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| Silver Cross hero Lt. Richard Strehle served with the 7th Infantry Division at Kwajalein and Leyte. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94633879/richard-e-strehle https://www.pinterest.com/pin/274438171013503582/ |
Richard E. Strehle never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 12, 1919 in California. His parents Robert and Martha were born in California and Massachusetts, respectively. His father, a WWI veteran, worked as a fruit canning company foreman and later as a teacher and track coach at Pomona College. Richard had two younger brothers. By 1940 Richard was living at home and had completed two years of college. While attending Pomona College to study geology he was a star athlete in both football and track.
He became a first lieutenant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. The 32nd IR played a major role in retaking Attu Island from the Japanese in May 1943. It next saw action on Kwajalein in February 1944.
On Kwajalein, Lt. Sterhle was awarded the Silver Star for single-handedly wiping out a Japanese pillbox. I was not able to find the citation.
He was killed in action on October 20, 1944 on the first day of the invasion of Leyte, although for some reason his gravestone is dated October 22.
In 1945 Pomona College set up a $10,000 geology department scholarship in Lt. Strehle's name. The scholarship is still active today. The track at Pomona College is named for his father.
His grave is at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont, California.
Last year on this date I profiled B-17 navigator William Kuhlman. 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
Thank you Lieut. Strehle for your service to our country. You are another one of our heroes from the greatest generation, that were there when our country needed them. I'm sorry that you were not able to enjoy what you helped us keep. I am also sorry that your family had to live the rest of their lives without you. Thank you for what you did for us!
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