CPL Sherman Luther Ayars Jr

CPL Sherman Luther Ayars Jr, born 9 Nov 1920 in Ramsey County, Minnesota to Sherman Luther and Berdella Clara (Anderson) Ayars.  He had 2 sisters.  Sherman and his father were both typesetters although Sherman didn't go past 2 years of high school.  Both of Sherman's sisters graduated from high school.

In May 1942 Sherman enlisted.   He was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry before D-Day.  On 28 Aug 1944 he was promoted to Corporal.  He was killed in action 26 Nov 1944.

CPL Ayars is buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

PVT Francis Jarvis Linn

PVT Francis Jarvis Linn was born 29 May 1924 in Harrison, Missouri. Francis was the adopted son of Forest G and Mary Alma (Leath) Linn of Bronaugh, MO. Francis Linn attended Bronaugh High School in Vernon County, Missouri. 

 

He entered the Army in February 1943 and trained in Camp Beal, CA; Camp Blanding, FL; and Camp Shelby, MS. He went overseas in May 1944 and served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. PFC Linn was assigned to M Company 28 Jun 1944, reassigned to Cannon Company on 8 Jul 1944 and finally to B Company on 19 Aug 1944.  Killed in Action 22 November 1944, Koslar, Germany, his awards include the Purple Heart. He is buried in Plot E, Row 10, Grave 9, American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Limburg, Netherlands." 

 

They also erected a memorial centotaph with the family burials in Bronaugh.

SGT William Collins Wessels

courtesy of Corey & Douglas Marshall-Steele

SGT William Collins Wessels was born 5 May 1914 in Newstown, Virginia. He was the only child of William Herbert and Ethel Pauline (Collins) Wessels. His father was a farmer but died in May 1917 of pulmonary tuberculosis. Ethel remarried 5-years later. Step-father Dorsey Bundick was also a farmer. However the Great Depression was hard on everyone and in 1940 both Dorsey and William were working on the state road crew as laborers earning a total income in 1939 of $920. William had managed to complete high school.

William was drafted in April 1941. After completing his basic military training he was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry and trained with that unit in the United States and in England after the regiment went to England in September 1942. William was eventually promoted to SGT and landed with the unit on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. SGT Wessels was reduced in rank to PVT on 5 Jul 1944. Whether or not this had anything to do with being wounded by an artillery shell at about the same time is unknown. While he was treated there is no record of PVT Wessels being evacuated.  He continued to fight with the unit and was again promoted to SGT on 15 Sep 1944. SGT Wessels continued to fight with Cannon Company until killed in action on 22 Nov 1944. 

SGT Wessels was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Parksley Cemetery in Parksley, Virginia.

PFC John W. Turner

courtesy of Ken Reeves

PFC John W. Turner was born 2 Jul 1915 in Oxford, Michigan. He was the 2nd of the 3 children born to reverend James Milton and Edna Mary (Robinson) Turner. His father was a Congregationalist minister earning a reported $1200 in 1939. The family had lived in Port Huron, Utica, Oxford, Almont, and Grand Blanc, Michigan. John completed high school and found work as an assembler for Hurd Lock Company in Almont earning $750 in 1939. 

John was drafted in October 1941. His first "permanent" assignment was with Headquarters and Headquarters Company 803rd Anti-Tank Brigade. Assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry, he trained with the unit for and participated in the D-Day landings on 6 Jun 1944. He then fought with the unit through the bocage, Saint-Lo, Vire, Brest and to Aachen before he was killed in action on 20 Nov 1944. 

PFC Turner was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Riverlawn Cemetery in Marysville, Michigan

John's only brother, CPL Bruce Newton Turner, died in service with the 415th Night Fighter Squadron on 31 Mar 1945. We believe he was a radar operator and was killed when his aircraft was shot down over Germany.

PVT Robert James Smith

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Robert James Smith was born in Marquette, Michigan on 11 Nov 1921. He was the 3rd of Leo Francis and Catherine Ada (Murphy) Smith's 9 children. His father worked as a woodsman and later in road construction and reported a 1939 income of $512. His mother had died suddenly in 1934.

