WW2 Fallen - DFC glider pilot hero Elliot Hulet + famous balloonist

Photos provided by Margaret Ann Wepner.

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

He was born on June 30, 1919 in Parowan, Utah. His parents Rupert and Sarah were also both born in Utah. His father worked as a dairy farmer. Elliot had two older sisters, two older brothers, two younger sister, and two younger brothers. By 1940 Elliot had completed two years of college and was helping out on the family farm and also found work as a carpenter. He attended one further year of college before joining the service.

Five of the Hulet brothers served in the military during World War 2.

Photos from newspaper provided by Margaret Ann Wepner.

Elliot enlisted in the army on October 22, 1941 and volunteered for the Army Air Forces. He became a first lieutenant and completed glider pilot training by the end of 1942. He was assigned to the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group and was sent to England in March 1944.

Lt. Hulet flew glider missions in all of the airborne operations of 1944 and 1945. First it was a glider landing in Normandy on the evening of D-Day near St. Mere Eglise. The slow moving American gliders suffered more than 20 percent casualties from German ground fire, but Lt. Hulet managed to land safely. Next he participated in a South France landing for Operation Dragoon in August 1944. That was an easy flight compared to the one next month in Holland for Operation Market Garden, but again he landed this glider successfully. In November he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. 

The Allied High Command planned one more airdrop with glider participation called Operation Varsity - two airborne divisions would land on the east side of the Rhine to help support the British and Canadian river crossing. Lt. Hulet was told he would be staying put for this mission. Nevertheless, in the weeks leading up to Operaton Varsity, Lt. Hulet had shared a concern that he would not make it home alive.

The night before the mission, one of the assigned glider pilots begged off. A volunteer was needed to take his place and Lt. Hulet took over for his glider. The next afternoon, March 24, 1945, Lt. Hulet was mortally wounded by flak and small arms fire while piloting his glider. The planners assigned two gliders per tow plane, slowing them down even more than normal. The Germans had an easy time firing at the slow moving gliders in broad daylight. Nearly 80% of the 416 gliders that landed were hit. Between 20-30% of the glider pilots became casualties. Despite his grievous wounds, Lt. Hulet successfully landed his glider 4 1/2 miles northwest of Wiesel, Germany, before expiring. Everyone else onboard landed without injury. 

Lt. Hulet was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, two Oak Leaf Clusters, and, of course, the Purple Heart.

His grave is at Parowan City Cemetery in Parowan, Utah.

Thank you Lt. Hulet for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Elliot.

Lt. Hulet's story is also told at https://www.fold3.com/page/91163312-lenord-e-hulet/stories. It is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project, Utah pilot.

The information for this profile was provided by Margaret Ann Weppner. Margaret's mother Margaret Stephensen was engaged to Elliot Hulet and was a friend of his sisters and mother. She shared her recollections of Elliot with her children on the anniversary of Elliot's death. A big thanks to Margaret Ann for making this hero's story available for more people to see.

Last year on this date I profiled John Untersherer, 741st Tank Battalion, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. You can read about John here.

ED YOST
Another American who served his country in WW2 was also born on June 30, 1919. Ed Yost was born in Iowa. After graduating form the Boeing School of Aeronautics the US Army assigned him to its Balloon Technology Division. He worked on a project to drop propaganda leaflets from high altitudes. 

http://www.sdpb.org/blogs/images-of-the-past/sioux-falls-and-the-birth-of-the-modern-hot-air-balloon/

After the war he continued working on hot air balloons and is now considered the father of modern ballooning. He died in 1987.

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

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“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - William McDonald, 92nd Infantry Division and a famous Hollywood cowboy

PFC William McDonald served with the 92nd Infantry Division in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141671856/william-h-mcdonald
https://comptonherald.org/remembrance-92nd-infantry-vanished-without-honor/ 

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

He was born on June 29, 1919 in North Carolina. The records linked to his name may not be accurate. If they are, they tell a very unusual story. The 1930's census shows a 11 year old William McDonald living with his 70 year old father Andy and his 27 year old mother Sarah in Nulato, Alaska. The same census shows he had two younger sisters and a younger brother. The oldest three children are listed as mixed race and the youngest as white. Perhaps the older children had a different father. Andy was from Canada. The census listed his occupation as follows:

 

If anyone can make out what it is, let me know! William completed one year of high school and found work as a janitor.

