PVT Robert Evan Shuttlesworth

PVT Robert Evan Shuttlesworth was born 19 Apr 1923 in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest child of Amelia May (Shuttlesworth) Evans. His mother's husband Harry or Henry Evans had died before Robert was born and the couple had 3 children. His mother's 4th child, a daughter, also took the Shuttlesworth name and was raised by both his oldest sister and adoptive mother Alma Adell (Evans) McSurdy and youngest maternal aunt Edith (Shuttlesworth) McSurdy. After his mother died in 1924, Robert was first taken in by his maternal grandmother and then by Alma and her husband. It is unclear who Robert's father was but Alma reported that his father was William Charles Shuttlesworth who died on 26 Feb 1930 when she filed paperwork concerning Robert's death in 1950. In any case, Robert had lost both of his parents by the age of 7 and was being reared by his sister and her husband, Joseph Michael McSurdy. Joseph worked as a coal miner and truck driver. The family, including his sister's 3 children, lived in Foster, Pennsylvania. Robert graduated from high school and in 1940 he was living in Philadelphia with his half-sister, Elizabeth, and working as an electrician for Midvale Company, a steel producer.

Robert was drafted in November 1943. After his basic military training he was trained as a lineman and then sent to the European theater. PVT Shuttlesworth was transferred from the replacement depot to Headquarters 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry on 27 Jul 1944 to serve as a field lineman supporting the communications needs of the unit. PVT Shuttlesworth was killed in action near Vire, France on 7 Aug 1944.

PVT Shuttlesworth rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery. 

Half-brother, Frederick Thomas Evans, served as a PFC in 1844th Service Command Unit during WW2.

SGT George Leo Holm

SGT George Leo Holm was born 3 May 1918 son of Frank Anian and Amanda Holm. Both his parents had been born in Finland and come to the U.S. via Canada. Frank worked as a moulder in an iron foundry.  George married Marianne M. Zednik in February 1943.

George was working as a stock clerk when he was drafted in March 1943.  He was sent to Europe and on 19 Jun 1944 transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry.  On 25 Jul 1944 George was promoted from PVT to SGT.  SGT Holm was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944.

SGT Holm was repatriated and is buried in River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. His brother John Holm was killed at Tarawa on 21 Nov 1943.

PVT William Henry Linden

courtesy of Frogman

PVT William Henry Linden was born 6 Jan 1913 in East Saint Louis, Illinois to George Edward and Ethel (Youngman) Linden.  His father was a brakeman for the Illinois Central Rail Road. In 1940 William was living with his wife Elsie (Cretton) and their son William Jr. and he was working for the Works Progress Administration.  William reported a 1939 income of $681 and was paying $12 a month rent.

William entered the Army in December 1943. After basic training he was sent to the European theater in June 1944.  PVT Linden was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 26 Jul 1944.  He was killed in action near Vire on 7 Aug 1944.

PVT Linden was buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.

CPL Wilson J. Reulet

CPL Wilson J. Reulet was born 10 Feb 1918 in Vacherie, Louisiana. He was the 2nd of 10 children born to Placide Jean and Marie Eva (Ockman) Reulet. 2 of his siblings died in infancy. His father supported the family by trapping and farming. His mother, Eva, died in 1935 and Wilson was sent to live with his maternal grandparents and he began work as a gardener.

Wilson enlisted in the Army in October 1940. We don't know what other units he was assigned to but he was ultimately sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault which took place on 6 Jun 1944. CPL Reulet fought with the unit until killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

CPL Reulet was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Vacherie, Louisiana.

Wilson's brothers served as well. Remy John Reulet served in the U.S. Navy as an RM3c and in the U.S. Army Air Force as a TSGT. Placide John Reulet served as a Coxswain aboard the USS Melville helping prepare landing craft for the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. George Joseph Reulet served as an S2c aboard the USS Gunston Hall serving in several landings in the Pacific theater.

PFC Walton G. Sanders

courtesy of Frogman

PFC Walton G. Sanders was born in 1919 in Canton, Ohio. He was the youngest of Franklin Geddis and Elizabeth (Roberts) Sanders. His father worked in a coal mine, as a machinist in a roller bearing plant, and later as a day laborer reporting a 1939 income of only $120. Walton was working in a steel mill at that time and reported an income of $550 for the same period.

