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| Sgt. Vernon Fowler served with the 453rd Anti Aircraft Battalion in Normandy. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117412122/vernon-a_-fowler |
Vernon A. Fowler never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on February 16, 1919 in Pennsylvania. His parents Harry and Margaret were born in Pennsylvania and Wales, respectively. His father worked as a coal miner. Vernon had a younger brother and sister. By 1940 Vernon had completed four years of high school and was working as a digger while living with his parents.
He enlisted in the army after the war started and became a sergeant in the 453rd Anti-Aircraft Battalion. The 453rd AAB was equipped with 40mm gun mobile batteries. It arrived in England in February 1944. and was sent to Normandy in June to support the 4th Infantry Division. With few Luftwaffe targets, the AA guns were put to use knocking out German pill boxes. It was transferred to the 83rd Infantry Division on July 2, 1944.
Sgt. Fowler was killed in action on July 18, 1944. At that time the 83rd Infantry was still engaged in the Normandy fighting, facing some of the better German units. On the date Sgt. Fowler was killed, elements of the 83rd ID were subject to heavy mortar and small arms fire. This was likely the cause of his death.
His grave is at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Johnston, Pennsylvania.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero Raymond Schwein, 3rd Armored Division. You can read about Raymond and one of the Andrew Sisters, born on the same day, 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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