SGT John Chris Kardos

SGT John Chris Kardos was born 23 Jul 1923 in Charlottesville, Virginia to Nick and may Edna (Brooks) Kardos. His father was born in Greece and repaired shoes to support his family.

John was serving as a PVT in the Charlottesville National Guard company in February 1941 when the unit was federalized.  As a member of K Company 116th Infantry, he went through all the training with the regiment at Fort Meade, Maryland and Camp Blanding, Florida before shipping out with his unit for England in September 1942.  John then underwent all the training in preparation for the amphibious assault on Hitler's "fortress Europe". He did land with the unit and fought with K Company until 5 Jul 1944 when he was wounded in the thigh by fragments from a hand grenade and evacuated to hospital. He returned to the unit from the hospital on 14 Jul 1944. PFC Kardos was promoted to SGT on 1 Aug 1944. On 2 Aug 1944, SGT Kardos was wounded in action and again evacuated to the hospital.  SGT Kardos died of his wound(s) on 3 Aug 1944. 

SGT Kardos was repatriated and is buried with many family members in Riverview Cemetery in Charlottesville, Virginia.

His father was a veteran serving as a PFC in K Company, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division and had been awarded the Purple Heart with 2 oak leaf clusters (i.e. he was wounded 3 times). His brother, Gus Edward Kardos served in the Army from 1942 to 1945.  His brother James Nick Kardos served in I Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, U.S.M.C. in the South Pacific rising to the rank of SGT by the end of his service (1942-1950). James' son, James Marion Kardos served in the U.S. Army as a PFC and was killed in action 4 Sep 1969 in Quang Ngai, Vietnam.

PFC Willis Raymond Capen

PFC Willis Raymond Capen was born 28 Apr 1922 in Sacramento County to Willis Merritt and Leta Luella (Caples) Capen. The senior Willis was a truck driver.  In 1940 young Willis was keeping attendance and had earned $40 for all of 1939.  By the time he was drafted in October 1942 he had completed 2 years of college and was apparently working as a driver as well. It was apparently when he knew that he'd be drafted that he married Arlene Juanita Richardson on 21 Oct 1942. The couple would have no children.

After his training Willis was shipped overseas.  We don't yet know what he was doing earlier but he was assigned to E Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jul 1944. 

A quick note here, many times soldiers who were wounded and hospitalized would be moved from the hospital to the replacement depot and go to fill the first personnel request regardless of unit.  A soldier who had gone to hospital multiple times could conceivably go to a new unit each time.  We are only looking at the 116th's morning reports to see what/when/where/why soldiers were being processed.  We don't have a means to follow a soldier through multiple units unless they are all in the 116th. 

PFC Capen was seriously wounded when shot in the abdomen on 30 Jul 1944 and he was evacuated to hospital.  Despite surgery he died of his wounds on 3 Aug 1944.  

In 1948 his body was returned to the U.S. and he is now buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

Although Arlene had remarried and had 7 children with her second husband before they divorced, her ashes were interred with Willis upon her death at age 95 in 2018.

PVT Edmund Robchewski

PVT Edmund Robchewski was born 7 Jul 1924 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd of 4 children born to Harry Phillip and Anna (Pordon) Robchewski. His father was a native of Lipoveskchowizda, Poland who had immigrated in 1899 and worked for the Lackawanna Railroad. By 1930 he owned the family home at 517 North Bromley Avenue in Scranton which was valued at $10,000 in 1930 but only $5000 by 1940 due to the effects of the depression on property values. The family attended the Stanislaus Polish National Church. Edmund graduated from West Scranton High School and then went to work for the Lackawanna Railroad Shops.

Edmund was drafted in September 1943 and sent to Europe 8 months later after completing training at Camp Croft, South Carolina. He was transferred to I Company 116th Infantry on 16 Jul 1944. Just 6 days later he was wounded near Saint Lo, France and evacuated to hospital where he was for 2 weeks before dying on 3 Aug 1944.

PVT Robchewski was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Saint Stanislaus Cathedral PNCC Cemetery in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

PVT Ernest William LaBarge

PVT Ernest William LaBarge was born 2 Dec 1912 in Ware, Massachusetts to Edward John and Edith Mae (Germaine) LaBarge. His father worked in a furniture store even after the family moved to Detroit. Ernest married Vera Caroline Schultz on 13 Oct 1934.  They would have a daughter in 1936.  In 1940, they were living with Vera's parents, Ernest was working as a "checker" for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Vera was working in a glove factory.  They reported an income for 1939 of $880.

