PFC Luie Nelson Simmons

courtesy of Anne Cady

PFC Luie Nelson Simmons was born 15 Jul 1924 in Saint Cloud, Florida. He was the 4th of 7 children of Hardy and Lily Mae (Yates) Simmons and a 6th generation native Floridian. His father sold ice, managed a fishery, and ran a cattle ranch. He would also be a county commissioner and school board trustee. Luie ws able to complete high school and then he went to work for the Orlando Sentinal-Star newspaper.

Luie was drafted in June 1943. He went first to Camp Blanding, Florida and after completing his training was sent to England and assigned to F Company 116th Infantry. Once with that unit he began training for the amphibious landing that was planned as part of the effort to liberate occupied France. He was with F Company on D-Day/6 Jun 1944 and took part in the landing. He survived the landing and spent an uneasy first night in a foxhole in a church cemetery with PVT Rocco Russo. That too was survived and PFC Simmons fought with F Company in the bocage until killed in action near Saint Claire-sur-l'Elle on 15 Jun 1944.

PFC Simmons was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Brother, Lilburn Simmons served in the U.S. Army 1942-1943 after service with the National Guard. Brother, Hardy Lee Simmons, served in the U.S Navy during WW2 and was a career Florida Highway Patrolman rising to the rank of COL.