PVT Herbert Chapman Whitaker

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Herbert Chapman Whitaker was born 21 Nov 1915 in Elmore County, Alabama. He was the youngest of the 5 children born to Auther Barney and Ella (Robards or Robberds) Whitaker. His father farmed, probably as a sharecropper in various places in Elmore County. Herbert did not continue his education beyond the 7th grade but went to farming with his father and then found work at the Tallassee Mills Company. Herbert married Lydia Elenor Knox in August 1941. 

Herbert wasn't drafted until March 1944 being inprocessed at Fort McPherson, Georgia and after completing his basic military training was sent to the European theater. PVT Whitaker was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. He was wounded by artillery fragments in the head and heal on 3 Dec 1945. Despite evacuation and treatment gangrene set in and PVT Whitaker died of his wounds on 11 Dec 1944.

PVT Whitaker rests forever in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

PFC Joseph Kovaleski

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Joseph Kovaleski was the son of John Kovaleski.  Although his father lived in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1948, Joseph entered the service from Ohio.

He was sent overseas after his initial training.  Sent to England he was assigned to H Company 116th Infantry.  We believe that he participated in the D-Day landings.  PFC Kovaleski fought with the unit until 16 Jul 1944 when he was wounded and evacuated to the hospital. Joseph returned to the unit from the replacement depot on 28 Aug 1944.  He fought with the unit through the battle for Brest.  PFC Kovaleski was killed in action on 22 Oct 1944.

PFC Kovaleski was buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

PFC Carmen Vasquez Ramos

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Carmen Vasquez Ramos was born Juan Carmen Vasquez Ramos on 16 Jul 1910 in Santa-ana Pacueco, Guanajuato, Mexico. He entered the country at El Paso, Texas on 28 Sep 1926 and moved to Chicago, Illinois where he eventually became a section foreman at an iron foundry. He married Lucille Morales, also a native of Mexico, in Chicago on 28 Mar 1931. The couple lived at 1456 Washburne Avenue in Chicago.

Carmen was drafted in November 1943 and was trained at Camp Wheeler, Georgia in C Company 3rd Infantry Training Battalion. On 13 Apr 1944 he was sworn in as a naturalized citizen of the United States. PVT Ramos was then sent to England, probably after a 14-day furlough to visit his wife in Chicago, and he was then moved on to the replacement depot. PVT Ramos was transferred from the replacement depot to H Company 116th Infantry on 21 Jul 1944. He was promoted to PFC on 11 Aug 1944. PFC Ramos continued to fight with H Company until killed in action in Germany on 22 Oct 1944.

PFC Ramos was interred in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

PFC John Joseph Bishop

PFC John Joseph Bishop was born 2 Jun 1912 in Gilmanton, Minnesota to Frank Joseph and Mary Victoria (Wagner) Bishop.  Father Frank was an engineer on the railroad.  In 1930 John was working odd jobs to contribute to the large family of 13. 

We don't know when John began his service but he was assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry in time to participate in the D-Day landings.  He went back and forth between the Medical Detachment and Headquarters 2nd Battalion (at their aide station) and was thought to be missing in action a couple of times.  He was killed in action on 20 Oct 1944. 

PFC Bishop is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. 

Several of his brothers also served in WWII: Ralph Frank Bishop (PFC, Army), George Lawrence Bishop (PFC, Army), Joseph Anthony Bishop (PFC, Army).  Brother Bernard Donald Bishop served in the Army in Korea.

SSG Ernest Joshua Howard

SSG Ernest Joshua Howard was born 10 May 1923 in Leota, Missouri to Peter Nero and Myrtle Mae (Wicker) Howard. The family farmed and then Peter operated a grocery store. On 14 Jun 1941, in Fulton County, Arkansas, Ernest married Veda Ruth Cotter. The Howards moved to Kern County, California.  In December that same year they would have a son, Kenneth Dean Howard.  Kenneth died 4 Mar 1942. 

Ernest was working on a dairy farm when he was drafted in October 1943.  On 17 Jul 1944, he was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry where he served as a rifleman.  PVT Howard was promoted to PFC on 11 Aug 1944. He is next noted in the morning report as being a SSG when he was killed in action on 18 Oct 1944.

SSG Howard was awarded the Silver Star for actions on 16 Sep 1944 when he fired 25 rifle grenades from an exposed position in indirect fire and managed to force Germans from a position allowing the platoon to advance. 

