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.

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 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 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.

SSG Wallace Rodriguez Romero Sr

courtesy of Des Philippet

SSG Wallace Rodriguez Romero Sr was born 11 Apr 1913 in Houston, Texas. He was the oldest and only son of the 4 children born to James Donaciano and Fannie Romano (Cardenas) Romero. His father was a native of Mexico City, Mexico and had worked as a cook and owned a grocery in Houston. Wallace married Janie Ramos in December 1934 and they would have a son in 1937. The family was living at 2009 Union Street in Houston and Wallace was working for Henke and Pillot Grocery Company.

Wallace was drafted in late 1943 and after his basic military training he was sent to the European theater arriving in September 1944. On 10 Sep 1944 PVT Romero was transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry. He was promoted to PFC on 21 Sep 1944. Reported as missing in action on 17 Oct 1944 he was back with his unit on 18 Oct 1944. Wallace must have demonstrated leadership and competence in combat beyond that of his fellow soldiers because on 11 Dec 1944 he was promoted to SSG to serve as a squad leader. SSG Romero continued to fight with his unit until killed in action on 25 Feb 1945 in the attack on Lutzerath, Germany.

SSG Romero rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

TSGT George Robert England

TSGT George Robert England was born 23 Jan 1921 in Cartersville, Virginia to James Nicholas and Minnie Caroline (Deidrich) England. His father was a lawyer who was injured in an automobile collision with a truck and died in 1929.  His mother was a public school teacher and older brother James was an electrician.

George was living in Sussex and a SGT in the National Guard when he was mobilized in Jun 1941.  He was already a TSGT assigned to F Company 116th Infantry on 6 Jun 1944 for the D-Day landings where he was wounded.  He went to hospital and returned to the unit via the replacement depot on 25 Jul 1944.  On 7 Aug 1944, near Vire, he was wounded again and again went to hospital.  He returned to the unit again via the replacement depot on 21 Dec 1944.  On 14 Jan 1945 he was transferred to B Company 116th Infantry and was killed in action 11 days later on 25 Feb 1945.  TSGT England was twice awarded the Bronze Star medal.

TSGT England was returned in 1948 and is buried in Cartersville Cemetery in Cartersville, Virginia. 

PFC Julian Cerda Robles

PFC Julian Cerda Robles was born to Antonio Lopez and Carmen (Cerda) Robles on 28 Nov 1916 in San Antonio, Texas.  Both his parents were natives of Texas.  His father worked as a cement worker according to the 1931 city directory.  The family lived at 657 Magnolia Avenue for many years.  Julian was named for his paternal grandfather who was born in Mexico in 1834, prior to Texas nationhood.  Before his death but after the 1940 census, Julian married Olivia Jiminez.  Nothing else is known about his wife but we know that she lived at 1043 Shook Avenue, San Antonio, Texas.

Julian was drafted in June of 1943.  PVT Robles was apparently assigned to Headquarters 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry prior to D-Day.  He went to the hospital on 11 July as a non-battle casualty.  He was relieved from attachment and returned to the Medical Detachment on 18 July.  On 25 July he returned to the 3rd Battalion and then on the 27th was again relieved of attachment.  On 14 Sep 1944 he went to hospital with a "light" wound (but serious enough to go to hospital).  On 23 Sep 1944 he was returned to duty from the hospital and then promoted to PFC on 13 Nov 1944 to be effective 1 Jul 1944.  He was killed in action by an exploding mine on 5 Dec 1944 as he attempted to evacuate wounded from a minefield near Hasenfeld, Germany..  We are still looking for information on his Bronze Star medal but we believe it was for this action.

PFC Robles is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

Brothers Jesus (CPT, USAAF), Genaro (CPL, USA) also served.  

TSGT Parley Carlos Plaster

TSGT Parley Carlos Plaster was born 26 Mar 1913 in Swords Creek, Virginia. He was the oldest of the 5 children born to Henry Clinton and Mary Elizabeth (McGlothlin) Plaster. His father owned the farm on Big Lick Road (later known as Road Number 83) near Swords Creek that supported the family. By 1940, Parley and his brother Henry were working as coal miners as did most of their neighbors.

After local National Guard units were federalized in February 1941 there was a large call-up of men who had registered for the draft. Due to policies in place at the time, those men were sent to regional training centers where the likelihood of being assigned to one of those "local" National Guard units was better than later in the war. Parley and his younger brother Henry were drafted on 18 Apr 1941 and both were assigned to I Company 116th Infantry. They would then train with the unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, in the Carolina maneuvers and at Camp Blanding, Florida. He was then sent with the unit to England aboard the Queen Mary and trained there for the amphibious assault that would take place on 6 Jun 1944. SSG Plaster was wounded on 8 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He did not return to the unit until 19 Sep 1944 when he was transferred from the replacement depot. Parley was promoted to TSGT on 28 Oct 1944. he fought with the unit until 3 Dec 1944 when he was struck by shrapnel from a bouncing betty mine and killed in action during an attack on the Sportplatz outside Koslar, Germany.This was reportedly the same mine that killed PVT Ewal Garrett.

