WW2 Brest Fallen - Joseph Healey, 29th Infantry Division

PFC Joseph Healey served in the 29th Infantry Division in the Battle of Brest.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138184116
https://echoesofawar.wordpress.com/tag/29th-infantry-division/ 

Today is National Gold Star Mother's Day, created by Congress in 1936 to recognize and honor the mothers who lost a son or daughter while serving in the US Armed Forces.

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

Joseph was born on September 30, 1919 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His parents Joseph and Mamie were also born in Pennsylvania. His father worked as a laborer in a coal mine. He had four older sisters, two younger sisters, and one younger brother. In 1940, Joseph had completed six years of school and was living at home with his parents in Scranton. Prior to being drafted, Joseph was employed by the Schwartz Produce Company. 

Joseph was drafted into the US Army in March 1942, trained at Fort Meade, Maryland and Ft. Benning, Georgia, and was stationed in Washington D.C. for a year before going overseas. In April 1944, he married the former Teresa Mary Brooks of Binghamton, New York. He served as a PFC in an antitank company of the 175th Infantry Regiment, which is the seventh oldest regiment in the US, with lineage that goes back to the Revolutionary War. The 175th IR deployed to England as part of the 29th Infantry Division in October 1942 and over the next year and half underwent intense training for the invasion of Europe, then landed at Omaha Beach on 7 June 1944. According to a newspaper story, PFC Healey went overseas in June 1944, but its not clear if he participated in the D-Day landing or joined the regiment sometime later as a replacement. 

In the days following the amphibious landing at Omaha Beach, the 175th proceeded to its objective to seize the village of Isigny, then pushed through Isigny and crossed the Vire River and on to St Lo, battling stiff German resistance hedge row by hedge row. The 175th fought in Normandy until the end of August, then moved to Brittany to participate in the capture of the port city of Brest and the German submarine pens located there. By September Brest was surrounded and eventually stormed but the fight proved extremely difficult, as the German garrison was well entrenched and partially made up of elite paratrooper forces. PFC Healey was killed in action 9 September 1944, likely during the Battle of Brest.

Joseph Patrick Healey is buried in Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton, PA. I was unable to find any information on his widow.

Thank you PFC Healey for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Joseph.

_____

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 Airman Cecil Lanning, his sailor brother, and Band of Brothers' Lewis Nixon. You can read about Cecil 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 Normandy Fallen - Engineer Robert Adkins, 9th Infantry Division

Pvt. Robert Adkins served in the 15th Combat Engineer Battalion attached to the 9th Infantry Division in Normandy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25016558/robert-widdie_astor-adkins
https://www.amazon.com/9th-Infantry-Division-Invasion-Normandy/dp/B000LXU80S
https://9thinfantrydivision.net/15th-engineer-battalion/

Robert Widdie Astor Adkins never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on September 29, 1919 in Leet, West Virginia. His parents Dewie and Peachie were also both born in West Virginia. His father worked as a farm laborer and later as a steel mill laborer. His mother died in 1926 and his father remarried. Robert had one older brother and two younger brothers. By 1940 Robert had completed eight years of schooling and was living with an uncle. He worked for the CCC. It appears that he married a woman with the first name Winifred, but I couldn't find anything else about her.

He was drafted into the army in June 1942. He became a private in the 15th Combat Engineer Battalion which was attached to the 9th Infantry Division. Its main role was clearing land minds and building bridges.

Pvt. Adkins fought in the 9th ID engagements in North Africa beginning in November 1942. He was wounded in both legs on August 11, 1943 in Sicily, perhaps from a land mine.

The 9th ID arrived on Utah Beach on June 10, 1944. It helped capture Cherbourg and by July was fighting in the Battle of St. Lo.

On July 14, Pvt. Adkins was wounded in the back by a land mine explosion. He died the next day.

His grave is at Adkins Family Cemetery in Oak Hill, Ohio.

Thank you Pvt. Adkins for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.

Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero Horace Thorne, 9th Armored Division, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. You can read about Horace 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 POW Fallen - Allen Sills, 192nd Tank Bn + Silver Star Heisman Trophy runner

Pvt. Allen Sills served with the 192nd Tank Battalion in the Philippines.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63042255/allen-franklin-sills
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/570901690244346722/?lp=true 

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

He was born on September 28, 1919 in Texas. His parents Thomas and Myra were born in Mississippi and Tennessee, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later on a railroad track gang. Allen had an older brother and sister and five younger sisters. By 1940 Allen had completed four years of high school. He was still living at home and worked as a retail clerk.