SSG Howard is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

SSG Ralph Leroy Oveson

Argus Leader, 14 Nov 1944

SSG Ralph Leroy Oveson was born 27 Mar 1924 in Minnehaha County, Minnesota. He was the 4th of the 9 children born to Albert Cornelius and Alma Maria (Froseth) Oveson. His father worked as a laborer on farms in the area of Brandon, Minnesota and later in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ralph apparently moved out of the household prior to 1940. By 1943 he was working for a defense contractor in Los Angeles, California.

Ralph was drafted in December 1943. He trained at Camp Fannin, Texas before shipping overseas in June 1944. PVT Oveson was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He must have demonstrated leadership and soldier skills to have been promoted from PVT to SSG by the time he was killed in action near Aachen, Germany on 18 Oct 1944.

SSG Oveson rests forever in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

Ralph's brother, Arnold Leland Oveson, also served in the infantry during the 2nd world war.

PFC Junior Benson Hamrick

PFC Junior Benson Hamrick was born 8 Jun 1924 in Webster Springs, West Virginia to Lorenzo Benson and Ora Ann (Pritt) Hamrick.  His father was a coal miner. Junior was able to complete 3-years of high school.

Junior was drafted in January 1944. After completing his military training he was sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry on 9 Aug 1944. He fought with the unit in the campaign to take Brest and was still with the unit when he was killed in action at Aachen, Germany on 16 Oct 1944.

PFC Hamrick is buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

His brother, SSG Victor L. Hamrick, was a waist gunner on B-17 "Short Snorter III" (#42-5337), 401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force and was lost when his plane was shot down on a mission to Schweinfurt, Germany. He is remembered on the wall of the missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PVT Stacey Woodrow Smith

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Stacey Woodrow Smith was born 21 Feb 1915 in Shawmut, Horton township, Elk County, Pennsylvania. He was the 5th of the 9 children born to William Edwin and Catherine Nora Jane "Jennie" (Starr) Smith. His father worked as a foreman in tile manufacture, as a coal miner, and in a clay plant. By 1940, Stacey was working in a steel mill for the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation which then and now produces specialty steels. In May of that same year he married Isabelle Marion Stobert. The couple lived at 622 3rd Avenue in Tarentum, Pennsylvania a small duplex which still serves as a home today. The couple's first daughter would be born in January 1942 and the second in July 1943.

Stacey was drafted in January 1944. Sent to the European theater after completing his basic military training he was then transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry on 9 Aug 1944. Just a few days later, on 14 Oct 1944, PVT Smith was wounded in the vicinity of Aachen, Germany and evacuated to a hospital. He died of his wound(s) on 15 Oct 1944.

PVT Smith is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Stacey's younger brother, Dale R. Smith, was an aviation cadet when he received word of his Stacey's death. Older brother, Kenneth Edwin Smith, served in the Army during both WW2 and Korea attaining the rank of MAJ. Father, William Edwin Smith, served as a PVT in B Company 10th Pennsylvania Infantry during the Spanish-American War.

PFC Benjamin Theodore Oslewski

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Benjamin Theodore Oslewski was born 23 Sep 1925 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the 4th of 5 children born to John George and Anastasia (Duziak) Oslewski. Both parents were natives of Poland. His father supported the family by working in an auto plant. Anastasia died in 1935. His father would remarry in 1936 but divorce Anna Talek Lasek Oslewski in 1941 on the grounds of cruelty.

Benjamin was probably drafted in 1943 and after his basic combat training was sent to the European theater. PVT Oslewski was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He was promoted to PFC on 11 Aug 1944. PFC Oslewski was evacuated as a non-battle injury to hospital on 4 Sep 1944. He was returned to the unit from the replacement depot on 30 Sep 1944. Initially reported as missing in action, PFC Oslewski was killed in action on 15 Oct 1944.

PFC Oslewski rests forever in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

The family was visited by another tragedy almost exactly 6-years later when, on 31 Oct 1950, Benjamin's older brother John Edward Oslewski stabbed and killed their father in an argument about money.

PVT Robert S Ellery

PVT Robert S. Ellery was born 28 May 1914 in Oregon.  He was drafted in October 1942 while living in California.  He might have been working as a foundryman.

On 10 Oct 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry. PVT Ellery was killed in action on 15 Oct 1944.

He is buried in  Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. 

