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| Pvt. Vestal Hoover's engineer battalion was attached to the 41st Infantry Division in the Philippines. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67436257/vestal-c-hoover https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/philippines/the-41st-infantry-division-on-mindanao-4/ |
Vestal Clayton Hoover never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on December 8, 1919 in West Virginia. His parents Ernest and Cora were also both born in West Virginia. His father worked as a saw mill laborer and later as a farmer. Still later he worked for the WPA. Vestal had two younger brothers and a younger sister. By 1940 Vestal had completed six years of schooling and was working for the Civilian Conservation Corps.
He volunteered for the army in July 1940. He eventually ended up as a private in the 116th Combat Engineer Battalion. This unit was attached to the 41st Infantry Division. The 116th CEB spent time in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. While in Australia he married Phylis Ives in June 1942. She died in childbirth in October 1944.
On February 14, 1945, while stationed on the island on Mindoro, Pvt. Hoover was killed in a motor vehicle accident.
His grave is at Cox Memorial Cemetery in Nicholas County, West Virginia. His son remained in Australia.
Last year on this date I profiled B-17 bombardier Reid Griffith. You can read about Reid 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
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