WW2 Fallen - William Shanks, 30th Infantry Division

Lt. William Shanks served with the 30th Infantry Division in Normandy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48131797/william-page-shanks
https://barbarawhitaker.wordpress.com/category/30th-infantry-division/page/2/ 

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

He was born on February 28, 1919 in Texas. His parents Grover and Margaret were born in Tennessee and Missouri, respectively. His father worked as a farmer. William had a younger brother and sister. By 1940 William had completed one year of college at Texas A&M. When at home, he helped on the family farm. He married Ann Strban.

He enlisted in the army on March 5, 1942. He was accepted to Officer's Candidate School and became a first lieutenant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division.

The 30th Infantry Division arrived in Normandy five days after D-Day. By July 7 it had crossed the Vire River. Lt. Shanks was killed on July 16, 1944 as his company worked through the difficult Normandy hedgerows.

His grave is at Wesley Chapel Cemetery, in Crockett, Texas. His widow remarried and died in 2008.

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

Last year on this date I profiled multiple medal hero John Dowdy, 4th Infantry Division. You can read about John 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 100 - Bronze Star hero Emmett Alumbaugh - 104th Infantry Division

PFC Emmett Alumbaugh served with the 104th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28526085/emmett-leon-alumbaugh
http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/page86.html 

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

He was born on February 27, 1919 in Missouri. His parents Elza and Viva were born in Kansas and Missouri, respectively. His father worked as a powder mill laborer and later as a cafe waiter. Emmett had an older brother. By 1940 Emmett had completed four years of high school and was working as a farm laborer. He married Mary Frances in November 1941.

He was drafted into the army on May 27, 1944. He became a private first class in Company. F, 2nd Battalion, 413th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Timberwolves"). The 104th ID arrived in France in late August 1944. PFC Alumbaugh probably joined his unit later as a replacement. The 104th ID helped to clear the Scheldt Estuary in Holland and checked the Germans from any advances to the north in the Battle of the Bulge.

PFC Alumbaugh was awarded the Bronze Star, probably for actions during the Battle of the Bulge where his division was active through the first three weeks of February. He died on February 25, 1945 while his unit was assaulting Castle Rath in Germany.

His grave is at Dudman Cemetery, Sarcoxie, Missouri. His widow remarried and died in 2003.

Thank you PFC Alumbaugh for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Emmett.

Last year on this date I profiled Donald Casavant, 2nd Infantry Division. You can read about Donald 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 Kwajalein Fallen - Harold Fisher, 7th Infantry Division

Harold Fisher served with the 7th Infantry Division on Kwajalein.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64107596/harold-charles-fisher
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kwajalein 

Harold Charles "Bud" Fisher never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 26, 1919 in California. His parents Charles and Edith were born in California and Oregon, respectively. His father worked as a navy yard blacksmith. Harold had one older brother and one younger brother. By 1940 Harold was living with his father (his mother was still alive, but living elsewhere). He had completed four years of high school and was working as a truck driver while participating in the California National Guard. He married Agnes Neil on December 7, 1941. They would have two daughters.

He first served in Company G, 2nd Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. Both of his brothers were in the same Company G. The 32 ID was sent to Australia in July 1942. In September it was sent to New Guinea to check the Japanese advance. Someone must have recognized it was not a good idea to have three brothers in the same rifle company because Harold was transferred to the 7th Infantry Division in late 1942. 

Harold became a private first class in Company C, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was with the 7th ID when it retook Attu from the Japanese in May 1943.

PFC Fisher was wounded during the Battle of Kwajalein, a four day battle that began on January 31, 1944. He was evacuated to a hospital ship but died of his wounds on February 5, 1944.

His grave is at Chico Cemetery in Chico, California. I don't know what happened to his widow or his children.

Thank you PFC Fisher for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harold.

Last year on this date I profiled Navy Cross Battle of Midway hero Frank O'Flaherty. You can read about Frank 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 - William White, USS Jacinto, George Bush's tail gunner

Lt. William White did not survive a mission with future President George H.W. Bush flying a TBM-1C Avenger.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/300055-yale-skull-and-bones-lt-william-gardner-white-usn-tailgunner-of-george-hw-bush-ww2-322/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56135285/william-gardner-white
http://ww2today.com/2-september-1944-usnr-lt-george-h-w-bush-shot-down-in-dive-bomb-attack

William Gardner "Ted" White never had a chance to reach 101 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on February 25, 1918 in Minnesota. His parents Edwin and Anna were born in Massachusetts and Ohio, respectively. His father worked as a president of a stocks and bonds firm and later as an investment banker. William had an older sister. After attending high school in Minnesota, William attended Yale University. He was a member of the secretive and exclusive Skull and Bones Society and graduated in 1942.

