PVT Charles W. Keller

courtesy of Erin Proctor

PVT Charles W. Keller was born 9 Aug 1920 in Newport, Kentucky to Charles Pearson and Eva Viola (Ort) Keller. His father was a baker and reported a 1939 income of $1820. 

Charles was drafted in November 1943.  After training he was sent to Europe and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 17 Jul 1944.  PVT Keller was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944.

PVT Keller is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.

SGT Kenneth Dodge Dirth

SGT Kenneth Dodge Dirth was born 15 Mar 1921 in West Lebanon, New Hampshire to Fred John and Catherine Mary (Dodge) Dirth.  Fred was a brakeman on the railroad.  In 1940, Kenneth was a "new worker".  On 4 Oct 1940, Kenneth married Helen Orice Chagnon. 

When drafted in October 1943, Kenneth was working as a sales clerk.  Sent overseas he was sent from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 13 Jun 1944.  Like others he was then transferred on 15 Jun 1944 to A Company 116th Infantry.  He was promoted from PVT to SGT on 25 Jul 1944.  On 5 Aug 1944 he was killed in action. 

SGT Dirth was repatriated and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Helen remarried and died in 1997.

PFC Glenn L. Jordan

PFC Glenn L. Jordan was born 23 Feb 1925 in Davidson County, Tennessee to Clarence Elmer and Anna Bell (Alsup) Jordan.  His father worked as a spinner in a silk mill and as a worker in a rayon plant. 

Glenn entered the service in September 1943 after which he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 10 Jul 1944. Serving as a rifleman, Glenn fought with this unit until he was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PFC Jordan was repatriated and is buried in the Mount Juliet Memorial Gardens in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. His father had served during the first World War and his brother, Sam Ernest Jordan, served during World War 2. 

SSG Thomas Lee Gillespie

SSG Thomas Lee Gillespie was born 15 Dec 1917 in Smyth County, Virginia to George Stephen and Mary Susan (Louthen) Gillespie.  The family farmed to support the family of 7. In 1940 there were only four members of the family still living together and they had reported a 1939 income of $228.  

Thomas was drafted in April 1941.  After attending training he was likely assigned to M Company 116th Infantry before the 116th shipped out for England in September 1942.  He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault on the French beaches and when it took place on 6 Jun 1944 had attained the rank of SGT.  He survived the landing and on 20 Jun 1944 was promoted to SSG.  He was wounded that same day, being struck in the right knee by shrapnel but remained on duty.  SSG Gillespie was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944.

SSG Gillespie was repatriated and buried in the Riverside Church Cemetery in Smyth County, Virginia. 

PFC Russell Eugene Gill

PFC Russell Eugene Gill was born 16 Jan 1910 in Adams, Pennsylvania to Albert Wilson and Flora (Aumiller) Gill. His father was a well-known teacher and a farmer. After Russell graduated from Middleburg High School he also went into farming.

Russell entered the Army in May 1943.  Sent to England in December 1943, Russell was likely assigned to M Company 116th Infantry at that time.  His father died only 2-months after Russell arrived in England. After training for and making the amphibious landing on D-Day with M Company, Russell was promoted to PFC on 9 Jul 1944.  PFC Gill was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944.

PFC Gill was repatriated in 1948 and is buried in a cemetery in Troxelville, Pennsylvania. 

PVT William M. Holmes

PVT William M. Holmes was born 24 Jun 1922. After entering the Army he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He may have been assigned to the 69th Infantry at one time. PVT Holmes was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944. 

PVT Holmes was repatriated in 1949 and is buried in the Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey.

PFC Matthew Peter Scanlan Jr.

PFC Matthew Peter Scanlan Jr. was born 28 Aug 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the only son and youngest of the 4 children born to Matthew Peter and Frances Theresa (Norton) Scanlan. He was called "Sonny" by the family. Sonny's father was a fireman for the city of Boston and the family lived at 79 Bellevue Street and 176 Hamilton Street and reported a 1939 income of $2100. Sonny graduated from high school and went to work in a factory.

Sonny was drafted in March 1943. After basic training he was eventually sent to the European theater. PFC Scanlan was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944 in the vicinity of Vire, France.

