PFC Ervin Heckman Wright

PFC Ervin Heckman Wright was born 21 Oct 1914 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He was the eldest and only son of the 4 children born to William Wilkins and Lottie Odell (Jones) Wright. His father farmed to support his family. Ervin's youngest sister was born and died in 1922. His mother suffered a stroke and died at the age of 29 in January 1924. Ervin's father married Lottie's older sister, Jennie Cates (Jones) Edwards about 1926 and the couple had another son. Ervin's education ended about the 8th grade and he went to work farming for others and working in the lumber industry then the Brunswick County highway department. 

Ervin was drafted in May 1941. He had his basic military training at Fort George Meade, Maryland and was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before shipping out with the unit for England in September 1942. In England he trained with the unit for the planned amphibious assault that was part of the invasion of occupied France. He was with the unit when it landed at Vierville-sur-mer, France and was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944. 

PFC Wright was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Jones-Wright Cemetery in Brunswick County, Virginia. 

While his name is recorded some places as Erwin it is an apparent misspelling as his name is given as "Ervin" on all documents except on his internment request where the misspelling was corrected in pencil.

Ervin served in A Company with his distant cousin, CPL Atlas Elwood Wright, who was also killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT James Alfred Hayes Jr.

courtesy of Bessie Savery

PVT James Alfred Hayes Jr. was born in 1922 in the Bronx, New York to James Alfred and Rosalie L. Hayes.  His father was a lawyer with a reported 1939 income of $2900. James Jr. worked as a typesetter.

James was still living in Westchester County when he was drafted in June 1943.  After his training he was sent to England and assigned to H Company 116th Infantry for the amphibious assault which took place at the French beach code-named "Omaha".  PVT Hayes was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Hayes is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

PVT James Alfred Mullen

PVT James Alfred Mullen was born in 1919 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was the oldest of 3 children born to Alfred J. and Eleanor M. (Noonan) Mullen. His father worked as a street car operator but died in 1937. This placed the family in dire straits and Eleanor went to work as an examiner (quality control inspector) in a stocking mill reporting a 1939 income of $180 while James was driving a truck for a quarry. But he only reported a 1939 income of $15. His brother was also working and reported a 1939 income of $120. That would have been $315 for the entire family that paid $192 for a year's rent of their apartment at 219 Main Street in Leicester, Massachusetts. However, James had managed to complete high school.

James was drafted in February 1942. After completing his training as a medic he was sent to England and assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry and was then attached to A Company 116th Infantry for the amphibious landings that were to take place on 6 Jun 1944. PVT Mullen was killed in action on that day.

PVT Mullen was repatriated and re-interred in Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Leicester, Massachusetts where he will rest forever with his family.

TSGT Sheppard John Wohlford

TSGT Sheppard John Wohlford was born in Bland County, Virginia in or near the town of Mechanicsburg on 17 Aug 1917. Named "John Sheppard Wohlford" on his birth certificate he probably went by Sheppard all his life to distinguish him from his father which is how he came to enlist by that name. Sheppard was the 3rd of the 4 children born to John Samuel and Nannie May (Sheppard) Wohlford. His father owned a farm along Walker Creek Valley Road in Bland County which he farmed before selling and moving to Pulaski county where he rented a farm in the Newbern district. The family moved to Frederick county, Virginia in 1932 where his mother bought a home valued at $6000. Sheppard graduated from Handley High School in 1937 and began working. His father died in 1934 of thyroid cancer. By 1940 his older brother managed a feed mill, his older sister worked as a stenographer and Sheppard was a clerk at the A&P store in Winchester, Virginia. His younger sister worked as a technician in the local hospital. So the children worked to support their mother earning a combined income reported as $2800 for 1939. 