TSGT Plaster was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Plaster Cemetery in Swords Creek, Virginia.

Brother, Henry Jackson Plaster, was drafted with Parley and served with him in I Company 116th Infantry. Henry was wounded but survived the war. Their grandfather, Henry Lafayette Plaster, served as a PVT in G Company 29th Virginia Infantry (CSA) in the Civil War. Great-grandfather, Christopher Columbus Richardson, served as a PVT in G Company 14th Kentucky Cavalry (CSA).

PVT Kermit Joseph Robey

courtesy of Frogman

PVT Kermit Joseph Robey was born 11 Jun 1909 in Largo, Maryland. He was the 5th of the 6 children born to Sumerseth Smith and Mary E (maiden name unknown) Robey. His father managed farms in Prince George's County, Maryland for several years before moving with the family to Washington, D.C. where he worked as a handyman. By 1930 Kermit was working as a salesman in Washington but still living with his family at 563 15th Street Southeast. He married Irene Edith Jones in late 1932 and the couple would have 4 children by 1940. Kermit was then working maintaining refrigeration units earning a reported 1939 income of $1200. The family was living at 901 I Street South Central in Washington for which they paid $30 a month rent. They had a 5th child in 1941. Kermit was working for the Terminal Refrigerated and Warehouse Corporation.

Kermit was drafted in March 1944. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater arriving sometime in October 1944. On 25 Oct 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. PVT Robey was killed in action on 27 Nov 1944 in the vicinity of Koslar, Germany.

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

PFC Anthony Peter Szabanowski

PFC Anthony Peter Szabanowski was born 28 Aug 1912 in Westport, Connecticut. He was the youngest of the 2 sons born to Konstanty and Marianna (Urbitis) Szabanowski. His father had immigrated from Suwałki, Poland in 1902 and his mother was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. His father worked as a laborer in Fairfield county, Connecticut but was lost to the family, we are unsure how, about 1914. Marianna remarried. Anthony's step-father, Aleksander Milewski, was also a native of Lithuania and and supported his family by working his dairy farm near Lisbon, Connecticut. It is illustrative of the effect of the Great Depression that the farm was valued at $4000 in 1930 but only $1000 in 1940. Anthony was still living with the family in 1930 but was working in a nearby cotton mill. He married Genevieve Dubrowski in 1938 and the couple lived in a home on Versailles Road in Lisbon which Anthony owned and which was valued at $1000 in 1940. Anthony was working as a driver for the state highway department at the time earning a reported 1939 income of $825. The couple had a boy and girl, twins, in 1940 and another son was born in 1943. Anthony said that he was unemployed when he registered for the draft.

Anthony was drafted in August 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PFC Szabanowski was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 3 Sep 1944 while the unit was at Brest. He then fought with the unit until recorded as missing in action on 21 Nov 1944. The unit later corrected this in the morning report to killed in action on that day but for some reason his body was either not recovered or identified immediately.

Initially reported as missing in action he was memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery. PFC Szabanowski's body was found and identified in 1973, repatriated and re-interred in the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.

PVT Norman Talmadge Barry

PVT Norman Talmadge Barry was born 11 Aug 1921 in Newington, Georgia to Victor Newman and Cylla (Hodges) Barry.  His daddy started farming for his father who also had a gin and then farmed his own place. 

When Norman was drafted in October 1942 he was still working as a farm hand.  Assigned to E Company 116th Infantry before the D-Day landing, he managed to avoid serious injury until 13 Jul 1944 when he was wounded and evacuated.  He was moved from the hospital to the replacement depot and from there back to E Company on 4 Nov 1944.  PVT Barry was killed in action on 20 Nov 1944.

PVT Barry was repatriated and is buried in the New North Newington Baptist Church Cemetery in Newington, Georgia. 

1LT Robert D. Mervyn

1LT Robert D. Mervyn was born 25 Sep 1920 in Marietta, Ohio. He was the oldest of 2 sons of Claude D. and Muriel Rowena (Evans) Mervyn. His father was a jeweler. Robert attended public schools graduating from McKinley High School in 1938. Robert was attending Ohio State University when he enlisted in the Ohio National Guard. He was federalized with his unit in October 1940. 