PFC Scanlan rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

PVT WIlliam C. Davis

We know next to nothing about William C. Davis so any help would be much appreciated.

PVT Davis was likely drafted in 1943 and after being sent overseas was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jul 1944. On 8 Aug 1944 he was thought to be missing in action but on 18 Aug 1944 it was determined that he had been killed in action on 5 Aug 1944. 

We do not know where he is buried but he was apparently repatriated and is buried in the U.S.

TSGT Edmund L. Okoniewski

courtesy of Ralph Henderson

TSGT Edmund L. Okoniewski was born 20 Nov 1919, probably in Burrillville, Rhode Island. He was the 3rd of 4 children born to Ludwik Marion "Louis" and Mary (Madej) Okoniewski. Both parents were Polish Catholics who had immigrated in 1904. His father worked as a weaver in a local mill for decades. With a reported 1939 income of $880, he had managed to buy the family a home at 63 Main Street in Burrillville which was valued at $1000 in 1940. Edmund was able to graduate from high school.

When Edmund was drafted in February 1942 he was working in a bottling or canning plant. He was probably in England and assigned to E Company 116th Infantry by the beginning of 1943. Once assigned to the unit he would have begun training for the amphibious landing that was planned as part of the liberation of occupied France. He was likely a more competent than average soldier as he was promoted to SGT by the time of the landings on 6 Jun 1944. He was promoted to SSG on 20 Jun 1944. On 13 Jul 1944 he was wounded by shrapnel in the right foot but remained on duty. On 27 Jul 1944 he was again promoted, this time to TSGT. TSGT Okoniewski was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944.

TSGT Okoniewski was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Polish Catholic National Cemetery in Blackstone, Massachusetts where he will rest forever with his family.

PVT Kenneth Arnold Tant

courtesy of Helen Sharpe

PVT Kenneth Arnold Tant was born 21 Aug 1922 in Nash County, North Carolina. He was the 5th of 7 children of Mack T. and Maggie Rebecca Ann (Lewis) Tant. His father farmed in Nash County near Ferrells. It appears that Maggie suffered from Pelagra, was institutionalized and died in August 1929. His father likely struggled with so many young children on his own and the children were farmed out to relatives. Kenneth was only 7 when his mother died and then his father was murdered in 1933. In 1940 Kenneth was living with his Aunt Hazel Lewis Whitley's brother-in-law. The impending war jump started industry and Kenneth found work as a welder at the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, North Carolina where they were building Liberty Ships.

Kenneth was drafted in December 1943 and began his military service at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry on 24 Jul 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He fought with the unit at Vire where he was wounded in the leg by fragments from an artillery shell on 4 Aug 1944. Evacuated to hospital, PVT Tant died of his wound on 5 Aug 1944. 

PVT Tant was repatriated in 1949 at the request of his brother Dwight and re-interred in the Samaria Baptist Church Cemetery in Samaria, North Carolina.

Great-grandfather, Elbert C. Lewis, served as a PVT in A Company 47th North Carolina Infantry (CSA) in the Civil War, was captured and imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland. His brother, Dwight Tant, served as a SSG in the U.S. Army in WW2.

PVT Alexander Gishi

PVT Alexander Gishi was a Diné/Navajo born 16 May 1913 in Indian Wells, Arizona, near Winslow. Alexander had only a grammar school education. He married Helen Bahe and the couple had a son in 1939.  When Alexander registered for the draft in 1940 he gave his occupation as "trader" but we know that he also farmed as did many Navajo. Alexander's and Helen's son died of pneumonia in 1943.

Alexander was drafted in July 1943.  On 22 Jun 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman.  PVT Gishi was killed in action on 4 Aug 1944.

PVT Gishi was repatriated in 1948 and is buried in Desert View Cemetery in Winslow, Arizona.

PFC Frank Obeidzinski

courtesy of Linkert

PFC Frank Obeidzinski was born 23 Apr 1922 in Cloquet, Minnesota. He and his twin sister were the 6th and 7th of 11 children born to Joseph and Helen S. (Bahen) Obeidzinski. Both parents were natives of Poland. His father apparently worked for Northwest Paper Company for several decades. Frank didn't manage to get more than a grammar school education before entering the workforce.

