PVT Howard E. Peterson

courtesy of Skip Farrow

PVT Howard E. Peterson appears to have been born 30 Jul 1913 in Butte, Montana. He was the youngest of the four sons of John A. and Mary (Reinwand) Peterson. John was a miner in Mary died in 1929 and John remarried soon after. Howard and one brother were residents in the Montana Industrial School in Miles City.

Howard was living in Butte when he enlisted in the Army, probably in 1935. Howard was stationed in Hawaii and at Fort McDowell, California on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. We also know that he was serving in the medical corps and was likely trained as a medic. Prior to D-Day, perhaps months prior, PVT Peterson was assigned to the 104th Medical Battalion in England. He was with that unit on 6 Jun 1944. PVT Peterson was assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 18 Jul 1944 and then was immediately attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry and served as a medical aidman in the Aid Station. Wounded by artillery fire on 15 Jul 1944 near Saint-Lo, he was relieved from attachment while in the hospital and then returned to duty with the Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 16 Aug 1944.  PVT Peterson was wounded again on 27 Aug 1944, this time in the torso. He was first evacuated to a field hospital and underwent a splenectomy and then eventually evacuated to a military hospital at Cambridge, England where he died of his wounds on 28 Oct 1944.

 PVT Peterson rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

We know that his brother, MSG James J. Peterson was serving at what is now Edwards Air Force Base but was then known as Muroc Army Air Base in 1946.

TSGT Leo James Nash

courtesy of Skip Farrow

TSGT Leo James Nash was born 7 Sep 1923 in Lena, Illinois. He was the only known child of Rachel Fey "Rae" Mead. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Richard Henry and Estella Octavia (Adams) Mead. His grandfather worked at various jobs including laborer on a stock farm and  a cabinet maker.

Leo was working for Kraft Cheese Company when he was drafted in July 1942. After basic training he was sent to England and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault on occupied France which would take place on the Normandy beach at Vierville-sur-mer on 6 Jun 1944. PFC Nash survived the landing and fought with the unit in the bocage. He was promoted to SSG on 20 Jun 1944, having likely had numerous opportunities to display his leadership skills and knowledge in his greatly depleted unit. SSG Nash was serving as a squad leader when he was wounded on 30 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He was apparently returned to the unit on 2 Aug 1944 and promoted to TSGT on 13 Sep 1944. TSGT Nash was wounded by a land mine on 8 Oct 1944 and evacuated to hospital eventually being evacuated to Cambridge, England where he suffered gangrene and died of his wound(s) on 16 Oct 1944.

TSGT Nash rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

Grandfather, Richard Henry Mead, served as a PVT in E Company 2nd Wisconsin Infantry in the Spanish-American War. Great-grandfather, Ephraim P. Mead, served as a PVT in H Company 14th Wisconsin Infantry (USA) in the Civil War.

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.

LTC John Alfred Metcalfe III

as a West Point cadet

LTC John Alfred Metcalfe III was born 14 Oct 1914 in Montgomery, Alabama. He was the oldest of 2 sons born to John Alfred and May Swindell (Tallman) Metcalfe. John Sr. worked as an certified public accountant in Birmingham, Alabama. They attended Southside Baptist Church. John Sr. died in 1933. Young John attended first Philips High School and then was selected for the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York.

2LT Metcalfe graduated in the USMA class of 1935. He married Rosa William Pitts on 18 May 1937. His mother and brother would live with John's new family. John reported a 1939 income of $2100. He was first posted to Fort McPherson, Georgia and then to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. His first overseas duty of the war was in Iceland. He was sent to England where he commanded 1st Battalion 116th Infantry and was instrumental in training the unit for the amphibious assault that was key to the invasion of Hitler's "fortress Europe". LTC Metcalfe landed with his unit on 6 Jun 1944. In that effort, he led his unit to relieve the Rangers at Point du Hoc. LTC Metcalfe was wounded on 29 Jun 1944. The morning report shows him as dying on 2 Jul 1944 but he is officially recorded as having died of his wound(s) on 15 Jul 1944.  

LTC Metcalfe was awarded the Bronze Star. The citation follows:

For meritorious achievement against the enemy in Normandy, France. On June 9, 1944, elements of the First Battalion were pinned down by enemy mortar and machine-gun fire. Utterly disregarding his own safety, Lt. Col. Metcalfe moved forward in the face of intense fire to direct his men in engaging the foe. Lt. Col. Metcalfe’s initiative, courage and devotion to duty inspired the troops and were largely responsible for the success of his organization in seizing its objective, reflecting great credit upon himself and the military service.

LTC Metcalfe was buried Cambridge American Cemetery.

His father was a veteran of WWI. His grandfather, John Alfred Metcalfe, served in F Company 7th Alabama Cavalry (CSA) in the Civil War. 

Link(s):
- West Point Academy Alumni Memorial  

PFC Joseph L Pellegrini

courtesy of Skip Farrow

PFC Joseph L. Pellegrini was born 13 Feb 1923 in Senglea, Malta. He was the 3rd of the 4 children born to Joseph Frank and Carmella M. (Deberro) Pellegrini. Both parents and his 3 older brothers were also natives of Malta. His younger sister Lena was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1932. His father worked as a carpenter. In 1940 the family paid $16 a month rent at 225 29th Street in New York but his father only reported a 1939 income of $700.

After Joseph was drafted and completed his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to 1st Platoon B Company 116th Infantry. He would have trained with the unit for the planned amphibious landing that was to be part of the invasion of occupied France. Joseph was a part of that assault on the Normandy beach code-named Omaha and was wounded on 6 Jun 1944. PFC Pellegrini was evacuated to hospital in England where he died of his wound(s) on 29 Jun 1944.

PFC Pellegrini rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery in Coton, England.

PFC Edward Leroy Bechtel

PFC Edward Leroy Bechtel was born 21 Aug 1916 in Rome, Michigan to Wilbur Ernest and Mable Sarah (Geno) Bechtel.  Edward was their first child of 5, all boys.  The family later lived for many years in Allenton then Almont, Michigan where Wilbur supported his family by doing odd jobs and farming.

Edward was drafted in April 1942.  He attended training and was assigned to Medical Detachment, 116th Infantry and was serving with the unit on D-Day.  He was wounded on 6 Jun 1944 and evacuated.  He died on 7 Jun in or enroute to the hospital at Cambridge. 

Brothers James C Bechtel and David Harold Bechtel also served in the Army during the war.

PFC Bechtel is buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

PFC Giacomo Martorana

PFC Giacomo Martorana was born in Providence, Rhode Island on 20 Oct 1913 the son of Michaelangelo and Letizia Martorana (natives of Italy).  He was drafted in February 1942.  At the time he was 5' tall and weighed 121 pounds.  He was assigned to H Company 116th Infantry on D-Day when he went died.  Because he is buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery I believe he was evacuated to England and either died enroute to at hospital on D-Day.

He may have been either orphaned or abandoned by his family by 1920 because he is shown on the 1920 census as an inmate of the State Home and School in Providence, Rhode Island.  However, the internment card shows his next of kin as Michaelangelo Martorana living in Glasgow, Scotland but doesn't state what the relationship is as these cards sometimes do.  Brother or father?  It is impossible for us to know at this time. 

PVT Vincent James Mastrorilli

courtesy of Skip Farrow

PVT Vincent James Mastrorilli was born 8 Aug 1920 in Terlizzi, Italy.  He was the only son and first born of 4 children of Stanislas and Francesca (Bisceglia) Mastrorilli. His parents were also native Italians and the family immigrated in 1938 arriving aboard the SS Vulcania on 5 September of that year. Stanislas was a stone mason.

Vincent was living at 6 Purdy Street in Harrison, New York (in Westchester County) when he was drafted in April 1943.  Sent to Camp McClellan, Alabama he chose to apply for naturalization in October 1943.  At the time he was assigned to C Company 24th Battalion 7th Regiment Infantry Replacement Training Center. From there he was sent to England and assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that was to be part of the invasion of occupied France.  He took part in that effort with E Company on 6 Jun 1944 and was wounded. Evacuated to England, he died of his wound(s).

PVT Mastrorilli rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery in Coton, England.

PVT Timothy Kane

PVT Timothy Kane was born 30 Nov 1910 in Drumshanbo, Ireland. He was the son of Owen Kane. Timothy immigrated in 1928 and pursued the American dream in New York City.  A high school graduate, Timothy apparently worked for the New York Central Rail Road, an elevator operator in 1933, and worked as attendant at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City 1940.

Timothy was drafted February 1941. We don't know for certain but we think that he was sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland and almost immediately assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He would have then trained with the unit at Fort Meade, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina during the Carolina Maneuvers and at Camp Blanding, Florida. PVT Kane would have traveled to England aboard the Queen Mary with the regiment in September 1942. Once in England, PVT Kane would have participated in the intense training that was part of the unit's preparation for the planned amphibious landing that was to be part of the liberation of occupied France. However, for reasons currently unknown, PVT Kane present when a hand grenade detonated and was wounded in the abdomen. Admitted to the 50th Field Hospital at Cambridge, England PVT Kane died there on 31 May 1944. 

PVT Kane rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

PFC Henry Richard Dority Jr.

PFC Henry Richard Dority Jr. was born in Orange County, North Carolina on 30 Aug 1920. He was the only child of  Henry Richard and Carrie (Reeves) Dority. Carrie was was his father's 2nd wife. His father was a farmer with a farm near Banister, Virginia. Carrie was not well, she died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1927. His father remarried later that year and had a daughter with Leslie Dean (Seamster) Dority. Henry senior had a stroke and died in 1939. Henry junior found work in a cotton mill but reported a 1939 income of only $144. 

It is likely the need for additional income that caused Henry to join the National Guard enlisting in F Company 116th Infantry in South Boston, Virginia. PVT Dority was serving with that unit when it was federalized in February 1941. He then trained with the regiment at Fort George Meade, Maryland, in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing with his unit to England in September 1942. The regiment underwent a period of intense training in England. We don't know why but PFC Dority died on 26 Dec 1943. 

PFC Dority rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

PVT Christian G. Ulrich

courtesy of Skip Farrow

PVT Christian G. Ulrich was born 2 Sep 1915 in Buffalo, New York. He was the 3rd of the 5 children born to Christian Frank and Margaret Mary (Pfaff) Ulrich. His father was a butcher to support his family at 61 Mineral Spring Road in Buffalo which was valued at $1000 in 1930. Young Christian left high school after 3 years and went to work as a fireman for the City of Buffalo School Department. 

Christian was drafted in December 1942. After completing his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to the 116th Infantry. PVT Ulrich suffered a non-battle related injury and died on 15 Sep 1943. 

PVT Ulrich now rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.