PVT Henry Edward Schmetzer

PVT Henry Edward Schmetzer was born 18 Sep 1923 in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He was the 6th of 8 children born to John Avelis and Mary Elizabeth (Bossey) Schmetzer. His father was a driver and factory worker. John Schmetzer contracted pneumonia and died at age 48 in 1933. It is unclear how Mary may have supported her youngest children, including Henry but the oldest children were in their 20s and may have contributed to her household's support. The family moved to McKee's Rocks, Pennsylvania. Henry only completed 2-years of high school.

Henry was drafted in September 1943. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and on 15 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to D Company 116th Infantry. PVT Schmetzer fought with the unit until killed in action as the unit approached Vire, France on 31 Jul 1944.

PVT Schmetzer was repatriated and re-interred in the Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PVT James Arnold Thompson

PVT James Arnold Thompson was born 23 Dec 1922 in Kosse, Texas. He was the eldest of the 7 children born to Robert Lee and Elma Elizabeth (Brown) Thompson. The family farmed a farm they owned in Limestone County, Texas. When James registered for the draft in June 1942 he was still unemployed but no doubt working on the family farm. 

James was drafted in December 1943. After completing his basic military training he was sent to England probably in June 1944. PVT Thompson was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 14 Jul 1944 whenn the unit was in the vicinity of Saint-Lo, France. PVT Thompson was killed in action on 31 Jul 1944. 

PVT Thompson was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Ebenezer Cemetery in Kosse, Texas.

PFC Thomas Francis Monaghan

courtesy of MLC

PFC Thomas Francis Monaghan was born 24 Nov 1917 in Kinross, Iowa. He was the 3rd of 6 children born to Joseph Henry and Sarah Catherine (Waters) Monaghan. His father farmed.  Older brother Donald Edwin Monaghan died suddenly of an un-named illness in September 1935. Francis (as he was known in the family) married Anna Leola Malley on 2 Oct 1939. The couple would have a daughter in September 1942.

Francis was drafted in February 1943. Like all soldiers, Francis went through his training and he may have had a furlough before being sent to the European theater. PFC Monaghan was transferred from the replacement depot to D Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jul 1944 where he served as an ammunition handler (there was some report that he was a mortarman). He was wounded on 30 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. PFC Monaghan died of his wound(s) on 31 Jul 1944.

PFC Monaghan was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Saint Patrick's Cemetery in Keokuk County, Iowa.

Older brother Eugene Joseph Monaghan served as a GM3 aboard the USS Pennsylvania.

PFC Francis Matthias Volz

courtesy of Steve Edquist

PFC Francis Matthias Volz was born in Farmer, South Dakota on 26 Apr 1912. He was the youngest of the 2 children born to Peter and Katherine M. (Roster) Volz. His father worked as a buyer at a grain elevator and for the rail road. Francis went into farming in the Farmer area. 

Francis was drafted in 1943 and after his basic military training was sent to the European theater. PFC Volz was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 20 Jul 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He fought with the unit on the approach to Vire and was killed in action on 31 Jul 1944. 

Initially buried in the Lacambe-Isigny Cemetery, PFC Volz was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

PFC William Howard Byers

PFC William Howard Byers was born 29 Apr 1916 in Hurt, Virginia to John Garfield and Mollie Ann (Wade) Byers.  The third child of his father and his first wife, William had a total of 7 siblings.  His father was from North Carolina and worked as a carpenter in the District of Columbia as did William..  His mother died in 1933.  His brother, George Harden Byers, also served in the Army during the war.

PFC Byers was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry on D-Day and apparently wounded on 22 Jun 1944.  He went to hospital, was dropped from the rolls and then returned to the unit on 25 Jul 1944.  William was promoted to PFC on 26 Jul 1944.  He was killed in action on 31 Jul 1944.  PFC Byers rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

1LT Eugene Martin Raggett

1LT Eugene Martin Raggett was born 31 May 1913 in San Francisco, California. He was the only son and youngest of the 2 children born to Martin Matthew and Rose Helen (Regan) Raggett. His family was well known in business circles in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. His father would operate the Hotel Saint James in San Jose from 1 Oct 1920 and Eugene would attend high school in San Jose. Eugene would work as a clerk and stenographer before becoming a lawyer working in San Francisco.

Eugene was drafted in May 1942. He originally tried to enter the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps but then volunteered for the infantry. Sent to officer candidate school, he graduated and was commissioned as a 2LT of Infantry. 2LT Raggett was sent to England and on 1 Jun 1944 was assigned to H Company 116th Infantry as an supernumerary officer for the amphibious assault that would take place 5 days later. 2LT Raggett was wounded by shrapnel in his right leg on 6 Jun 1944 but remained on duty and continued to fight with H Company. He was again wounded on 18 Jun 1944, again by shrapnel (artillery or mortar fragments) but again remained on duty. He was promoted on 1 Jul 1944 and on 17 Jul 1944 1LT Raggett moved to F Company 116th Infantry as the Company Commander. 1LT Raggett was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

1LT Raggett was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in San Juan Bautista Cemetery in San Juan Bautista, California.

PVT James Theodore Weston

courtesy of Glenn

PVT James Theodore Weston was born 3 Jun 1925 in Morristown, New Jersey. He was the son of Francis (aka Frank) Holmes and Ada C. (Hockenberry) Weston. He may have been adopted. Frank was a blacksmith as were several other men in the extended family. Frank died at the age of 44 in August 1936 while the family was living in Bernards, New Jersey. Sometime after this James and his mother moved to Sussex County, New Jersey where they apparently lived with the farmer for whom James worked, Frank Johnson. 

