CPT John Robert Teal

CPT John Robert Teal was born 17 Apr 1972 in Hanover County, Virginia to Joseph Stanford and Emmie Louise (Rumsbarger) Teal.

John was attending Virginia Military Institute when he enlisted in Company A (- Detachment 1), 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division (Light). When he became eligible he transferred to the Simultaneous Membership Program (for soldiers in both the ROTC and National Guard) and was promoted to the pay-grade of E-5. Cadet Teal made every effort to be involved in unit activities and even designed a "T"-shirt for the unit which styled itself as the "Legion of Doom".  Such was the popularity that the shirt was re-issued when the unit was re-designated as Company B, 1st Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team. When John graduated and received his commission as a 2LT he attended training at Fort Sam Houston.

CPT Teal was assigned to 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division on 23 Oct 2003 when he was killed by an improvised explosive device initiated as his vehicle passed. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star. CPT Teal is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.


The Army Medical Command established the John R. Teal award following the first combat loss of a medical officer supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. This award annually recognizes one medical operations or support officer and NCO who have made significant contributions to the medical community and displayed exceptional soldiering.

Links:

• Arlington National Cemetery - CPT John Robert Teal
• Military Times - Honor the Fallen 
• Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Faces of Valor 
• Bliley Funeral Home Obituary
• Virginia War Memorial - John Robert Teal

1LT Cornelious Ayer Sabin

1LT Cornelius Ayer Sabin (b. 9 Nov 1916 - d. 7 Jun 2003) 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division. Wounded at Normandy, France, July 11, 1944. Recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Cornelius Ayer Sabin was born November 9, 1916 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. One of seven children, he grew up in Walterboro, South Carolina and Jonesboro, Tennessee. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Science from State Teacher's College (East Tennessee State) in Johnson City, Tennessee, and completed post graduate work at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois . He received his PhD at Stanford University. 

Jonesboro, Tennessee newspaper article about four of the Sabin brothers in the service.
 
Neil Sabin was attached to the U. S. Army 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, E.T.O., and was critically wounded in Normandy, France on July 11, 1944. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Cross. He spent almost four years in hospitals, and had thirteen operations. He was promoted to the rank of Captain, and separated from active duty at Madigan General Hospital, Tacoma, Washington, November 26, 1947.

On August 6, 1945 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, he married Juanita Dorothy Bean, a WAVE from Tacoma, Washington. They settled in Portland, Oregon, where for over thirty years Dr. Neil Sabin was a well respected professor at Lewis and Clark College. They had two daughters. After a prolonged illness, Nita Sabin died in 1994.

You can read more about Dr. Sabin at http://www.oldplaces.org/neilsabin/neil.html

Note that he died in 2003, 59 years after D-Day.

COL Archibald Jesse Harris

COL Archibald Jesse Harris was born 24 Aug 1874 in Atlantic, Iowa. He was the2nd of the 8 children of Jesse and Mary Abigail (Miles) Harris. 2 of his siblings died in infancy. The family moved to the area of Fort Collins, Colorado in 1878. His father was, elected Mayor of  Fort Collins, Colorado in 1911, was a livestock & real estate dealer and horseman as well as working as agent for Union Pacific Rail Road. He also served on the State Agricultural Board and State Prison Board. Archie, as he was known for most of his life, graduated with a Bachelors or Science from Colorado A&M College in 1897. The photo of Archie is from that time.

Appointed 2LT, 2nd Infantry federally recognized on 3 Aug 1898 and fought with L Company 2nd Infantry Regiment in Cuba in 1898 and 1899. He was promoted to 1LT on 16 May 1899 in Cuba. The 2nd returned to the U.S. in September 1899. The 2nd Infantry was deployed to the Philippines in August 1900. While in the islands the regiment fought in more than 25 engagements on several of the archipelago's islands. 1LT Harris returned with M Company to the western U.S. in May 1903. Archie was promoted to CPT on 30 Dec 1904 . He graduated from the Infantry and Cavalry School in 1905 then deployed with the regiment to the Philippines in May 1906. He served there posted to the Agur barracks and H Company until the regiment returned to the U.S. in March 1908. CPT Harris assumed duties as Regiment Adjutant on 1 Jun 1908 and on 7 Oct 1908 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky he married Helen J. Price.

The regiment remained at Fort Thomas until it was deployed to Hawaii in 1911. When WWI broke out the 2nd had the duty of guarding interned German ships and crews in Hawaii as well as various installations. Archie was promoted to MAJ on 15 May 1917. He was then assigned to the 362nd Infantry Regiment, 91st Division at Camp Lewis, Washington (now Fort Lewis) and in September 1917 transferred from the 362nd to 346th Infantry Regiment in the 87th Division.

MAJ Harris was permanently promoted to LTC on 1 Jul 1920 and LTC Harris was apparently sent to France where he received a temporary promotion to COL effective 2 Jul 1918 and on 21 Aug 1918 assumed command of 116th Infantry Regiment which he commanded in the opening days of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. COL Harris was relieved of command on 9 Oct 1918 but kept his temporary rank until October 1919.  COL Harris returned to the U.S. in June 1919 first going to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was promoted to COL on 20 Jul 1920 which was made permanent on 1 Dec 1920. COL Archie Harris assumed duties as E&R officer of Fort Lewis, Washington. He was retired effective 22 Dec 1920.

After he retired and he and Helen moved to 1628 Bushnell Avenue, Pasadena, California a home valued at $4000 in 1940 and $2.4-million today. They apparently left a very quiet life. The couple had no children.

COL Harris died on 19 Feb 1953 in Pasadena, California of a heart attack while doing yard work. He was interred in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

NOTE: This memorial was published 50-years after his death.