Ernest was drafted in November 1943 completed basic training and was sent to Europe where he was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944.  He died of wounds on 3 Aug 1944.  There is a note that his initial wounds were not reported. 

PVT LaBarge was repatriated in 1949 and was buried in Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak, Michigan.

His brothers, Eugene Francis LaBarge and Edward John LaBarge Jr, served in the Navy.

PVT Generose Joseph Della Sala

PVT Generose Joseph Della Sala was born 7 Nov1917 in Brooklyn, New York.  He was the second of the nine children born to Mario and Sosie Della Sala. Both of his parents (and his older brother) were natives of Avelino, Italy and had immigrated in 1916. Mario supported his family by working a number of jobs.

Drafted in January 1942 Generose was sent to the European theater after completing his 5 months of basic military training and assigned to I Company 116th Infantry, he trained for the invasion of "fortress Europe" with that unit and made the amphibious assault with that unit.  Wounded on 17 Jun 1944, he was evacuated to the hospital.  On 25 Jul 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot back to the unit.  On 29 Jul 1944 he was wounded again and again evacuated to hospital. He died of his wounds on 3 Aug 1944.

PVT James Clinton Sanders

courtesy of CynC

PVT James Clinton Sanders was born 2 May 1920 in Hill County, Texas. He was the 4th of the 8 children born to James Monroe and Ella Clementine (Stephens) Sanders. His father worked as a hired hand for other people on their farms. Sister, Esther Mae Sanders, was burned to death in 1936 while using gasoline as a cleaning solvent. His father died in 1938. In 1940, James was himself working as a hired hand reporting a 1939 income of $100.

James was probably drafted in the fall of 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. PVT Sanders was killed in action on 3 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PVT Sanders was repatriated and re-interred in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Brothers, Boley, Carven and Hoover also served in the U.S. Army. Great-grandfather, Duncan Fountain Simmons, served as a CPL in F Company 22nd Texas Infantry (CSA) in the Civil War.

PVT Arnold Carleton Over

PVT Arnold Carleton Over was born 2 Apr 1925 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd of 5 children and the youngest of 2 sons born to Arnold Luke and Julia Rebecca (Barley) Over. His father worked for a railroad repairing cars in its repair shop. The elder Arnold earned $800 as an inspector in 1939 but the family owned their home on a rural route near Taylor, Pennsylvania which was valued at $2500. Carleton, as he was called by his family, was not recorded as working in the 1940 census.

The younger Arnold was drafted in June 1943. After undergoing his basic combat training, PVT Over was sent to the European theater in June 1944. PVT Over was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 15 Jul 1944. He fought with that unit as a rifleman until killed in action on 3 Aug 1944.

PVT Over was repatriated in 1948 aboard the USAT Eric T. Gibson and re-interred in the Fairview Cemetery in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.

Arnold's older brother, Jeremiah Richard Over, served from 1942 to 1945.

CPL Lynn Brunson Bailey

CPL Lynn Brunson Bailey was born 26 Oct 1911 in Bloomington, Wisconsin.  He was the fith of the xis children of Lee Brunson and Isa May Bailey. His father farmed in Grant County, Wisconsin. Lynn was working as a salesman for a bakery in Madison, Wisconsin. He married Ann Thingstad in September 1941 and the couple welcomed a daughter in December 1942.

After he entered service he was trained as a medic and assigned to the 104th Medical Battalion and then to the Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 3 Jul 1944.  He was attached to Headquarters 1st Battalion 116th Infantry at that time. He was relieved of attachment and returned to the Medical Detachment on 25 Jul 1944.  On 29 Jul 1944 Lynn was promoted to CPL.  CPL Bailey was killed in action on 3 Aug 1944.

CPL Bailey is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.  Ann did not remarry until 1949. 

PFC Robert Elvis McCubbin

PFC Robert Elvis McCubbin was born 28 Oct 1911 in Hart County, Kentucky. He was the 3rd of 5 children born to James Emmett and Ella (Fults) McCubbin. The family name is sometimes spelled "McCubbins" and his mother's family name was likely originally "Fulks". The family would move to Louisville, Kentucky by 1927. His father farmed in Hart County, worked in a hardware warehouse and was an elevator operator after moving to Louisville. In 1930, Elvis (as he was apparently known in the family) was working as an usher in a theater and in 1940 as a "floor boy" in a parking garage reporting a 1939 income of $725. He was still living with his family at that time.

