WW2 Last Kamikaze Attack Fallen - Robert Taylor, USS Cassin Young

Water Tenderer Second Class Robert Taylor served on the destroy USS Cassin Young in 1945.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135717820/robert-samuel-taylor/photo
https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/2019/08/12/life-on-the-uss-cassin-young/ 

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

Announcement: In just a few days we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

He was born on January 31, 1920 in Wray, Colorado. His parents John and Aphus were born in Nebraska and Missouri, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as a railroad laborer. Still later he was a farm laborer. Robert had one older brother, two older sisters, and a younger brother. By 1940 the family had moved to Missouri. Robert had completed eight years of education. He was still living at home and worked as a farm laborer.

He enlisted in the US Navy in April 1942. His final station was as a water tenderer second class on the destroyer USS Cassin Young. Cassin Young join the 5th Fleet in the Pacific in April 1944 and was regularly in harm's way for the balance of the war. Its final assignment was to be part of the fleet supporting the fighting on Okinawa. On April 6 it was hit by a kamikaze high up in the forecastle that killed one man and wounded 58 others.

On July 29 Cassin Young was hit by a low flying kamikaze plane that hit her on the starboard side, striking the fire control room. The crew managed to save the ship from sinking. WT2 Taylor was one of the casualties and died the next day on July 30, 1945. He was one of 22 men killed in the attack. This was the final successful kamikaze attack on a US Navy vessel in World War 2.

His grave is at New Cambria Cemetery in New Cambria, Missouri.

Cassin Young is now a floating memorial ship in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts.

Thank you WT2 Taylor for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.

Last year on this date I profiled Battle of the Bulge fallen Fred Morgan, 4th Infantry Division. You can read about Fred 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 - James Cruise, 80th Infantry Division + Bands of Brother's Carwood Lipton

Pvt. James Cruise served in the 80th Infantry Division.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90923315/james-lloyd-cruise/photo
http://abmc.nomadmobileguides.com/Normandy.php?page=narrative&id=cont-894 

James Lloyd Cruise never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: In just a few days we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

James was born on January 30, 1920 in Carroll, Virginia. His parents Wiley and Minnie were also both born in Virginia. His father worked as a farmer. He died of a heart attack in 1934. James had four older brothers, three older sisters, one younger sister, and two younger brothers. He married Clara Elizabeth Gates in March 1939. They had three sons, one of whom died when less than one month old.

He was drafted into the army in March 1944. He became a private in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division (Nicknamed "Blue Ridge Division"). The 80th ID arrived in France in August 1944. It first saw action at Argentan in late August and raced across France to the river Sielle. By November it had advanced almost to Saarbrucken. Pvt. Cruise probably joined his unit as a replacement somewhere along the line. The 80th ID was in constant need for replacement -- it lost more than 17,000 men during the war.

Pvt. Cruise was killed in action on November 8, 1944, the day the 80th ID started its attack into the Saar Basin.

His grave is at Oakdale Cemetery in Mount Airy Cemetery. His widow remarried and died in 2006. One son died in 2011.

Thank you Pvt. Cruise for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for James.

CARWOOD LIPTON / DELBERT MANN
Two men people may recognize from television were born on the same day as James Cruise. Carwood Lipton was born in West Virginia. Delbert Mann was born in Kansas.

Lipton was a 101st Airborne, 506th PIR lieutenant who was in Company E, made famous by the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers where he was portrayed by Donnie Wahlberg. After the war he became an engineer and worked in various industries. He died in 2001.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carwood_Lipton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delbert_Mann

Mann was a B-24 pilot and later an 8th Air Force intelligence officer. He became a TV director who also directed movies. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Marty in 1955. He died in 2007.

Last year on this date I profiled P-38 pilot Kenneth "Chase" Blum. You can read about Kenneth 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-25 crewman Delbert Bartz

Tech Sergeant Delbert Bartz served on B-25s in Alaska.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124700269/delbert-l-bartz
https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=4011

Delbert Leroy Bartz never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: In just a few days we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

Delbert was born on January 29, 1920 in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. His parents Albert and Jessie were born in Germany and Wisconsin, respectively. His father worked as a lumberman and later a state highway inspector. Delbert had two older sisters, two older brother, and two younger brothers. By 1940 Delbert had completed four years of high school. He was living at home and worked as a truck driver.