Robert was drafted in November 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that would take place on 6 Jun 1944 to liberate Nazi occupied France. He took part in that landing and fought with the unit through Saint-Lo, Vire, Brest, and Baesweiler, Germany only to be killed in action near Setterich, Germany.

PVT Smith rests forever in Netherlands American Cemetery.

Brother, Donald Leo Smith, served as a Torpedoman 1st Class in the submarine service in the South Pacific during the war.

SGT Elliott Arthur Salin

courtesy of M. Wincott

SGT Elliott Arthur Salin was born Elliott Arthur Salinsky on 19 May 1918 in New York City, New York. He was the youngest of the 3 children born to Michael Harris and Edith (Proops) Salinsky. His father worked in the manufacture of footwear (shoes and slippers). The family lived at 701 St. Nicholas Street and 17 167th Street to name just 2 of what were probably many homes they occupied. Sister, Leah Salinsky, died at age 19 in 1932. Elliott's mother died in 1934 and by 1940 his father had re-married and moved to Dudley, Massachusetts. Elliott managed to attend at least 1 year of college and also began working for a manufacturer rising to a foreman position.

Elliott was also living in Massachusetts when he was drafted in February 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained for the amphibious landing that took place on 6 Jun 1944 and in which he took part as a CPL. He was promoted to SGT on 20 Jun 1944 and fought with the unit through the drive to Saint-Lo, Vire, the capture of Brest and at Aachen. SGT Salin was killed in action on 20 Nov 1944 in the vicinity of Setterich, Germany. SGT Salin was awarded the Silver Star but we do not have details of the award at this time.

SGT Salin was repatriated and re-interred in the Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield Gardens, New York where is name is once again recorded as Salinsky and rests forever with other family members.

Note: We do not know why Elliott was enlisted under the name "Salin". His older brother Stanley also used that name. It may have been related to a desire to avoid being identified as a Jew if captured by the Germans or it might have simply been an attempt to Anglicize the family name to assimilate.

PFC Claude E Doty

PVT Claude E Doty, b. 21 Oct 1919 - d. 20 Nov 1944. Son of Grover Cleveland and Ruth (Day) Doty of Johnson County, Indiana. PVT Doty was assigned to Cannon Company, 116th Infantry and is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC Percy Wesley Foster

PFC Percy Wesley Foster was born in Lingo, New Mexico on 7 Sep 1920 to James William and Annie Lorene (Mask) Foster.  His father supported the family by farming and he had an income in 1939 of $900. In 1940 Percy was going to school and working as a janitor.

When Percy volunteered in May 1942 he was an actor with 3 years of college.  After training he was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. His name does not appear in the morning report.  He died 14 Sep 1944.

PFC Foster is buried in Causey Cemetery in Causey, New Mexico. 

PVT Casimer Adam Wasilewski

courtesy of SirromC

PVT Casimer Adam Wasilewski was born in Yonkers, New York on 24 Feb 1911. He was the oldest of the 5 children born to Peter and Sophie Josephine (Jacewicz) Wasilewski. Both parents were natives of Poland. His father worked as a laborer in a sugar refinery, a carpet mill and as a maintenance superintendent of an apartment building. Younger sister Dorothy died before she was 10-years old. Brother Frank died in 1940. Casimer did not attend high school but eventually worked for Chevrolet in the North Tarrytown, New York manufacturing plant and moved to an apartment at 10 Radford Street in Yonkers.

Casimer was drafted in August 1943. After completing his military training he was sent to England. PVT Wasilewski was transferred from the replacement depot to Cannon Company 116th Infantry on 19 Jun 1944 as a gun crewman. He was transferred to A Company 116th Infantry on 16 Aug 1944 as the regiment began its attack towards Brest. PVT Wasilewski was wounded on 27 Aug 1944 and evacuated to a field hospital where he died of his wound(s) on 30 Aug 1944.

PVT Wasilewski rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery. He is also memorialized on his parent's headstone in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Yonkers, New York.

PVT Eugene L. Hoffman

Courtesy Ken Ryesky

PVT Eugene L. Hoffman was born 10 Dec 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts the only son of Jacob and Bessie (Smorack) Hoffman.  Both parents were Jews who had immigrated fromPoland/Russia.  His father was a children's clothing jobber. 