James was probably drafted in late 1943. After completing approximately 5-months of basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Weston was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 18 Jul 1944 while it was in the vicinity of Saint-Lo, France. Serving as a rifleman, PVT Weston was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944. 

PVT Weston was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.

1LT Stephen Beskid

courtesy of Bessie Savery

1LT Stephen Beskid was born 6 Feb 1917 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to John and Mary (Feckso) Beskid.  His father worked for the railroad.

Stephen entered the service in March 1942.  On 5 Aug 1943 he married Dorothy Virginia Graff in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Sometime after that he was sent overseas and on 6 Jul 1944 he was assigned from the replacement depot to H Company 116th Infantry as a platoon leader.  1LT Beskid was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

1LT Beskid is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.  Dorothy remarried in 1946.  They had no children.

Stephen had one brother, Thomas Beskid, who served in the U.S. Army during the war attaining the rank of PFC.  

PVT Arlie Lemuel Hopkins

PVT Arlie Lemuel Hopkins was born 2 Sep 1923 in Crawford County, Arkansas to Andrew John and Minnie Mae (Pannell) Hopkins. His father worked on a farm.

Arlie was also working on a farm when he was drafted in September 1943. He was sent to Europe and on 22 Jun 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry. On 24 Jul 1944 he was sent to hospital with a non-battle injury.  He returned to the unit on 30 Jul 1944 and was killed in action that same day.

PVT Hopkins was repatriated in 1949 and is buried in Bryant Cemetery in Cove City, Arkansas. From a local newspaper:

The body of Pvt. Arlie L. Hopkins was returned to the Fentress Mortuary in Fort Smith, Arkansas Friday, April 22, 1949 for re-burial. Pvt. Hopkins, a 20 Year old resident of Natural Dam, Arkansas, entered service at Camp Fannin, Texas, in 1942. He was killed in France during World War II on July 30, 1944. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Hopkins, of Natural Dam four sisters, Mrs. Cleda Jones of Van Buren, Mrs. May Franklin of Natural Dam, Misses Florence and Tressie Hopkins of the home; six brothers, Ransford, Clifford and Argyle Hopkins, all of National Dam, Cleburn Hopkins of Tulsa, Ray and Raymond Hopkins, both of the home. Funeral service and burial was held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Bryant cemetery. Rev. Glenn G. Dipboye was the officiating minister with Fentress Mortuary in charge.

PVT Winthrop Leslie Smith

courtesy of Phil Harvey

PVT Winthrop Leslie Smith was born 22 Jul 1911 in Norwell, Massachusetts. He was the 5th of 6 children born to Anthony Joseph and Belle Fremont (Wilder) Smith. His father worked as a foreman in a chemical company. Belle unfortunately died in 1921. His father was  remarried in 1925 to Lula Amy (Buck) Hale. Winthrop was also working at the chemical company in 1930 after completing just 2-years of high school. About 1937 Winthrop married Mary Agnes (last name unknown) from Quincy, Massachusetts. Winthrop reported a 1939 income of $372 and Mary $396 for that same year working as a waitress. The couple were living with Winthrop's father, step-mother, and step-brother at 34 Leonard Road in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Winthrop was drafted in October 1943. After completing his basic military training he was sent to Europe. PVT Smith was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He was reported killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Smith was repatriated and re-interred in the Washington Street Cemetery in Norwell, Massachusetts where he will rest forever alongside his family.

SSG Anthony Joseph Mucciarone Jr.

SSG Anthony Joseph Mucciarone Jr. was born in Franklin, Massachusetts on 27 Jul 1924. He was the eldest of 4 children born to Anthony Joseph and Vera (Benedetto) Mucciarone. His father worked in a rug factory and later as a spinner in a yarn factory but by 1942 was unemployed. He reported a 1939 income of $790 and rented the family dwelling for $20 a month. This low income is probably one reason that the younger Anthony didn't complete high school and also went to work at a local textile plant.

Anthony was drafted in August 1943. Sent to England he was assigned to  G Company 116th Infantry prior to the amphibious assault at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. PVT Mucciarone was promoted to SGT on 20 Jun 1944. He was promoted again, this time to SSG, on 25 Jul 1944. SSG Mucciarone was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

SSG Mucciarone is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

PVT Franklin Earl Clark

PVT Franklin Earl Clark was born 16 Oct 1912 in Doniphan, Missouri. He was the youngest of the 3 sons born to Thaddeus Thomas Earl and Flora Mollie (Hicks) Clark. His father farmed to support his family and later became a clerk in the county court house. Frank, as it seems he was called, moved to Royal Oak, Michigan and went to work for Royal Oak Chevrolet Sales. He also married and he and his wife, Jesse Fern (Dalton), lived at 322 South Laurel in Royal Oak. 

Franklin was drafted in October 1943. After his approximately 5-months of basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to support duties. PVT Clark was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 28 Jun 1944. He fought with the unit through the bocage but was killed in action in the approach to Vire, France on 30 Jul 1944. 

PVT Clark was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in the Doniphan Oak Ridge Cemetery in Doniphan, Missouri.  

TSGT Roy A. Gift

TSGT Roy A. Gift was born 27 Feb 1921 in Topeka, Kansas to Clarence and Ida Ann (Burris) Gift. His father drove trucks and taxis.

Roy was married and living in Monterey County, California when he was drafted in September 1942.  This was the same month that the 116th boarded the Queen Mary for England.  It wasn't long before Roy followed them and was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit on D-Day, participating in the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach.  On 20 Jun 1944 he was promoted from PVT to SGT.  On 9 Jul 1944 he was promoted to SSG. Sometime between then and 30 Jul 1944, Roy was promoted to TSGT.  TSGT Gift was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944. 

