 |
| PFC Harold Moake, with wife Joyce and son, served with the 34th Infantry Division in Italy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/34th_Infantry_Division_(United_States) |
Harold was born June 9, 1919 in Frankfort, Illinois. His parents Ray and Vella were also born in Illinois. His father worked as a miner and machine operator in a coalmine. Harold had two younger brothers and three younger sisters. Harold played football, basketball, and ran track at Frankfort Community High School. In 1940, Harold was living at home with his parents. He married the former Joyce Lee Joplin on 18 August 1941 in Charleston, Missouri. They apparently had a son but I can’t find any information on him.
Harold was inducted into the US Army in November 1942 and served as a PFC in Company F, 133rd Infantry Regiment of the 34th Infantry Division. The 34th Infantry was known as the “Red Bull” Division, and has the distinction of having taken more enemy-defended hills than any other US Army Division in WWII. The 34th ID began combat operations in November 1942 in North Africa.
PFC Moake likely joined the 34th as a replacement in time to participate in the invasion of Salerno, Italy in September 1943 as the 34th fought its way north across icy rivers and through villages, hills, and snow-capped mountain peaks. The exhausted soldiers of the 34th were relieved in December 1943 after 76 successive days of contact with the enemy and had a brief respite to rest and refit.
In January 1944, the 34th drove into the Gustav lLne, took Mount Trocchio after a bitter fight, pushed across the Rapido river, attacked Monastery Hill, and fought its way into Cassino, before being relieved 13 February 1944. After rest and rehabilitation, it landed in the Anzio beachhead, 25 March 1944, maintaining defensive positions until the offensive of 23 May, when it broke out of the beachhead, took Cisterna, and raced to Civitavecchia and Rome. After a short rest, the Division drove across the Cecina River to liberate Livorno, 19 July 1944, and continued on to take Mount Belmonte in October. The 34th then dug in south of Bologna for the winter, where PFC Moake was killed in action 5 Feb 1945.
Harold R. Moake is buried in Boner Cemetery in West Frankfort, Illinois. His wife remarried after the war and passed away in 1999.
Thank you PFC Moake for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harold.
_____
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."
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
In January 1944, the 34th drove into the Gustav lLne, took Mount Trocchio after a bitter fight, pushed across the Rapido river, attacked Monastery Hill, and fought its way into Cassino, before being relieved 13 February 1944. After rest and rehabilitation, it landed in the Anzio beachhead, 25 March 1944, maintaining defensive positions until the offensive of 23 May, when it broke out of the beachhead, took Cisterna, and raced to Civitavecchia and Rome. After a short rest, the Division drove across the Cecina River to liberate Livorno, 19 July 1944, and continued on to take Mount Belmonte in October. The 34th then dug in south of Bologna for the winter, where PFC Moake was killed in action 5 Feb 1945.
Harold R. Moake is buried in Boner Cemetery in West Frankfort, Illinois. His wife remarried after the war and passed away in 1999.
Thank you PFC Moake for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harold.
_____
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."
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
No comments:
Post a Comment