Eugene was drafted in February 1943 and after training was sent to Europe.  On 21 Jun 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. On 16 Aug 1944 he was again transferred, this time to B Company 116th Infantry as a light truck driver.  PVT Hoffman was killed in action on 27 Aug 1944.


PVT Hoffman was repatriated and is buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery in Flushing, New York.

PVT Fred H. Shackleford

courtesy of Dick Belle

PVT Fred H. Shackleford was born in Clarke County, Virginia and we believe his date of birth was 4 May 1923. He was the youngest of the 3 children born to Mervin Howard and Lula Mae (Smallwood) Shackleford. His father was a carpenter and he died in 1938 at the age of 62 when he contracted influenza. Fred's older brother supported the family as a laborer.

Fred joined a Winchester based Virginia National Guard unit, I Company 116th Infantry, and was a member of the unit when it was mobilized in February 1941. At some point he left I Company. PVT Shackleford was transferred from the 80th replacement battalion to Cannon Company on 25 Jul 1944. He fought with his unit until he died on 10 Aug 1944.

PVT Shackleford was repatriated and re-interred in the Green Hill Cemetery in Berryville, Virginia.

Two of Fred's grandfathers are known to have served during the Civil War. Joseph W. Feltner served as a PVT in A Company 6th Virginia Cavalry (CSA) apparently dying in service in April 1863. Grandfather, John Henry Shackleford, served as a PVT in E Company 12th West Virginia Infantry (USA).

CPL Wilson J. Reulet

CPL Wilson J. Reulet was born 10 Feb 1918 in Vacherie, Louisiana. He was the 2nd of 10 children born to Placide Jean and Marie Eva (Ockman) Reulet. 2 of his siblings died in infancy. His father supported the family by trapping and farming. His mother, Eva, died in 1935 and Wilson was sent to live with his maternal grandparents and he began work as a gardener.

Wilson enlisted in the Army in October 1940. We don't know what other units he was assigned to but he was ultimately sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault which took place on 6 Jun 1944. CPL Reulet fought with the unit until killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

CPL Reulet was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Vacherie, Louisiana.

Wilson's brothers served as well. Remy John Reulet served in the U.S. Navy as an RM3c and in the U.S. Army Air Force as a TSGT. Placide John Reulet served as a Coxswain aboard the USS Melville helping prepare landing craft for the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. George Joseph Reulet served as an S2c aboard the USS Gunston Hall serving in several landings in the Pacific theater.

PVT Gilbert Fomalont

PVT Gilbert Fomalont was born 10 Feb 1906 in Carmel, Pennsylvania to Barney and Eva Fomalont.  Both parents were Russian immigrants. In 1934 he married Esther Tucker.  In 1941 he married Lillian Feinstein.

Gilbert entered service in December 1942.  Sent overseas, he was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry.  Gilbert was assigned to the unit on D-Day and served with the unit until 7 Aug 1944 when he was killed in action. 

PVT Fomalont was repatriated and buried in Mount Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

PVT Raymond Charles Levi Price

PVT Raymond Charles Levi Price was born 20 Jun 1914 in South Bend, Indiana. He was the 3rd of 12 children born to Walter Charles and Sarah Elizabeth (Simon) Price. The family moved quite a bit as his father had worked as a machinist in Chicago, Illinois before the depression but was then forced to look for work in South Bend, Moline, Bristol, Jefferson, Goshen and Elkhart all of which are in Indiana working as a machinist and then as a farmer. Sarah died in July 1938. By 1940 it was the older sons that were supporting the family. Raymond was working in an automotive parts factory.

Raymond was drafted in January 1942. After his basic military training as a pack artilleryman and light truck driver he was eventually sent to England and assigned to the newly formed Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious attack that was to be part of the invasion of Nazi occupied France. He landed with the unit on D-Day and fought through to the attempt to take Saint-Lo. PVT Price was killed in action on 17 Jul 1944. 

PVT Price was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Prairie Street Cemetery in Elkhart, Indiana. 

2LT William Gallagher Sampson

2LT William Gallagher Sampson was born in Alliance, Ohio on 18 May 1915. He was the youngest of Anderson Jaynes and Elizabeth Dunkin (Gallagher) Sampson. His father worked as an accountant/bookkeeper. By 1940 William was working as a store clerk for Schwabacher and Company, a hardware firm, earning a reported 1939 income of $1020, twice what his father earned in the same year.