Frank was drafted in December 1942. After basic combat training he was sent to England and assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit as ammunition handler for the amphibious landing that would be part of the invasion of occupied France on 6 Jun 1944 in which he took part. PVT Obeidzinski was wounded in the wrist by shrapnel on 12 Jun 1944 but remained on duty. On 9 Jul 1944 he was promoted to PFC. He continued to serve with the unit until killed in action on 4 Aug 1944.

PFC Obeidzinski was buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.

PVT Elmer Manen Gideon

PVT Elmer Manen Gideon was born 3 Dec 1919 in Linn, Missouri to William Harrison and Grace Edith (Carter) Gideon.  The family farmed near Linn.  Then the family moved to Colorado and William died in Crowley, Colorado in 1927.  The rest of the family moved to near Webb, Colorado where they continued to support themselves by farming. 

Elmer was apparently still working the family farm when he was drafted in November 1942.  Sent to Europe he was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 15 Jul 1944.  PVT Gideon was killed in action on 4 Aug 1944. 

PVT Gideon was repatriated and is buried in Holly Cemetery in Holly, Colorado. 

PVT Seymour Sandler

PVT Seymour Sandler was born 21 Jul 1924 in New York City, New York. He was the first of the 3 children born to George and Lillian Sandler. His father worked as a truck driver and selling birds. Seymour completed 4-years of high school and went to work perhaps driving a Checker Cab.

Seymour was drafted in April 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Sandler was transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry on 15 Jul 1944. He fought with F Company through Saint-Lo to the drive on Vire and was killed in action on 4 Aug 1944.

PVT Sandler was repatriated and re-interred in the Mount Judah Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York.

PFC Gano Haines Jewell

PFC Gano Haines Jewell was born 21 Sep 1923 in Westville, New York to Harold Gano and Julia Martin (Parslow) Jewell.  Their only child, "Sonny" was the light of their life.  The family story is that Sonny was attending Cornell as a pre-med student when he was moved to enlist to "do his part" in the war. It was supposed that as a pre-med student he was deemed by the Army as a suitable candidate to be a medic. However the truth is at some variance from that. According to an article in the Otsego Farmer:

Mrs. Webbs Nephew Is Killed In Action Pfc. Gano H. Jewell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold G. Jewell of No. 13 Cromer Avenue, Schenectady, previously reported missing in action, was killed August 4th while serving as a field medical man in France the War department informed the parents. He was a nephew of Mrs. Kenneth Webb of Whig Corners, Mrs. Fred Ottaway of Westville, and Kenneth Jewell of Milford. A graduate; of Nott Terrace High school. Private Jewell enlisted in the army reserve in November, 1942, and was called in active duty in July, 1943, while a Sophomore at Union College. Following his basic training at Camp Grant, Illinois, he was graduated from Technician and advanced Technician courses at O'Reilly General hospital, Springfield, Mo. After serving a short time at Fitzsimmons General Hospital, Denver; Col., he was stationed at Camp Reynolds, Pa , before going overseas in May, 1944.

Assigned to the 104th Medical Battalion and then, on 11 Jul 1944, to Medical Detachment, 116th Infantry.  It was reported that on 3 Aug 1944, as the Regiment closed on Vire, Sonny was wounded by H&I fire from German artillery.  On 4 Aug 1944, that same artillery killed him. 

This is the only known military photo of Sonny, most of those photos were apparently lost when his mother died in 1981 and the estate was disposed of.  There is a photo of Sonny, taken near Vire, as he sits next to his foxhole.  The photo was taken by MSG Winston Morris, who was visiting the 2nd Battalion aid station where Sonny was working.  However, that photo was supposedly in Winston Morris' collection which was given to the Department of Military Affairs, Commonwealth of Virginia and has apparently gone missing.

A quick note about Winston Morris.  35-years of age at the beginning of the war, and a professional photographer, when he was ultimately assigned to the 116th Medical Detachment, he was one of a very few men allowed a camera.  He said that he was able to take photos of anything so long as he submitted the photos to the censors.  As NCOIC of the Medical Detachment, MSG Morris moved all through the units checking on detachment operations and assisting in the evacuation of wounded soldiers and so had great opportunities to take important photographs.

