SGT Marvin Herbert Scharf

courtesy of Kathy Holland

SGT Marvin Herbert Scharf was born in Chicago, Illinois on 22 Feb 1924. He was the 2nd of the 3 sons born to Dr. Lewis Edward and Addie (Jonesi) Scharf. His father was a physician who worked for the U.S. government in the Veterans Administration and because of that the family sometimes moved and ended up in Los Angeles County, California. In 1940 the family was living in Huntington, New York, they then moved to Battle Creek, Michigan where Marvin graduated from Central High School. The family then moved to Austin, Texas and Marvin attended the University of Texas. Unfortunately a complete higher education wasn't to be for Marvin.

Already in the U.S. Army reserves, Marvin was called to active duty in March 1943. After infantry training he was eventually sent to the European theater. PFC Scharf was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jul 1944 to serve as a rifleman despite at least some previous medical training. He was promoted to SGT on 1 Nov 1944. SGT Scharf then served as a squad leader in G Company in the fighting at Baesweiler, Setterich, Ungerhausen, Englesdorf, and finally, Koslar. It was on 28 Nov 1944, the day that Koslar was officially declared captured/secured that SGT Scharf was wounded later dying of his wound(s) on that same day.

SGT Scharf was repatriated and re-interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

PVT John Walker Small Jr

courtesy of Rich

PVT John Walker Small Jr was born 5 Dec 1918 in Chicago, Illinois to John Walker and Mary Elizabeth (Flavin) Small. He was the 2nd of their 4 children. His father worked as a checker in a meat packing house and later as a milk salesman earning a reported 1939 income of $1299. That same year John Jr. was working as an apprentice draftsman in a steel mill earning $200! Sometime after April 1940, John Jr. married Louise Mary Gallo and they had a son in August 1941.

John was drafted in April 1944. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and, on 25 Oct 1944, was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry. However, some cross-leveling was needed in 1st Battalion and on 6 Nov 1944 he was again transferred, this time to C Company 116th Infantry. He served with that unit until 17 Nov 1944 when he was killed in action as the unit attacked German forces in Setterich, Germany.

PVT Small was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in Evergreen Park in Cook County, Illinois.

Younger brother Daniel Walker Small served in the U.S. Navy in WWII.

PVT Herschel Paul Smith

PVT Herschel Paul Smith was born 25 Apr 1924 in Jeromesville, Ohio. He was the youngest of Walter Clarence and Ethel May (Marietta) Smith's 6 children. Walter supported his family by farming on a rented farm near Vermillion, Ohio but by 1940 had to move to Washington, Ohio where he rented a house for $8 a month and worked as farm labor for other farmers earning $430 in 1939. Herschel attended Loudonville High School and then worked at farming with his father. Herschel married Ruby Louise Sparr in March 1944.

10-days after his wedding, Herschel was drafted in April 1944. He attended his basic military training in Camp Robinson, Arkansas which is just outside North Little Rock. His wife was able to be there for the 17-weeks of his training. PVT Smith was then sent to the European theater and transferred from the 86th Replacement Battalion to B Company 116th Infantry on 25 Oct 1944 where he was to serve as a rifleman. This was in the rehabilitation area in the vicinity of Finkenrath, Germany. The unit would remain there until 16 Nov 1944 when the regiment began the attack on German forces in Baesweiler, Germany. PVT Smith was killed in action in Baesweiler on 17 Nov 1944.

PVT Smith was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Loudonville Cemetery in Loudonville, Ohio.

Brothers Walter Clarence Smith Jr and Kenneth Eugene Smith both served. Kenneth would die on 24 Oct 1950 as a result of his wound(s) received in Italy.