He was drafted into the army in March 1941 and he became a private in the 753rd Tank Battalion. While in training he learned that the 192nd Tank Battalion, having just received orders to go to the Philippines, was looking for men to replace those 29 years or older, so Allen volunteered. He was assigned to Company C, 192nd Tank Battalion. It arrived in Manilla in November 1941. It fought the first American tank battle of WW2 against the Japanese on December 22, 1941. It retreated to Bataan and did its best to support the American and Filipino infantry with limited supplies until they were forced to surrender on April 8, 1942.

Pvt. Sills most likely took part in the Bataan Death March. He died in a Japanese POW camp on May 30, 1942 of dysentery, due to the appalling health conditions tolerated by the Japanese captors.

His grave is at Myrtle Cemetery in Ennis, Texas.

Thank you Pvt. Sills for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Allen.

TOM HARMON

Tom Harmon was born on the exact same day as Allen Sills, but he was born in Indiana. A gifted athlete, Harmon was a All-American college football player who was a halfback at the University of Michigan. In 1940 he won the Maxwell Trophy, the Heisman Trophy, and he was AP Athlete of the Year.

http://www.nww2m.com/2013/04/70th-anniversary-tom-harmon-crashes-over-suriname/
https://rgreyh.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/what-is-the-connection-between-mark-harmon-star-of-the-hit-tv-series-ncis-and-the-china-burma-india-cbi-theater-of-world-war-ii-his-father-tom-harmon-university-of-michigan-heisman-trophy-winne/

Harmon was drafted into the army and he then chose to volunteer for the Army Air Forces. Trained as a twin engine bomber pilot, he was slated to serve in the China-Burma Theater, but while flying his plane from the US on the first leg one the journey, he encountered bad weather and his plane failed over the Amazon. Everyone bailed out, but only Lt. Harmon survived after hiking out of the jungle. 

He was transferred to fly P-38s, first in North Africa and then in China. In October 1943, while escorting bombers in his P-38, he lost a dogfight to a Japanese Zero. He bailed out in Japanese territory. Fortunately, friendly Chinese guerrillas rescued him and got him back to his base. He earned the Silver Star and ended up with the rank of captain.

After the war he played a couple years for the Los Angelos Rams, but it was not a well paying career back then. He switched to a successful broadcasting career. His son is the famous actor Mark Harmon (NCIS). Tom Harmon died in 1990.

DSC hero Edward Krygowski, Americal Division, was born one year earlier on the same date as Sills and Harmon. You can read about Edward's exploits at the Battle of Guadalcanal 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 - DSC hero Waverly Wray, 82nd Airborne

Lt. Waverly Wray earned the Distinguished Service Cross with the 82nd Airborne at St. Mere Eglise.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92061713/waverly-w-wray
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805425422753/ 

Waverly W. "Deacon" Wray never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on September 27, 1919 in Batesville, Mississippi. Surprisingly, I was no able to find any census or other information about Waverly from ancestry.com. In all the other material I found, there was no mention of his parents or any siblings. By 1940 Waverly had completed four years of high school and found work as a farm hand.

He enlisted in the army in January 1941. He volunteered for the parachute infantry and eventually became a first lieutenant and executive officer in Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Lt. Wray stood out of the crowd. First of all he was 250 pounds. He didn't womanize, drink, or smoke and the worst language to come from his lips was "Jad Brown it." He sent half of his pay home to help build a new church. His fellow paratroopers called him "Deacon."

The 505th PIR made its first combat jump into Sicily on July 10, 1943 and then Salerno on September 14, 1943. Later in the fall, the 505th PIR was sent to North Ireland and later England to prepare for the invasion of Normandy.

Late in the evening of June 5, 1944, the men from the 505th PIR boarded 117 C-47 Skytrains for the flight to Normandy. Just before 2:00 am on June 6, 1944, Pfc. Lt. Wray jumped out of his C-47 Skytrain and landed near Sainte Mere Eglise. The skill of the 505th PIR pathfinders resulted in 75 percent of its men landing in their drop zones. It successfully captured Sainte Mere Eglise, the first town liberated in France.

