PVT Peter Joseph Shapella

PVT Peter Joseph Shapella was born on 24 Jun 1908 in Middleport, Pennsylvania. He was the 7th of the 11 children born to John George and Ellen (Kovach) Shapella. Their first-born, a daughter, had died in 1897 at the age of 3-years. Both parents were natives of Slovakia which was then a part of the Austrian Empire and John Shapella worked as a coal miner. Peter's education did not progress past the 8th grade and he went to as a miner, working at the Kaska Colliery when he was drafted. He married Catherine Mary Paltanavage on 12 Nov 1934. The couple would have 2 daughters, Catherine Mary in May 1935 and Barbara Jean in August 1943.

Peter was drafted in January 1944 and in-processed at the New Cumberland induction center. He then went to Camp Pickett, Virginia and Fort George Meade, Maryland for his basic military training. He was sent overseas in August 1944 and transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry soon after. It is likely he was with the unit in the fight for Brest. PVT Shapella was struck by artillery shell fragments and killed in action near Wurselen, Germany on 14 Oct 1944. 

PVT Shapella was repatriated in 1947 and re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 

Several of Peter's brothers also served during WW2. Andrew Leo Shapella served as a PFC in the US Army. George Thomas Shapella served from 1942-1945 in the Army.

PFC Carl Richard Wright

courtesy of Karl Stelly

PFC Carl Richard Wright and his twin, Clark Eugene Wright, were born 7 Apr 1924 in Millersburg, Pennsylvania. He and his brother were the 3rd and 4th of the 10 children of Harry Clayton and Sarah Irene (Hoke) Wright. Carl's father supported his family by working in a shoe factory and, in 1939, working as a watchman there he earned a reported $780. Carl did not advance his education beyond the 8th grade but by 1942 he went to work for the Alvord Polk Reamer and Tool Company in Millersburg.

Carl was drafted with his brother in May 1943 and they were sent together to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for their initial training and he may have had his training as a medic there, too. Carl was sent overseas in June 1944. He was assigned to the Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 14 Jul 1944. He was wounded in the abdomen by artillery fire on 6 Aug 1944 and sent to hospital. In hospital PVT Wright underwent surgery removing part of his colon but it wasn't enough to save his life and PFC Wright died of his wounds on 10 Oct 1944.

PFC Wright was repatriated and re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Brother, Harold Clayton Wright, served in C Company 1st Battalion 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division and was wounded on Okinawa. Carl's twin also served in the U.S. Army during the war. Father Harry Clayton Wright, served as a PFC in the U.S. Army during WW1.Great-grandfather, Jacob M. Peterman, served in E Company 200th Pennsylvania Infantry (USA) during the Civil War.

PVT David Earl Leslie

courtesy of Karl Stelly

PVT David Earl Leslie was born 25 Dec 1916 in Sheffield, Pennsylvania to Guy Edward and Sarah Jane (Simpson) Leslie. His father worked as a truck driver for an oil company and farmed.David and wife Elizabeth apparently had a son in 1937 who died in 1938. In 1940, David was living in Mead, Pennsylvania with his wife Elizabeth A. and working as a laborer in a junkyard.  He reported a 1939 income of $286.  

David was already divorced when he was drafted in November 1943.  He was sent to Europe after his basic training and transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 15 Jul 1944. PVT Leslie was killed in action on 30 Aug 1944. 

PVT Leslie was repatriated and re-interred in 1948.  He now rests forever in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

CPL William Franklin Leathers

CPL William Franklin Leathers was born 25 Oct 1914 in Grove City, Pennsylvania with his twin sister, Evelyn Katherine Leathers, to Wilbur Franklin and Pearl Clara (Gates) Leathers. Wilbur was a clerk in a steel mill but he died in 1920.  Pearl then supported her two children, and later her parents, by teaching in a public school.  Pearl died in 1931.  The twins were 17 when their mother passed away.  While his sister married, William went to work as a bricklayer and lived with his maternal grandmother who was now widowed.

William was drafted in February 1942. After basic training he was sent to England and assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  He probably participated in all or most of the training the unit underwent in England as it prepared for the amphibious assault on Hitler's "fortress Europe". William had attained the rank of CPL prior to 6 Jun 1944 when the landing took place.  He fought with the unit through to Saint Lo and was killed in action on 13 Jul 1944.