William joined the Navy and was commissioned as an ensign in June 1942. He rose to the rank of lieutenant, junior grade and became the squadron ordnance officer in VT-51 which was assigned to the light carrier USS San Jacinto. VT-51 was equipped with TBM-1C Avenger torpedo bombers.

On September 2, 1944 VT-51 was given the mission to bomb a radio transmitter on Chichi Jima. One of the pilots, flying a plane he named Barbara II, was Lt. George H. W. Bush, also a Yale man. His father and William's father were Yale classmates from a prior generation. Lt. White took the place of Lt. Bush's normal rear gunner for this mission so he could make some observations of the island. Bush's normal radioman, John Delaney, was the third member of the crew that day.

As Lt. Bush made his bomb run, he flew through heavy flak. His plane was hit in the belly, with fires spreading on one of the wings. He successfully released his four 500 pound bombs and flew out to sea. He realized he would never make it back to San Jacinto, so he ordered the crew to bale.

As the gunner, Lt. White would not have been wearing a parachute during the flight. The procedure for an Avenger bomber was to only put it on if the plane was in danger of going down, otherwise it was in the way. He probably did not have the training to quickly don the chute and jump and likely went down with the plane. Observers saw a second man jump (probably Delaney) but his chute did not deploy. 

Lt. Bush was in a life raft for four hours before being rescued by the submarine USS Finback. Had he not been rescued, he would never have been elected President of the United States. The Japanese on Chichi Jima regularly killed their prisoners and ritually ate parts of them.

One well connected Yale grad from a prominent family makes it home and becomes President of the United States. Meanwhile, another well connected Yale grad from a prominent family is largely forgotten. We will never know what accomplishments Lt. White could have achieved had he made it home.

Lt. White is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. 

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

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 Kenneth Barber. You can read about Kenneth 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 - Edward Buckshot, 2nd Marine Division

Edward Buckshot served with the 2nd Marine Division on Saipan.
 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141745637
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Troops_landing_on_Saipan.jpg

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

Edward was born February 24, 1919 in Alton, Illinois. His parents Eugene and Grace were both born in Missouri. His father worked as a machinist for a glass manufacturer. Edward had one older brother and one younger brother. I was unable to find the family in the 1940 census records. Edward graduated from Alton High School in June 1940 and attended one semester of college as an art student. Prior to enlisting in the service, he was employed at Western Cartridge Company in East Alton.

Edward enlisted in the USMC in July 1942 and served in Company F, 2nd Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. The 6th Marines sailed for the South Pacific in October 1942 and landed at Guadalcanal on January 4, 1943 and were engaged in combat with Japanese forces for six weeks before relocating to New Zealand to rest and refit.

In November 1943, PFC Buckshot and the 6th Marines took part in the amphibious invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, for which it received a Presidential Unit Citation for its role in the bloody combat to capture the island.

Next, the 6th Marines participated in the Battle of Saipan in the Marianas Islands, which would put US bombers in range of the Japanese islands. On June 15, 1944 the regiment made an amphibious assault at Saipan and took heavy casualties in the first hours ashore, but repulsed several enemy counterattacks that saved the beachhead. PFC Buckshot was killed in combat the next day June 16, 1944. Saipan was the bloodiest battle of WW2 for the 6th Marines.

Edward Stanley Buckshot is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Godfrey, Illinois.

Thank you Edward for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."

Last year on this date I profiled C-47 pilot Lawrence Jones. You can read about Lawrence 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 - Marvin Fomby, 8th Infantry Division

Staff Sergeant Marvin Fomby was killed in action when the 8th Infantry Division was capturing Brest.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42815172/jesse-marvin-fomby
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/caught-in-the-crosshairs/ 

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

He was born on February 23, 1919 in Bernice, Louisiana. His parents William and Bertha were also both born in Louisiana. His father worked as a farmer. Marvin had two younger brothers and four younger sisters. By 1940 Marvin had completed three years of high school and was working on the family farm.

Marvin had two uncles who also both lost their lives in the war. Earlier this year I profiled Clifton Fomby and his brother Odis. I noticed that they were also from Louisiana, so I did some additional research and discovered that they were related.

Marvin was drafted into the army on October 7, 1941. He became a staff sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. The 8th ID arrived at Utah Beach on July 4, 1944. Sgt. Fomby was wounded in Normandy and was sent to England to recuperate. He was sent back to his unit in time to participate in the attack on the important port of Brest that began in mid-August.

It would take nearly a month and a half for the Americans to wrest Brest from the Germans at the cost of nearly 10,000 casualties. On September 16, an 8th ID intelligence section, while searching prisoners, found a map showing all the enemy artillery positions and the complete defense plans. The Americans were able to use the information to destroy all the German artillery and bypass German strongpoints. It was too late for Sgt. Fomby who died that day. The city was pretty much secured the next day. 