Walton enlisted some time in 1940. We do not know where or with which units he served before he was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jun 1944. PFC Sanders fought with E Company as a rifleman until wounded on 25 Jul 1944. He was evacuated to hospital but died of his wound(s) on 7 Aug 1944.

PFC Sanders rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

PFC Frederick Weber Schleich

PFC Frederick Weber Schleich was born 5 Apr 1922 in Fairview, Illinois. He was the 2nd of 5 children and only son born to Peter Harrison and Geraldine Sebia (Winter) Schleich. Fred's older sister died aged 1-year just 1 month after he was born. His father worked as a clerk or cashier at a local bank earning a reported 1939 income of $1200 and owning a home valued at $2500 in 1940. Fred was attending the Milwaukee School of Electrical Engineering.

Fred was drafted just before completing his course and was sent to Camp Croft, South Carolina for training after which he was sent to the European theater. PVT Schleich was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jul 1944. Serving as a rifleman and bazooka man he fought with the unit until killed in action near Vire, France on 7 Aug 1944.

PFC Schleich was repatriated and re-interred in Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, Illinois.

T5 Corwin Cuatt Jr

T5 Corwin Cuatt Jr was born 14 Dec 1920 in Ithaca, New York to Corwin and Lena (Kent) Cuatt. His father farmed and he lived in Clyde, New York in 1940. Corwin married Ann Parker of Clyde.

In 1940, Corwin Jr. was already a PVT in the army stationed at Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York nd in Virginia before being shipped to Europe in late 1943. Assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry and attached to Headquarters 1st Battalion 116th Infantry by the time of the Allied invasion of Europe, Corwin was wounded by shrapnel in the neck on 23 Jun 1944 but remained on duty. Corwin was relieved on attachment and returned to Medical Detachment on 1 Jul 1944.  On 29 Jul 1944 he was promoted from PVT to T5. On 7 Aug 1944, T5 Cuatt was shot and killed in action. 

T5 Cuatt is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery.

Cousin, PFC James W. Donka was killed in action the next day while also serving in France. 

PFC Wheeler Luther Light

PFC Wheeler Luther Light was born 10 Aug 1910 in Poages Mill, Virginia the sixth of eleven children of Samuel Milton and Minnie Gale (Shaver) Light.  His father was a carpenter.  In 1930, Wheeler was living with his brother, Armor and working as farm labor. He was still working as farm labor in 1940. 

Wheeler was drafted in May 1941.  He was likely assigned to C Company 116th Infantry soon after and attended training with the unit at Fort Meade, Maryland and Camp Blanding, Florida shipping out with the unit for England in September 1942.  In England he would have trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that would take place on Omaha beach and did so on 6 Jun 1944.  He continued to fight with the unit until killed in action on 7 Aug 1944.

PFC Light was repatriated and buried in the Shaver-Light Cemetery in Blue Ridge Heights, Virginia.

We know that 3 of Wheeler's brothers also served during the war. Ralph Vale Light served in the Army from 1945 to 1946. Herman Clinton Light served in the Army from 1943 to 1945. Warren Grover Light served from 1944 to 1946.

PFC George Charles McDaniel

courtesy of A Horan

PFC George Charles McDaniel was born 2 May 1925 in Athens, Ohio. He was the 5th of 6 children born to Charles Owen and Jenny Ethel (Wyatt) McDaniel. His father worked as a coal miner and died in 1941.

George was drafted in August 1943 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. AFter completing his basic training he was sent to the European theater he was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jul 1944.  PFC McDaniel was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944.

PFC McDaniel was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Grandfather Andrew McDaniel served as a CPT in D Company 78th Ohio Infantry in the Civil War.

PVT Edward B. Mrva

PVT Edward B. Mrva (often spelled "Marva") was born 4 Apr 1923 in Owosso, Michigan. He was the youngest of 8 children born to John J. and Mary (Dubravich) Mrva. His father was a native of Starakia in what is now the Czech Republic and worked as a moulder in an iron foundry but by 1940 was working as unskilled labor. However, with the help of Ed's older brothers who worked, the household had a total 1939 income of $1530. This enabled Ed and his brothers to continue attending high school.

Edward was drafted in August 1943. After his basic training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Mrva was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PVT Mrva was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Saint Paul's Cemetery in Owosso, Michigan.

His brothers also served. Lawrence Lewis Mrva also served in the Army in WW2; PFC Cyril M. Mrva, died 8 Feb 1945 in service with 127th Infantry.