William was drafted in 1941 and after his basic military service was identified as a candidate for officer training to which he was sent. After that he was sent to Europe and on 5 Jun 1944 was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry as one of the additional officers sent to the regiment prior to the D-Day landings on 6 Jun 1944. He landed with Cannon Company and fought with the unit until 17 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action. 2LT Sampson was awarded the Silver Star for and Bronze Star for actions occurring on the date of his death.

2LT Sampson rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

Grandfather, GEN Archibald Johnson Sampson, served as a SGT in C Company 43rd Ohio Infantry (USA) and CPT in the Civil War, as Attorney General of Colorado, Envoy to Mexico and Ecuador. Brother, Archibald Johnson Sampson (named for their grandfather) was drafted as a private in WW2 and left the U.S. Army as a LTC as well as a doctor.

PFC William Francis Stone

courtesy of Glenn

PFC William Francis Stone was born 15 Oct 1924 in New York, New York. Very little is known about his life. His mother's name was May. When he registered for the draft he was living with his mother at 532 2nd Avenue in New York just a couple of blocks west of the East River and was unemployed.

Not much is known about his military life either. It seems that he was drafted soon after registering for the draft and sent to England where he was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. While in England he would have prepared for the amphibious landing that was planned as part of the effort to liberate Nazi occupied France. He was with the unit on 6 Jun 1944 in that effort and was wounded. PFC Stone died of his wound(s) in France on 7 Jun 1944.

PFC Stone was repatriated in 1947 and re-interred in the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.

PFC Oscar J. Gasewind

courtesy of Bessie Savery

PFC Oscar J. Gasewind was born in 1906 in Newark, New Jersey to John Reinhold and Charlotte L. (Schmidt) Gasewind.  His father was a machinist, an engineer in a brewery and engineer in a pencil factory over a 40 year period.  John reported a 1939 income of $2790. In 1940, Oscar was working for an insurance company and he reported a 1939 income of $1440.

After entering the service, Oscar was sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944, when he was killed in action participating in the amphibious assault on the Normandy Beaches.

PFC Gasewind is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

PVT James Robert Reed

PVT James Robert Reed was born 10 Jan 1925 in Caddo, Texas. He was the 4th of 6 children born to Nathan Brawner and Bessie Jane (Boyd) Reed. His father farmed and later made a living cutting fence posts.

James was working as a farm hand when he was drafted in June 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to the 453rd Amphibious Truck Company where he learned to operate the DUKW amphibious version of the U.S. 2½-ton truck in amphibious landings and river crossings. Prior to the amphibious assault at Omaha Beach he was attached to Cannon Company 116th Infantry to transport that unit's M3 105mm short-barreled howitzers. PVT Reed was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Reed was repatriated in 1947 and re-interred in the Veal Creek Cemetery in Stephens County, Texas.

PVT Willie E. King

PVT Willie Edward King was born 17 Jan 1922 in Bon Ami, Louisiana to William Edward and Mary Elizabeth (Whittington) King.  Willie was the only child born to his mother's second marriage.  His father worked at the U.S. Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi in 1930.

Willie married Ardith Mary Campeau on 31 Mar 1942.  He entered the service in July 1943.  After his initial training he was sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry.  He likely only had 3-5 months of training for the amphibious assault that would take place on the French beach code-named "Omaha". He was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT King was repatriated and is buried in Coalville Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi.

PVT Noah Robert Spillman Jr.

PVT Noah Robert Spillman Jr was born 10 Feb 1918 on a farm near Grant City, Missouri. Named after his paternal grandfather, he was the oldest of the 2 boys and 2 girls born to Lawrence Clifton and Nevada Rebecca (Hunter) Spillman. His great-grandfather had come from Culpeper County, Virginia in 1845. The family farmed in Worth County, Missouri and Noah grew up to work with his father on the family farm.

Drafted in March 1942, basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, then stationed at Camp Hood, Texas and assigned to Headquarters Company 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was sent to England in July 1943 with another tank destroyer unit but afterwards assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained for and was with the unit in the amphibious assault on 6 Jun 1944. He was killed in action that day but his body was never recovered.

PVT Spillman is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery.