LTG James Alexander Baber III

LTG James Alexander Baber III was born 4 Nov 1929 in Richmond, Virginia. He was the eldest of James Alexander and Edna Earl (Jenkins) Baber's 2 sons. The family lived with his grandfather, James Alexander Baber Sr. in his home at 1426 Perry Street in Richmond which his grandfather owned and was valued at $7000 in 1930. At the time his grandfather was working as a gas meter inspector and his father as a presser in a print shop. His grandmother died in 1935 and grandfather in 1939 and the home passed to his father who was now working as a clerk for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission earning a reported $1680 in 1939. By 1950 the family had moved to 132 East Belt Boulevard in Manchester, Virginia although James was attending college in Williamsburg.

His professional life is well described in his obituary published at the time of his death. "Jim attended John Marshall High School and excelled in both football and baseball, where he was voted to all-city and all-state in both sports. His leadership was not only exemplified on the playing field but also as a leader in the ROTC program, where he served as Battalion Commander. After graduating from John Marshall, he attended The College of William and Mary earning his B.A. degree in 1952. His passion for football and baseball continued throughout his college years and he excelled in both sports. He was later inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame. 

Upon graduation, Jim was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and was assigned as Division Artillery Survey Officer, 1st Calvary Division in Japan during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1954, whereupon he joined the Virginia National Guard. He served as Commander of various National Guard Units within the Commonwealth and was federally recognized as Brigadier General in 1979. The pinnacle his career was when Jim was appointed Commander of the 29th Infantry Division of Virginia and Maryland in 1985 and federally recognized as Major General. He had risen to the two star rank before retiring as a designated three star General. For his service, Jim received the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Virginia National Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Maryland National Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Virginia Army National Guard Service Medal, and the Virginia Army National Guard Bronze Star. 

From the very beginning, Jim was fated to be an inspiring leader. With his troops, he enjoyed a deep rapport and the camaraderie of lifelong friends. Jim received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1957 from T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, where he also led as Student Body President and was a member of the National Moot Court Team, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society and McNeill Law Society. He was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1956 and practiced Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation law for over 50 years in Federal and State Court. He also served as a substitute Judge in the Richmond General District Court and surrounding counties for 26 years. He was Senior Partner at Bremner, Baber and Janus Law Firm. He distinguished himself by his take charge leadership and relentless work ethic. His great soldiery quality was matched by his desire to win battles for his clients and win the cases. Every case was a win-win because Jim saw the redemptive quality in every person no matter the outcome and treated everyone with dignity and respect. 

Jim was a 54-year member of the Fraternal Order of Freemasons at the Manchester Lodge #14 of Richmond. He was committed to the values of the Fraternal Order. Jim often quoted from an old Army song, "Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Fade Away."  Besides his work for the Shriners in the Directors Staff, he was also charitable in less formal ways. "

MG Baber died 29 Apr 2017 and rests forever in the Westhampton Memorial Park in Tuckahoe, Virginia. 

Great-grandfather, John Avery Cersley, served as a PVT in I Company 6th Virginia Infantry (CSA) during the Civil War.

PFC James Louis Banchero

PFC James Louis Banchero was born 6 Sep 1925 in Petaluma, California the only child of Louis Jr. and Eunice (Pedrotti) Banchero.  His father worked at many jobs including running a tavern.

James was drafted in August 1944.  Sent overseas, he was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 4 Mar 1945.  He was promoted to PFC on 16 Mar 1945.  PFC Banchero was wounded by rifle fire on 24 Apr 1945 and died of his wounds later that day.

We think that PFC Banchero was repatriated and is buried in Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, California. 

SSG Walter Boger

SSG Walter Boger was born 9 Apr 1921 to Isaac and Sophia (Radke) Boger of Homestead, Kansas.  Isaac was a farmer who died in 1926.  The youngest of Isaac and Sophia's 5 children, by 1940 Walter was supporting his mother as a clerk in a grocery.