Robert trained with the 37th Division at Camp Shelby, Mississippi until February 1942 and then served in the Caribbean sector until September 1942. He was returned to the U.S. to attend Officer Candidate School. Robert married Mary Elizabeth Minkoff on 10 Feb 1944. After that he was sent to England until 15 Jun 1944 when he was sent across the channel to serve in France. We do not know to which unit he was assigned while there but on 15 Aug 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry where he severed as the Intelligence (S-2) Officer for 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry, Robert returned to the unit from a leave in Paris on 17 Nov 1944. He was reportedly killed by a sniper on 20 Nov 1944.

1LT Mervyn is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

Mary became ill and died 21 Oct 1945. She is buried in Clackamas, Oregon and Robert is noted as her husband on her headstone. Robert's father was a WWI veteran. Robert's younger brother, Richard C. Mervyn, was a Lieutenant and pilot for a troop carrier stationed in England who was killed on 14 Apr 1945. The brothers are buried side-by-side.

PFC Luther Marshall Brizendine

PFC Luther Marshall Brizendine was born 5 Jun 1919 in Craig County, Virginia to Newton Marshall and Minerva (Craft) Brizendine.  His father farmed and sold produce.  In 1940, Luther was also working on a farm, probably his father's and had no income in 1939.

Luther was drafted in May 1941.  He was likely assigned to F Company 116th Infantry before the unit was sent overseas but certainly prior to D-Day.  On 11 Jul 1944, Luther was wounded and evacuated to hospital.  It was 14 Nov 1944 before Luther was returned to duty with F Company.  Only 5 days later, on 19 Nov 1944, PFC Brizendine was killed in action.  PFC Luther Marshall Brizendine was awarded the Bronze Star. 

PFC Brizendine is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.  

Luther's brother, Clyde Bertrand Brizendine served as a PVT with the 357th Infantry (90th Infantry Division) and was killed 11 Jan 1945.  PVT Clyde Bertrand Brizendine was also awarded the Bronze Star.  Clyde is also buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.  Younger brother Fred Monroe Brizendine also served 1944-1945. 

PVT Kenneth W. Rochelle

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Kenneth W. Rochelle was born 7 Mar 1924 in Carlisle, Arkansas. He was the youngest of the 3 sons born to Rufus and Mathilda V. "Ola" (Ray) Rochelle. His father farmed near Union, Arkansas.

After completing his basic military training, PVT Rochelle was sent to the European theater. He was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company on 25 Oct 1944. PVT Rochelle was part of a B Company attack from Baesweiler on Setterich, Germany when he was killed in action on 18 Nov 1944.

PVT Rochelle rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

CPL William Stanley Williams Jr.

CPL William Stanley Williams Jr was born 2 Jun 1924 in Cumberland County, North Carolina. He was the first of the 6 children of William Stanley and Mattie Irene (Bunce) Williams. The 4th child was born prematurely and died when he was just 1-day old in 1927, the 5th child died when she was just 1-day old in 1931, the 6th would be just 1-month old when she died in 1941. His father supported his family by farming his own land along Gainey's Mill Road in Cumberland County. Young William attended Central High School in Cumberland county and then Presbyterian Junior College in Maxton, North Carolina. 

William was drafted in April 1943. He trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Camp Croft, South Carolina and Fort George Meade, Maryland before being sent overseas to England. CPL Williams was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 25 Oct 1944. The unit started the attack on Setterich, Germany on 17 Nov 1944 and CPL Williams was killed in action on 18 Nov 1944. CPL Williams was a recipient of the Bronze Star but we do not have the citation for that award. 

CPL Williams rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PVT James B. Pawlik

PVT James B. Pawlik was born 12 Feb 1907 in East Saint Louis, Illinois. All we know of his parents is that they were both natives of Poland. We think that James enlisted in the Army and had been serving in the Canal Zone in 1930, returning aboard the USS Chateau Thierry in 1932. On 16 Jul 1934 he sailed aboard USAT Republic for Hawaii. He was not there, he shipped out for San Francisco aboard the USAT Republic on 7 Aug 1934. He served with the 35th Infantry at Fort McDowell, California. James was discharged in 1935 and went to work for a railroad.

James married Lucia Stiso, a native of Chicago, on 30 Jun 1937. He may have left the railroad for a bit. In 1940 he was working as a packer and Lucy was working as a milliner. Although they were working all through 1939, together they made about $1300 and paid $15 a month rent on their flat at 3232 South Wells Street in Chicago. James and Lucy had a daughter born 7 Dec 1942.

We aren't certain when James re-entered the Army but it appears that he was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry prior to D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. He worked as an ammunition handler and as an anti-tank gun crewman.  PVT Pawlik was killed in action on 18 Oct 1944 near Aachen, Germany. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

PVT Pawlik is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial.