While living in Pennsylvania, he was drafted into the army on April 9, 1941. He became a private first class in the segregated black Company C, 1st Battalion, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. His unit was sent to Sardinia in April 1944 where it was first assigned to airfield security duties there and in other Italian locations. In November 1944 it was sent to to the front to join the fighting. The 92nd ID was plagued by low moral and malingering and had a less than stellar reputation in engaging with the enemy. Perhaps treating people like second class citizens gets second class results. The American military would not even consider sending blacks into battle until the second half of 1944, under pressure from black communities.

During the later part of January 1945 the situation in the 366th IR's sector was static with no major efforts by either side. PFC McDonald was killed in action on January 28, 1945, one of nearly 3,000 battle casualties suffered by the 92nd ID during the war. Two 92nd ID soldiers were belatedly awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997.

His grave is at White Oak AME Zion Cemetery in Sanford, North Carolina.

Thank you PFC McDonald for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for William.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 pilot Walter White. You can read about Walter here.

Slim Pickens
The western character actor Slim Pickens (real name Louis Lindley, Jr.) was born on the same day as William McDonald. Louis was born in California and from an early age excelled as a horse rider. Rather than working on the family dairy farm, the teen Louis preferred roping cattle and bronco busting. His father disapproved of his dangerous horse work, telling him such pursuits when yield slim pickings. Not wanted to get discovered, Louis entered a local rodeo using the name Slim Pickens. He won $400, a sizable prize in the 1930s. He found a niche as a rodeo clown.

When WW2 started, Slim decided to join the US Army. The recruiter asked if he had any skills and Slim said "rodeo." The army misheard this as 'radio' and he spent the whole war working at stateside radio stations.

After the war he continued his rodeo career, but by 1950 he leveraged his horsemenship skills in western roles in movies. Slim appeared in dozens of films. His best roles were in the movies Dr. Strangelove and Blazing Saddles (a role that was first offered to John Wayne). He died in 1983.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/359302876500280279/

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 - Clinton Goodwin, 777th Tank Battalion

Lt. Clinton Goodwin served in the 777th Tank Battalion in Germany.
 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140561857/clinton-foster-goodwin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separate_tank_battalion

Clinton Foster Goodwin Jr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Clinton was born June 28, 1919 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. His parents Clinton Sr. and Esther were born in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, respectively. His father worked as a supervisor in the public school system and as a civil engineer. Clinton had a younger sister and a younger brother. He graduated from Haverhill High School in the Class of 1937, where he was in the Dramatic Club and played basketball and baseball. In 1939 Clinton was attending Massachusetts State College in Boston majoring in Landscape Architecture, was a member of the School Band and the Landscape Club, and played basketball, hockey and soccer. He later attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

He enlisted in the US Army in July 1941 and became a Lieutenant in the 777th Tank Battalion. The 777th was organized as one of a number of independent tank battalions, which were intended to be temporarily attached to an infantry, armored, or airborne division according to need. While armored divisions were expected to perform the massed breakout thrusts that were increasingly commonplace in the European theater, the smaller separate battalions were essential in supporting and maintaining smaller infantry advances. The separate tank battalions performed well in Europe and Italy, but new equipment was prioritized for the armored divisions, so they typically were equipped with less capable tanks than their armored division counterparts.

The 777th deployed to the European theater in late 1944 and was initially attached to the 28th Infantry Division in February 1945, and supported the 28th’s advance thru the Monschau Forest in Germany. In March 1945 the 777th was detached from the 28th ID and attached to the 69th ID, and crossed the Rhine River with the 69th to support their advance thru western Germany. During the advance, the tanks of the 777th worked closely with infantry and artillery units to dislodge the enemy town by town. 1Lt Goodwin presumably served as a tank commander and was killed in combat on 22 April 1945, just thirteen days before Germany’s unconditional surrender.