Sonny's body was repatriated in 1949.  The family had to pick up the body from the train station. His cousin and aunt accompanied his mother, the cousin driving a truck to carry the casket and following the car driven by his mother.  The right rear tire had a sidewall blow out, his cousin said that he could see it balloon before exploding but couldn't warn his aunt in time.  There was nearly an accident.

PFC Jewell now rests forever in Westville Cemetery in Westville, New York along with his parents, his aunts and uncles and grandparents.

40-years after his death, his first cousin once removed, son of that cousin who had gone to retrieve his body from the train station, would begin active duty service with the 116th Infantry. 

PVT Dante Primiterra

courtesy of Stephanie Pepin

PVT Dante Primiterra was born 15 Mar 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd child and only son of the 3 children born to Biagio and Chiara (Giardinelli) Primaterra. Both parents were natives of Chieti, Italy. His father had worked as a potter in Italy but worked as a carpenter in Philadelphia. Dante completed high school and began work as a machinist's apprentice.

Dante was drafted in November 1943. After his military training he was sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to Headquarters 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry on 27 Jul 1944 as a field lineman running communications wire. PVT Primaterra was killed in action on 4 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PVT Primaterra rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

PVT Dominic Phillip Sorrentino

courtesy of Chuck

PVT Dominic Phillip Sorrentino was born 25 Jan 1923 in Angri, Italy. He was the 2nd of 7 children born to Giovanni and Rosa (Attianese) Sorrentino. Giovanni had become a citizen of the United States in 1924. Dominic immigrated with his mother and older sister in October 1926 joining his father already living in Brooklyn, New York. In 1930 the family was living at 121 Navy Street in Brooklyn. His father anglicized his name as John and opened a florist shop at 107 DeKalb Avenue called Fort Greene Florist in reference to nearby Fort Greene. Dominic was working for his father, probably very early on but certainly was in 1942 when he registered for the draft.

Dominic was drafted in late 1943 or early 1944 and after his basic military training was sent to the European theater. PVT Sorrentino was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 7 Jul 1944. He must have shown initiative and leadership because he was promoted directly to SGT on 25 Jul 1944. Having fought at Martinville Ridge and Saint-Lo he was then with his unit as it participated in the drive to liberate Vire. SGT Sorrentino was killed in action near Vire on 4 Aug 1944.

SGT Vire was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

PVT Donald Francis Murphree

PVT Donald Francis Murphree was born 1 Apr 1923 in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. He was the 2nd child and only son of Marion Arthur and Helen (McGinnis) Murphree. His father had been serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a PVT when he met Helen's older sister, Marie and they married. They would soon have a daughter, Donald's half-sister, Marian J. Murphree, but Marie suffered complications from the childbirth and being susceptible died of pneumonia brought on by the influenza that was ravaging the world in 1918. Arthur (as he was called) continued to live with the McGinnis family and Helen married Arthur in 1921. Arthur had been working as a salesman in a local cigar store. For some reason the family moved to McCrary, Georgia where they were living in 1930. Helen and Arthur were divorced by that time. Helen moved the family back to Cheltenham before 1935. She reported no income or occupation in 1940. All the children were attended High School, Donald at Cheltenham High School. After high school he went to work in an oil refinery.

Donald was drafted in May 1943. After his basic training he was sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. PVT Muphree was killed in action on 4 Aug 1944.

PVT Murphree rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

SGT Samuel David Falls

SGT Samuel David Falls was born 8 Jul 1908 in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania to Harvey Joseph and Sarah Elizabeth (Gill) Falls.  We can almost tell the family story in news articles. SGT Falls was buried in Romola Christian Cemetery in Romola, Pennsylvania.

2LT George Preston Briggs

2LT George Preston Briggs was born 14 Jul 1909 in Brockton, Masschusetts to George Franklin and Nellie C. (Laying) Briggs. His father worked as a model maker in a shoe last factory and as a foreman in a tack factory.  In 1940, George Preston was working in sales promotion for retail merchandise. 

After George entered the service and completed his training he was sent overseas and on 26 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry as a platoon leader. On 4 Aug 1944, 2LT Briggs was killed in action near Vire, France.