While we don't know at this time when Walter entered the service it appears that he was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry prior to the D-Day landings.  On 16 Oct 1944 he was promoted to SSG. From 18 to 27 Dec 1944 he was at the 29th Division Training Center.  Returned to I Company, he was killed in action 24 Apr 1945 in the vicinity of Grippel, Germany.

SSG Boger is buried the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

PFC Donald Albert Morton

PFC Donald Albert Morton was born 3 Aug 1924 in Burlington Junction, Missouri.  His parents, John Willard and Crystal Belle (Bartlett) Morton had 8 other children 2 of whom died in infancy, Donald was their second. While his father served as Saddler during WWI, his younger brothers were too young to serve during WWII but his brother Robert served in Korea. 

Donald entered service 5 May 1943 and was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry before D-Day or so it seems according to the morning reports as he isn't mentioned from 6 June until he was killed in action on 24 Apr 1945 near Grippel, Germany. He now rests forever in Ohio Cemetery, Burlington Junction, Missouri.

PFC Vincent Frank Mazzaferri

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Vincent Frank Mazzaferri was born 12 Oct 1923 in Verbicaro, Italy to John and Maria Francesca (Brasuina) Mazzaferri.  John immigrated in 1923 and brought Maria, Vincent and Vincent's older brother Joseph to the United States in 1930. John worked as a janitor to support his family earning $1370 in 1939.Vincent completed 2-years of high school before beginning work, probably to help support his family.

Vincent was apparently working as a carpenter's assistant or apprentice when he was drafted in late April 1943. We don't know much about his military assignments until he was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 5 Mar 1945.  PFC Mazzaferri was killed in action on 24 Apr 1945.

PFC Mazzaferri is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC Charlie Ralph Gardner

PFC Charlie Ralph Gardner, b. 17 Jan 1924 - d. 24 Apr 1945. Son of the Reverend Robert Fulton and Mattie Esther (Warner) Gardner of Rockingham, North Carolina. Entering service in Jul 1943, Charlie was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry while the unit was in England and participated in the D-Day assault where he was first wounded. He returned to the unit on 24 Jul 1944 and then was injured (non-battle casualty) on 5 Aug 1944.  He came back to the unit after leaving the hospital on 5 Sep 1944.  Charlie went back to the hospital again a non battle casualty (illness perhaps) on 14 Nov 1944 and again returned to the unit on 11 Dec 1944.  He was at the 29th Division training center and back in the unit on 18 Mar 1945. He was killed in action on 24 Apr 1945.  PFC Gardner now rests in the Carolina Memorial Park, Concord, North Carolina.

PFC James Paul Ewing

PFC James Paul Ewing was born 4 Apr 1926 in Creighton, Missouri to James Upton and Ora Mae (Kepner) Ewing. The family of 7 supported themselves by farming.  Elder sister Elizabeth helped family income by teaching.

When James was drafted in August 1944 he had graduated from high school.  Completing his training he was sent overseas to replace soldiers who had been wounded or killed and was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry on 6 Mar 1945.  Wounded on 24 Apr 1945 and evacuated to hospital he died of wounds that same day. 

PFC Ewing was returned to the U.S. in 1949 and is now buried in Newton Burial Park in Nevada, Missouri. 

PFC Everett Eugene Evans

PFC Everett Eugene Evans was born 22 Jun 1924 in Carter County, Kentucky to Sam and Martha (Jones) Evans.

Entered service in September 1943 and after training was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry.  Likely participated in D-Day landings.  Wounded on 9 Oct he returned to the unit via the replacement depot on 6 Jan 1945.  Killed in action on 24 Apr 1945.

PFC Evans is buried in Bowen Chapel Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky. 

SGT Edward D. Peacock

SGT Edward D. Peacock was born 9 Sep 1918 in Buffalo, New York. He was the 7th of the 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls) born to Frederick Wells and Dolly L. (Mensch) Peacock. His father was a railroad engineer but he died in 1922. It seems that the family struggled through the depression without Frederick's support. Consequently, all 4 of the 5 boys enlisted in the New York National Guard and served in D Company 174th Infantry. In 1940, Edward was working as a salesman at a department store but only reported a 1939 income of $90. The family of 6 adults as a whole had only brought in $1280 for that year.

