I am unafraid."

Lt. Farrow was executed by firing squad on October 15, 1942. His remains were cremated and buried near Shanghai, China.

The letter should have been sent home through the International Red Cross but it was never sent. The executions were not known in America until after the war ended. His last letter and ashes were discovered at that time. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

His grave is at Arlington National Cemetery.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Lester Taylor, 101st Airborne Division. You can read about Lester 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

WW2 Fallen - B-24 radio operator Herbert McGuffin + Jimmy Stewart tie-in

B-24 radio operator Hebert McGuffin served in the 703rd Bombardment Squadron led by Hollywood star James Stewart.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93347225 

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

He was born on September 23, 1918 in Virginia. His parents Robert and Florence were born in Virginia and West Virginia, respectively. His father worked as a plumber. His mother died in 1928 from cancer. Herbert had two older brothers, one older sister and one younger sister. 

After attending one year of college and working as an insurance clerk, Herbert joined the Army Air Forces in August 1942. He became a radio operator in the 703rd Bombardment Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group, which was equipped with B-24 Liberators.

On November 14, 1943 Sgt. McGuffin's plane, Sunflower Sue was en route from Puerto Rico to British Guiana as the 703rd BS staged to deploy to England. It sent out one short Mayday, but was never heard from after that. It probably went down due to fuel transfer problems.

The commander of the squadron, Captain James Stewart (yes the Hollywood Jimmy Stewart) had to make the hard decision to fly on after reports of a U-boat in the area discouraged a sea search. He had the unenviable duty to write 14 letters home to inform the next of kins of their loss.

https://robertmatzen.com/2015/09/26/dreams-and-nightmares/

Sgt. McGuffin's cenotaph grave is at Warm Springs Cemetery in Warm Springs, Virginia.

Thank you Sgt. McGuffin for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Herbert.

Last year on this date I profiled Doolittle raider Edwin Bain. You can read about Edwin 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

WW2 Fallen - Distinguished Service Cross hero and B-17 gunner Arizona Harris

Sgt. Arizona Harris was the top turret gunner of the B-17 Sons of Fury.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56290467
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/475481673140153941/ 

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

He was born on September 21, 1918 in Arizona (not a surprise). His parents Charles and Ethel were born in Kansas and Arizona, respectively. His father worked as a farm laborer. Arizona had two older brothers, one older sister and two younger brothers. By 1940 Arizona had completed four years of high school and moved to Riverside, California where he worked as a supply clerk.

Arizona volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a technical sergeant with the position of engineer / top turret gunner in the 369th Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

On January 3, 1943 Sgt. Harris's plane, Sons of Fury, completed a mission to bomb the submarine pens at Lorient, France where it was damaged by flak. The plane was then shot up by FW-190s and started going down in the Bay of Biscay. Four men were able to parachute from the plane. Sons of Fury made a perfect belly landing in the cold winter waters. Harris noticed the pilot and copilot in the water were attracting the attention of strafing German fighters. Rather than exit the sinking plane while he had time, Sgt. Harris stayed at his guns firing at the enemy to keep them away from the others in the crew. His guns kept firing until the B-17 sunk below the surface. None of the crew survived.

Sgt. Harris was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Technical Sergeant Arizona T. Harris (ASN: 6296272), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Top Turret Gunner of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 369th Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force. While on a combat mission over enemy occupied Continental Europe on 3 January 1943, the airplane on which he was serving was badly damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire and forced out of formation. 

A large force of enemy fighter planes then concentrated their attacks on this lone airplane, finally driving it to a crash landing in the sea. Throughout the descent, and as the airplane disappeared beneath the waves, Sergeant Harris was seen to be still firing his guns at the enemy airplanes. 

The dogged determination to fight against all odds and sheer bravery displayed by Sergeant Harris upon this occasion upholds the highest traditions of the armed forces of the United States.

Sgt. Harris is remember on the Tablet of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, England.