2LT Briggs rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

PVT Samuel Harvey Paris Jr

courtesy of Danny Riley

PVT Samuel Harvey Paris Jr was born 9 Aug 1925 in Ridgway, Illinois. He was the only child of Samuel Harvey and Mary Emma (Crayne) Paris and went by Harvey. The family farmed near Ridgway.

Harvey had moved to Evansville, Indiana by the time he was drafted in November 1943 as "Harvey Paris". After completing his basic combat training he was sent to the European theater. On 20 Jul 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry. PVT Paris was killed in action in the vicinity of Vire, France on 4 Aug 1944.

PVT Paris was repatriated and re-interred in the Mapleview Cemetery in Marion, Kentucky.

PFC Deane Willard Peck

PFC Deane Willard Peck was born 17 Oct 1924 in Lansing, Michigan. He was the 2nd of 3 children born to Leland Ethan and Vivian Estelle (Bellen). His father worked as an undertaker and then for the government. The family owned their home at 212 North Eighth Street in Lansing valued at $6500 in 1940 and Leland reported a 1939 income of $1200. Deane graduated from Eastern High School in June 1942. He then went to work for the Lundberg Screw Company.

Deane was drafted in March 1943. He attended training at Fort McClellan, Alabama and Camp Roberts, California before being sent to the European theater in June 1944. On 20 Jul 1944 PVT Peck was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry. First reported missing in action, he was found to have been killed in action on 4 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PFC Peck is memorialized in the Evergreen Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan.

His older brother, Richard Lee Peck, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force from August 1943 to September 1955.

PVT George C. Hurd

courtesy of Frogman

PVT George C. Hurd was born in 1926, most likely in Madison Parish, Louisiana to Aubrey Harold and Ruth C. (Casteel) Hurd.  His father worked as a bank teller who reported a 1939 income of $1800.

After entering service and completing his initial training, George was sent to Europe.  He was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 23 Jul 1944.  PVT Hurd was killed in action on 3 Aug 1944.

PVT Hurd is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery. His father had served in the Army for 2½ years during WWI.

PFC Jack J. Kolhagen

PFC Jack J. Kolhagen was born 10 Aug 1925 in Saginaw, Michigan the oldest of three sons born to Jack and Edith Ann (Willett) Kolhagen. His father is a farmer. His mother died in 1933 of pneumococcus meningitis.  His father re-married in 1940 only to divorce 2 years later.  Jack and his younger brother went to live with his maternal grandmother. 

After entering the service, Jack was sent to Europe and on 19 Jun 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry. Jack was promoted to PFC on 24 Jul 1944. PFC Kolhagen was killed in action on 3 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PFC Kolhagen was repatriated and is now buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saginaw, Michigan.

Jack's youngest brother, Army SGT Carl Warren Kolhagen, was killed in action in Korea on 20 Sep 1952 while serving in the 2nd Infantry Division. He received a Bronze Star with V device posthumously for the action in which he was killed.

PFC Howard Samuel Mitchell

courtesy of Larry Eanes

PFC Howard Samuel Mitchell was born 16 Apr 1919 in Danville, Virginia. He was the 6th of 8 children born to Samuel Henry and Nettie Ann (Barber) Mitchell. His father farmed and his parents would separate before 1930. His father re-married and had 4 more children. Somehow, Howard was never recorded on a census even though all his older and younger siblings were. It is possible he was sent to live with relatives. Howard never had more than a grammar school education and, in registering for the draft, was apparently self-employed.

Howard was drafted in April 1941. Because of the way draftees were handled early in the war it is likely that he was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry while it was still at Fort Meade, Maryland. He would then have trained with the unit at Camp Blanding, Florida and sailed with the unit to England in September 1942. In England the unit trained for the amphibious landing that was a planned part of the invasion of northern occupied France. That attack took place on 6 Jun 1944 and Howard fought with the unit until killed in action on 3 Aug 1944 (the morning report has an entry correcting the date of death to 31 Jul 1944 but 3 Aug 1944 appears on all subsequent government paperwork).

PFC Mitchell was repatriated and is then buried in Highland Memorial Park in Danville, Virginia.