Lt. Wray's exploits on D-Day + 1 have been recounted at many websites including here. There were up to six thousand German troops armed with tanks, artillery and other heavy weapons converging on the 600 lightly armed paratroopers. To learn more of the expected attack, Lt. Wray, an experienced woodsman, designated himself a one-man recon mission. He surprised the German commander of the 1st Battalion, 158th Grenadier Infantry Regiment and his staff in a field. While in the process of taking them prisoner, he was shot at by a nearby German. Lt. Wray's uniform was pierced by bullets and a part of his ear was shot off. He responded quickly and dispatched ten or more of the enemy. 

He returned back to town and then led a company attack, where he was wounded again, that caused the Germans to break and run. With key German officers dead, further German attacks on St. Mere Eglise that day were unorganized and failed. For this successful attack, Lt. Wray was nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross, but it was not awarded until after he died.

His DSC citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Waverly W. Wray (0-1030110), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 7 June 1944, in France. 

While his platoon was engaged in a heavy fight with the enemy, First Lieutenant Wray, completely disregarding his own safety, crawled under devastating machine gun fire and although wounded, fought on until he had destroyed two enemy machine gun positions. Returning to his platoon he reorganized it and, securing a re-supply of ammunition, led it in a successful attack upon the enemy. Only after he had driven the enemy from his platoon sector did he accept first aid for his wounds. 

First Lieutenant Wray's valiant leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

Lt. Wray also earned the Silver Star near Nijmegin, Holland during Operation Market Garden. A sniper was threatening his men. On September 21, 1944, he exposed himself by charging across a bridge so his comrades could see where the sniper was. He was killed by the German sniper, who was immediately taken down by Lt Wray's wireman. I could not find the citation.

His grave is at Shilo United Methodist Church Cemetery in Panola County, Mississippi, the very church he helped pay to build during the war.

The state of Mississippi has named a section of Mississippi Highway 35, near the community where he was raises, as Waverly Wray Memorial Highway.

Thank you Lt. Wray for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Waverly.

Last year on this date I profiled Saipan fallen Frank Sheehan, 2nd Marine Division. You can read about Frank 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 - Silver Star hero Andrew Hovdestad, 5th Armored Division

Staff Sergeant Andrew Hovdestad served with the 5th Armored Division from Normandy to Germany.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100534834/andrew-cornelius-hovdestad
https://www.eucmh.be/2018/05/26/5th-armored-division-85-crs-aar-august-1944/ 

Andrew Cornelius "Stub" Hovdestad never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on September 26, 1919 in Minnesota. His parents Anton and Olivia were both born in North Dakota. All of his grandparents were from Norway. His father worked as a general laborer and later as a coal company truck driver. He was unemployed in 1940. Stub had two older sisters, two younger sisters, and five younger brothers. All six served in the military beginning in World War 2 and continuing on to Korea and the Cold War. By 1940 Stub had completed three years of high school and was working as farm laborer and still living at home.

He was drafted into the army in June 1942. He eventually reached the rank of staff sergeant in   Company A, 46th Armored Infantry Battalion, 5th Armored Division. The 5th Armored arrived on Utah Beach on July 24, 1944. It was sent into combat on August 2 and drove south to Vitre. It seized Le Mans on August 8. The 5th AD reached Paris at the end of August. It was in Luxembourg before the middle of September. It was sent to the Hurtgen Forest in late November.

On December 15, Sgt. Hovdestad's company was part of the assault on the German town of Kufferath. He led aggressive patrols to clear the town in house-to-house fighting. In the process, he was mortally wounded by artillery shrapnel. He urged his men on while staying to oversea the needs of the other wounded and see that they were taken to safety. He died at the battalion aid station. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a citation.

His grave is at Riverside Cemetery in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Thank you Sgt. Hovdestad for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Andrew.

Last year on this date I profiled Battle of the Bulge fallen Roy Jones, 4th Armored Division. You can read about Roy 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 D-Day Fallen - LCT pilot John Anderson, 71 years MIA

Motor Machinist Mate 1/c John Anderson served on LCT-30 at Omaha Beach on D-Day.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163075955/john-emanuel-anderson
http://www.database-memoire.eu/prive/en-us/normandy-all-soldiers/17-colleville-a-us/316-anderson-john-e-us 

Today the WW2 Fallen 100 project profiled two servicemen instead of the normal one. Be sure to read about Battle of Midway Navy Cross hero Martin Mahannah here.

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

He was born on September 25, 1919 in Wilmar, Minnesota. His parents Oscar and Anna were  born in Sweden and Minnesota, respectively. His father worked as a house painter and later as a contractor. John had three older sisters. By 1940 John had completed four years of high school. He was living at home and worked as a painter.