James wife, Lucy, never re-married.  The couple had 10 grand-children 8 great grand-children.

PVT Charles F. Carroll

PVT Charles F. Carroll enlisted from Maryland.  Assigned to D Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 22 Jun 1944, Charles was first wounded on 1 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital.  He returned to the unit from the replacement depot on 15 Aug 1944.  PVT Carroll was killed in action on 17 Oct 1944.  He was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.

PVT Carroll is buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery.  He was survived by his wife Florence.

CPT Maurice Francis McGrath

CPT Maurice Francis McGrath was born 2 Aug 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd of 4 children born to Thomas Edward Joseph and Sara Teresa (Wilhere) McGrath. His father worked as an electrical inspector and as a foreman for the Philadelphia Transit Authority. He reported a 1939 income of $2500 and they owned their home valued at $4000. In short, a financially successful family in the midst of the Great Depression. Maurice attended St. John's High School and LaSalle College (class of 1939). He was a student at Temple University Law School when he entered the Army.

Maurice entered Army service August 1941. After completing training including Officer training he was sent overseas and assigned to Service Company 116th Infantry. He was with that unit serving as regimental transportation officer for the D-Day landing on 6 Jun 1944. On 15 Jun 1944 he assumed command of Service Company. On 13 Jul 1944 he was transferred to I Company 116th Infantry to serve as the company commander.

1LT McGrath provided a 2-page account of his activities on 6 Jun 1944 to LTC S. L. A. Marshall. He was first wounded in the abdomen on 15 Jul 1944 and he was in England recovering for more than a month not returning to the regiment until 28 Aug 1944 when he was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry to again serve as Company Commander.

A few weeks after D-Day, Maurice penned this poem:

Confusion

My brain is wracked, my spirit bent
I don't know where to turn
My scheme of life is all upset, rent,
Warped, distorted, left to burn,
Upon the shores of life's angry ocean.

Tossed into this new world reign
Of Terror,lonliness and greed that is blind
I wander aimlessly seeking in vain
Something to grasp; to hold; to find
A haven, a refuge free from commotion.

Oh confusion! A world upturned
From the civilized to the jungle land
You sent me searching far and I returned
With God - who has given me a guiding hand
In whom I found solace, comfort, and devotion.

CPT McGrath's L Company kicked off an attack on Baesweiler, Germany on 7 Oct 1944. After some initial resistance the Germans abandoned the town and CPT McGrath gathered L Company soldiers and directed them into the town. While accompanying his soldiers CPT McGrath was wounded and died soon after of his wound(s) on 7 Oct 1944.

CPT McGrath would be awarded the Bronze Star awarded for actions on D-Day and a Silver Star for gallantry in attack on Brest. He was repatriated in 1947 and re-interred in Westminster Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

His older brother, Edward, also served as an officer and when they met in France, after D-Day, was serving as a 1LT in the Anti-Aircraft battalion of the 101st Airborne Division. 

T5 Clifford Donald Grover

T5 Clifford Donald Grover was born 6 Feb 1925 in Clarendon, Vermont to George Abbott and Deborah Susan (Eddy) Grover. The family farmed.

After entering the army in July 1943, Clifford was sent England in December and assigned to Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry and was with that unit in the amphibious assault of 6 Jun 1944.  It was for his actions in that landing that he received the first Bronze Star. He was awarded the Bronze Star again for action on 17 Jul 1944.

On June 7, 1944, Pfc. Grover distinguished himself in combat by laying and maintaining communication lines between command posts. This work was performed under intense enemy artillery fire and was vital to the establishment of the Normandy beachhead. And for heroic achievement in military operations against the enemy of July 17, 1944,Pfc.Grover's courage and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.

Clifford was a non-battle casualty on 5 Jul 1944,, evacuated and returned to the unit on 7 Jul 1944.  On 19 Jul 1944, he was promoted to T5, likely at least partially in recognition of his actions on the 17th.  He was lightly wounded again on 4 Aug 1944, near Vire, but remained on duty.  T5 Grover was killed in action on 20 Sep 1944.

T5 Grover was repatriated and is buried in the East Clarendon Cemetery in East Clarendon, Verrmont.

SSG Donald J. Kerstetter

SSG Donald J. Kerstetter was born in 1917 to Charles Augustus and Mary May (Thew) Kerstetter.  His father was a long time public school teacher. 

Donald was working as a driver when he was drafted in April 1943.  After his initial training he was sent to Europe and on 11 Aug 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry as a CPL.  He was promoted to SSG on 13 Sep 1944.  SSG Kerstetter was killed in action on 15 Sep 1944.  

SSG Kerstetter is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.