1LT Roland Arthur Remick

1LT Roland Arthur Remick was born 9 May 1915 in Bristol, New Hampshire. He was the oldest of the 3 children born to Edwin Sherman and Alice Corinne (Bailey) Remick. His father worked as a carpenter. Roland completed high school and went on to attend the University of New Hampshire graduating in 1940.

Roland was working as a salesman when drafted in January 1942. As a college graduate he was an obvious candidate for officer candidate training after which he was commissioned as a 2LT. While stationed at Camp Howse he married Miss Alvin Flay Pierson of Dallas, Texas on 26 Dec 1942. Serving in various units he was eventually sent to the European theater. Alvin gave birth to a son, James Roland Remick, in Alexandria, Louisiana on 24 Mar 1944. It is possible that 1LT Remick was stationed at Camp Robinson or Polk at that time. On 12 Aug 1944 1LT Remick was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry to serve as a platoon leader. Roland was killed in action on 15 Oct 1944 in the vicinity of Aachen, Germany.

1LT Remick is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. There is a cenotaph memorializing him in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, New Hampshire.

PFC Horace Orville Lee

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Horace Orville Lee was born 23 Feb 1924 in Hancock County, Mississippi the next to last of fourteen children of Daniel Francis and Sarah Angeline (Mitchell) Lee.  The family farmed.

Horace was drafted in May 1943 at which time he was still working as a farm hand.  After basic training he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry on 13 Jun 1944. On 11 Jul 1944, PVT Lee was wounded and evacuated to hospital. We don't know when he was returned to the unit but he was again with E Company, now a PFC, when he was killed in action on 14 Oct 1944.

PFC Lee was buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

Older brother, Elvin Ora Lee, served in the Army from 1942 to 1945.

PVT Arthur Colvin Beeman

PVT Arthur Colvin Beeman was born 25 Jul 1912 in Pueblo, Colorado to Arthur and Helen Myrtle (Colvin) Beeman.  His father had farmed, worked with his father as a blacksmith, a carpenter and various other things as the family drifted across the country, from Colorado to Kansas to California. 

Arthur married Hattie May Pierson about 1935 and they had a daughter on 24 Dec 1936.  When he was drafted in December 1943, Arthur was working as a policeman in Sonoma, California.  On 22 Jul 1944 he was assigned from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry.  On 31 Jul 1944, Arthur was wounded and evacuated to the hospital.  On 20 Sep 1944 he was returned to E Company and then on 22 Sep 1944 reassigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  He was with that unit on 13 Oct 1944 when he was killed in action. 

PVT Beeman is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.  Hattie remarried before 1948.  Their daughter is still living. 

PVT Harold Rex Fortney

PVT Harold Rex Fortney was born 4 Jun 1916 in New Sharon, Iowa to John Harrison "Henry" and Bessie Grace (Jenkins) Fortney.  Harold had 9 siblings one of whom died at birth. "Henry" was a blacksmith who sometimes worked for "the railroad".  Harold's grandfather, Henry M. Fortney, served as a Corporal in A Company 118th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War after which he migrated to Iowa.

On 25 Jun 1939, Harold married Margaret Bolsem, in 1940 he was working for the railroad and she was a clerk in a grocery.  Together, they had an income of $960 in 1939.  Harold was drafted in March 1944.

On 10 Oct 1944 PVT Fortney was assigned from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry.  On 13 Oct 1944 he was killed in action near Aachen, Germany.  He is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and there is a centotaph in Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Margaret remarried after the war.  So far as we can determine they had no children.

PFC Charles Joseph Korpics

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Charles Joseph Korpics was born 18 Oct 1915 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Frank Joseph and Anna (Horvath) Korpics. His parents were natives of Hungary.  His father ran a grocery. Charles was managing a restaurant in 1940 and reported a 1939 income of $450. Charles was working at Bethlehem Steel by 1943.

Charles was drafted in October 1943.  After his initial training he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jun 1944.  PVT Korpics was promoted to PFC on 15 Aug 1944. PFC Korpics was wounded on 13 Oct 1944 and evacuated to hospital where he died of his wound(s) that same day. 

PFC Korpics is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Brothers, Daniel, William and Louis all served in the Navy during the war.

PVT David M. Schneiderman

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT David M. Schneiderman was the son of Harry Schneiderman and we believe that he was born 11 Jun 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. We do not know anything of his family but that his father lived at 309 East 3rd Street in Brooklyn for at least 1-year (1945-1946).