TSGT Gift was repatriated and buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. We know nothing about Roy's wife or possible children. 

PVT Clyde Alfred Patton

courtesy of Ann Cady

PVT Clyde Alfred Patton was born 8 Apr 1916 in Madison County, Virginia. He was the 3rd of 15 children born to John Taylor and Lucy Dicey (Nichols) Patton. His younger brother, John Franklin Patton died in 1937 at age 17 when he broke his neck diving in shallow water. His father farmed for others and then for himself. Clyde was working for the Virginia highway department in 1940, reporting a 1939 income of $360. His father was apparently no longer working and the family rented a place at 101 Jackson Avenue in Manassas, Virginia.

Clyde was drafted in May 1941. Due to policies in effect at that time he was sent to Fort Meade, Maryland and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry very soon after induction. PVT Patton would have trained with the 116th at Fort Meade, in the Carolina exercises and at Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing to England with his unit aboard the Queen Mary in September 1942. Once in England he would have trained with the unit for the amphibious landings that took place at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. PVT Patton was wounded on 7 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He returned to the unit via the replacement depot on 25 Jul 1944. PVT Patton was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Patton was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Younger brother, S2C Fred Patton, was killed in action on 1 Jan 1943 just north of Oman, Algeria when the freighter on which his ship, LCT-21, was being transported was sunk by a German submarine. Another younger brother, Gordon Phillips Patton, served as an SP3 in the U.S. Army in Korea, 1953-1956. Brother, Harry Lee Patton, served as a PFC in the U.S. Army, 1959-1962.

PVT Thomas Henry Kilchenmann

PVT Thomas Henry Kilchenmann was born 13 Sep 1925 in Dickey County, to Alfred and Emma (Williams) Killchenmann.  Alfred's parents were natives of Switzerland. The family of 7 farmed in Dickey county. 

After entering service, Thomas was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 23 Jul 1944.  PVT Kilchenmann was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Kilchenmann was repatriated and is buried in Oakes View Cemetery in Oakes, South Dakota. 

Older brother Charles E. Kilchenmann served in the army from 1942-1945.

PVT Roland J. Love

PVT Roland J. Love was born 30 May 1922 in Massena, New York the youngest of ten children of Daniel Peter and Mary E. "Minnie" (Demo) Love. His father was a carpenter. After graduating from high school, Roland worked as a clerk at the ALCOA plant. 

Roland was drafted in November 1943.  He came home on leave and took the opportunity to marry Pauline S. Demers on 16 May 1944. Roland almost immediately left for Europe and on 25 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Love was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944 just 2½ months after being married.  

PVT Love was repatriated and buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Massena, New York.  Pauline re-married in 1950, the couple had no children.

PVT Aldie Justice Jr.

courtesy of Bessie Savery

PVT Aldie Justice Jr was born in 1919 in McDowell County, West Virginia.  He was working as a miner when he was drafted in January 1941. We don't know what happened in the interim but on 13 Jul 1944 PVT Justice was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry.  Aldie was a non-battle casualty the very next day (14 Jul 1944) and evacuated to hospital. Aldie returned to his unit from the hospital on 26 Jul 1944.  PVT Justice was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Justice is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

PFC Charles Kogan

PFC Charles Kogan was born 6 Dec 1909 in Grodno, Poland now in Belarus.  He was one of two sons of Gabriel and Florence Kogan. Both parents were natives of Poland as was his younger brother, Aaron. Charles Kogan was working at the Broadway Fruit Shop in Detroit when he entered the service. He was a graduate of a technical school in Grodno, Poland where he displayed special talents in mechanics and desired to become an engineer.

After entering the service, Charles was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 19 Jun 1944.  PVT Kogan was promoted to PFC on 24 Jul 1944.   PFC Kogan was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PFC Kogan was repatriated and was re-interred in Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale, Michigan.

A 2LT navigator and radar operator on a B-24 in the US Army Air Corps, Charles' brother Aaron had served 3 years. Although he had met his quota, he volunteered for a flight over Germany in March 1945 during which he was killed at the age of 25. His body was not recovered. His name is on the tablets of the missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery.

SSG Larry Wayne Curry

SSG Larry Wayne Curry was born 11 Nov 1924 in Gatesville, Texas the oldest child of James Malcolm and Annie Viola (Williams) Curry.  The family of 6 farmed in Coryell County. 

When Larry was drafted in June  1943 he had only 3 years of high school.  At the time of the D-Day landings he was a PFC assigned to L Company 116th Infantry.  He was promoted to SGT on 20 Jun 1944.  He was further promoted to SSG on 27 Jul 1944.  SSG Curry was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944. 

SSG Curry was returned to the U.S. in 1948 and buried in the Restland Cemetery in Gatesville, Texas. 

PFC Donald George Seeley

courtesy of Barent Parslow

PFC Donald George Seeley was born 14 Sep 1923 in Conneautville, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of the 2 sons of George William and Elsie K. (Reitze) Seeley. The family had been in Crawford county, Pennsylvania for quite a while. Don's father was a clerk and later a manager in a grocery. He was successful enough that he bought a house on Center Street in Conneautville valued at $4000 in 1940. Donald graduated from Conneautville High School in 1941 where he was the basketball team manager. He then attended Pennsylvania State College completing a course in dairy manufacture.

Don was drafted in May 1943. He was sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi where he was trained on light machineguns. He was sent to England on 1 Jun 1944 and about a month later was sent to France. PFC Seeley was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 23 Jul 1944. He was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PFC Seeley is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Don's younger brother, Paul Ellsworth Seeley, served as a SGT in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific where he maintained aircraft radios. Don's father served as a CPL in the U.S. Army during the first World War.