His grave is at Shiloh Cemetery in Bernice, Louisiana.

Thank you Sgt. Fomby for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Marvin.

Last year on this date I profiled Ray Kessler, 85th Infantry Division. You can read about Ray 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 Pearl Harbor Fallen - George Taber, USS West Virginia

George Taber was a machinist mate 2nd class when the USS West Virginia was sank at Pearl Harbor.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9424791/george-edward-taber
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/uss-west-virginia-sank-in-pearl-harbor-attack-with-trapped-sailors/ 

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

He was born on February 22, 1919 in Missouri. His parents William and Sarah were also both born in Missouri. His father worked as a farmer and died in 1938. George had three older sisters, four older brothers and one younger brother.

He enlisted in the Navy on October 5, 1938, three months after his father died. He became a machinist mate second class on the 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 fire control action 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 including George Tabor. 

His grave is at Bethlehem Cemetery in Thomasville, Missouri.

Thank you MM 2/c Tabor for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for George.

Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero William Nelson, 9th Infantry Division. You can read about William 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 Nisei Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Joe Nishimoto, 442nd Infantry Regiment

PFC Joe Nishimoto earned the Medal of Honor with the 442nd Infantry Regiment in the Vosges Mountains.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10899879/joe-m_-nishimoto 

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

He was born on February 21, 1919 in Fresno, California. His parents Giichi and Kiyo were both born in Japan. His father worked as a fruit farmer. Joe had two older brothers and one younger sister. He completed four years of high school and worked as a sales clerk. After the war started President Roosevelt ordered all Japanese Americans on the west coast to be sent to internment camps. Joe's family was sent to the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas. The internment camp grew to over 8,000 occupants in 1943. His brother-in-law was able to get him moved to Columbus, Ohio.

Joe and his brother-in-law both enlisted in the army on October 4, 1943. They were assigned to the all Nisei 442nd Infantry Regiment and served in the same squad in Company G, 2nd Battalion. The 442nd had been taken heavy casualties since it became a fighting unit in Italy in June 1944. It got the reputation as a unit that would achieve its assignment, no mater the cost. It was sent to southern France in September and by October it was sent to the cold, rainy, foggy, and muddy Vosges Mountains. 

Despite days of hard fighting and a well earned respite from the front line, The 442nd was called on to rescue 275 men cut off by the Germans. It took the Nisei soldiers five days and 800 casualties to save the 211 men still holding out. The commanding divisional general was nearly relieved for allowing the whole Lost Battalion fiasco to happen in the first place.

A week later, the depleted 442nd IR was still on the line with the assignment to take Saint-Die. In PFC Nishimoto's sector, his men had been halted by mines, booby traps and multiple machine-gun nests. On November 7 PFC Nishimoto decided to single-handedly turn things around. He knocked out one enemy stronghold after another. This action would result in him being posthumously award the Distinguished Service Cross.

PFC Nishimoto was killed in action a week later on November 14, 1944. Two days after that, the 442nd IR was finally pulled off the line. The 2nd Battalion was down to 316 riflemen, when at full strength it should have been around 800.

His grave is at Washington Colonial Cemetery in Fresno, California.

In the year 2000 a commission decided to right a World War 2 era prejudice where worthy Japanese-Americans were denied the Medal of Honor. PFC Nashimoto was one of those chosen to have their DSC changed to a Medal of Honor. His citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto (ASN: 35229917), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 7 November 1944, near La Houssiere, France. 

After three days of unsuccessful attempts by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area. Spotting a machine gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove another machine gun crew from its position. The enemy, with their key strong points taken, were forced to withdraw from this sector. 

Private First Class Nishimoto's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Thank you PFC Nishimoto for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Joe.

Last year on this date I profiled tank destroyer crewman Floyd Tolman. You can read about Floyd 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 pilot Winfred Russell

Lt. Winfred Russell was a B-24 pilot for the 763rd Bombardment Squadron in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14393078/winfred-ray-russell
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~webermd1/family/wwII.html 

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

He was born on February 20, 1919 in Texas. His parents Charles and Lena were also both born in Texas. His father worked as a laborer and later as a county road man. Winfred had an older brother and two sisters. By 1940 Ray had completed four years of high school. He was still living with his parents, working as a truck driver.

He enlisted in the Army on April 4, 1941. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and eventually became a second lieutenant and pilot in the 763rd Bombardment Squadron, 460th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force, which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. The 460th BG arrived in Italy in January 1944 and became operational in March.

Lt. Russell participated in the 460th BG's fifth mission on April 5, 1944. The target was the Nis Marshalling Yard in Yugoslavia. His plane never made it back to base.