SGT Forrest Edward Fulk

SGT Forrest Edward Fulk was born 11 Mar 1923 in Rockingham County, Virginia to Charles Triplett and Madeline Jean (Gordon) Fulk.  In 1930 the family lived at 242 Madison Street in Harrisonburg and father Charles was supporting his family as a carpenter.  In 1940 the family was living at 134 North Main Street and Madeline was supporting the family by managing a diner.  It is unclear where Charles was. 

Forrest was a PVT in the local National Guard unit, C Company 116th Infantry.  He mobilized along with the rest of his unit in February 1941.  He remained with the unit, survived D-Day, and on 9 Jul 1944 was wounded by shrapnel in his right leg but remained on duty.  He was promoted to SGT on 25 Jul 1944.  SGT Fulk was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 near Vire. 

Returned to the U.S. for permanent burial, SGT Fulk rests forever in Arlington National Cemetery. 

CPL Robert John Marshall

CPL Robert John Marshall was born 5 Jul 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the only child of Frank Garfield and Mary Catherine (Allison) Marshall. His father worked as a laborer but by 1925 was not working and his mother supported the family as a laundress. Frank Marshall died in 1931. The family had lived in Lawrence and Abilene in Kansas.

After entering the Army, Robert attended is basic training and likely served in some other unit where he was promoted to CPL.  On 25 Jul 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry. CPl Marshall was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 in the vicinity of Vire, France.

CPL Marshall was repatriated and re-interred in Abilene Cemetery in Abilene, Kansas next to his mother.

PFC Norman Louis Edlund

PFC Norman Louis Edlund was born 12 Sep 1925 in Chicago, Illinois to John Ludwig and Otelia (Nelson) Edlund.  His father worked in construction. 

After he entered the service, Norman was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry on 15 Jul 1944.  On 1 Aug 1944 he was promoted to PFC.  PFC Edlund was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 near Vire. 

PFC Edlund is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery. 

PVT Foy Neal Gamble

PVT Foy Neal Gamble was born 20 Nov 1915 in Iron City, Tennessee to William Thomas and Minnie Nora (Smith) Gamble.  Foy's father died about 1916. The family farmed.  In 1940 Foy was working on road construction and reported a 1939 income of $600.  Foy had married Virginia E. Wright of Lauderdale County, Alabama and moved there. The couple would have a son in 1943.

Foy entered the Army in October 1943.  He attended his training and was sent overseas and on 19 Jun 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Gamble was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944.

PVT Gamble was repatriated and is buried in the Shiloh Church of Christ Cemetery in Green Hill, Alabama.  Virginia never re-married and several descendants are surviving the couple today.

PFC Ansel Gregory Wanzitz

courtesy of Kelsey Weaver

PFC Ansel Gregory Wanzitz was born in Rock Creek, Utah in the Uintah and Ouray Reservation on 6 Mar 1920. He was the oldest child of 5 and only son born to Gregory and Mary Woods (Ankerpont) Wanzitz. The family were Native Americans of the Ute tribe. His father was the son of Wanzitz (Antelope) who was a sub-chief of the tribe when the reservation was established in 1861. Gregory's occupation is recorded as stockman. He died in 1926 of pulmonary tuberculosis and Mary re-married. He then lived with his step and adoptive father near Bridgeland, Utah, also on the reservation. Ansel attended the Uintah basin schools and was also working as a farmer and stockman when he was drafted.

Ansel was drafted in June 1942. He was given his initial military training at Camp Carson, Colorado before being sent to England and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. Once there he trained with the unit in preparation for the amphibious landing in support of the liberation of occupied France. PFC Wanzitz took part in that and fought with unit through the D-Day landing to the liberation of Saint-Lo and was with his unit at Vire, France when he was struck in the chest and killed in action. 

PFC Wanzitz was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in Roosevelt Memorial Park in Roosevelt, Utah.

PFC Matthew James Spears

courtesy of David Sifford

PFC Matthew James Spears was born in Devol, Oklahoma supposedly on 20 Sep 1926. He was the 8th of 9 children born to John Wiley and Dora Ophelia (Beard) Spears. His father worked as an auto mechanic in Devol for several years but by 1935 had moved to Levelland, Texas and then to Anton, Texas where Matthew's father worked in road construction. The family paid rent of $6 and month and reported a 1939 income of just $200. Matthew was living in Anton when he registered for the draft on 15 Feb 1943.