PVT Eugene F. Shearer

PVT Eugene F. Shearer was born 1 Oct 1924 in Caprivi, Pennsylvania. he was the oldest of the 2 children born to Clarence Rhodey and Emma Maude (Lay) Shearer. This was a 2nd marriage for both parents. His father had farmed but then worked as a day laborer, mostly in highway construction. The family owned their home valued at $1000 in 1940.

Eugene was working for C. H. Masland & Son when he registered for the draft in December 1942. He was drafted just 4 months later, in March 1943. After completing his basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina he was transferred to G Company 423rd Infantry. However, he was pulled from that unit before it left Camp Atterbury, Indiana and sent to the European theater. PVT Shearer was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jul 1944. He was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944 in the drive to liberate Vire, France.

PVT Shearer was repatriated and re-interred with many family members in the Letort Cemetery in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Great-grandfather, James B. Green, served as a 2LT in F Company 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry (USA) in the Civil War and was wounded near Farmville, Virginia.

PVT Charles Wesley Singer

PVT Charles Wesley Singer was born 12 Aug 1917 in Hampstead, Maryland. He was the 3rd of the 11 children born to Charles Edward and Mazie Lucinda (Weaver) Singer. His father supported the family as a watchman and farmer. The family had been in Carroll County, Maryland for over 100 years. Our Charles was still living with his family in 1940 and presumably helping on the farm.

Charles had enlisted in the Maryland National Guard on 19 Jun 1939 and was a member of H Company 115th Infantry when the 29th Division was activated on 3 Feb 1941. PFC Singer was relieved from active duty on 11 Nov 1941 and transferred to the Enlisted Reserve Corps. PVT Singer was recalled to active duty on 7 Aug 1942. We do not know his whereabouts until he was transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry on 15 Jul 1944. PVT Singer was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Singer was repatriated in 1957 and re-interred in the Wesley United Methodist Church Cemetery in Hampstead, Maryland.

SSG Joseph Patrick Roche

SSG Joseph Patrick Roche was born 5 Dec 1912 in Park Turla, Ireland. He immigrated in 1923 entering the U.S. in Maine and becoming a citizen in 1933. Joseph appears to be the youngest of 6 children who came to the United States at different times. Apparently the family built the home at 116 La France Avenue in Bloomfield, New Jersey in 1926 and moved in, living there for many years. The house was valued at $8000 in 1930.

Joseph was drafted in May 1942. It seems that he was sent to England and soon assigned to K Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that was to be a part of the invasion of occupied Europe and took part in that assault on 6 Jun 1944. PFC Roche was wounded on 29 Jul 1944 and evacuated but still promoted to SSG. SSG Roche died of
his wound(s) on 30 Jul 1944.

SSG Roche was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

PVT Lloyd Thomas Nugent

PVT Lloyd Thomas Nugent was born 27 Apr 1925 in Long Beach, California. He was the first born of 3 chldren and only son of Joseph John and Esther Mae (Boyd) Nugent. His father supported the family at various jobs including as a pipe-fitter for an oil refinery. His parents had separated by 1940 and he lived with his mother and sisters at 5629 Lewis Street in Long Beach which his mother owned and was valued at $1000. At that time his mother was supporting her daughters as a housekeeper reporting $288 income for 1939. Lloyd registered for the draft in April 1943 and was working for Kaighin and Hughes at that time.

Lloyd was drafted in July 1943. After completing basic combat training he was sent to England and assigned to E Company 116th Infantry in time to participate in the amphibious assault on the beaches of occupied France on 6 Jun 1944. PVT Nugent was wounded on 15 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He returned to the unit on 22 Jun 1944. On 18 Jul 1944 he was again evacuated to hospital having suffered a non-battle injury. He returned to the unit again on 22 Jul 1944. PVT Nugent was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Nugent now rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Great-grandfather James Nugent served in D Company 6th Louisiana Infantry (CSA) in the Civil War. Great-grandfather Mathias Markley served as a PVT in D Company 7th West Virginia Infantry (USA) in the Civil War.

PFC Thomas Elmer Perkey

courtesy of Larry & Edie Doepel

PFC Thomas Elmer Perkey was born 20 Aug 1920 in Union County, Tennessee. He was the 3rd of 5 children born to Orvelle L. and Mary Abbey (Wallace) Perkey. In 1940 his father was working for the Works Progress Administration and was paying $5 a month rent on the home on Coke Oven Hill Road in Campbell County, Tennessee. Thomas was still living with his family and working in a local saw mill. He had only worked 6 weeks in 1939 and reported an income of only $39 for that year. Thomas had not attended high school. In June 1942, Thomas married Miss Nellie Louise West. The couple would have 2 sons.

Thomas was drafted in August 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to L Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that took place on 6 Jun 1944 at the French beach code-named "Omaha". PVT Perkey was promoted to PFC on 20 Jun 1944. PFC Perkey was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PFC Perkey was repatriated and re-interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in La Follette, Tennessee. 

Nellie moved to Fort Lauderdale and did not remarry until 1960.

PVT John Brewster Harris

PVT John Brewster Harris was born 23 May 1925 son of Pearl Brewster and Laura Ann (Shatswell) Harris.  His father had moved from his birthplace in Texas to Cedarville, Arkansas. The family of 7 then lived in Wister and McIntosh County, Oklahoma and finally in Oakdale, California.