Clinton Foster Goodwin Jr. is buried in Linwood Cemetery in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Thank you Lt. Goodwin for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Clinton.
_____
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 Pearl Harbor Fallen Howard Rosenau. You can read about Howard 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 Operation Torch Fallen - Ralph Mehring, 1st Infantry Division, killed by Vichy French

PFC Ralph Mehring, was killed after just a few hours on the first day of the war for the 1st Infantry Division.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117390517/ralph-h_-mehring/photo
https://www.16thinfantry.com/unit-history/the-landing-at-oran/ 

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

He was born on June 27, 1919 in Ohio. His parents Carl and Marie were also both born in Ohio. His father worked as a gas plant fire man and later as an electric company lineman. Ralph had two older brothers, three younger brothers, and one younger sister. By 1940 Ralph had completed six years of schooling and was working as an usher while living with a brother.

He was drafted into the army on March 5, 1941. He became a private first class in Company M, 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. 

The 26th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, executed an amphibious landing at Les Andalouse near Oran, Algeria on November 8, 1942 as part of Operation Torch. They faced Vichy French forces. The 3rd Battalion came under artillery fire as it approached its objective for the day. That may be when PFC Mehring was killed. He was one of the first Americans killed in the war against Nazi Germany and her Vichy accomplices.

His grave is at Riverside Cemetery in Defiance, Ohio.

Thank you PFC Mehring for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ralph.

Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero and B-17 bombardier David Kingsley. You can read about David 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”

WW2 Fallen - The other John F. Kennedy, 37th Infantry Regiment

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35025380

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

He was born on June 26, 1919 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His parents John and Kathryn were both born in Ireland. They came to America in 1904 and 1900, respectively. His father worked as a railroad track foreman. John Jr. had two younger brothers and a younger sister.

He enlisted in the army on September 21, 1940. He became a private first class in Company D, 1st Battalion, 37th Infantry Regiment which was deployed to Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands in August 1941. He was likely there when the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor on June 3, 1942.

PFC  Kennedy died of non-battle related causes on December 16, 1942.

His grave is at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Of course the big story that never happened is related to PFC Kennedy's name. Had he survived to the 1960's he would have become at least a local celebrity with the same name as the US President. 

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

Last year on this date I profiled Joseph Butcher, Americal Division, Guadalcanal. You can read about Joseph 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 Anzio Fallen - Edward Gazda, 3rd Infantry Division

PFC Edward Gazda served with the 3rd Infantry Division at Anzio.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171975679/edward-l-gazda
https://www.eucmh.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3rd-Infantry-Division-Beach-Anzio-1944.jpg 

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

He was born on June 25, 1919 in New York. His parents Wladislawa and Teckla were both born in what became Poland. They came to America in 1910 and 1907, respectively. His father worked as a broom maker and later as a broom shop winder. Still later he worked as a wool picker. Edward had three older brothers. By 1940 Edward had completed three years of high school and was still living with his parents. He found a job working for a carpet manufacturer. 

He was drafted into the army on June 9, 1942. He became a private first class in Company H, Third Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division (nicknamed "Rock of the Marne").

PFC Gazda and the 3rd ID were in battle early on in Morocco in November 1942. He fought in Sicily and at Salerno in the summer of 1943. By October he was involved in heavy fighting crossing the Volturno River and the Battle of Monte Cassino. During the campaign in southern Italy, the 3rd ID suffered 3,265 battle casualties (including 683 killed) and an incredible 12,959 non-battle casualties. PFC Gazda, was one of few men from the 3rd ID to still be in action into the spring of 1944.

The 3rd ID was next sent to take part in the Battle of Anzio on January 22, 1944. The landing achieved complete surprise but the Allied forces were slow to take the high ground, allowing the Germans to form a strong defensive ring on the hills around the beachhead. The 3rd ID spent sixty-seven consecutive days on the front lines, endured numerous German counterattacks and a rain of German artillery shells. PFC Gazda was wounded on March 18 and died of his wounds on April 1, 1944.

His grave is at Saint Stanilaus Cemetery in Amsterdam, New York.

Thank you PFC Gazda for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.

Last year on this date I profiled US Naval Academy graduate John Spears, USS Vincennes. 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 Battle of the Bulge Fallen - Roy Jones, 4th Armored Division

PFC Roy Jones served in the 4th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121708415/roy-fielding-jones
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805423034543/

Roy Fielding Jones never had a chance to reach 100 years old. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Last year I was not able to write a profile everyday from September to November because I was studying for the Certified Financial Planner test (I passed!). I feel my project to honor one U.S. serviceman for each day of the war would be incomplete if I left them off. As I have time, I am going back and adding profiles for the days I missed.