Sheppard enlisted in the local National Guard unit, I Company 116th Infantry and rose to the rank of PFC which is the rank he held on 3 Feb 1941 when the unit was federalized, supposedly for 1 year. The whole regiment was sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland for processing and training. During that time it was often possible for soldiers to get passes or leave to go home. The unit then participated in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and in training at Camp Blanding, Florida. Sheppard then sailed to England with his regiment in September 1942. Once in England he trained with the unit for the planned amphibious assault that was to be a major part of the liberation of northern occupied  France. It was during this time period that he rose to the rank of TSGT, a platoon sergeant of one of the infantry platoons in I Company. Sheppard was leading his platoon when they crossed the beach on the morning of 6 Jun 1944. His group was taking fire from a sniper and he moved with SGT Douglas Ordorff moved to eliminate the threat. The pair were about 75 yards off the beach when TSGT Wohlford was killed. 

TSGT Wohlford is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

Grandfather, George C. Wohlford, served as First Lieutenant in F Company 45th Virginia Infantry (CSA) in the Civil War.

SSG Bernard Eugene Kirkendall

SSG Bernard Eugene Kirkendall was born 15 Sep 1919 in Danville, Pennsylvania to Daniel Lafayette and Bessie Edna (Kocher) Kirkendall.  His father was a barber in Danville for many years. In 1940, Bernard was working as a laborer and reported a 1939 income of $620.

Bernard was drafted in February 1942. After his initial training he was sent to England.  Bernard was assigned to and trained with Headquarters 1st Battalion 116th Infantry for the amphibious assault that was to take place on the French beaches in Normandy.  He was acting as chief radio operator for the battalion when killed in action in that effort on 6 Jun 1944.

SSG Kirkendall was repatriated and is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Danville, Pennsylvania.

PVT Richard Powhatan Hall

courtesy of Mary DeLara

PVT Richard Powhatan Hall was born 16 Oct 1917 in Proffitt, Virginia to Alvin Richard and Susan Antoinette (Bourne) Hall.  The family farmed and his father worked as a carpenter.  In 1940 Richard was working at a service station. 

Richard was drafted in May 1941 and was still working at a service station.  He married Anna Stuart Fitzhugh on 19 Jul 1941 in Stanardsville, Virginia.  His training completed he was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry and shipped with that unit to England in September 1942.  While in England he trained for the amphibious assault that was to take place on the French beaches in Normandy.  It was in that assault on 6 Jun 1944 that he was killed in action.

PVT Hall is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. Anna remarried.  Richard's only brother, Hanford Bourne Hall, served from 1944 to 1946. 

PVT Clifford Corvan Overman

courtesy of Michael Beach

PVT Clifford Corvan Overman was born 27 Jan 1925 in Tiawah, Oklahoma. Clifford was the 2nd of the 5 children born to William Eli and Bessie M. (Deckard) Overman. His father was farming in 1940 and paid a rent of $4 a month on their home in Brewer, Oklahoma.

Clifford was probably drafted in 1942 but we do not know when he was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry or sent to England where he trained with that unit for the amphibious assault that would take place at Omaha Beach on the coast of France. PVT Overman was killed in action participating in that assault on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Overman rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

SSG Hogan M. Johnston

courtesy of Dominique Potier

SSG Hogan M. Johnston was born 9 May 1916 in White Oak, North Carolina to William Joseph and Annie Sarah (Melville) Johnston. The family farmed.

Hogan was drafted in May 1941. After training he was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry but whether it was before or after the unit shipped to England in September 1942 is unknown at this time.  However he clearly trained with the regiment for the D-Day amphibious assault on the Normandy beach code-named "Omaha".  SSG Johnston  was killed there on 6 Jun 1944.

SSG Johnston is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

SSG Lawrence Albert Martin

courtesy of Mike and Bushy Hartman

SSG Lawrence Albert Martin was born 15 May 1919 in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.  He was the 7th of 8 children, of whom only 2 were girls, born to Joseph Michael and Irma Veronica (Chinchilla) Martin.  His father was a native of Slovakia and worked as a pipe-fitter. Lawrence was working in a steel mill in 1940.

Lawrence was drafted in May 1941.  After his basic training he was likely assigned to  D Company 116th Infantry, perhaps before they left Camp Meade, Maryland for Camp Blanding, Florida.  Promoted to SSG, Lawrence had likely demonstrated competence and leadership ability during the train-up for the amphibious assault on the French coast. SSG Lawrence was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

SSG Lawrence rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

3 of Lawrence's brothers also served in the war. Andrew Albert Martin, served from 1942 to 1945. Frank Thomas Martin also served, 1942-1946. Regis Richard Martin served 1943-1946.

