PVT Julian Joseph Weeks

PVT Julian Joseph Weeks was born 7 Aug 1913 in Bedford County, Virginia. He was the youngest of the 8 children born to Roland Edward and Ada Beatrice (Cadwallender) Weeks. His father farmed for others, then himself and in 1940 was working as a painter and Julian, whose education had not continued after the 7th grade, was working with him. Julian had married Australia Mae Jones in June 1936 and the couple had by July 1939. Julian's work as a painter earned him a reported $420 in 1939 by which he supported his family. 

Julian was drafted and after completing his basic military training was sent to England and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. He then trained with the unit for the impending amphibious landing that was part of the planned effort to liberate Nazi occupied France. PVT Weeks fought with G Company until killed in action near Setterich, Germany on 18 Nov 1944. 

PVT Weeks rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PVT Joseph Ernest Parker Jr

courtesy of Joy Riggers

PVT Joseph Ernest Parker Jr. was born 26 Oct 1915 in Bedford, Virginia. He was the 3rd child of 5 and 2nd son born to Joseph Ernest and Eula Grace (Arrington) Parker. Like his brother Earl, Joseph worked for the Piedmont Label Company printing labels for canned goods. The family farmed. Joseph married Emily Louise Hicks on 21 Dec 1940.

Joseph was drafted, probably in the latter half of 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and on 11 Aug 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry. The 116th and the 29th Division were then tasked to be part of the attack on Brest and Joseph was killed in action on 27 Aug 1944.

PVT Parker rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

Joseph was younger brother to SGT Earl Lloyd Parker who was killed in action with A Company 116th Infantry on 6 Jun 1944 and is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Normandy American Cemetery. Their younger brother, William Eugene Parker, was captured and held as a prisoner of war at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11).

MSG John Wesley Dean

MSG John Wesley Dean was born 8 Mar 1920 in Bedford County, Virginia to James Frank and Pinkie Estelle (Creasey) Dean.  The family farmed in Bedford County. 

Assigned to F Company 116th Infantry at the time of the invasion of France, MSG Dean was killed in action on 17 Jul 1944. 

MSG Dean was returned to the U.S. and buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.

Two of his brothers also served.

PFC Charles William Fizer

PFC Charles William Fizer was born 6 Jan 1922 in Bedford, Virginia to Charles Henry and Mary Pauline (Burton) Fizer.  His father worked as a lithographer in a printing plant.

Charles was a PFC serving in the National Guard when his unit, A Company 116th Infantry, was federalized in 1941. He continued to serve with that unit as it underwent training and on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944, which he survived.  He was killed in action on 11 Jul 1944.

PFC Fizer is often overlooked as one of the "Bedford Boys" because he was not one of those KIA on D-Day but he is one of the many lost from this small community.  He rests with many of his brothers in arms in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

CPT Taylor Nicholas Fellers

CPT Taylor Nicholas Fellers was born in Goode, Virginia on 10 Jun 1914 to Peter Anson and Annie Elizabeth (Leftwich) Fellers.  On 10 Apr 1940 he married Naomi Lillie Newman.

Taylor entered service with the 116th Infantry on 24 Oct 1932 and was commissioned a 2LT on 2 Jun 1939.  As with all members of the 116th, he was federalized with his unit in February 1941.  On D-Day he was commander of A Company 116th Infantry when he was killed.

CPT Fellers is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia along with many others from the company. 

His niece had this to say about her uncle:

My mom never got over his death. He was so much older than she was. He being the oldest and she the youngest in the family. Mom had polio as a child and it was Taylor who took her to the movies, to church and other things as she couldn't walk. He took her to specialists in Lynchburg and got her fitted for braces then taught her to walk himself and finally jitterbug...she adored him.

1SG John L Wilkes

1SG John L Wilkes was born 20 Jul 1919 to Leotie Davis and Mary Elizabeth (Carter) Wilkes in North Fork, West Virginia.  The 4th of 8 children, John worked on the family farm.  He is shown as still working on the farm in 1940.

The money paid to soldiers was a likely reason John joined the National Guard unit in Bedford, Virginia.  A member of A Company 116th Infantry, John was still with the unit when it was federalized.  In Jul 1941 he was enlisted in federal service for the duration of the war.  On 10 Aug 1941 he married Bettie Peters Krantz also of Bedford, Virginia.  He was with the unit when it departed for England and again when it boarded ships for the invasion of "fortress Europe".  1SG John L Willkes was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944. 

Other family who served include sister LTC Rubye Virginia Wilkes Archer (Nurse in WWII, Korea & Vietnam) and brother, William Henry Wilkes (Army 1943-46).

1SG Willkes is buried with many other members of his unit in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia. 

PFC Jack Gilbert Powers

PFC Jack Gilbert Powers was born in Bedford County, Virginia on 18 Apr 1920 to Henry Buford and Alice Pearl (Wilks) Powers.  His father worked variously in a tire factory and as a fireman.  Jack worked in a rubber plant.