Thank you Sgt. Harris for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Arizona.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 engineer/gunner Albert Beyke. You can read about Albert 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

WW2 Fallen - Medal of Honor hero and medic Alfred Wilson, 26th Infantry Division

Medic Alfred Wilson, 26th Infantry Division, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7208497/alfred-leonard-wilson#view-photo=8634464 

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

He was born on September 18, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents Jessie and Matilda were also both born in Pennsylvania. His father worked as a coal miner and then as a timberman. Alfred had one older brother, two older sisters, three younger brothers, and three younger sisters. His mother died in 1933. By 1940 Alfred had completed one year of high school and was working as a laborer.

He enlisted in the army on February 15, 1943. He trained as a medic and became a Tech/5 attached to the 328th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division.

He gave his life while treating wounded infantrymen under shellfire near Bezage la Petite, France on November 8, 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Cpl. Wilson's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

He volunteered to assist as an aid man a company other than his own, which was suffering casualties from constant artillery fire. He administered to the wounded and returned to his own company when a shellburst injured a number of its men. 

While treating his comrades he was seriously wounded, but refused to be evacuated by litter bearers sent to relieve him. In spite of great pain and loss of blood, he continued to administer first aid until he was too weak to stand. Crawling from 1 patient to another, he continued his work until excessive loss of blood prevented him from moving. He then verbally directed unskilled enlisted men in continuing the first aid for the wounded. Still refusing assistance himself, he remained to instruct others in dressing the wounds of his comrades until he was unable to speak above a whisper and finally lapsed into unconsciousness. 

The effects of his injury later caused his death. By steadfastly remaining at the scene without regard for his own safety, Cpl. Wilson through distinguished devotion to duty and personal sacrifice helped to save the lives of at least 10 wounded men.

His grave is at Maple Grove Cemetery in Fairchance, Pennsylvania

Thank you Corporal Wilson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Alfred.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 radio operator Cyril Curb. You can read about Cyril 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

WW2 Fallen - Artillery officer Norris Gee and his P-38 pilot brother Richard

Bradford and Lydia Gee only had two children who lived to adulthood. Both Richard and Norris were killed while serving their country in World War 2.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131649736
http://knoxvillealumniassoc.com/class/Obits.aspx?Person=1001

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

He was born on September 17, 1918 in Nebraska. His parents Bradford and Lydia were both born in Illinois and Iowa, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as a highway construction foreman. Still later he worked as a contractor. Norris had one younger brother, Richard, who survived to adulthood. A pair of twins died in infancy. By 1940 Richard had already joined the army and was based in Louisiana.

On May 3, 1941 Norris married Clerice Bularelli in Missouri. They would have a daughter and a son.

Richard became a fighter pilot with the rank of captain in the 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group which was equipped with P-38 Lightnings. He arrived in England in August 1943 and flew combat missions for the next 10 months. He failed to return from a mission over France on June 22, 1944 and was reported missing in action. His status was later changed to killed in action.

Norris also attained the rank of captain. He was in the Headquarters Battery of the 202nd Field Artillery Battalion which as outfitted with twelve 155mm howitzers. It arrived in Normandy in July 1944. It would spend most of ten months in combat with Patton's 3rd Army, all the way to Munich, Germany. It set a record of firing 1,819 rounds in one day. 

The fighting was pretty much over when Captain Gee was killed in an aircraft accident (probably an Stinson L-5 Sentinel that crash landed) on May 7, 1945.

Their graves are at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville, Iowa. Norris's widow remarried and died in 2011. I don't know what happened to his children.

Thank you Norris and Richard for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Gee brothers. The saying "All gave some, but some gave all" really applies to the Gee family.

Last year on this date I profiled Thomas Cross, 82nd Airborne, and his AAF brother Robert. You can read about the Cross brothers 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

WW2 D-Day Fallen - Bedford Boy Frank Draper, 29th Infantry Division

Sgt. Frank Draper never made it to Omaha Beach on D-Day.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70732764/frank-price-draper
https://www.dday.org/2013/06/06/our-d-day-fallen-sergeant-frank-p-draper/
http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/omaha/attack.htm 

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

He was born on September 16, 1918 in Virginia. His parents Frank and Mary were also both born in Virginia. His father worked as a woolen mill washer and later as a weaver in Bedford. Frank had two younger brothers and one younger sister. Frank was a star athlete in high school, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track. By 1940 Frank had completed four years of high school and was working as a weigher in a textile mill while living at home.