PFC Dennis James Wiley

PFC Dennis James Wiley was born 2 Jul 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd of 6 children born to Thomas and Winifred (McGee) Wiley. His mother was a native of Ireland as were all his grandparents. His father had worked as a farmhand and as a city employee he maintained the streets in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, Thomas suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 60 in March 1925. Dennis' older siblings supported the family but his formal education did not extend past the 8th grade. Dennis went to work becoming a machinist working for Erie Truck Parts at M and Erie Avenue in Philadelphia. 

Dennis was drafted in April 1941. In accordance with the policy at the time he was likely sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland where he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry where he served as a driver. PVT Wiley would have trained with the unit there and at Fort Bragg, South Carolina and Camp Blanding, Florida before going to England with the unit in September 1942. The entire regiment trained there for the amphibious landing planned as a part of the liberation of occupied France. PFC Wiley was with his unit in the landing on 6 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action. 

PFC Wiley's body was not recovered and he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery. 

All 4 of Thomas and Winifred's sons served during WW2.

1LT Thomas Royce Dallas Jr

1LT Thomas Royce Dallas Jr, b. 24 Jun 1920 - d. 6 Jun 1944. Son of Thomas Royce and Marietta Augusta (Lucas) Royce of Griffin, Georgia. Thomas was a member of the Georgia National Guard when the unit was federalized in 1941, he attended OCS at FT Benning and was ultimately assigned to C Company 116th Infantry. Thomas (not related to battalion executive officer MAJ Thomas Spencer Dallas) was with C Company for the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. According to eyewitness reports, 1LT Dallas was in CPT Zappacosta's boat jumped from the boat and made it to the edge of the sand where he was shot dead.  He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin, Georgia.

PVT Charlie Harvey Wilson

courtesy of Margaret Gagliardi

PVT Charlie Harvey Wilson was born 28 Jul 1912 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. He was the 2nd of George Thomas and Pattie Francis (Ellington) Wilson's 6 sons. The family farmed on their farm along Trottinridge Road near the intersection with Bluestone Drive in Mecklenburg County. Charlie completed high school and then also farmed for himself.

Charlie was already enlisted in the local Virginia National Guard unit, E Company 116th Infantry when the unit was mobilized on 3 Feb 1941 and he trained with the unit as it prepared for combat in Europe. PVT Wilson was with the unit at Fort George Meade, Maryland, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Camp Blanding, Florida and when E Company sailed for England in September 1942. When in England he then participated in the intense training, including training in amphibious operations, as the unit prepared for the invasion of Nazi occupied France. PVT Wilson was with E Company on D-Day and was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Wilson was repatriated in 1947 and re-interred with his family in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Chase City, Virginia.

3 of Charlie's brothers also served in the war. Albert Leo Wilson served as a PVT until discharged in 1941. Thomas Cleat Wilson, served as a PFC in the U.S. Army 1940-1944. Ollie Jackson Wilson served in the U.S. Navy 1942-1945.

SSG Daniel Paul Womack

 

SSG Daniel Paul Womack was born 30 Jun 1922 in Carter County, Kentucky. He was the 3rd child and eldest surviving son of Howard Earl and Anna Catherine (Tilghman) Womack. His father first farmed in Carter County and then moved his family to Lynchburg, Virginia where he worked in the paper mill and they lived in a house at 414 Ninth Street. Howard bought a home at 412 Walnut Street before 1935 which was valued at $1200 in 1940. Daniel had only completed 2-years of high school before he entered the work force, first in a shoe factory and in 1940 was working as manager of the local Western Union office. 