John was working as a fruit picker/packer for DiGiorgio Farms when he was drafted in September 1943.  He was sent to Europe and on 14 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Harris was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Harris is buried in the Oakdale Citizens Cemetery in Oakdale, California

PFC Francis Hanson Cary

PFC Francis Hanson Cary was born 1 Sep 1911 in Flint Hill, Virginia to Frank Hezekiah and Virginia E. (Ferguson) Cary.  His grandfather, Alexander Cary, served as a private in Company E, 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion.  Father Frank was a dry goods salesman, perhaps working for his father then owned his own store.  Francis was working as a laborer and living with his Aunt Margaret in 1940.

Francis entered service in May 1941.  He was eventually assigned to G Company 116th Infantry and was assigned to that unit on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. He was wounded while still on the landing craft and immediately returned to the boat and England to recover.  For a time he was reported as missing in action but returned to duty on 22 Jul 1944.  On 30 Jul 1944 he was killed in action when he was shot.

PFC Cary rests forever with much of his family in Flint Hill Methodist Cemetery in Flint Hill, Virginia.

CPL James Edward Clark Jr

courtesy of Bessie Savery

CPL James Edward Clark Jr was born abt 1925 in Detroit, Michigan to James Edward and Beatrice Sarah (Huff) Clark. His father was an electrical engineer who had a 1939 reported income of $3000.  James attended Southeastern High School.

After entering the service James was sent overseas.  James was already a CPL when he was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 13 Jun 1944. He was again transferred from B to A Company 116th Infantry on 15 Jun 1944, likely to help in replacing the many men that unit lost on 6 Jun 1944 in the D-Day landings.  On 30 Jul 1944 he was seriously wounded and evacuated to a hospital.  CPL Clark died of his wounds on that same day.

CPL Clark is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

PVT Lloyd George Runyan

PVT Lloyd George Runyan was born 21 May 1925 in Owosso, Michigan. He was the 6th of William Henry and Julia Alice (Potter) Runyan's 14 children 5 of whom died in infancy or were still-born. His father was a railroad conductor earning a reported 1939 income of $2600 and owning a home at 202 West Oliver Street in Corunna, Michigan valued at $3000 in 1940. After leaving school Lloyd worked for Bryant as farm labor.

Lloyd was drafted in July 1943. He attended basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas before attending the Parachute School at Fort Benning, Georgia from which he graduated on 21 Feb 1944. In March 1944 he was sent to the European theater and was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. PVT Runyan was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944 in the vicinity of Moyon, France.

PVT Runyan rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery and the family has a cenotaph for him in the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Owosso, Michigan.

Several of his older brothers also served during the war. Luther Earl Runyan served in the U.S. Army in Italy 1944-1945. Raymond Gerald Runyan served as a PVT in Service Battery 557th Field Artillery Battalion. William Henry Runyan Jr. served as a F1c in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Essex (CV-19) in the South Pacific.

SSG Aloysius Joseph Slater

courtesy of Stéphanie Pépin

SSG Aloysius Joseph Slater was born 25 Jun 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 2nd of 7 children born to William Linderman and Mary Frances (Mellor) Slater. His father was a machinist but as the depression continued he supported his family as a gardener. Aloysius didn't attend high school. In 1942, he was working for W. C. Hamilton & Son, a publisher in Miquon, Pennsylvania.

Aloysius was drafted in March 1943. After completing his basic military training he was granted a furlough and on 10 Apr 1944 married Carolyn C. DiLuzio before he left for the European theater. PFC Slater was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 28 Jun 1944. He must have demonstrated leadership and military competence because he was promoted to directly to SSG less than a month later on 25 Jul 1944. SSG Slater was killed in action in the drive on Vire on 30 Jul 1944.

SSG Slater rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery. 

Great-grandfather, PVT William Mattis of C Company 88th Pennsylvania Infantry, died in Washington, D.C. of wounds received at Second Manassas and is buried at the Soldiers Home National Cemetery. Great-grandfather Frederick Mellor served as a PVT in C Company 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry.

PVT George M. Langford

courtesy of Frogman

PVT George M. Langford was born 7 Jun 1922 in Liberty, Kentucky to Isaac Thomas and Florence Emma (Hughett) Langford.  The family farmed. George married a local girl, Jewell Eugenia Allen.

George was drafted in September 1943.  After his training he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry on 19 Jun 1944. PVT Langford was killed in action on 30 Jul 1944.

PVT Langford is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. Jewell re-married after the war.

CPL Leon Szmurlo

courtesy of Hike

CPL Leon Szmurlo was born 8 Jun 1919 in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. He was the only son of Tadeusz Tomasz "Theodore" and Katarzyna (Musial) Szmurlo. Theodore was a coal miner. Katarzyna's first husband had also been a miner and Leon's older half-brother Karol "Carl" Kamionka lived with them. Theodore died in 1928. By 1940 Leon was working in the mines as was his brother with whom he lived at 27 Watkins Street in Swoyerville, Pennsylvania. 

Leon was drafted in May 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to M Company 116th Infantry as an ammunition handler. PFC Szmurlo trained with the unit for and landed with it in the amphibious assault on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. He was promoted to CPL on 21 Jun 1944. CPL Szmurlo was shot and killed in action on 29 Jul 1944 as the unit began the movement into Brittany in the attack on German forces in Brest. 

CPL Szmurlo rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery. 

PVT Ponto Bebe

PVT Ponto Bebe was born in Albania (probably in or near Plasa) on 2 May 1907 to George and Despa (Dima) Bebe.  In 1940 Ponto was supporting the family as a truck driver. 

Ponto was drafted in December 1942.  After being shipped overseas. It was in 1943, in England, that he applied for naturalization. He was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry and was with the unit on D-Day.  On 9 Jun 1944 he was thought to be missing in action but was returned to duty (found?) on 12 Jun 1944.  On 26 Jul 1944 he was transferred to L Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Bebe was killed in action on 29 Jul 1944. 