Roy was born on September 26, 1918 in Georgia. His parents John and Fannie were also both born in Georgia. His father worked as a farmer and died in 1921. Roy had two older brothers and a younger half-brother. He was employed by a mill until he joined the service. He married Blanche Franklin.

He was drafted into the army on June 28, 1944. He became a private first class in the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division. The 4th AD landed on Utah Beach on July 11, 1944. It took part in Operation Cobra to break out of Normandy. By September it was across the Moselle River. In November it crossed the Saar River near Dieuze. 

I don't know if PFC Jones was with his unit for any of advance across France to Belgium. He was with the 4th AD in time for the Battle of the Bulge. When the Germans attacked through the Ardennes, the 4th AD was sent 150 miles north in 19 hours with a goal of relieving the town of Bastogne. PFC Jones remained engaged with the enemy on a daily basis until he was killed in action on January 10, 1945.

His grave is at Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Hodges, South Carolina.

Thank you Pvt. Jones for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Roy.

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 - Silver Star hero John Kotas, 1st Infantry Division

PFC John Kotas served with 1st Infantry Division in Sicily where he earned the Silver Star.
 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71607668/john-j_-kotas

https://16thinfassn.org/history/historical-galleries/world-war-ii/sicily/

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

John was born June 24, 1919 in Solvay, New York. His parents Anthony and Helen were born in Poland and Pennsylvania, respectively. He had a younger brother and a younger sister. John attended Solvay High School and was active in the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1940, John was living at home with his parents in Solvay and working in a library.

John enlisted in the US Army in January 1941 and served as a PFC in the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. The 16th Infantry participated in the North African campaign, beginning with an amphibious assault near Arzew, French Morocco on 8 November 1942. PFC Kotas fought with the 16th Infantry in a number of locations to include the Ousseltia Valley, Kasserine Pass, El Guettar, and Mateur in Tunisia. For its actions at Kasserine, the regiment was decorated with the Croix de Guerre by the French Government and received its first Presidential Unit Citation for its actions near Mateur.

PFC Kotas and the 16th Infantry next participated in the amphibious invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943. After achieving a relatively bloodless hold on the beachhead in the darkness, the regiment pushed into the hills beyond, where the regiment was soon hit hard with an armored counterattack by German tanks. By 14 July 1943, the regiment had moved through Pietraperzia, Enna, and Villarosa. Fighting against snipers and well-fortified positions, the regiment moved forward by a series of flanking movements and by 29 July had taken the high ground west of the Cerami River. In early August, the regiment reached the town of Troina in eastern Sicily, where it experienced some of the most bitter fighting it would see during the war. PFC Kotas was killed in action on 5 August 1943 during the assault on Troina, and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. The citation reads in part:

“When his company was subjected to heavy machine gun crossfire in its advance on an enemy hill, Private Kotas, unmindful of the enemy's strategic advantage, stormed one of the enemy nests in a valiant attempt to destroy it. Although killed in this action, his effective grenade fire compelled the enemy machine gun crew to withdraw.”

John J. Kotas is buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Syracuse, New York. His younger brother Raymond served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force and survived the war.

Thank you PFC Kotas for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.
_____
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 P-47 pilot Jack Engman. You can read about Jack 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 - Salver Gagliardi, 12th Armored Division

Captain Salver Gagliardi was the battalion operations officer for the 56th Armored Infantry Battalion.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24433465/salver-g_-gagliardi
http://www.12tharmoredmuseum.com/photoalbum_02.asp?c=56th%20Armored%20Infantry%20Battalion 

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

He was born on June 23, 1919 in Washington. His parents Frank and Theresa were born in Italy and Idaho, respectively (her parents were from Italy). His father worked as a cabinet maker in Spokane, Washington and later in Gilroy, California. Salver had one older brother, one younger brother, and one younger sister. By 1940 Salver had completed two years of college and was living with his parents.

He enlisted in the army on March 3, 1941 and rose to the rank of captain, serving as the battalion operations officer in the HQ Company, 56th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division. The 12th Armored Division arrived in France on November 11, 1944 and was engaged along the old Maginot line by early December. It crossed the Rhine in late March 1945. Captain Gagliardi was killed on April 5, 1945 while his battalion was fighting near Wurzburg. Snipers were a big problem and a captain would have made an obvious target. This late in the war, only 43 men from his battalion were killed in April.