Edward as well as his brothers was serving in D Company 174th Infantry when the unit was federalized in September 1940. The 174th was assigned to the 44t Division and sent to the west coast for a homeland defense mission. At some point Edward was sent to the European theater. On 11 Aug 1944 PVT Peacock was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry. He was promoted to PFC on 20 Sep 1944. PFC Peacock was injured on 14 Oct 1944 and sent to hospital. He did not return to the unit, via the replacement depot, until 5 Dec 1944. He was promoted to SGT on 11 Mar 1945. SGT Peacock was wounded on 7 Apr 1945 and sent to hospital. SGT Peacock died of his wound(s) on 19 Apr 1945.

SGT Peacock was repatriated and re-interred in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York. 

Edward's father served as a PVT in A Company 65th Infantry for a short time during the Spanish-American War. As previously mentioned, all his brothers had served with him in D Company 174th Infantry and all served during the war. The oldest brother, Frederick George Peacock, made the Army a career and rose to the rank of MAJ. Next oldest, Joseph Peacock, was the only brother who did not serve in the National Guard before the war and he was drafted in 1943 and served until 1945. Edward's younger brothers, William Robert Peacock and Raymond Warren Peacock, were both federalized with the unit in 1940 and seemed to have served the entire war with the 174th Infantry.

PVT Joseph Edward Stricker

courtesy of Dennis Healy

PVT Joseph Edward Stricker was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 19 Oct 1919. He was the only child of Howard William and Elsie Elizabeth (Brown) Stricker. His father worked as a machinist's helper but his parents divorced before 1930 and his mother re-married. Step-father, John Edward Weikel, worked for the railroad as a car inspector. The family lived at 2506 Franklin Street in Baltimore which they rented for $30 a month. The family was moderately well off, John reported a 1939 income of $1650 and Joseph was working as a pressman in a factory reporting a 1939 income of $650. Joseph then got a job with Bethlehem Steel as a welder. He married Lucille M. Palumbo in 1942 and they would have a son in February 1943.

Joseph was drafted just 4-days before his son's birth. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. He was transferred from Headquarters 9th Army to K Company 116th Infantry on 7 Dec 1945 to serve as a rifleman. Sometime in April 1945 Joseph was wounded but it was not reported. He died of his wound(s) on 6 Apr 1945. 

PVT Stricker was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Baltimore National Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.

Son, Joseph Edward Stricker Jr, retired as Detective Sergeant with Baltimore County Police Department. Grandsons, Joseph Edward Stricker III and Michael John Stricker also served with the department.

PVT Attilio Joseph Simone

PVT Attilio Joseph Simone was born 4 Aug 1917 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd of 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl, born to Joseph and Jenetta (Bonelli) Simone. While living in Philadelphia, his father worked in a steel mill. The family moved to 147 Shreve Street in Mount Holly, New Jersey and his father worked as a laborer for the Pennsylvania Rail Road. Attilio married Caroline D. Bardolf in and the couple had a son in 1939. The family lived at 969 Florence Avenue in Camden, New Jersey and Attilio worked as a helper in a forge earning a reported 1939 income of $1200.

Although he had registered for the draft in 1940 he was not drafted until May 1944. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and, on 1 Mar 1945, PVT Simone was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. He was killed in action near Dortmund, Germany on 6 Apr 1945.

PVT Simone rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Attilio is survived by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

CPT Berthier Botts Hawks III

CPT Berthier Botts Hawks III was born 21 Nov 1919 in Elizabeth City County, Virginia (now the city of Hampton) to Berthier Botts and Fannie Prince (Lashley) Hawks.  His father managed a coal grading company, was a salesman of road machinery, and later at the family home place in Totaro in Brunswick county, a farmer. He died in 1943.  CPT Hawks' grandfather, the first Berthier Botts Hawks, was a disabled veteran of E Company 56th Virginia Infantry in the Civil War.