Elvis was drafted in June 1943. After basic training he was sent to England and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  Despite the intense training schedule he apparently found time to meet Constance Margaret James from Cardiff, Wales. PFC McCubbin participated in the D-Day landing on 6 Jun 1944 and fought with the unit until killed in action on 3 Aug 1944.

PFC McCubbin was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in the Evergreen Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

PFC Richard Duke Smith

PFC Richard Duke Smith was born 26 Sep 1924 in New York, New York. He was the youngest child and only son of the 4 children born to Cyril Hylton and Hilda Frederica (Messado) Smith. His parents and oldest sister had immigrated from Jamaica in 1918. His father was an accountant who worked for various companies earning a reported 1939 income of $4000. The family lived in an apartment at 810 Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn in 1940 for which they paid $60 a month rent. Richard was still a student when he registered for the draft in 1942.

Richard was drafted in July 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to England but was not assigned to G Company 116th Infantry until 22 Jul 1944 when he was transferred from the replacement depot to the unit. Serving as a rifleman, he fought with the unit until 30 Jul 1944 when he was wounded and evacuated to hospital. PFC Smith died of his wound(s) on 3 Aug 1944, in France.

PFC Smith was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.

Richard's mother died in Bronxville, New York in 1995 at the age of 104.

PFC Harry Lamont Baughman

PFC Harry Lamont Baughman born 6 Feb 1919 in Fairfax County, Virginia to Harry Clarke and Albertine Emily (Bancroft) Baughman. The 3rd of 6 children, he undoubtedly helped on the family farm before working as a carpenter (most likely with his father) in the years before the war. 

Harry was drafted in April 1941.  Assigned to Anti-tank Company 116th Infantry he landed with the regiment on D-Day, fought in Normandy and was killed in action in the attack on Vire on 2 Aug 1944.  He rests overseas in the Brittany American Cemetery. 

PVT Stephen Rigo

PVT Stephen Rigo was born 5 Jan 1918 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the youngest of the 7 children of Michael and Bertha (Korba) Rigo. His father worked as a repairman and in a steel mill. In 1940 they were living at 4520 Jewett Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. While Stephen was noted as a "new worker" on the 1940 census, he was working as an electrician by 1942.

Stephen was drafted in September 1942 but apparently didn't arrive in the European theater before May or June 1944. PVT Rigo was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 20 Jul 1944. He was killed in action on 2 Aug 1944 as the unit moved towards Vire, France.

PVT Rigo is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery.

PVT Perry Gene Dougan

PVT Perry Gene Dougan was born in 1925 to Carl and Ethel Dougan.

Perry was drafted in September 1943.  Perry was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 23 Jul 1944.  The morning report shows PVT Dougan as killed in action on 1 Aug but later official documents give his date of death as 2 Aug 1944. There are often such "discrepancies" due to the confusion that exists in that combat environment. 

PVT Dougan is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. 

PFC George Paul Conway

PFC George Paul Conway, b. 14 Sep 1922 - d. 2 Aug 1944. Son of Charles George and Mary Elizabeth (Foy) Conway of Roanoke, VA and husband of Mary Katherine Waldis of Princeton, WV. PFC Conway was serving with Anti-tank Company 116th Infantry when he was killed. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

PVT Clyde Owen Gero

PVT Clyde Owen Gero was born 10 May 1922 in Vienna, Michigan to George Alexander and Margaret Etta (Gibbs) Gero. His father worked as an excavator.

After he had entered the service, Clyde was sent to Europe and on 19 Jun 1944.  PVT Gero was killed in action on 2 Aug 1944.

PVT Gero was repatriated in 1948 and is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

PFC Willie Robert Harrold

courtesy of Carol J. Kennedy

PFC Willie Robert Harrold was born 30 Aug 1922 in Hays, North Carolina. He was the oldest of the 9 children of James Alvin and Mattie Ethel (Hays) Harrold. His father worked as a carpenter and the family went where the work was. In 1930 they were living on Rolfe Creek Road in Northfork, West Virginia. 

Willie was drafted in October 1942. He first went to Camp Croft, South Carolina, completed his basic military training and married Reba June Myers also from Hays in March 1943. He was sent to England soon after that. PFC Harrold was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry 4 Jul 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He then fought with the unit as the division struggled to capture Saint-Lo, France. He was wounded on 12 Jul 1944 and evacuated to a field hospital. He died of his wound(s) on 2 Aug 1944. 

PFC Harrold was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Hays, North Carolina.