Daniel probably enlisted in B Company 116th Infantry because membership in the local national guard unit brought in added income. He was still a PVT when the unit was federalized in February 1941. He then trained with the unit at Fort George Meade, Maryland, in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg and at Camp Blanding, Florida before going to England with the unit in September 1942. Once in England he then trained with the unit for the planned amphibious assault that was to be a part of the effort to liberate Nazi occupied France. In that time, PVT Womack was promoted to SSG and that was the rank he held on 6 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action in the amphibious assault at Omaha Beach. 

SSG Womack rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

Daniel's brothers, William Douglas Womack and Clarence Estill Womack both served in the U.S. Navy during WW2. William as a EM1c aboard the USS Sciota (ATA-205) and Clarence as a GM3c aboard the USS Westmoreland (APA-104).

PFC Joe Will Pullen

courtesy of Bobby C.

PFC Joe Will Pullen was born 20 May 1912 in Boaz, Alabama. His given name at birth was probably "Joseph William" but he later would enter the army as "Joe Will". He was the 6th of the 10 children born to Joseph Allen and Elizabeth Gertrude Pullen. His father farmed.

Joe was drafted in December 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He trained with that unit for the planned amphibious assault that was to be part of the invasion of occupied France. It was while participating in that assault that PFC Pullen was shot in head and killed in action during the landing on 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Pullen was repatriated and re-interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.

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.

1LT Merle T Cummings

1LT Merle T Cummings, b. 1921 - d. 6 Jun 1944. Son of Sherod McClure and Ethel Vanetta (Wilson) of Paris, Illinois. Merle was a Sergeant in the Illinois National Guard on mobilization in 1941. By D-Day he was a First Lieutenant in D Company 116th Infantry. 1LT Cummings was survived by his parents and sister, Georgia Lucille (Cummings) Houk. Sadly, we do not know where he is buried and he may be one whose body was never recovered. This photo is from a 1938 high school annual.

SGT Joseph A. Felix

courtesy of FrogMan

SGT Joseph A. Felix was born 24 Oct 1910 in Erie, Pennsylvania to George Eugene and Rose (Krader) Felix.  His father worked as a machinist.  He died in 1931.  In 1930, Joseph was working as a laborer in an iron foundry.  Joseph reported a 1939 income of $1460. 

Joseph was drafted in June 1941.  On 20 Aug 1942 he married Virginia Mae Dawes.  Sent overseas soon thereafter, he was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry and trained with them to prepare for the planned amphibious assault on Hitler's "fortress Europe".  As it turned out that took place on 6 Jun 1944 on which day SGT Felix was killed in action being struck in the head by fragments from an artillery shell. 

SGT Felix is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

2LT Herman G Hilscher

2LT Herman G Hilscher, b. 10 Oct 1918 - d. 6 Jun 1944, son of Joseph A and Louise (Ganzert) Hilscher. His father was a veteran of the Spanish American War and his brother Raymond was a Seaman 2nd Class serving in the Navy. We don't often find newspaper articles on our soldiers but of those we do find, this is pretty typical. 2LT Hilscher was serving with F Company 116th on D-Day and he rests at the the Normandy American Cemetery.

SGT Warner Hamlett described 2LT Hilscher's last moments:

As I was going straight towards the beach, I saw Lieutenant Hilscher go down on his knees as a shell exploded. He fell into the hole caused by the explosion. He died there on the beach.…

PVT George Robert Losey

PVT George Robert Losey was born 7 Oct 1924 in Ogdensburg, New York teh fourth of eight children of Arnold Deforrest and Lena May (LaMay) Losey. His parents had moved to St. Lawrence County, New York from Ontario, Canada. The family farmed. George's mother died in 1932. On 19 Jan 1942 he married Margaret Ida McDonald in Ogdensburg. George worked as a farm hand.

George was drafted in May 1943. After completing basic training he was sent to England and assigned to C Company 116th Infantry.  Margaret enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in April 1944. He was with the unit for the amphibious invasion of occupied France and was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Losey was repatriated and re-interred in the the Ogdensburg Cemetery in Ogdensburg, New York.  Margaret re-married and was honorably discharged as a PFC. The couple had no children.

Brother, Walter A. Losey, served in the Army 1944-1946. Brother Fred Losey served from 1948 to 1957.