Jack enlisted in the National Guard.  The pay wasn't much but every dollar counted in those later years of the Great Depression.  In February 1941, A Company 116th Infantry was federalized with the rest of the regiment and along went PVT Powers.  The unit was sent to England and on D-Day it attempted to assault Hitler's fortress Europe.  PFC Powers was killed here along with many in his company including 18 other "Bedford Boys". 

PFC Powers is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and a cenotaph has been created for him in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.

PFC John Franklin Reynolds

PFC John Franklin Reynolds was born on 13 Nov 1922 in Bedford, Virginia to Roy Maynard and Willie Scott (Key) Reynolds.  He was named for his maternal grandfather John Franklin Key.  His father worked as a farmer and foreman on a road crew.  In 1940 John was doing "farm work". 

A member of A Company 116th Infantry before the war he was federalized with the unit in February 1941 and went with the unit to England and then was to land with the unit on 6 Jun 1944.  He was killed in the assault. 

There is a marker in his memory in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.

TSGT Ray O Stevens

TSGT Ray Okley Stevens was born, together with his twin TSGT Roy Otey Stevens, on 12 Aug 1919 in Bedford County, Virginia.  Their parents, William Edward and Martha Jane (Spradlin) Stevens were natives of Bedford County. Their grandfather, Alexander Spradlin, had served in H Company 34th Virginia Infantry during the Civil War.  In 1940 Ray was working on the family farm with his father. 

It has been said that many young men joined the National Guard for the dollar a private got for drill, every Tuesday evening.  The Stevens twins both enlisted in A Company 116th Infantry and were with the unit when it was federalized, shipped out to England and boarded ships for the D-Day assault at Omaha Beach.  Roy's boat was sunk he was picked up by returning landing craft and then put ashore later in the day but Ray died on the beach that morning. 

TSGT Ray Stevens is buried with many fellow soldiers and family members in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.

SSG Leslie Cecil Abbott

SSG Leslie Cecil Abbot was born 7 Oct 1921 in Goode, Virginia to Leslie Comer and Margaret Lillian (Clingbell) Abbott.  While some sources give his middle name as "Comer" the birth certificate gives the middle name as "Cecil". Both parents worked in a woolen mill.  His mother died in 1932 of heart failure.  His father remarried but Leslie lived with his step-mother's parents in 1940. 

Leslie was serving with A Company 116th Infantry, the Bedford National Guard unit, when it was federalized in February 1941.  He served with that unit until he was killed in action 6 Jun 1944 while participating in the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach. 

SSG Abbott was repatriated in 1948 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia. 

PVT Clifton Glenwood Lee

PVT Clifton Glenwood Lee was born 13 Aug 1917 in Botetourt County, Virginia to Morgan Benson and Florence Mabel (Myers) Lee.  He grew up in Amsterdam, Virginia in Botetourt County.  Sometime between 1930 and 1940 he and his brother moved to Bedford in search of work and in 1940 he was working as a spinner. 

As with many of the other members of A Company 116th Infantry before the war, Clifton probably enlisted in the National Guard unit to supplement his income.  On 3 Feb 1941 the unit was federalized.  He continued to serve with the unit until D-Day, 6 Jun 1944, when he was killed.

Clifton never married and is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

SSG Elmere Price Wright

SSG Elmere Price Wright born 11 Oct 1915 to Howard Plummer and Willie Penick (Newman) Wright.  His name was pronounced the same as "Elmer".  His father was a carpenter when he was born but became a deputy sheriff in Bedford and retired from that position.  Elmere had one brother, Louis (also spelled "Lewis") who was a used car salesman.  Elmere played baseball and worked for the Piedmont Label Company among other things which you can read about in the links below.

Like others in his community he enlisted in the Virginia National Guard unit in Bedford, A Company 116th Infantry.  He went with the unit to England and then to coast of France where he died the morning of 6 Jun 1944. 

SSG Wright is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Brother, Lewis Henry Wright, served as a MM2c aboard the USS Saturn 1943-1946.

Links:
- Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice - Elmer Wright
-  Elmer P. Wright - The News & Advance
 

SSG Gordon Henry White Jr

SSG Gordon Henry White Jr was born 31 Dec 1921 in Forest, Virginia.  His parents, Gordon Henry and Ruth Elizabeth (Keith) White farmed in Bedford County.  Gordon was the 2nd of 7 children by 1934. 

Gordon enlisted in the Bedford National Guard unit, A Company 116th Infantry and was with the unit when it went to England and as it departed for the beaches of Normandy.  He was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944. 

Brother Howard Keith White served from 1943 to 1946. Brother Winston Dice White attained the rank of Senior Master Sergeant in the US Air Force.   We are not aware of other family service. 

SSG White is buried in Forest Baptist Church Cemetery.