CPL Leathers was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

PFC John Charles Brush

PFC John Charles Brush was born 19 Dec 1916 in Danville, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of the seven children of Thomas and Margaret (McCaffery) Brush. His father was an ironworker which he did all his working life.

John was drafted on 21 Feb 1942 and after completing his basic military training was ultimately assigned to L Company 116th Infantry. PFC Brush was wounded on 12 Jul 1944 and died of his wound(s) on 13 Jul 1944 near St. Lo, France.

PFC Bush was repatriated and now rests in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

 

CPL Joseph Alex Vagasi

CPL Joseph Alex Vagasi was born 22 Jun 1923 in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He was the only child of Romania immigrants, Joseph and Julianna (Simo) Vagasi. It might have been because he was from Vagas, Romania that the elder Joseph changed his name from Wagonish to Vagasi soon after he immigrated in 1907. The elder Joseph worked for Continental Roll Steel Foundry and had been successful enough to purchase a home at 610 Sixth Street in Coraopolis which was valued at $6000 in 1930. The house is still standing today.The younger Joseph attended Coraopolis High School where he participated in the Boy Scouts, ran track, was a member of the glee club and a member of the National Honor Society. He then attended Pennsylvania State College in State College, Pennsylvania.

Joseph enlisted 26 May 1943 and began his training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. It is unknown when he was sent to England but this was probably fairly early in 1944. CPL Vagasi was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jun 1944. He was serving as a squad leader when he was wounded in the effort to liberate Saint-Lo, dying of his wound(s) on 12 Jul 1944. 

CPL Vagasi was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

TSGT John Augustine Glass Jr.

TSGT John Augustine Glass Jr. was born 21 Sep 1921 in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania to John Augustine and Stella E. (Chapman) Glass. His father was a coal miner. In 1939, his father had a reported income of $1900 as a foreman for a mine.  In 1940, John Jr. was also working as a miner. 

John Jr. entered the service in July 1942.  We don't know when he went to England but when he did he was assigned to E Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit for the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944.  On 25 Jun 1944 he was promoted to TSGT.  TSGT Glass was killed in action on 12 Jul 1944. 

TSGT Glass was repatriated in early 1948 and now rests forever in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 

PFC Byron Leonard Stanton Jr

PFC Byron Leonard Stanton Jr born 20 Mar 1920 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania the first of 6 children born to Byron Leonard and Ruth L (Yost) Stanton.  The family moved around quite a bit for the time, Byron Senior working as a teamster and farmer before dying of heart disease at age 47 in 1937.  The elder Byron was a veteran of the 109th Infantry, 28th Division in the first World War.  Ruth remarried and had two daughters by her second husband before 1944. Byron Junior was working as a laborer in Shamokin 1936-1941.

Byron began his service on 21 Feb 1942.  He was assigned to 1st Platoon B Company 116th Infantry before D-Day and was serving with that unit on 6 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action.

Byron was brought home and now rests forever in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. 

PFC George Allen Hawn

PFC George Allen Hawn was born 26 Oct 1912 in Cresson, Pennsylvania to George Ellis and Emeline Cornelia (Summerville) Hawn. George's grandparents were Mennonites. 

Young George entered service in June 1941.  He was sent overseas in 1942 and was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry.  He was with that unit on the day of the great amphibious assault on "fortress Europe".  He was killled in action on that day, 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Hawn is buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

His mother died in 1945.  

SSG William Charles Laffin

SSG William Charles Laffin was born 5 Jun 1920 in North Bend, Pennsylvania to Charles Edward and Florence A (Sanford) Laffin. His parents' first 2 children died at birth.  William was their 3rd surviving child although his sister died at age 3. His father had worked as a moulder in a brickyard and in a tannery.  In 1940 William, his father and brother all worked in a tannery.  William only attended 1 year of high school.

William was drafted in February 1942.  He was ultimately assigned to B Company 116th Infantry and landed with that unit on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944.  It was on that day that he was killed in action, 22 years old, almost to the day. 

SSG Laffin is buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

PVT Richard Christopher Brandtonies

PVT Richard Christopher Brandtonies, b. 22 Jul 1924 - d. 6 Jun 1944. Son of Christopher and Juliana Brandtonies of Vestaburg, Pennsylvania, Richard enlisted 28 Jun 1943 in Pittsburgh and last served in A Company 116th Infantry. He now rests in Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.