Great, great grandfather PVT Christian Roope of F Company 52nd North Carolina Infantry was killed in action at Petersburg, Virginia.

PFC James Francis Sheehan

courtesy of Frogman

PFC James Francis Sheehan was born 4 Feb 1923 in County Cavan, Ireland. He was the 4th of the 6 children of Edward P.  and Margaret (McGovern) Sheehan. Just 5-months after his birth his family emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. His father worked as a hired hand on a farm and was later able to purchase a home at 54 School Street in Shrewsbury. The house was valued at $2000 in 1940. Members of the family lived there and elsewhere along School Street for many years.

James was drafted in January 1943 and went from Fort Devens, Massachusetts to Camp Croft, South Carolina for training. It was at Camp Croft that PVT Sheehan chose to become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. on 3 Apr 1943. After his training was completed, PVT Sheehan was sent to England and assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for and participated in the amphibious assault on the Normandy Beaches and fought with the unit through the bocage, Saint-Lo and to the outskirts of Vire, France. It was there that he was killed in action on 2 Aug 1944.

PFC Sheehan rests with many other soldiers from the 116th in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Younger brother, Edward P. Sheehan Jr, served in the U.S. Army, 1943-1945.

PVT RIchard Jacob Black

PVT Richard Jacob Black was born 24 Oct 1924 in Glendale Springs, North Carolina to Walter and Edna (Huffman) Black.  Richard was first-born and had 4 younger siblings. The made their living on the family farm. 

Richard entered service on 1 Jun 1943.  On 14 Jul 1944 PVT Black was assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry.  The morning report apparently doesn't record the date of attachment but he was apparently assigned to/attached to M Company 116th Infantry on 2 Aug 1944 when he was killed.

PVT Black is buried in the Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina. 

PFC Albert Bronkhorst

PFC Albert Bronkhorst was born 6 Jun 1923 in Allegan County, Michigan to John H. and Jennie (Eisen) Bronkhorst. father John farmed. John died in 1939.  In 1940, Albert was farming on his mother's farm.

Albert was drafted in March 1943.  Sent overseas, he was transferred from the replacement depot to D Company 116th Infantry on 7 Jul 1944.  He was wounded on 30 Jul 1944, evacuated to the hospital and died there on 1 Aug 1944.

PFC Bronkhorst was repatriated in 1949 and is buried in the Overisel Cemetery in Overisel, Michigan.

TSGT Hu Benjamin Mahood

TSGT Hu Benjamin Mahood was born 1 May 1922 in Greensville County, Virginia. He was the oldest of 3 children and only son born to Benjamin Worrell and Hattie Inez (Camp) Mahood. His father worked as an auto mechanic and later as policeman in Emporia, Virginia for which he made $900 in 1939. Hu (pronounced the same as "Hugh") was working as a service station attendant in 1940.

Hu was a PVT in the Virginia National Guard unit in Emporia when the unit was federalized on 3 Feb 1941, Assigned to M Company 116th Infantry.  He trained with the unit for the amphibious landing which took place on 6 Jun 1944. After the D-Day landings he fought with M Company. Hu was promoted to SSG on 20 Jun 1944 and to TSGT on 21 Jun 1944. TSGT Mahood was killed in action on 1 Aug 1944 during the thrust towards Vire, France.

TSGT Mahood was repatriated and now rests forever in the Emporia Cemetery in Emporia, Virginia.

Hu's father Benjamin Worrell Mahood served with Supply Company 111th Field Artillery in France during the first World War. Grandfather, William Hugh Booth Mahood, served as a PVT in E and K Company 12th Virginia Infantry and in 12 Battalion Light Artillery (CSA) and reportedly in the Confederate secret service. Grandfather, Amos Stephenson Pope, was a PVT in the G Company 3rd Virginia Infantry (CSA) and captured at Five Forks. Grandfather, George Thomas Camp served as a PVT in H Company 5th Virginia Cavalry and in the 4th Virginia Cavalry (CSA). Great-grandfather, James Edward Sebrell, served as Sergeant Major of the 18th Virginia Heavy Artillery Battalion (CSA).

SSG Andrew Vincent Huzil

SSG Andrew Vincent Huzil was born 25 Dec 1919 in Labrador, Canada to Panko "Frank" and Wladyslawa "Laura" (Mysliewicz) Huzil. His parents were from Poland/Galacia.  They had first emigrated to Canada where they lived for several years before moving to the United States.