PFC Antonio Weldon Rosazza

PFC Antonio Weldon Rosazza was born 11 Sep 1921 in Bedford, Virginia. He was the 3rd of 5 children born to Calisto Lorenzo and Beulah Gladys (Ross) Rosazza.His father worked as a mechanic in an auto repair shop. The family lived at 339 North Bridge Street in Bedford and then on South Street. Weldon was working as a moulder in a rubber plant in 1940 and was still living with his family. The family had reported a combined 1939 income of $1378.

Weldon, as he was apparently known, had enlisted in the local National Guard unit, A Company 116th Infantry, and was federalized with his unit in February 1941. He trained with the unit at Fort George Meade, Maryland, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and at Camp Blanding, Florida. He then shipped out for England with his unit aboard the Queen Mary and once in England trained with his unit for the planned amphibious landing that was to be part of the invasion of occupied France. PFC Rosazza was killed in action in that landing on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Rosazza rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

PFC John Daniel Clifton

PFC John Daniel Clifton, b. 18 Jun 1923 - d. 6 Jun 1944. Son of James Green Sr and Minnie Lee (Adkins) Clifton of Bedford, VA. One of the "Bedford boys" John was a member of A Company 116th Infantry. He rests in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford.

PFC Wallace Reid Carter

PFC Wallace Reid Carter was born in Bedford, Virginia on 31 Jan 1923 to James Davis and Georgia May (Tate) Carter.  He was one of 4 children born to the couple.  His father worked for "the railroad" but which railroad is uncertain.  Wallace was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry and is one of the "Bedford Boys" killled 6 Jun 1944.  His body was repatriated and he now rests in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia. 

SSG John Burwell Schenk

SSG John Burwell Schenk was born 13 Nov 1916 in Bedford, Virginia to George Winston and Bessie Buford (Kasey) Schenk.  His mother died of "pillagra" less than 8 months later.  His father owned and operated a laundry.  About 1925 his father married Rosa Belle Lewis, a school teacher.  This may have later influenced his oldest sister, Mary, to attend the State Teachers College in Harrisonburg, now James Madison University.  John soon had 2 more sisters in addition to the 2 sisters and 1 brother by his father's first wife.  By 1930 his father was a foreman on "the railroad".  In 1940 his father was Superintendent of a CCC Camp and he was a bookkeeper for a garage with an income of $420 for 1939.

This may be part of what motivated John to enlist in the National Guard, joining the local A Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit when it was federalized in February 1941 and later, when it went to England to prepare for the invasion of "Hitler's" Europe.  Before the unit left the United States he married Ivylyn Camack Jordan, a teacher, on 24 Aug 1942.  He was with A Company on 6 Jun 1944, D-Day, when he was killed in action. 

His step-mother Rosa is the next-of-kin on the internment record for the Normandy American Cemetery where he was buried.  Ivylyn remarried in 1946. 

TSGT Frank Price Draper Jr

TSGT Frank Price Draper, b. 16 Sep 1918 - d. 6 Jun 1944. Son of Frank Price and Mary Lena (Smith) Draper of Bedford, Virginia. His brothers Warren Eugene Gamiel Draper and David Samuel Lewis Draper also served.  TSGT Draper is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.

Here are some links to follow regarding TSGT Draper:
 - Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice - Frank Draper
- In Honor of our Fallen Hero - Frank Draper  
- Frank Draper, Jr.
- Sentimental Journey - Frank Draper
- Baseball and Battlefields, the 116th Infantry

PFC Weldon Antonio Rosazzo

PFC Weldon Antonio Rosazzo was born in Bedford, Virginia on 11 Sep 1921.  His parents were Calisto Lorenzo and Beulah Gladys (Ross) Rosazzo.  His birth certificate gives his name as Antonio Weldon Rosazzo but he apparently never used the names in that order.  His father was a mechanic in an auto repair shop.  In 1940, Weldon was working as a moulder in a rubber plant.

Weldon may have been recruited into the National Guard by a coworker at the rubber plant as he was a member of A Company 116th Infantry when the unit was federalized in February 1941.  He was apparently a Corporal at one time but by D-Day had been reduced in rank to PFC.  Why this was done is lost to time.  He was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944, D-Day.  He is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

SSG Grant Collins Yopp

SSG Grant Collins Yopp was born in 27 May 1923 to James A. Garfield and Minnie O'Dell (Collins) Yopp.  The youngest of their 8 children, there is a conflict in sources for his birth year, his enlistment records give a birth year of 1921 but the birth certificate indicates 1923.  Grant no doubt helped his father farm.

Eventually he enlisted in the Bedford National Guard unit, A Company 116th Infantry.  He mobilized with the unit in February 1941 and shipped to England.  He was with the unit as it landed on the shores of France on 6 Jun 1944 and died that day.

Brother Herbert Banks Yopp was drafted into the army in January 1942. 

SSG Yopp rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.