PVT Ponto Bebe is buried in Saint John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Cemetery in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. 

Younger brother Michael was also drafted, served in the US Army then returned home.

SGT John Gregory Nelson

courtesy of Katie Ross

SGT John Gregory Nelson was born 3 Jul 1923 in Danvers, Minnesota. John was the oldest of the 3 children and only son born to Elliott Walter and Irene M. (Reardon) Nelson. His father managed a grain elevator and in 1940, his mother was working as a statistical clerk for the census bureau. The couple had a combined 1939 income of $1300 and owned their home valued at $2500. John's employment wasn't given but he reported a 1939 income of $45.

John was drafted in April 1943. After his basic training he was sent to England and assigned to the replacement depot likely awaiting the invasion of occupied Europe. On 13 Jun 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry. PVT Nelson wasn't there for very long because on 14 Jun 1944 he was again transferred, this time to D Company 116th Infantry. This was the period after the very costly amphibious landings on Omaha Beach and the regiment was trying to cross-level necessary soldiers and still have all units with effective combat strength. No doubt he was effective soldier because he was promoted to SGT on 27 Jul 1944. SGT Nelson was killed in action on 29 Jul 1944.

SGT Nelson was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in Saint Malachy Cemetery in Clontarf, Minnesota.

PVT William Ebbie Parker

courtesy of Darlene Burkett

We believe that PVT William Ebbie Parker is the PVT William E. Parker noted in our morning reports. He was born 11 Dec 1924 in Benton, Illinois. He was the 2nd of 3 children and only son born to Joseph Leslie and Mary Belva (Flannigan) Parker. He was apparently called "Ebbie" by the family as that is how he appears on all the census documents. The family farmed in Hamilton county just east of Benton.

After entering the Army, probably in late 1943, Ebbie was sent to the European theater. On 27 Jul 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. PVT Parker was killed in action on 29 Jul 1944.

PVT Parker was repatriated and re-interred in the Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, Illinois. His older sister, Geneva, is buried next to him.

PVT Albert A. Osier

courtesy of Mike & Bushy Hartman

PVT Albert A. Osier was born about 1912 in Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Frank Joseph and Sarah (Lannin) Osier. About the time he turned 18, Albert moved to Detroit and got a job as a clerk. He married Pearl Marie Goring on 19 Jul 1941.

 Albert was drafted. After his initial military training he was sent to England and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He trained with that unit for and participated in the amphibious assault on occupied French soil at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. PVT Osier was wounded and evacuated to hospital about 18 Jun 1944. He returned to the unit on 17 Jul 1944. PVT Osier was killed in action on 29 Jul 1944.

PVT Osier is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

Pearl never remarried and she passed away in 2010.

PFC John Augustus Bauer

PFC John Augustus Bauer, b. 1 Jan 1923 - d. 29 Jul 1944. Son of Charles Peter and Annie (Bunn) Bauer of Douglas, Pennsylvania. John entered service in March 1943 and was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry on 4 Jul 1944 and was serving with that unit at the time of his death. He rests in Holy Cross Cemetery in East Greenville, Pennsylvania.

PFC Herman Joseph Bania

PFC Herman Joseph Bania b. 23 oct 1924 - d. 29 Jul 1944. Herman was the only son of Joseph Anthony and Sophia (Orzembowska) Bania who had immigrated from Bohemia. Herman was survived by his parent and his sister, Josephine Theresa (Bania) Tambor. Herman came to D Company 116th Regiment from the replacement depot on 15 Jul 1944, was reported MIA on 1 Aug and then reported to have been KIA as 26 Jul (in the morning reports).  PFC Bania is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.

PFC Clarence J Benton

PFC Clarence J. Benton was born 8 Aug 1919 in Union City, Pennsylvania to Frank Clyde and Ivy Wilhelmina (Strickland) Benton.  His father had served in the Army from 29 Oct 1913 and during the first World War in Machine Gun Company 10th Infantry and worked in a chemical factory shortly after Clarence was born. His parents divorced in 1926 and both remarried. Clarence had a total of 5 siblings.  Clarence lived with his mother and step-father, graduated from high school and attended 1-year of college. He worked as a salesman.

In February 1942 Clarence was drafted.  He was shipped overseas in October 1942.  He was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry on D-Day.  He may have been wounded on 20 June when he was thought to be missing in action but he is recorded as having died of wounds on 29 Jul 1944.

PFC Benton rests forever in the Evergreen Cemetery in Union City, Pennsylvania. 

PVT Roland Shelby Landrum

PVT Roland Shelby Landrum was born 24 Oct 1924 in Breathitt County, Kentucky the seventh of eight children born to Albert Sidney and Laura (Back) Landrum.  The family farmed.  His mother died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1942.

Roland entered the army in December 1943.  He was sent to Europe after basic training and on 26 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Landrum was killed in action on 29 Jul 1944.

PVT Landrum was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Landrum Family Cemetery in Noctor, Kentucky.

3 of his 4 rothers also served: Albert Augustus Landrum served in the Army from 1942 to 1945. Robert Melvin Landrum also entered the Army in 1942. Ollie James Landrum was drafted in 1944 and served in the Army.

PFC Marsh Julian Jones

PFC Marsh Julian Jones was born as "Morse Julian Jones" on 17 Aug 1913 in Rainswood, Virginia to Eppa George and Anna Mirteen (Allison) Jones.  The family of 6 farmed in Richmond County. 