His grave is at Saint Mary Cemetery in Gilroy, California. 

Thank you Captain Gagliardi for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Salver.

Last year on this date I profiled D-Day glider pilot John Butler and the highest ranking Allied officer killed on D-Day. 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 - B-17 navigator Flake Bowles

Lt. Willie Flake Bowles was the navigator of the B-17 Woolaroc in the 327th Bombardment Squadron.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80001463/willie-flake-bowles
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/27448 

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

He was born on June 22, 1919 in North Carolina. His parents Marvin and Elsie were also both born in North Carolina. His father worked as a farmer. Flake had one older sister, five younger brothers, and four younger sisters. By 1940 Flake had completed three years of college. He was living with his parents and worked as a farmer. He went on to graduate from North Carolina State College and worked as an assistant county agent.

He enlisted in the army on September 24, 1942. He was trained as a navigator and was a second lieutenant in the 327th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. It was engaged in bombing missions over Germany and elsewhere over continental Europe by May 1943. Lt. Bowles arrived in England in October 1943. He was a replacement for the losses taken in the costly Schweinfurt mission that cost the 8th Air Force 60 bombers.

The target for December 20, 1943 was Bremen. Lt. Bowles was the navigator in a bomber nicknamed Woolaroc. It was shot down and three of the crew were captured. The other seven, including Lt. Bowles were killed.

His grave is at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Hiddenite, North Carolina.

Thank you Lt. Bowles for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Flake.

Last year on this date I profiled PFC Cike Kawano, 442nd Infantry Regiment. You can read about Cike 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 El Guettar Fallen - Jack Ball, Darby's 1st Ranger Battalion

Sgt. Jack Ball served with Darby's Rangers (shown in the photo above) in North Africa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173661346/john-jesse-ball
https://www.eucmh.be/2018/02/24/1st-ranger-battalion-djebel-el-ank-operation-torch-1942/ 

John "Jack" Jesse Ball never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on June 20, 1919 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parents John and Eleanora were also both born in Iowa. His father worked as a mail carrier. Jack had two older sisters and one older brother. By 1940 Jack had completed four years of high school and found work as a meter reader.

He volunteered for the army in September 1940 and volunteered again for the new Ranger unit patterned after the British Commandos. Of the original 1,500 volunteers, only 600 were picked, and after extensive training, only 500 remained. John became a sergeant in Company C, 1st Ranger Battalion (Darby's Rangers). The Rangers were one of the first units to land in Algeria in November 1942. In Tunisia, it regularly conducted missions behind enemy lines.

In took an important role in the Battle of El Guettar, beginning when it was the first unit to capture the town on March 18, 1943. The Americans engaged the Germans there through April 3. Sgt. Ball was killed on March 25, 1943 when the Rangers were positioned in the main line of resistance and were attacked by 60 enemy tanks supported by an infantry battalion.

His grave is at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California.

Thank you Sgt. Ball for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Jack.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 pilot Leroy Madson. You can read about Leroy 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 - Alvin York, 76th Infantry Division, relative of namesake WWI hero

Staff Sergeant Alvin C York, shown here with a relative with the same name, served with the 76th Infantry Division in Luxembourg.
The Tennessean, 17 May 1943
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62338828/alvin-c_-york
https://www.ww2online.org/image/american-soldiers-advance-through-luxembourg-streets-february-1945 

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

He was born on June 19, 1919 in Tennessee. He was named for the famous WWI American war hero, Alvin C. York, who was a distant relative. His parents Allen and Mamie were also both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a general store merchant and later as a farmer. Alvin had three older brothers and one younger sister. By 1940 Alvin had completed two years of high school and was living at home.

He was drafted into the army on February 26, 1942. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant in Company K, 3rd Infantry Battalion, 385th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Liberty Bell Division").

The 76th Infantry Division arrived in England in early December 1944. It was assigned to the front lines in Luxembourg later that month. Sgt. York was killed on February 2, 1945 when his unit was maintaining a defensive position.

His grave is at Kittrell Cemetery in Lewis County, Tennessee.

Thank you Sgt. York for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Alvin.

Last year on this date I profiled Navy Cross hero David Doerr, 6th Marine Division. You can read about David 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