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| PFC Wallace Bitton served with the 96th Infantry Division in Okinawa. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63384171/wallace-bitton https://www.collectors.com/autograph/leonardlaz-lazarick-96th-infantry-division-battle-of-okinaw/-8752063094856395660 |
Wallace Bitton never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on April 22, 1919 in Wilson, Utah. His parents George and Laura were also both born in Utah. His father worked as a sugar factory foreman and later as the factory assistant supervisor. Wallace had four older sisters, a younger sister, and two younger brothers. Wallace married Ella Wilson in 1939. He found work as a brakeman for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Wallace and Ella had two sons and a daughter.
He was drafted into the army on August 12, 1944. He became a private first class in the HQ Company, 1st Battalion, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division. He left for the Pacific on January 17, 1945. He came to his unit as a replacement after the 96th ID had fought in the Philippines.
After landing on Okinawa on April 1, 1945 and encountering little resistance for a few days, by April 7 the 96th ID was fully engaged against a well entrenched and determined enemy. Casualties were high until the 96th ID was finally pulled off the line on April 30 to give time for refitting. Ten days later it was back in action with a goal of taking Conical-Sugar Hill Ridge. PFC Bitton was killed in the middle of this effort on May 17, 1945 when, under constant rain, his unit attacked Dick Hill.
His grave is at Washington Heights Memorial Park in Ogden, Utah. His widow remarried and died in 2007. I don't know what happened to his children.
PFC Bitton's story is also told at https://www.fold3.com/page/638678400-wallace-bitton/stories. It is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project, Utah pilot.
This post was erroneously posted for a short time on April 5, 2019, which is why it is listed as April 5 instead of April 22. It was meant to post on April 22.
Last year on this date I profiled William Wheatley, 34th 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.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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