Marsh was drafted in April 1941.  At some point after his initial training, Marsh was assigned to Anti-Tank Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with that unit in England for the amphibious assault on "fortress Europe" and was with the unit on 6 Jun 1944.  Marsh fought with the unti until 29 Jul 1944 when he was killed in action.

PFC Jones is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.  His father died 1 Oct 1944. His brother, George Wesley Jones served in the Army during the war. 

PVT Adam Nieto Dutchover

PVT Adam Nieto Dutchover was born in 1918 in Saragosa, Texas to Joseph and Francisca Anna (Nieto) Dutchover.  The family farmed near Hagerman in Chaves county, New Mexico.  His mother died in 1933.

When drafted in July 1942 Adam was already married to Emedina Gonzales Sanchez.  The couple wouldd have a son in December of that year. After his training Adam was sent overseas and on 24 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman.  PVT Dutchover was killed in action on 29 Jul 1944 near Torigni-sur-Pire, France.

PVT Dutchover rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

At least 2 brothers also served in the war. Joe Dutchover served as a PFC in the US Army in the South Pacific theater and Henry Dutchover served in the US Navy. His great-grandfather, Anton (Diedrich) Dutchover served as a PVT in the Mexican War.

PVT Federico Gonzales Soto

PVT Federico Gonzales Soto was born 5 Aug 1925 with his twin brother, Leonardo, in Encinal, Texas. They were the eldest of the 5 children born to Andres and Juana (Gonzales) Soto, both natives of Texas. His mother was already suffering from the skin cancer that would destroy the left side of her face and untimately kill her in 1943. The family lost their 2 youngest, both girls, in 1933 and 1938. In 1930 the family lived in Webb County, Texas, near Laredo, where Andres worked as farm labor. Federico was unemployed when he registered for the draft in 1943.

Federico was drafted in December 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. He was first transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944 and almost immediately, actually the same day, transferred again, this time to B Company 116th Infantry. He would serve in B Company as a rifleman until killed in action on 29 Jul 1944.

PVT Soto was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo, Texas.

PVT Herbert Frederick Chinn

PVT Herbert Frederick Chinn, b. 10 Sep 1912 - d. 28 Jul 1944. Son of John Frederick and Annie R (Shifflett) Chinn in Beltsville, MD. He married Pauline Bessie Collins in 1933 and worked as a jockey before being drafted in 1943. He was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry 28 Jun 1944, sick and to the hospital on 21 Jul 1944 and returned to his unit to be KIA. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

PVT Milard Clark Foresee

PVT Milard Clark Foresee was born 14 Oct 1910, 2nd child and eldest son of L. B. and Vestia Almeda (Timbrook) Foresee.  The family farmed.

Milard went into the army in March 1943.  Sent overseas he was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 22 Jun 1944. He was wounded on 11 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital.  He died of his wounds in the hospital on 27 Jul 1944.

PVT Foresee is buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Harrison, Arkansas.

2LT Theron Sheridan Ward Jr.

2LT Theron Sheridan Ward Jr. was born 22 Jun 1921 in Lewiston, Idaho. He was the youngest of the five children and second son of Theron Sheridan and Cora Elva (Coburn) Ward. His father operated a dry goods store in Lewiston before retiring from that and taking up farming. The family lived at 330 4th Street in Lewiston for over thirty years.Young Theron was able to get a good education graduating from Culver Military Academy and attending the University of Washington.

After entering the Army and being commissioned, 2LT Ward was assigned to Camp Roberts, California where he met and married Helenanne Thompson Bryan in November 1942. It is unclear when 2LT Ward was sent to the European Theater but he was in England when he received a telegram that the couple had a son born in January 1944. 2LT Ward was assigned to C Company 116th Infantry on 2 Jun 1944 as one of the officers assigned to ensure that anticipated losses in the D-Day landings wouldn't eliminate all officers. He was one of the officers wounded in the landing and was evacuated to England. 2LT Ward was one of the soldiers being further evacuated by air to hospital facilities in Scotland when the aircraft crashed near Portpatrick, Scotland on 27 Jul 1944 killing all on board including 2LT Ward.

2LT Ward now rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England.

Brother, Paul Coburn Ward, served in the military 1943-1946. Theron is survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

SGT Albert L. Johnson

SGT Albert L. Johnson was born 15 Nov 1910 in Crooksville, Ohio to William Finley and Minnie (McKnight) Johnson.  His father worked as a coal miner. In 1930 Albert was working as a cashier in Athens, Ohio.

Albert entered the service in November 1942.  After his basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, he was sent to England and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry with which he trained for the amphibious invasion of "fortress Europe". It was in that training that he was burned by an explosion and spent some time recovering in hospital in England. PFC Johnson took part in the assault on the Normandy beach code-named Omaha. Surviving, he was promoted to SGT on 20 Jun 1944. SGT Johnson was seriously wounded on 30 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital.  He died of his wounds on 26 Jul 1944. 

SGT Johnson was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in West Union Street Cemetery in Athens, Ohio. 

PFC Marion Hugh Mawyer

PFC Marion Hugh Mawyer was born 19 Apr 1913 in Albemarle County, Virginia.  He was the oldest of 4 children born to Marion Ernest and Minnie Alma (Quick).

Hugh was already enlisted in K Company 116th Infantry when the unit was federalized in February 1941.He trained with the unit at Camp Meade, Maryland and Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing for England aboard the Queen Mary in September 1942. The unit trained for many months for the planned amphibious landing that would be part of the invasion of occupied Europe.  PFC Mawyer participated in that landing on 6 Jun 1944, D-Day, and fought with the unit in Normandy until he was wounded on 17 Jun 1944.  PFC Mawyer died of his wound(s) on 24 Jun 1944.