Andrew was living in Hudson County, New Jersey and working in the manufacture of radios or phonographs when he was drafted in April 1942.  After his initial training he was sent to England and assigned to L Company 116th Infantry.  He was with the unit for the D-Day amphibious assault at Omaha Beach.  On 20 Jun 1944 he was promoted from PFC to SGT.  On 17 Jul 1944 he was wounded in the right hand by shrapnel from a hand grenade but remained on duty.  Andrew was promoted again, this time to SSG, on 27 Jul 1944.  He as wounded again by shrapnel on 31 Jul 1944, this time in the right leg. SSG Huzil was killed in action on 1 Aug 1944.

SSG Huzil was not repatriated until 1952.  He is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, New Jersey.  

PVT Alfred Daniel McElhannon Jr.

PVT Alfred Daniel McElhannon Jr. was born 27 Jun 1921 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the 6th of 7 children born to Alfred Daniel and Icy Melissa (Westmoreland) McElhannon. His father worked as a mechanic in a cotton mill. Alfred Sr. traveled to Birmingham, Alabama for work where he died in 1934. By 1940 it was Alfred Jr. who was supporting his mother and younger brother by working in a cotton mill in Randleman, North Carolina.

When Alfred registered for the draft in 1942 he was working for Leward Cotton Mills in Worthville, North Carolina. Alfred was drafted in April 1943. After his initial training he was sent to the European theater and on 27 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry. He fought with that unit until killed in action on 1 Aug 1944.

PVT McElhannon was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Several of Alfred's brothers also served. Harry Gilbert McElhannon and Nesbit Washington McElhannon served in the Army and Robert Barto McElhannon served in the Navy.

PVT Billie Robert Springer

courtesy of Frogman

PVT Billie Robert Springer was born 10 May 1919 in Missoula, Montana. He was the only child of Clayton Harry and Clara Luella (Caston) Springer. His parents divorced in 1930 and his mother re-married. His father worked for local farmers. Billie moved to California and found work as a cook.

Billie voluntarily enlisted in December 1941. He married Omar Beatrice Chenault in August 1942 in Corinth, Mississippi. PVT Springer was sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He then served with C Company as a rifleman until he was shot and killed in action on 1 Aug 1944.

PVT Springer is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Omar never remarried and the couple never had children. Maternal half-great uncle, William Henry Bair, served in H Company 116th Infantry in WWI. 3 of Billie's great-grandfathers served in the US Army during the Civil  War. Jacob S. Ohl served as a PVT in D Battery 1st Ohio Light Artillery (USA), Hiram Caston, served as a PVT in E Company, 42nd Illinois Infantry (USA) and James William Springer served as a PVT in F Company 152nd Indiana Infantry.

Billie's father created a rather unique memorial to his son. As early as 1945 he deeded 160 "timbered" acres to VFW post 1430 to create the Billie Springer Memorial Park near Sula, Montana. While the conditions for occupation have changed slightly over the years, the park exists for the benefit of U.S. veterans.

PFC Albert Edward Oros

PFC Albert Edward Oros was born 22 Dec 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the 5th of 8 children born to Albert Louis and Mabel Mary (Shaw) Oros. His father was a truck driver and later a watchman. His father reported a 1939 income of $530 and the family rented the home at 4934 Gladstone in Cleveland for $23 a month.Young Albert did manage to complete 2-years of high school and before 1943 began in a metal working shop.

Albert was drafted in August 1943. After his initial military training he was sent to the European theater. PFC Oros was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jul 1944. He was wounded by shrapnel in his right foot on 17 Jul 1944 but remained on duty. PFC Oros was killed in action on 1 Aug 1944. 

PFC Oros was ultimately interred in the Brittany American Cemetery.

Brothers also served: Donald Louis Oros, 1947-1949; Harry Eugene Oros, 1952-1956. His father served 1917-1919 in France.

PFC George E. Johnson

courtesy of Joy Riggers

PFC George E. Johnson was born 1 Apr 1924 in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania to Edward M and Jenny Johnson.  His father worked on a farm.

George entered the Army in May 1943 and after training was sent to Europe in April 1944. On 13 Jun 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry.  Due to the unit's tremendous losses on 6 June, he like many others was again transferred on 15 Jun 1944 to A Company 116th Infantry. The paperwork may have preceeded his actual transfer though because he was wounded with B Company on 16 Jun 1944 and sent to the hospital. He returned to the regiment from the replacement depot on 29 Jul 1944 being assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He was killed in action on 1 Aug 1944.

PFC Johnson is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.