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| Sgt. Anthony Damman served with the 32nd Infantry Division during the Battle of Buna-Gona. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128829035/anthony-a-damman http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_buna.html |
Anthony A. Damman never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on February 11, 1919 in Wisconsin. His parents Anton and Mary were also both born in Wisconsin. Three of his grandparents were from Germany. His father worked as a shipyard carpenter and later as a farmer. Anthony had one older sister and two younger brothers. Anthony completed eight years of schooling and worked on the family farm.
He volunteered for the Wisconsin National Guard in September 1937. His unit was federalized in October 1940. Anthony became a sergeant in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division.
Sgt. Damman was transported to New Guinea and took part in the Battle of Buna-Gona beginning in November 1942, where Australian and American troops fought to dislodge Japanese troops who had arrived earlier that year. It was jungle warfare at its most challenging against an unfamiliar foe who they soon learned almost never surrendered, despite how desperate their situation. On December 20, 1942, Sgt. Damman's company was ordered to seize an objective known as The Triangle. The Americans had been trying unsuccessfully to dislodge the Japanese from this position for two weeks. This attack failed also, at the cost of 39 casualties. Sgt. Damman succumbed to wounds received in this fighting. The Triangle would not fall for another week. The allies lost nearly 2,000 men during the battle.
His grave is at Holly Cross Cemetery in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
Last year on this date I profiled William Shelton, 82nd Airborne 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.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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