PFC Mawyer was repatriated and re-interred to rest forever with his family in the Rock Spring Cemetery in Faber, Virginia. 

PVT Robert Kilduff

PVT Robert Kilduff was born 28 Mar 1925 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He was the 7th of 8 children born to Patrick and Nellie (Butler) Kilduff. 2 of his brothers died in infancy. His parents were Irish immigrants, his father from Clooncullen and his mother from Portlaw, who had met and married in Chelsea. His father supported his family as a stevedore and laborer in a furniture business but in 1939 the family subsisted on the $850 earned that year by the 2 oldest sons.

Robert voluntarily enlisted and trained as a infantryman. Sent to England and assigned to K Company 116th Infantry he was with the unit on 6 Jun 1944 in the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach. He was killed in action on 22 Jul 1944.

PVT Kilduff was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.  

Robert's 3 brothers also served during the war.

SGT Weldon Lee Jones

courtesy of Linda S. Johnson

SGT Weldon Lee Jones was born 22 Jul 1922 in what was then Nansemond County now Suffolk, Virginia. He was the oldest of the 6 children of Herbert Lee and Sallie Doughtie. Herbert worked in a brick kiln and later as a truck driver for the state highway department earning $1020 in 1939. Weldon left school at the 7th grade and went into the work force but it is unclear what he was doing.

Weldon enlisted in the Virginia National Guard on 22 Jul 1940 and served in M Company 116th Infantry and drilled in Emporia, Virginia. PVT Jones was federalized along with the rest of his unit in February 1941 and was sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland for inprocessing and training. He then trained with the unit near Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the Carolina maneuvers and at Camp Blanding, Florida before the unit was sent to England in September 1942. There he and the rest of the 116th underwent rigorous training including amphibious training in preparation for the amphibious assault planned to be part of the effort to liberate occupied France. PFC Jones was landed with his unit and fought with them in the bocage in Normandy. He was promoted to SGT on 21 Jun 1944 and in this leadership position he fought with the unit until wounded in the abdomen on 18 Jul 1944. Evacuated to a field hospital, he underwent surgery but died of his wounds on 21 Jul 1944.

SGT Jones was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Emporia Cemetery in Emporia, Virginia together with many family members. 

4 of Weldon's 5 brothers also served. William Horace Jones and Herbert Louis Jones both entered service in WW2 and retired as SGMs after 30-years. Alamance Jones served as a CPL in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Raleigh Ray Jones served in the U.S. Air Force in the Korean and Vietnam wars and retired as a TSGT.

PFC Ernest Milton Dodd

courtesy of Dominque Potier

PFC Ernest Milton Dodd was born 22 Apr 1923 in Farmerville, Louisiana. He was the first born of 10 children of Earl L. and Birdie B. (Patrick) Dodd. His father farmed cotton on rented land. Ernest didn't continue his education past the 5th grade and went to work helping his father farm. 

After Ernest was drafted in late 1943 and completed his basic military training he was sent to the European theater, probably arriving in England in June 1944. PFC Dodd was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 10 Jul 1944 while the unit was engaged in the fight for Saint-Lo, France. He continued to fight with the unit until wounded on 16 Jul 1944 as the unit moved towards Vire, France. Although he was evacuated to a field hospital and treated, PFC Dodd died of his wound(s) on 21 Jul 1944. 

PFC Dodd rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

2LT Chester Sylvester Cabaj

2LT Chester Sylvester Cabaj was born 8 Jun 1915 in Dunkirk, New York to Stanislaus and Jozefa/Josephine (Sczesniak) Cabaj.  Both his parents were Polish immigrants.  Stanislaus worked as a locomotive mechanic and the family moved quite a bit, living in Michigan and Pennsylvania before living in Dunkirk when Chester was born. Jozefa died in March 1923 at the age of 37.  In 1940, Chester was working as a shipping clerk at the Allegheny Ludium steel plant with a reported income of $1300 in 1939.

Chester was drafted in Jan 1941.  He must have exhibited good leadership qualities to have been selected for Officer Candidate School.  After commissioning in April 1943 he was first sent to Camp Walters in Texas before going to Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands.  2LT Cabaj was departed the U.S. for  England on 10 Jun 1944. He was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 17 Jul 1944 to serve as a Platoon Leader.  He was killed in action 3 days later on 20 Jul 1944.

2LT Cabaj is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

PVT Charles William Prescott Jr.

courtesy of Gordon Hunter

PVT Charles William Prescott Jr. was born 9 Jul 1925 in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. He was the only child of Charles William and Laura Mae Prescott. His father worked for grandfather William Prescott's roofing firm in Carnegie. His parents divorced after 1930 and his father re-married in 1937.

Charles was drafted in September 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater in March 1944. He was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 16 Jun 1944. He fought with the unit until wounded on 14 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. PVT Prescott died of his wound(s) on 20 Jul 1944. 

PVT Prescott was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

PFC Thomas Carroll Power

Thomas at Worcester Academy, 1940

PFC Thomas Carroll Power was born 8 Apr 1921 in Westfield, Massachusetts. He was the only child of Dr. Thomas Edward and Mary E. (Carroll) Power. His father was a dentist. The family lived in a house they owned at 136 Granville Road in Westfield that was valued at $6500 in 1940. Thomas graduated from Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts and intended to attend the University of Pennsylvania.

Thomas may have already been in Pennsylvania attending school when he voluntarily enlisted in 1941 or 1942. After his basic military training he was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry. We believe he was with the unit for the amphibious assault at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. He fought with the unit until wounded on 15 Jul 1944 and he was evacuated to hospital. PFC Power died of his wound(s) on 20 Jul 1944.

PFC Power rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.