Matthew was soon drafted in March 1943 but according to his official birth date he would have been just 16 years old and men of that age were not drafted or knowingly enlisted. His draft card gives his date of birth as 15 Feb 1925 but that would also have made him too young for the draft. In any case, he entered service and after his basic military training was assigned to E Company 289th Infantry, 75th Infantry Division. We don't know why but on 17 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry. PFC Spears fought with C Company as a rifleman until killed in action near Vire, France on 7 Aug 1944.

PFC Spears was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred the City of Lubbock Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas where his family was living at the time and his parents are buried near him. In a newspaper article at the time of his re-interrment, Matthew's family says that he was 22 years old when he died putting his birthday in 1922.

PVT Cecil Perry

PVT Cecil Perry was born 10 Jun 1912 in Girdler, Kentucky. He was the 3rd of 7 children of George Washington and Laura Jane (Barnard) Perry. In 1930 his father was a deputy sheriff in Knox County, Kentucky and the family lived at 800 North Main Street in Barboursville, the county seat. Cecil was working odd jobs at the time and had not completed high school. Sometime before 1943, Cecil married Lula Mae Gibbons who had also been born in Girdler.

Cecil was drafted in September 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and on 27 Jul 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry. PVT Perry was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944.

PVT Perry was repatriated in 1948 and he was re-interred in the Barbourville Cemetery in Barbourville, Kentucky.

Brother, Glenn Edward Perry, served in the U.S. Army 1942-1946.

PFC Harry Lowen Gasaway

courtesy of Karen Crowson-Stout

PFC Harry Lowen Gasaway was born 21 Sep 1917 in Saline County, Illinois. He was the only child of Sylvester and Amanda (Shriver) Gasaway. His parents separated soon after his birth and Harry and his mother moved in with her parents on their farm. Amanda died age 29 in February 1926. Harry continued to live with his grandparents and help them farm. Both of his grandparents died in 1939 and Harry married Virginia Lee McConnell in March 1940 and the couple lived near Raleigh, Illinois.

Harry was drafted in July 1943. After completing his military training he was sent to the European theater. PFC Gasaway was transferred from the replacement depot to M Company 116th Infantry on 24 Jul 1944. He was wounded on the outskirts of Vire, France on 6 Aug 1944 and evacuated to a field hospital. He died there the next day, 7 Aug 1944. 

PFC Gasaway was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Raleigh Masonic Cemetery in Raleigh, Illinois.

PVT Gilbert Fomalont

PVT Gilbert Fomalont was born 10 Feb 1906 in Carmel, Pennsylvania to Barney and Eva Fomalont.  Both parents were Russian immigrants. In 1934 he married Esther Tucker.  In 1941 he married Lillian Feinstein.

Gilbert entered service in December 1942.  Sent overseas, he was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry.  Gilbert was assigned to the unit on D-Day and served with the unit until 7 Aug 1944 when he was killed in action. 

PVT Fomalont was repatriated and buried in Mount Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

PFC Joseph Miller Shaw

Joseph from his High School 1938 annual

PFC Joseph Miller Shaw was born 28 Aug 1921 in Frederick, Maryland. He was the eldest of the 3 children of John LaMotte and Mary Ruthella (Witter) Shaw. His father farmed and land owned outside Frederick and worked as a foreman in a brick factory and as a personal secretary. Joseph graduated Frederick High School in 1938 and then attended the University of Maryland. In 1940 the farm was valued at $9200 and his father reported a 1939 income of $1800. His father then went to work as a Manager for Taney Homes in Frederick. Joseph received his BS in Animal Husbandry in June 1943.

Joseph was drafted in July 1943. He was first sent to North Camp Hood, Texas for his basic military training and then to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for advanced training.  When he took a 10-day furlough in January 1944 he was still stationed at Camp Shelby and assigned to B Company 272nd Infantry. He was able to take another furlough in May, the last time he was to see his family. and then sent to England and the European theater. PFC Shaw was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He fought with the unit through to the vicinity of Vire, France where he was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944.

PFC Shaw was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Maryland.

Joseph's father served during WWI as a SGT in I Company 313th Infantry and was wounded in the Argonne.

