WW2 Fallen - Emerson Cyphers, P-51 Pilot

2nd Lt. Emerson L. Cyphers.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3772673&ref=acom

Emerson Lyle Cyphers could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on February 7, 1917 in Kansas. His mother was born in Colorado and his father was born in Kansas. His father was a farmer on his own farm who died when Emerson was 17 years old. Emerson had two younger sisters. By 1940 Emerson had completed two years of study at Kansas State College.

Emerson served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 45th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 7th Fighter Command. Lt. Cyphers was a P-51 pilot.

P-51s from Lt. Cyphers's 15th Fighter Group a month before he was killed.
http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-51-mustang/p-51-mustangs-15th-fg-march-1945/

On April 26, 1945, Lt. Cyphers and five other P-51 pilots took off from Iwo Jima's South Field to escort B-29 bombers on a mission to bomb Kyushu, Japan. The fighters ran into zero visibility overcast just minutes from the target. All six were lost to accidental crashes, perhaps including midair collisions with each other. Lt. Cyphers remains were found and first buried in Yokohama.

His remains were returned to be buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Thank you Emerson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Emerson.


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WW2 Fallen - C-47 co-pilot Fred Mentzer

Lt. Fred Mentzer.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3609169

Fred R. Mentzer could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on February 6, 1917 in Indiana. His parents were also both born in Indiana. His father was in the feed business and later became a real estate salesman. He died in 1939. Fred had an older sister and three older brothers. He had a younger sister. 

By 1940 Fred had completed two years of college education at Purdue University. He then moved to California and enrolled in an aeronautical school. Fred enlisted in the Army Air Corp as an aviation cadet on December 20, 1941, just a couple of weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack.

By August 1943 he had completed 50 successful bombing missions and was transferred to the less risky troop carrier service. At the time of his death Lt. Mentzer served in the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group. It was the role of his unit to transport troops, equipment, ammunition, and weapons between Australia and New Guinea.

C-47s, like the one Lt. Mentzer flew, flying over New Guinea.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Four_C-47_escorted_by_P-40s_over_New_Guinea.jpg

On October 19, 1943, Lt. Mentzer was co-pilot on a C-47 carrying supplies from Fenton to Townsville in Australia. It crashed near Boomera Station in Queensland, Australia due to bad weather.

His remains were returned to be buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery.

Thank you Fred for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Fred.


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WW2 Fallen - Lloyd Bushell, 5th Infantry Division

Soldiers of 5th Infantry Division prepare to cross Rhine River a few days before Pvt. Bushell died.
http://tangledrootsandtrees.blogspot.com/2014/03/52-ancestors-12-historic-wwii-assault.html

Lloyd G. Bushell could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on February 5, 1917 in Nebraska. His parents were also Nebraska born. His father was a steam fitter. He had three older brothers and one older sister.

Lloyd enlisted in the army on October 11, 1941. He reported completing a grammar school level of education.

He served as a private in Battery B, 599th AAA, 5th Infantry Division. The 5th Infantry Division crossed the Rhine on March 22, 1945. Pvt. Bushell died 2 days later.

Route followed by 5th Infantry Division.
http://www.mywarhistory.com/browse/printPreview.aspx?serviceHeroId=180

His remains were returned to be buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso.

Thank you Lloyd for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Lloyd.

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WW2 Fallen - 3rd Armored Division's James McIver

33rd Armored Regiment, the month before Cpl. McIver was killed.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=995808410441485&set=gm.1653573858195170&type=3&theater

James J. McIver could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on February 4, 1917 in Pennsylvania. His parents were both born in Ireland. His father was a stable hostler who later worked as a janitor. He had an older brother and sister and three younger sisters and a younger brother. By 1940 James had an eighth grade education and was working as a laborer.

James became a corporal in the 33rd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division. His unit entered the Normandy area during the later part of June 1944. It was heavily engaged in the fighting in the hedgerows that slowed down the Allied efforts to break out of Normandy.

