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| Tech Sergeant Henry Norcross served with the 2nd Armored Division in France. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111555017/henry-lee-norcross http://abmc.nomadmobileguides.com/Normandy.php?page=narrative&id=cont-899 |
Henry Lee Norcross never had a chance to reach 100 years old. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
I began this project on January 1, 2017. It will conclude on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2. During the intervening time, a different fallen serviceman was profiled every day on his 100th birthday. I have decided to round out the project by profiling one of the fallen born between December 7, 1916 and December 31, 1916. This will result in one of the fallen being profiled for every day America was engaged in World War 2. The total will be 1,367 men and women. That's enough for only 13 stars out of the 4,048 on the Freedom Wall of the World War II Memorial.
Henry was born on December 15, 1916 in Caldwell, Texas. His parents William and Sally were also both born in Texas. His father worked as a farmer. His mother died in 1933 from lung cancer. Henry had one older brother, two younger brothers, and two younger sisters. He also had three half siblings. All three of his brothers served in the military.
Henry enlisted in the army in September 1936. He married Doris Wright in 1941. They had two daughters.
Henry reached the rank of tech sergeant in the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division. The 2nd Armored first major action was in Sicily in July 1943. It landed on Omaha Beach on D+3. It played a major part in the success of Operation Cobra. By mid August it was playing an important role in encircling the fleeing German armies in the Falaise-Argentan pocket.
On August 21 the 2nd AD turned its attention to moving to the Seine River. It arrived there five days later, after a 90 mile assault capturing or neutralizing the towns and cities along the way. Sgt. Norcross was killed in one of these engagements on August 25, 1944.
His grave is at Masonic Cemetery in Caldwell, Texas. His widow remarried and died in 1995.
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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