David was probably drafted in late 1943 or early 1944. After his basic training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Schneiderman was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jul 1944. He was wounded the very next day, 6 Jul 1944, and evacuated to hospital. He was returned to the unit from the replacement depot on 9 Sep 1944 and participated in the fight to liberate Brest, France. PVT Schneiderman was killed in action near Aachen, Germany on 13 Oct 1944.

PVT Schneiderman rests forever in the Henri-Chappelle American Cemetery.

SSG Lauren Aldred Barmore

SSG Lauren Aldred Barmore son of Royal Cook and Mary J (Aldred) Barmore of Placer County, California was born 17 May 1914.  He was the 2nd of his mother's 2 children. His mother died 4 Oct 1915 and his father re-married a year later.  Royal had 3 children by his second wife.

Lauren was drafted in March 1941.  We don't know where he was or what he was doing but we do know that he was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 3 Sep 1944 and was already a Staff Sergeant.  This would indicate that he had some experience by this time.  It was common for soldiers who had been wounded to go from unit to hospital to replacement depot to a unit other than the one in which they had been serving when they were wounded.  We also know that he was killed in action on 11 Oct 1944. 

SSG Barmore rests forever in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. 

Half-brother Richard Edward Barmore also served in the Army, 1942-1945.

PFC George Warren Bray

PFC George Warren Bray was born 5 Sep 1915 in Saint Louis, Missouri to James Oscar and Nora Leona (Coon) Bray.  His father worked as a driver.  In 1930 George was living with his mother and step-father and working as a clerk in a grocery. On 16 May 1935 he married Alice Crossley and they had a son in March 1937.  In 1940 he was working in road construction.

We don't know when George entered the service. It was on 3 Sep 1944 that he was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944.  He and Alice were divorced in March 1944.  On 9 Oct 1944, George was promoted to PFC.  On 11 Oct 1944 he was killed in action.

PFC Bray is buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

Alice re-married and their son was adopted by his step-father.  He served as a finance officer during the Vietnam war.

PVT Marcus Segan

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Marcus Segan was born in 1916 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the 3rd of the 4 children born to Toma and Milka (Gropac) Segan. His parents were natives of Yugoslavia. Toma (called Tom here) had immigrated in 1906 and Milka (called Mildred) came in 1912. She left the couple's first child, Pero, with his grandparents. Mildred would not see Pero until 1957 and Marcus never met him. Tom died in 1923. Mildred married Stanley Wujnovich in 1928. Stanley worked as a crane operator in an elevator factory but he died at the age of 46 just 6-years later in 1934. Marcus graduated from East Technical High School and went to work as a grinder at the Cleveland Wire Spring factory. He attended the Cleveland Police Cadet Course #14 and graduated in August 1943. He then went to work as a Cleveland police officer, badge number 312.

Just 4 months after beginning service on the Cleveland police force, Marcus was drafted in December 1943. After his basic military training including training with military communications equipment, PVT Segan was sent to the European theater. He was transferred from the replacement depot to Headquarters 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry on 4 Sep 1944. The unit was in reserve near Kerkrade, Holland when he was in a jeep transporting coils of wire with 4 other soldiers from 2nd Battalions signal section when the vehicle struck and detonated a German mine. 4 men, including PVT Segan were killed. Dying with him were CPL Wimburne Phinney, PVT Hairston Cumberland, and PVT Earl Dale Potter.

PVT Segan rests forever in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. 

SGT Walter John Kelly

SGT Walter John Kelly was born 25 Jul 1913 in Brooklyn, New York one of 5 children of Thomas and Catherine Kelly.  For years the family lived on Coney Avenue and then at 2713 N Avenue in Brooklyn.  His father was a policeman in Kings County.  In 1940, Walter was clerking in a grocery.

After entering the service, Walter was sent to England and assigned to L Company 116th Infantry.  After training with the unit for and participating in the D-Day amphibious assault on the Normandy beach (on 6 Jun 1944), Walter fought inland with his company.  On 17 Jul 1944 he was wounded by shrapnel in the right leg but remained on duty.  On 27 Jul 1944 he was promoted from PFC to SGT.  On 29 Jul 1944 he was evacuated to hospital either for a new injury or because of his old wound.  On 19 Sep 1944 he was returned to the unit from the replacement depot.  SGT Kelly was killed in action on 7 Oct 1944.

SGT Kelly is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.