PFC Harvey John Ungethim

courtesy of Bill Schraeder

PFC Harvey John Ungethim was born 1 Jun 1923 in Posey County, Indiana. He was the youngest of the 2 sons born to Martin and Lorena A. (Damm) Ungethim. His father farmed, first a rented place near Robinson, Indiana and later was able to buy a small farm in the same area and Harvey certainly worked with him. Harvey's education did not go beyond grammar school. Harvey was still working with his father in 1942 and may have been doing so when he married Dorothy Elizabeth Schmidt in February 1943. 

Harvey was drafted just a month later, in March 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater probably arriving in England about January 1944. His duties after that are unknown but PFC Ungethim was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jul 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He then fought with the unit in the effort to liberate Vire where he was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944. 

PFC Ungethim was repatriated and re-interred in the Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana.

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PVT Thomas Edward Otto

courtesy of Frogman

PVT Thomas Edward Otto was born in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the 2nd of 3 children born to Earl Delos and Margaret C. (Lowery). His parents seem to have separated/divorced sometime around the birth of his younger brother William in 1927 and his mother re-married and moved with her children to live in Howard, Ohio. Thomas' step-father, William D. Burton, worked at various jobs and the family moved quite a bit living Michigan, California and Ohio. Thomas and William were left to live with their maternal grandparents in Toledo before 1935. His grandfather supported the family with a job he got with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) working on street maintenance in Toledo which paid $450 in 1939. Thomas was fortunate to complete 3 years of high school.

Thomas was drafted in October 1943. After his basic combat training he was sent to the European theater and on 28 Jun 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry. PVT Ott was wounded on 11 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. We aren't certain when he was returned to the unit but he was fighting with the unit on 7 Aug 1944 when he was killed in action.

PVT Otto rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.

PFC Franklin Theodore Jessee

PFC Franklin Theodore Jessee was born 23 Nov 1918 in Russell County, Virginia. He was the 4th of the 8 children born to Samuel Vince and Flora Ellen (Burke) Jessee. Their first-born and died in infancy. Samuel farmed near Lebanon, Virginia to support his family. He owned the farm valued at $4000 in 1930 but only $2000 in 1940. Franklin was able to complete 3-years of high school before leaving to work on his father's farm full-time. 

Franklin was drafted in April 1941. He was probably sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland for in-processing and initial training and was assigned to K Company 116th Infantry at that time. He then trained with the unit there and near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before the 29th Infantry Division was sent to England. Once in England he would have trained for the planned amphibious invasion of Nazi occupied France. PFC Jessee took part in the amphibious assault and fought with the unit until injured on or about 24 Jul 1944. This wasn't a battle related injury and he returned to the unit on 25 Jul 1944. PFC Jessee continued serving with K Company until he was struck in the back and killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 at Vire, France. 

PFC Jessee was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Russell Memorial Cemetery in Lebanon, Virginia.

PFC John Henry Martin Jr

PFC John Henry Martin Jr. was born 5 Feb 1910 in New York State.  He had a twin sister, Genevieve, and 2 younger brothers. His parents were John Henry and Mary J. (Fitzpatrick) Martin. John Sr. worked as a letter carrier for over 30 years and reported a 1939 income of $400. All the family was still living together in 1940.  John Jr. had worked at a local silk mill as a clerk and later as a roller.

John Jr was working as a stock clerk when he was drafted in May 1942. After basic training he was sent to England and assigned to K Company 116th Infantry.  PFC Martin participated in the D-Day landings. He survived combat while serving in K Company until he was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PFC Martin was repatriated and re-interred in Madonna Cemetery in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

PVT Robert Asher Pennell

PVT Robert Asher Pennell was born 26 Aug 1925 in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. He was the 4th of the 5 children born to Walter Ray and Barbara A. (McNaughton) Pennell. His father worked as a moulder in a stove factory reporting a 1939 income of $900 and paying a monthly rent of $18 on their residence at 60 West Main Street. Robert attended Mount Joy High School and graduated in June 1943.

Robert was drafted in November 1943. He took his training at Camp Craft, South Carolina and Fort Meade, Maryland before being sent to Europe in June 1944. Reportedly trained as a medic, he is listed on the morning reports as a rifleman. PVT Pennell was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 20 Jul 1944. PVT Pennell was killed in action on 7 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

PVT Pennell was repatriated in 1943 and re-interred in the Mount Joy Cemetery in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.

His father served as a SGT in D Company 156th Machine Gun Battalion 42nd Division during WWI.