Berthier was enlisted 14 Jun 1938 and rose to the rank of CPL by 2 Feb 1941. He was commissioned a 2LT effective 3 Feb 1941 and was promoted to 1LT effective 25 Jul 1942.  On 2 Jun 1944 he was on duty as Commander, C Company 116th Infantry and so led the unit during the amphibious assault on Omaha beach on 6 Jun 1944, D-Day.  He was injured in action on 10 Jun 1944 and evacuated to the hospital.  He was dropped from rolls and did not return to the Regiment from the replacement depot until 9 Dec 1944 when he was assigned command of I Company 116th Infantry.  He led that unit until killed in action on 6 Apr 1945.  CPT Hawks was awarded the Bronze Star but we have yet to find for what action he received the award. 

CPT Hawks was repatriated and rests forever in the Emporia Cemetery in Emporia, Virginia. 

PFC Pascal Alfonzo Prozzo

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Pascal Alfonzo Prozzo was born 1 Apr 1925 in Rutland, Vermont. He was the 4th of the 5 children born to Pascal and Angelina (Vecchione) Prozzo. Patsy's birth name was also Pascal but like his father he used the name Patsy. Both parents were natives of Italy. His father worked as a moulder in an ironworks.

Patsy was probably drafted in 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Prozzo was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jun 1944. He was a non-battle casualty on 4 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital but returned to the unit on 7 Jul 1944. He was wounded just 3 days later on 10 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital again. He would not return to the unit until 24 Jan 1945. Patsy was promoted to PFC on 12 Feb 1945. PFC Prozzo was killed in action on 6 Apr 1945.

PFC Prozzo rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PVT Clifford Edgar Patton

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Clifford Edgar Patton was born 23 Aug 1918 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the 2nd of 4 and 1st surviving child born to Clifford Curtis and Emma Pearl (Brown) Patton. His father had worked as a farm hand but was working as a machinist in Indianapolis when young Clifford was born. In 1924 Emma had a heart attack due to hyperthyroidism and died. Clifford's dad died in 1928. Clifford was sent to live with relatives as were his 2 sisters.About 1935 he left Indiana for the promise of a better life in California and in 1940 was working as a pin setter in a bowling alley. Clifford apparently married Frances in 1942.

Clifford was working as a longshoreman when he was drafted in September 1944. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. On 15 Feb 1945 he was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry. He was again transferred on 3 Mar 1945, this time to B Company 116th Infantry. PVT Patton was killed in action on 5 Apr 1945.

PVT Patton rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC Ardell Winston Payne

PFC Ardell Winston Payne was born 15 Dec 1921 in Cartersville, Georgia. He was the 2nd of the 6 children born to Ollie and Bertha Mae (Bivins) Payne. The family moved to Jacksonville, Florida after 1930 and would come to live in 954 East Monroe Street. His father worked as a steam shovel operator and for St. John's River Shipbuilding Company in Jacksonville. Ardell did not attend school beyond the 6th grade.

Ardell was drafted in June 1943. Despite his education level he must have been pretty smart because he was sent to training as a medic. After completion of that training PVT Payne was sent to England and assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry and then attached to D Company 116th Infantry in time for the amphibious assault at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. He was wounded on that day and sent to hospital. PVT Payne did not return to the unit until 27 Jul 1944 when he returned from the replacement depot to the Medical Detachment. He continued to serve with D Company until he was wounded a 2nd time on 14 Oct 1944 and again evacuated to hospital. He returned from the replacement depot again on 28 Jan 1945 and again served with the Medical Detachment. It was sometime during this period that he was promoted to PFC. PFC Payne continued to serve as a medic at the Regimental aid station until he was killed in action on 5 Apr 1945 near Waltrop, Germany as the regiment participated in mop up operations in the Ruhr industrial area.

PFC Payne was ultimately interred in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC C. J. Galloway

PVT C. J. Galloway was born 7 Feb 1925, in Butlerville, Arkansas.  After entering the army and being sent overseas he was transferred to Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry on 4 Sep 1944.  On 2 Oct 1944 he was transferred to A Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Galloway was killed in action on 5 Apr 1945.