PFC William Tolbert Boyd

PFC William Tolbert Boyd was born 14 Mar 1915 in Buchanan, Virginia to Patton Lockheart and Amy Isabelle (Charles) Boyd, the 11th of 13 children. The family farmed.  One sister died 9 years before William was born his younger brother died at birth.  His father died in 1934 and his mother died in 1943 as did a sister. 

When William was drafted in April 1941 he was working as a miner in Russell County, Virginia.  He was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry, sent to England to prepare for the cross-channel invasion of "fortress Europe".  In that amphibious assault, PFC Boyd was killed on 6 Jun 1944. 

PFC Boyd was repatriated and is buried in the Patton Boyd Cemetery on the family home place in Russell County, Virginia.

PVT Robert L. Dittmar

PVT Robert L. Dittmar was born 22 Mar 1925.  From Fairfield, Connecticutt, we've yet to find any family information.

After Robert entered the service he was sent overseas and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with and landed with that unit on D-Day.  He was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944, dying on the beach.  His death was witnessed by Hal Baumgarten.

PVT Dittmar was repatriated and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 

PFC David S. Shapiro

courtesy of Gene Dershewitz

PFC David S. Shapiro was born 31 Jan 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. We believe his parents were Hyman (Chaim) and Minnie (Minsky) Shapiro and that his father was a tailor. Both parents and an older brother were natives of Russia or what is Poland today, most likely in the Pale and had immigrated about 1911-1915. We think that the family moved to Los Angeles, California about 1940-1941. David stayed in Chicago and worked for the U.S. Treasury Department.

David was drafted while living in Illinois in December 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to F Company 116th Infantry. He would not have had much training  before he departed England with his unit for the amphibious assault on the beach code-named Omaha. He was killed in action in that assault on 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Shapiro was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

It is possible that it was his sister Bertha Shapiro who enlisted in the Women's Army Corps from Los Angeles in September 1944. His mother was living at 2828 12th Avenue in Los Angeles in 1948.

PFC Charles Frances Edgar

courtesy of Bessie Savery

PFC Charles Frances Edgar was born 1915 in Newark, New Jersey to Charles Butler and Anne Frances (Meeker) Edgar.  His father drove for a laundry.  In 1940, Charles was also driving but for a bakery.

Charles was still working as a driver and was married when he was drafted in May 1942.  After training, Charles was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry and trained with the unit in preparation for the great amphibious landing on the beaches of Normandy.  PFC Edgar was killed in action on that day, 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Edgar is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

PFC Leo Casimer Balon

PFC Leo Casimer Balon was born 1 Jul 1924 in Buffalo, New York. He was the 6th of 9 children born to Anthony and Stephania (Czarnecki) Balon. Leo's parents were both 1st generation Americans whose parents had immigrated from Poland. His father worked for the New York Central Rail Road and owned the family home at 102 Shepard Street in Buffalo which was valued at $6000 in 1930 but the family moved before 1940 and were renting a place at 66 Mary Street. Leo did not progress beyond the 8th grade and  he went to work for Buffalo Forge Company.

Leo was drafted in February 1943. After completing about 5-months of basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He then trained with the unit to prepare for the amphibious attack on the beaches of Nazi occupied France. He was with the unit on 6 Jun 1944 when the assault took place and was killed in action on that day.

SGT Balon was ultimately interred in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

Leo's older brothers, John Leo and Chester Bernard Balon also served during the war.

TSGT Elvin Tremain Estes

TSGT Elvin Tremain Estes was born 14 Sep 1912 in Halifax County, Virginia to Henry Lee and Lena (Wallace) Estes.  Henry supported 10 people by farming with assistance from one son who worked as a weaver in a local factory.  In 1940, Elvin was also working as a weaver.

Elvin was a PVT in the South Boston National Guard infantry unit when it was federalized in February 1941.  A member of F Company 116th Infantry, Elvin rose in rank as the unit prepared for the invasion of "fortress Europe".  He was killed in action during the landing on 6 Jun 1944.

He was returned to the U.S. and is now buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston, Virginia.