He volunteered for the US Navy in March 1942. He rose to the rank of motor machinist mate first class and served on LCT-30, a tank landing craft. He participated in amphibious landings in North Africa and Italy as an LCT pilot.

There were more than 800 LCTs involved with the D-Day landings. Over the next 11 days, 24 of them were destroyed.

On June 6, 1944, LCT-30 had dropped of its supply of tanks at Omaha Beach and moved back out to sea. MMM Anderson was in the boiler room of LCT-30 when he was killed by an enemy artillery shell. The boiler room flooded and the ship sank in shallow waters. Anderson was the only fatality, but some of the sailors who abandoned ship were wounded after reaching the beach. His family was told he was lost at sea, but in the confusion of battle, his body was actually buried in the Normandy-American Cemetery as unknown X-91.

Fast forward 71 years and DNA testing identified the remains of the grave as belonging to John Anderson. His remains were brought home and he was buried in 2016.

His grave is at Fairview Cemetery in Wilmar, Minnesota.

Thank you MMM Anderson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.

Urho Pitkamaki, 45th Infantry Division, was born one year earlier to the date as John Anderson. You can read about Urho 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 Midway Fallen - Navy Cross hero and F2A-3 Marine pilot Martin Mahannah

Lt. Martin Mahannah was a Brewster Buffalo pilot at the Battle of Midway where he earned the Navy Cross.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8273507

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster_F2A_Buffalo

Today the WW2 Fallen 100 project profiled two servicemen instead of the normal one. Be sure to read about D-Day LCT pilot John Anderson, MIA for 71 years, here.

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

Martin was born on September 25, 1919 in Wichita, Kansas. His parents Jefferson and Gertrude were born in Illinois and Kansas, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as a chemist at an oil refinery. Martin had two older brothers. 

Martin enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserve in February 1940 at St. Louis, Missouri. After completing boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to HQ Company, Second Battalion, Eighth Marines. In 1941, he entered aviation training and qualified as a fighter pilot and received his gold Navy wings and a Second Lieutenant's commission in 1942. His first posting as a Marine Corps pilot was with Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) on Midway Island in May 1942, flying F2A-3 Brewster Buffalo fighter aircraft. The obsolete Buffalos, unaffectionately referred to as “Flying Coffins” by their pilots, were cast-offs from US Navy carriers that had re-equipped their air groups with the best front-line Navy fighters available.

Barely a week after 2nd Lt. Mahannah’s arrival on Midway, on the morning of 4 June 1942, carrier based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy set out to attack Midway Island to soften it up for an approaching invasion fleet. The 25 aircraft of VMF-221 took off at 0600 to intercept the incoming force of 76 enemy bombers and 36 A6M Zero fighters. The squadron was a mix of regular USMC pilots, with limited operational experience, and newly arrived green pilots like 2nd Lt. Mahannah. With the advantage of radar early warning and guidance, the Marine fighters were able to climb above the incoming Japanese formation undetected. When they were about forty miles out from Midway, the USMC aircraft entered a steep dive and poured machine gun fire into the waves of enemy aircraft. The Marines shot down and damaged several Japanese bombers before the escorting Zero fighters were on them like a swarm of angry hornets. The pilots of VMF-221 fought bravely but were heavily outnumbered and their obsolete aircraft were no match for the highly skilled and combat experienced Japanese pilots and their faster and more agile Zero fighter aircraft. By the time the battle ended, only four of the Marine aircraft were still in commission.

As the dogfighting aircraft approached Midway, an observer on the ground witnessed a Buffalo cut across the northeast tip of Eastern Island to help out another Marine aircraft. The Buffalo was attacked and damaged by a Zero fighter and the pilot was forced to bail out. The observer watched as two Zeros strafed the pilot as he descended under his parachute. Several days later, one of Midway's patrol boats spotted a body that had washed up on the reef. The remains were identified as being 2nd Lt. Mahannah. A Navy corpsman who examined the body determined that he had indeed been strafed after jumping from his aircraft, either in his parachute or on the reef. It is unknown what happened to 2nd Lt. Mahannah's remains, he was either buried on Midway and the site lost, or he was buried at sea. 