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in November 1941. He became a tech sergeant in the 77th Bombardment Squadron. The 77th BS was based out of Alaska and equipped with B-26 Marauders and later B-25 Mitchells. It flew anti-submarine patrols out of Anchorage. It flew combat missions against the Japanese holding Kiska and Attu.

On November 23, 1943 Sgt. Bartz was one of the crew on a flight to attend instrument school at Elmendorf Field when it went down between Umnak and Adak. The plane disappeared and has never been found.

His cenotaph grave is at Mountain Cemetery in Mountain, Wisconsin.

Thank you Sgt. Bartz for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Delbert.

Last year on this date I profiled Tarawa Silver Star hero Clifton Fomby, 2nd Marine Division. You can read about Clifton and his brother Odis 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-17 Tinker Toy Bombardier Richard Mitchell

Lt. Richard Mitchell was the bombardier of the B-17 Tinker Toy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42675626/richard-mckay-mitchell 

Richard McKay Mitchell never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: In just a few days we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

He was born on January 28, 1920 in Shattuck, Oklahoma. His parents Witten and Margaret were born in Missouri and Oklahoma, respectively. His father worked as a printing office linotypist and later as a newspaper machinist. Richard had one younger brother. By 1940 Richard's parents had divorced. 

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on November 30, 1941. He eventually became a second lieutenant and bombardier in the 535th Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

Lt. Mitchell's final mission was on December 20, 1943. He was the bombardier on B-17 42-5846 nicknamed Tinker Toy. This particular bomber has been mentioned in a previous WW2 Fallen 100 profile. Tinker Toy pilot William Minerich was killed flying this plane on October 8, 1943. A 20mm cannon shell tore off the nose of the plane, instantly killing Minerich. The crew flew it back and it was patched up to fly again.

The December 20 mission was to bomb Bremen, Germany. A Bf 109 collided head-on into Tinker Toy, leaving only three survivors. In his bombardier position at the very front of the plane, Lt. Mitchell was one of those who was killed.

His grave is at Old Mission Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.

Thank you Lt. Mitchell for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Richard.

Last year on this date I profiled Battle the Bulge fallen and Silver Star hero William Atkinson. 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-17 waist gunner Richard Bowler

Sgt. Richard Bowler was a waist gunner in the 100th Bombardment Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91593303/richard-e-bowler 

Richard E. Bowler never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: Later this month we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

Richard was born on January 27, 1920 in Fort Worth, Texas. His parents James and Helen were born in Pennsylvania and Nebraska, respectively. His father worked as a coupling factory machinist in Pennsylvania. Richard had an older sister and a younger sister. By 1940 Richard was still living at home. He had completed four years of high school and found work as a welder.

He was drafted into the army in October 1941. At some point he volunteered to serve in the Army Air Forces and ended up a sergeant and waist gunner in the 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. The 100th BG starting flying missions from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk in late June 1943.

On August 17, 1943 Sgt. Bowler filled in for a waist gunner who was injured. His bomber was shot up while part of a bombing mission targeting Regensburg, Germany. He was wounded and although was able to parachute out of the plane, was probably dead by the time he made it to the ground.

His grave is at Saint Brigids Cemetery in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Thank you Sgt. Bowler for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Richard.

More details about Sgt. Bowler can be found here: https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=personnel&id=468&Itemid=122&fbclid=IwAR2EakB2PEcl4r-BdX_eOktxW9wY8THYpaCKo_jKwJwV_uIjTCRqFjowKkw

Last year on this date I profiled Guadalcanal fallen William Ford, USS Cushing. 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 Normandy Fallen - P-47 pilot John Weese

2nd Lt. John Weese was a P-47 pilot in the 365th Fighter Group flying missions to France.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107538299/john-alfred-weese/photo 

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

Announcement: Later this month we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

John was born on January 26, 1920 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His parents Douglas and Lorena were also both born in Michigan. His father worked as a railway express cashier and later as a railway express agent. John had one older sister and two younger sisters. By 1940 John had completed four years of high school and was still living at home.