PVT Galloway was repatriated and is buried in Butlerville Cemetery in Butlerville, Arkansas.

PFC Walter Bernard Heese

PFC Walter Bernard Heese was born 5 Mar 1922 in Marlin, Texas. He was the 2nd of 4 children born to Frank and Magdalena (Heese) Heese. Walter's father was a native of Lower Saxony, Germany and was his maternal grandfather but they don't seem to have been closely related. Frank Heese was farming on rented land on the Oenaville-Westphalia Road in 1920. The family continued to live near family in Falls County and in 1940 only Walter's youngest brother was not working as farm labor, probably for Herman Meyer. They were renting a house from him for $4 a month but reported no income for 1939. 

Walter wasn't drafted until 1944 and after his initial military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Heese was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 6 Dec 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He fought with the unit until wounded on 5 Apr 1945 and evacuated to a field hospital. PVT Heese died of his wound(s) on that same day.

PVT is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

PFC Reese Philip Black

PFC Reese Philip Black was born 21 Oct 1912 to Charles Wilbur and Elizabeth (Evans) Black of Bordentown, New Jersey.  His father worked in a veneer mill and a steel mill.  Reese was a machinist. He married Marian A. Marlin and they had one son. 

Drafted in August 1943, after his training he was sent overseas.  We don't know when he was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. The first mention in the morning report is 1 Nov 1944 where it is noted that he has an "old injury".  On 17 Nov 1944 he went to hospital for treatment of that injury.  On 29 Nov 1944 he returned to duty with B Company. He was promoted to PFC on 16 Mar 1944. PFC Reese was killed in action of 5 Apr 1945. 

PFC Black is buried in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Trenton, New Jersey.  Marian apparently remarried and had other children. 

PVT William Elmer Slusher

courtesy of Martha Chrisman Riley

PVT William Elmer Slusher was born 20 Jul 1917 in Madison County, Kentucky. He was the youngest of the 4 children born to of James Millard and Elouria (Parker) Slusher. His father farmed near Blue Lick, Kentucky. Later the family moved to a farm valued at $2000 along Red Lick Road in Madison County. William farmed with his father. Sometime after October, 1940, William married Bessie Pearl Wilson and the couple farmed in Madison County.

William was drafted in April 1944. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 28 Oct 1944. PVT Slusher was injured on 17 Nov 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He was returned to the unit via the replacement depot on 18 Mar 1945. The unit was near Waltrop, Germany when PVT Slusher was killed in action on 4 Apr 1945.

PVT Slusher was repatriated and re-interred in the Berea Cemetery in Berea, Kentucky.

Pearl never re-married and was buried next to her husband when she passed in 2004. The couple had no children.

2LT Oliver Earl Mayo

courtesy of Des Philippet

2LT Oliver Earl Mayo was born in 1921 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He was the 2nd of 8 children born to William Clarence and Leana Lois (Martin) Mayo. His father worked as a miller in a cement factory and a moulder in a stove factory. Oliver attended 4 years of high school and began work as a typesetter.

Oliver volunteered for Army service in August 1942. After enlistment he would have gone through basic training and Officer Candidate School before he was sent to the European theater of operations.  2LT Mayo was first assigned to F Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot. Serving as a rifle platoon leader, he was wounded just 5 days later and evacuated to hospital on 19 Jun 1944. It probably took a while to recover as he was returned to the regiment from the replacement depot, this time assigned to E Company 116th Infantry on 18 Oct 1944. On 30 Oct 1944 he was moved from a platoon leader position to serve as the company executive officer. 2LT Mayo was wounded again on 23 Nov 1944 and again evacuated. He was returned to E Company on 30 Mar 1945 to serve as a platoon leader but on 2 Apr 1945 was reassigned to C Company 116th Infantry to fill a platoon leader vacancy in that unit. 2LT Mayo was killed in action on 4 Apr 1945.

2LT Mayo rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

3 brothers served as well.  William Wade Mayo attained the rank of MSG.  Ivan V Mayo served as a SSG in the Army Air Corps. Andrew Jackson Mayo served as a SRCPO in the U.S. Navy. His father served in the Navy in WWI.