His grave is at North Elm Cemetery in North Elm, Texas.

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

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 navigator Alfred Nichols. You can read about Alfred 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 - Medal of Honor hero Frederick Timmerman, 2nd Marine Division

Sgt. Frederick Timmerman was the commander of the tank like the one in this photo during the Battle of Saipan
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7745032/grant-frederick-timmerman
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-usa-improvised-armor-on-m4-shermans-in-the-pto/

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

He was born on February 19, 1919 in Kansas. His parents James and Esther were also both born in Kansas. His father worked as a farmer and later as an automobile machinist. Frederick had two younger brothers and three younger sisters. He played saxophone in high school and was a student of both French and Russian. He attended one year of college at Kansas State Teacher's College before joining the Marines in 1937.

Frederick was assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment and was sent to China. He completed his four year enlistment in October 1941 and got a job at a San Francisco shipyard. Had he stayed in the 4th Marines, he would have been in the Philippines when the war started. After the Pearl Harbor attack he reenlisted in the Marines. He was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division and reached the rank of sergeant.

Sgt. Timmerman first saw action in the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943. He next participated in the Battle of Saipan. He was in combat from the first day, June 15, 1944. Three weeks later he was wounded by shrapnel but he stayed with his tank command.

July 8, 1944 would prove to be the last day of major fighting on Saipan. The battle would claim nearly 14,000 American casualties. It was the most costly victory at the time in the Pacific campaign. Having survived weeks of hellish fighting, on that day Sgt. Timmerman was one of the last Americans killed in action. While standing up in his tank's open turret, he stopped a Japanese grenade from falling into the tank and was killed, shielding the blast from the men inside. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Tank Commander serving with the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, on 8 July 1944. 

Advancing with his tank a few yards ahead of the infantry in support of a vigorous attack on hostile positions, Sergeant Timmerman maintained steady fire from his antiaircraft sky mount machine gun until progress was impeded by a series of enemy trenches and pillboxes. Observing a target of opportunity, he immediately ordered the tank stopped and, mindful of the danger from the muzzle blast as he prepared to open fire with the 75-mm., fearlessly stood up in the exposed turret and ordered the infantry to hit the deck. Quick to act as a grenade, hurled by the Japanese, was about to drop into the open turret hatch, Sergeant Timmerman unhesitatingly blocked the opening with his body, holding the grenade against his chest and taking the brunt of the explosion. 

His exceptional valor and loyalty in saving his men at the cost of his own life reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Timmerman and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his live in the service of country.

After the war the Navy named a destroyer after him in his honor.

His grave is at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Thank you Sgt. Timmerman for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Frederick.

Last year on this date I profiled combat engineer Robert Kuehn. 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

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Okinawa Fallen - John Childers, 77th Infantry Division + Academy Award winning actor

PFC John Childers, 77th Infantry Division
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20664355/john-t_-childers

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

He was born on February 18, 1919 in West Virginia. His parents Tilman and Norma were also both born in West Virginia. His father worked as a farmer until he died in 1930. John had one older brother, four older sisters and six younger sisters. By 1940 John had completed four years of schooling and lived with his widowed mother and sisters on the family farm.

He was drafted into the army on September 6, 1943. He became a private first class in Battery B, 304th Field Artillery Battalion, 77th Infantry Division. The 77th ID was sent to the Pacific Theater in  March 1944. It participated in the recapture of Guam in July 1944 and Leyte in November-December 1944. It was next selected to participate in the invasion of Okinawa.

The 77th ID was tasked with taking the small island of Ie Shima. With that succeeded it relieved the 96th Infantry Division on the front lines on Okinawa on May 1, 1945. That was the day PFC Childers was killed.

His grave is at Green Valley Cemetery in Salt Rock, West Virginia.

Thank you PFC Childers for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.

JACK PALANCE
Born in Pennsylvania on the same day as John Childers was the son of Ukrainian immigrants, Volodymyr Palahniuk. He is better known by his acting name - Jack Palance. He worked as a coal miner as a youth and then became a professional boxer.

Palance served in the Army Air Forces during World War 2. He became a second lieutenant and B-24 co-pilot. He bailed out of a burning B-24 during a training flight in Arizona. His face was disfigured and 1940's plastic surgery gave him the distinctive look that made him a popular movie villain. He was discharged after his medical treatment was completed in 1944.

https://picclick.com/☆-Jack-Palance-Attack-ORIGINAL-1950s-Promo-Portrait-372170043340.html

After the war Palance turned to acting. He was Marlon Brando's understudy on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire. He had back-to-back Oscar nominations for Sudden Fear and Shane in 1952-53. He finally won for City Slickers in 1991. He died in 2006.

Last year on this date I profiled A-36 pilot Herbert Estep. You can read about Herbert 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