He enlisted in the army in August 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces branch and qualified as a fighter pilot. He became a second lieutenant in the 386th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group which was equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts. The 365th FG, known as the Hell Hawks, arrived in England in December 1943. It flew tactical missions to weaken the German ability to stop the planned invasion of France.

Lt. Weese's final mission was on June 10, 1944. While on patrol with three other planes from his squadron, he got separated in the clouds and radioed that he'd been hit. He crash landed his plane on Sword Beach and did not survive. 

His grave is at Bethlehem Cemetery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Thank you Lt. Weese for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.

Last year on this date I profiled Iwo Jima fallen Wyatt Percell, 5th Marine Division. You can read about Wyatt 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 Devil's Brigade Fallen - Javis East, First Special Service Force

Staff Sergeant Javis East served in the 1st Special Service Force in Italy.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29432960/javis-melvin-east
https://www.soc.mil/ARSOF_History/articles/v5n2_better_country_page_3.html 

Javis Melvin East never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: Later this month we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

He was born on January 25, 1920 in West Warren, Utah. His parents Alfred and Cora Ann were also both born in Utah. His father worked as a farmer and later as a dairy laborer. Still later he was supervisor of city streets. Javis had three older sisters, three younger brothers, and one younger sister. By 1940 Javis had completed one year of high school and was still living at home. He found work in construction and at the local airport.

He enlisted in the army in October 1941. Eventually he volunteered for the 1st Special Service Force, where he served in the 1st Regiment. This elite American-Canadian commando unit was created in the summer of 1942 with a goal to be deployed in winter combat, likely in Norway. The Americans in this unit were all volunteers but they joined up not knowing any details about the unit, only being told it was a parachute unit. The men were trained to fight behind enemy lines and worked on specialized skills like skiing, rock climbing, and demolitions. 

The 1st SSF's first combat assignment in July 1943 was to retake the Alaskan island of Kiska from the Japanese, but the enemy withdrew before it happened. It was next sent to fight in the Italian mountains in November 1943. The attack on a peak known as La Difensa was considered impossible by the Germans, but the 1st SSF was able to do this in early December. It became the basis for the 1968 movie The Devil's Brigade.

A month later the 1st SSF was still fighting in the Italian mountains. It assaulted Monte Majo and Monte Vischiataro on January 8. The commando unit held on to its hard fought gains, but not without furthers losses. Sgt. East as killed on January 14, 1944. Unit losses in the mountains were an unbelievable 76% killed, wounded, or hospitalized due to exposure, illness and frostbite.

His grave is at Ogden City Cemetery in Ogden, Utah.

Thank you Sgt. East for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Javis.

This story is also told at https://www.fold3.com/page/638678434-javis-m-east/stories as part of the Stories Behind the Stars project, Utah pilot.

Last year on this date I profiled Leyte Gulf fallen Larus Payton, USS Birmingham. You can read about Larus 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 Guadalcanal Fallen - Sam Scott, 1st Marine Division

PFC Sam Scott served with the 1st Marine Division in Guadalcanal.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23765164/sam-hoey-scott
https://padresteve.com/2016/08/11/the-guadalcanal-campaign-a-wave-top-view-of-a-forgotten-yet-epic-battle/ 

Sam Hoey Scott never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: Later this month we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

He was born on January 24, 1920 in North Carolina. His parents Sam and Victoria were also both born in North Carolina. His father worked as a farmer until he died in 1932. Sam had two older brothers and three older sisters and one younger sister. By 1940 Sam had completed two years of high school and was living with his mother. He worked as a hosiery mill seamer.

He joined the US Marine Corps in January 1942. He became a Private First Class in Company H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. His unit arrived on Guadalcanal on September 18, 1942, providing much needed assistance to the other 1st Marine Division leathernecks who had been there for six weeks.

During the month of October, the Japanese Tokyo Express delivered thousands of reinforcements.  As the end of October neared the Americans and Japanese were pretty equally matched in numbers. The Americans had to spread their men around to guard all possible approaches, even the beaches. The Japanese had the advantage of using the jungle to hide their troops and concentrate their battalions to overwhelm one part of the line. They chose to attack on the night of October 24/25, 1942. This was the engagement where John Basilone earned his Medal of Honor and was depicted in the HBO miniseries The Pacific. 