PFC Lawrence Lynwood Warble

PFC Lawrence Lynwood (or "Linwood") Warble was born 4 May 1920 in Blacksburg, Virginia. He was the 4th of 7 children born to William Irvin and Idella Marie (Sampson) Warble. His father farmed on his own farm in the Stonewall district of Rockingham County, Virginia in the southeast part of that county which currently includes the towns of Elkton, Grottoes and Massanutten. Younger sister, Hazel Marie Warble, died of pneumonia, age 2 in 1924. The Great Depression may have hurt the family because by 1940 the farm was sold and William had moved to Hummelstown, Pennsylvania probably to find work.

Like many other young men Lawrence found additional income in the National Guard, he as a member of C Company 116th Infantry in nearby Harrisonburg, Virginia. PVT Warble was federalized in February 1941 along with the rest of the 116th and posted in Fort George Meade, Maryland. Unfortunately, Idella died of uterine cancer at the age of 46 on 4 Mar 1941. Certainly able to attend the funeral, Lawrence returned to his unit and trained at Fort Meade, in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before boarding the Queen Mary and sailing for England in September 1942. Once there he would have participated in all the training that the 116th underwent in preparation for the planned invasion of occupied France. In December 1942 a severe respiratory illness resulted in his hospitalization.  He was again severely ill, this time with pneumonia, in May 1944 but he recovered and returned to his unit. He took part in the D-Day landing and fought with the unit until he suffered a non-combat injury and was hospitalized on 27 Jun 1944. PVT Warble didn't return to the unit until 28 Dec 1944. He was promoted to PFC on Valentine's Day, 1945. He continued to serve as a rifleman in C Company until he was killed in action on 4 Apr 1945.

PFC Warble rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

3 of Lawrence's brothers also served. S1c Harry Ludwell Warble served aboard the USS Henry R. Kenyon (DE 683) in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. CPL William Herbert Warble also served in the Army during WW2. Youngest brother, SGT Daniel Leon Warble served from 1948 to 1953 including duty in the 24th Infantry in the Republic of Korea where he was captured in June 1950 and interned at the Ch'ang Song POW camp until the truce resulted in his repatriation.

PVT Donald Frank Raasch

courtesy of Steve Edquist

PVT Donald Frank Raasch was born 23 Aug 1920 in Lake City, Minnesota. He was the oldest of the 6 children born to Edward Carl and Anna Margaret (Prigge) Raasch. His father farmed in Belvidere Township. Donald would go to work for Red Wing Potteries as a driver.

Donald was drafted in September 1944. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Raasch was transferred to A Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 1 Mar 1945. He was wounded sometime prior to dying of his wound(s) on 4 Apr 1945 but the wound(s) were not reported prior to that. It is unknown why that happened.

PVT Raasch was repatriated and re-interred in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

His brother, Delbert George Edward Raasch, served in the U.S. Navy as an AM2.

PVT Albert J. Genova

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Albert J. Genova was born in 1922 in Ohio.  Albert's mother's name was Anna, she had remarried by 1946 but we do not know what became of his father.  In February 1941, Albert was a PVT in a National Guard field artillery unit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was mobilized with that unit.

T5 Genova was transferred from the 227th Field Artillery Battalion to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 1 Aug 1944.  From 8 Jan 1944 to 14 Jan 1944 he was on temporary duty at the 29th Division Training Center.  On 19 Mar 1945 he was reduced in rank to PVT but we don't know why.  PVT Genova was killed in action on 4 Apr 1945.

PVT Genova is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.  Albert was awarded the Bronze Star but we do not know the circumstances.

PFC Wilbur Daniel Copeland

PFC Wilbur Daniel Copeland, b. 29 Sep 1924 - d. 4 Apr 1945. Son of Jack and Alene (Outlaw) Copeland of Bethune, South Carolina, married Bessie Lee Corbett. Assigned to C Company 116th Infantry. He is buried in the Quaker Cemetery in Camden, South Carolina.