2nd Lt. Mahannah was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions over Midway. His citation reads as follows:

The Navy Cross is presented to Martin E. Mahannah, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. Delivering a dauntless and aggressive attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Second Lieutenant Mahannah aided in disrupting the plans of the enemy and lessening of the effectiveness of their attack, thereby contributing materially to the success of our forces. As a result of his courageous and daring tactics and because of the circumstances attendant upon this engagement, there can be little doubt that Second Lieutenant Mahannah gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. He displayed the characteristics of an excellent airman in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Martin Edward Mahannah is memorialized in the Honolulu Cemetery Courts of the Missing in Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as in Hillside Cemetery in his home town of Sedgwick, Kansas. Martin’s older brother Lynn Mahannah served as a B-25 pilot in the Fifth Air Force and was killed in action in April 1945.

Thank you 2nd Lt. Mahannah for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Martin.

_____

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." 

Urho Pitkamaki, 45th Infantry Division, was born one year earlier to the date as Martin Mahannah. You can read about Urho 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 Normandy Fallen - Milo Cowart - 15th Combat Engineer Battalion

PFC Milo Cowart was combat engineer in Normandy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110345317/milo-k_-cowart 

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

He was born on September 24, 1919 in Alabama. His parents Burris and Lillian were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a farmer. Milo had one older sister, three younger brothers, and three younger sister. By 1940 Milo had completed six years of schooling and worked as a laborer.

He was drafted into the army in October 1941. He reached the rank of private first class in the Headquarters and Service Company of the 15th Combat Engineer Battalion. The 15th CEB was attached to the 9th Infantry Division. It saw action in North Africa and Sicily.

The 15th CEB landed at Utah Beach on June 10, 1944. It participated in the battle for Cherbourg and then the Battle of St. Lo. PFC Cowart was killed in action on July 25, 1944, after St. Lo was taken and the 9th Infantry Division was pushing south.

His younger brother Henry, who was a veteran, died in March 1946 in a car crash.

Milo's grave is at Furnace Hill Cemetery in Vernon, Alabama.

Thank you PFC Cowart for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Milo.

Last year on this date I profiled Doolittle Raider, Distinguished Service Cross hero and POW William Farrow. 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.

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-24 gunner Abraham Eddy

Staff Sergeant Abraham Eddy was a B-24 gunner in the 346th Bombardment Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122303237/abraham-g-eddy 

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

He was born on September 23, 1919 in Massachusetts. His mother and stepfather were both born in Syria. I don't know what happened to his father. His stepfather worked as a store clerk. Abraham had one older sister, three younger half-sisters and one younger half-brother. By 1940 Abraham had completed four years of high school. He was living with his family and worked as a candy store clerk.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in March 1941. He became an aerial gunner and staff sergeant in the 462nd Bombardment Squadron, 346th Bombardment Group, which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. He was supposed to serve in India, but never made it.

Sgt. Eddy and eight others were killed on October 10, 1943 when the B-24 42-40758 Katie Did crashed at Donaghadee, North Ireland.

His grave is at Fairview Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.

Thank you Sgt. Eddy for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Abraham.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 radio operator Herbert McGuffin. You can read about Herbert 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 - Mildred Shimp, 61st Station Hospital

2nd Lt. Mildred Shimp served in the 61st Station Hospital in Algeria.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188548982/mildred-alice-shimp
http://www.keltaskavern.com/sjmedhistory/61st.html 

Mildred Alice Shimp never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, she sacrificed her life for our freedom.

She was born on September 22, 1919 in New Jersey. Her parents Abner and Leah were also both born in New Jersey. Her father worked as a railroad office ticket agent and later as a telegraph operator. Mildred had two older brothers and one older sister. By 1940 Mildred had completed four years of high school and was still living at home. She received her nurse's diploma in 1941 and worked at Cooper Hospital.

She enlisted in the army in September 1941. She became a nurse and second lieutenant in the 61st Station Hospital. The story of the 61st Station Hospital is an interesting one. The entire hospital was recruited intact from Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Sixteen doctors and 22 nurses were sent to North Africa, arriving in Algeria on Christmas Day 1942. They set up their hospital in a former French Foreign Legion outpost in El Guerrah, Algeria.

Lt. Shimp was killed as a result of a truck accident on April 17, 1943.

Her grave is at Lake Park Cemetery in Swedesboro, New Jersey.

Thank you Lt. Shimp for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Mildred.

Bronze Star hero and B-17 top turret gunner George Walker, escaped POW, was born one year earlier on the same date. You can read about George 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.

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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