Cpl. McIver was killed on August 17, 1944 when his regiment had reached Ranes and participated in closing the Falaise Gap closing, capturing upwards of 100,000 of German prisoners.

Cpl. McIver died when his unit was at position 12 on this map.
https://archives.library.illinois.edu/erec/University%20Archives/2620076/Route%20maps%20of%203AD%20Divisions/33rd%20map.jpg

His remains were returned to be buried at Beverly National Cemetery in New Jersey.

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


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WW2 Fallen - Eldon Allen, 32nd Infantry Division

Painting depicting American soldiers at Battle of Buna-Gona where Pvt. Allen died.
http://foro.elgrancapitan.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=17519&start=3120

Eldon L. Allen could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on February 3, 1917 in Oregon. His mother was from Nebraska and his father was from California. His father was a farmer who owned his own farm. By the 1930's census they had divorced and Eldon's mother had remarried. Eldon had two older brothers, an older sister, two younger brothers and two younger sisters. By 1940 Eldon had an 8th grade education and was still living with his mother and stepfather.

Eldon enlisted in the Army and had the rank of Private. He was in Company D of the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He probably joined the unit on April 22, 1942 when 3,000 west coast soldiers joined the division that had just traveled by train from the east coast. The 32nd Division boarded transport ships to Australia where they conducted further training. 

Pvt. Allen's unit was transported to New Guinea and took part in the Battle of Buna-Gona beginning in November 1942, where Australian and American troops fought to dislodge Japanese troops who had arrived earlier that year. It was jungle warfare at its most challenging against an unfamiliar foe who they soon learned almost never surrendered, despite how desperate their situation. Based on the date of Pvt. Allen's death (December 29, 1942), he was most likely killed when 127th Infantry troops were fighting for control of Buna Government Station.

Battle of Buna-Gona Map. Pvt Allen's unit advanced on the left.
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur%20Reports/MacArthur%20V1/ch04.htm

His remains were returned to be buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery. 

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=271257&PIpi=32974377

His younger brother Raymond L. Allen also was killed in World War 2 and is buried in the same cemetery.

Thank you Eldon (and Raymond) for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Eldon.


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WW2 Fallen - Anthony Jurewicz, 45th Infantry Division

45th Division's Pvt. Anthoney Jurewicz.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51968017

Anthony Jurewicz could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on February 2, 1917 in Pennsylvania. His parents were both born in Poland. His father was a Polish speaking coal miner. Anthony had an older sister and a younger sister and younger brother. He had a grammar school education.

Anthony enlisted on December 27, 1943. We was a private in the 179th Regiment, 45th Division. From his enrollment date, we can surmise that Pvt. Jurewicz was a replacement soldier, since the 45th was already in action in Europe at that time.

On the date he died, October 30, 1944, his regiment was advancing through the Vosges area in France where Americans took heavy casualties.

179th Regiment's position in the month when Pvt Juerewicz was killed.
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Riviera/USA-E-Riviera-15.html

His remains were returned to be buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery.

His younger brother Joseph also joined the army, but before the war started, perhaps in consideration of Germany conquering his parent's native Poland. Sadly he became ill in boot camp and was transferred to Walter Reed Hospital where he died on February 3, 1941.

Thank you Anthony (and Joseph) for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Anthony.


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WW2 Fallen - Robert Barrows, Battle of Bataan

American soldiers defending Bataan.
http://firedirectioncenter.blogspot.com/2013/01/decisive-battles-bataan-1942_27.html

Robert L. Barrows could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on February 1, 1917 in South Dakota. His father was also from South Dakota and his mother was from Wisconsin. His father was a locomotive engineer. Robert had three older brothers and one younger sister. 

Robert joined the navy before the war and was assigned to serve in the Philippines as a Seaman First Class.

Seaman Barrows death date is listed as January 25, 1942 which would have been during the Battle of Bataan. By that date, the navy had no ships in action so the sailors were assigned to fight with the army.

Battle of Bataan where Seam Barrows was killed.
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/philippines/cooper_med_report.html

Seaman Barrows remains MIA.

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


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