PFC Homer Potts

courtesy of C. Giano

PFC Homer Potts was born in 1912 in London, Ohio. He was the 6th of 7 children born to Henry Potts and his 2nd wife, Julia Victoria (Penwell) Potts . His father farmed and had 8 children by his first wife. Homer's younger sister died 10-days after her birth in 1915. Henry shot and killed Victoria (as his 2nd wife was known) in April 1919 and in August 1919 was sent to the penitentiary where he died in 1920. 7-year old Homer and the other minor children were taken in to be raised by his oldest brother, William. About 1938, Homer married and he and his wife, Dorothy Evelyn, lived at 130 Dayton Avenue in Springfield, Ohio. Homer reported a 1939 income of $1170 working as a punch press operator. The couple had a son in 1939.

Home was drafted in September 1943. After his basic military training PVT Potts was sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 16 Jul 1944. He was promoted to PFC on 14 Aug 1944. PFC Potts was killed in action on 30 Aug 1944 as the unit attacked Brest, France.

PFC Potts rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.