The next night the Japanese attacked again. During the early hours of October 26, 1942, they even managed to break through the line at one point, only to be pushed back. PFC Scott, an assistant machine-gunner, was killed during this engagement. There would be no more Japanese assaults that month.

His grave is at Glen Alpine Cemetery in Glen Alpine, North Carolina.

Thank you PFC Scott for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Sam.

Last year on this date I profiled Okinawa fallen Leslie Banks, also from the 1st Marine Division. You can read about Leslie 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-25 Mitchell pilot Curtis Hancock

Captain Curtis Hancock served in the 71st Recon Group in New Guinea.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18510411

https://www.facebook.com/871140652958849/photos/a.871307692942145/1804147872991451/?type=3&theater 

Curtis Olen Hancock never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: Later this month I will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

Curtis was born on January 23, 1920 in Texas. I could not definitively identify his family in the census records. His obituary mentions his mother Addie Hancock of Abilene, Texas but does not mention his father.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1940 and graduated from Advanced Flying School in May 1941 at Stockton Field, California. He served as a B-25 Mitchell bomber pilot in the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Reconnaissance Group of the 5th Air Force. The 71st flew anti-submarine patrols off the west coast in the months after Pearl Harbor, then moved to the Southwest Pacific in the fall of 1943. It flew reconnaissance missions over New Britain, New Guinea, and the Admiralty Islands from bases in New Guinea and Biak. It also flew combat missions against Japanese installations, airfields, and shipping, while supporting Allied ground forces on New Guinea and Biak. Additionally, the 71st flew courier missions, participated in rescue operations, and hauled passengers and cargo.

Curtis rose to the rank of captain in the 71st and is said to have completed over 50 missions. On 27 May 1944, the Army’s 41st Infantry Division landed on Biak Island, near the western end of New Guinea, as part of General Douglas MacArthur's offensive to clear New Guinea in preparation for an invasion of the Philippines. The next day, Cpt. Hancock and his crew were tasked to drop maps to American troops on the beachhead at Biak. Hancock and his copilot cleared their approach with the air controller at Biak, who told the American anti-aircraft gunners that the B-25 would be coming in. As the aircraft approached the beach, Cpt. Hancock opened the bomb bay to drop the maps. Tragically, the aircraft was fired on by friendly anti-aircraft batteries and was shot down, killing all crew members aboard. Cpt. Hancock left behind a wife and 16-month old son.

Curtis Olen Hancock was initially buried on Biak and was later reinterred in Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock, Texas. I could not find any information on his widow or son.

Thank you Cpt. Hancock for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Curtis.

_____

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 September 5, 2021 a comment was posted to this blog with the following:

Curtis was my grandfather. Thank you for this write up. His father was Alvis Hancock and his mother was Addie Hext. He had 1 child, a daughter Nancy. She is the mother of 3 son and 2 daughters. 

Last year on this date I profiled Jesse Booker of the 2nd Marine Division. You can read about Jesse 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 - Marvin Koele, 34th Infantry Division and cousin Raymond

Cousins Sgt. Marvin Koele and Lt. Raymond Koele were killed on the same day in Tunisia.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61466799/marvin-royce-koele
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61426697 

Marvin Royce Koele never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: Later this month we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

He was born on January 22, 1920 in Hull, Iowa. His parents Nick and Marie were born in Holland and Iowa, respectively. His father worked as a restaurant manager and later as a town night marshal and still later as the town marshal. Marvin had three older sisters and one older brother. By 1940 Marvin had completed three years of high school. He was still living at home and worked as an oil station attendant.

He volunteered for the Iowa National Guard and joined the US Army in February 1941. He rose to the rank of sergeant in Company I, Third Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. The 34th ID began combat operations in November 1942 in North Africa. It defeated Vichy troops in Algeria.

Sgt. Koele was killed on April 8, 1943 during the first day of a new offensive action of the 34th ID. It was attacking across open terrain to take Fondouk, Tunisia. In a sad coincidence, his home town cousin Lt. Raymond Koele, also serving in the army in North Africa, was killed on the very same day.

Their graves are at Hope Cemetery in Hull, Iowa.

Thank you Marvin and Raymond for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Koele cousins.

Last year on this date I profiled B-24 waist gunner Julian Miller, childhood best friend of Rev. Billy Graham. You can read about Julian 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