He was serving in the Virginia National Guard when it was federalized into the US Army in February 1941. Frank became a tech sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. He was also on the Regiment's baseball team that was one of the best in England. The 116th IR was given the unenviable assignment of going in as the first wave on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Many soldiers in the 116th IR were from Virginia and a great concentration of those from the small town of Bedford served in Company A.

On June 6, 1944, while in a landing craft heading for the beach, Sgt. Draper was hit by an incoming shell and immediately killed. 

By the end of D-Day only 18 of Company A's 230 men were unhurt. The small 3,200 strong community of Bedford lost 22 men in Normandy, 19 on D-Day. It was the greatest loss per size of hometown from all of the war. The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford commemorates this sacrifice.

His grave is at Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Navy Cross hero carrier pilot Andrew Ham, USS Bennington. You can read about Andrew 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

WW2 Guam Fallen - Willie Graves, 3rd Marine Division

Sgt. Willie Graves served in the 3rd Marine Division during the recapture of Guam.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32862056/willie-edmond-graves
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/510877151472511564/ 

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

He was born on September 13, 1918 in Mississippi. His parents Edmond and Lillie Mae were also both born in Mississippi. His father worked as a farmer. Willie had an older sister, a younger sister, and two younger brothers. He married Edna Earle Ray.

He enlisted in the Marines in 1937. After a year he was allowed to go home due to the ill health of his mothers, but he was called back to active service in 1941.

He was deployed to Iceland in July 1941 and served there for nine months. He was moved to the South Pacific in February 1943. He became a platoon sergeant in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The 3rd MD fought at Bougainville in November 1943.

Sgt. Graves participated in the 3rd MD's next assignment which was the retaking of Guam. The Marines landed on July 21, 1944. Sgt. Graves was killed the next day, perhaps during one of the Japanese night infiltrations.

His grave is at Hazlehurst Cemetery in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you Platoon Sergeant Graves for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Willie.

Last year on this date I profiled tugboat cook Melvin Meyer. You can read about Melvin 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

WW2 Battle of the Bulge Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Archer Gammon, 6th Armored Division

Sgt. Archer Gammon was a squad leader in the 6th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7914227/archer-t.-gammon
http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/6tharmored/index.html

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

He was born on September 11, 1918 in Virginia. His parents Walter and Cordie were also both born in Virginia. His father worked as a farmer. Archer had eight sisters and six brothers. By 1940 Archer had completed two years of high school and was working as a farmer while living with his parents.

He was drafted into the army on March 21, 1942.

He became a staff sergeant in Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division. The 6th AD arrived in Normandy at the end of July 1944. It participated in Operation Cobra where the Americans broke out of Normandy, the Battle for Brest, and the drive across France.

Sgt. Gammon was a squad leader when he fought his final engagement during the Battle of the Bulge. On January 11, 1945, his platoon had been given the assignment to advance east of Bastogne. After taking out a German machine-gun position that had pinned his men, he single-handedly forced a German Tiger tank to retreat, but was killed in the process. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Sgt. Gammon's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

He charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow to knock out a machinegun and its 3-man crew with grenades, saving his platoon from being decimated and allowing it to continue its advance from an open field into some nearby woods. 

The platoon's advance through the woods had only begun when a machinegun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent 88mm. shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. S/Sgt. Gammon, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the left, crossing the width of the platoon's skirmish line in an attempt to get within grenade range of the tank and its protecting foot troops. Intense fire was concentrated on him by riflemen and the machinegun emplaced near the tank. He charged the automatic weapon, wiped out its crew of 4 with grenades, and, with supreme daring, advanced to within 25 yards of the armored vehicle, killing 2 hostile infantrymen with rifle fire as he moved forward. The tank had started to withdraw, backing a short distance, then firing, backing some more, and then stopping to blast out another round, when the man whose single-handed relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and instantly killed by a direct hit from the Tiger Royal's heavy gun. 

By his intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no matter what the odds, S/Sgt. Gammon cleared the woods of German forces, for the tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad leader's platoon.

His grave is at Mountain View Cemetery in Danville, Virginia

Thank you Sgt. Gammon for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Archer.

Last year on this date I profiled ambulance driver James Smarr. 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