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Camp Fannin, Texas
Infantry Replacement Training Center
U.S. Army, 1943-46
ROLL OF HONOR (S through Z) of Fannin Veterans who died in uniform
during World War II.
All gave some, but some gave all.
(Courtesy of Mrs. Wilmer Carol Jumper Mercer, daughter of Isaac
Wilmer Jumper)
Men and women who died in the service of their country during
World War II who had been stationed at Camp Fannin, Texas. Available
information is identified by the following alphabetical
code:
a) hometown or state;
b) dates and unit at Camp Fannin;
c) date and place of death;
d) unit assignment at time of death;
e) circumstances of death;
f) places of burial (temporary and permanent);
g) name and relationship of person(s) submitting information;
h) miscellaneous information (awards, age at death, etc.)
Shelby Stanton’s reference work, Order of Battle, U.S. Army,
World War II, is especially helpful in providing supplemental
information for expanded profiles of men and women who died in the
service of their country during World War II who had been stationed
at Camp Fannin Texas. Specifically, its combat narratives enable us
to locate a given unit on a given date and describe the action it
was involved in. Stanton’s references when used appear in entry e)
in the expanded profiles, “circumstances of death” and are cited
thus: e) Stanton: “…”. For a copy of a division's complete
combat narrative as reported in Stanton, send a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to Camp Fannin Roll of Honor, 2213 Mendoza
Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32304.
Men and women who died in the
service of their country during World War II who had been stationed
at Camp Fannin, Texas. Available information is identified by the
following alphabetical code: a) hometown or state; b) dates and unit
at Camp Fannin; c) date and place of death; d) unit assignment at
time of death; e) circumstances of death; f) places of burial
(temporary and permanent); g) name and relationship of person(s)
submitting information; h) miscellaneous information (awards, age at
death, etc.) Updated November 23, 2009.
SACCO,
Ignatius N., Pvt. a) Santa Clara, California b) completed basic 12 February 1944, 54th Bn.,
11th Regt. c) 5 July 1944, near Beau Coudray, Normandy, France. d)
B/357/9 0
e) KIA enemy artillery shell fragment.
Stanton: The 90th Infantry Division's 359th Regiment attached
to the 4th Infantry Division assaulted Utah Beach, France on 6 June
1944, The remainder of the division including the 357th
Regiment attacked 10 June 1944 and the division halted in the Golleville-Urville area 17 June 1944 after heavy combat.
On 3 July 1944, advancing in heavy rain, the division attacked south
down the west coast of the Contentin Peninsula and fought the battle
of La Haye-du-Puits-Mont Castre Forest 6-10 July 1944.
f) Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery, Santa Clara, California. g) Catherine Sacco,
grandniece,
katiesacco82@hotmail.com. h) Ignatius Sacco's
uniform shows that at some point he was a sergeant in some other
military organization.
SAIKI, Masami d) L/100/442 RCT
(Nisei).
SANTORE, William, Pvt. c) 11 May
45, Okinawa. g) Mrs. Earl (Katherine A.) Park, 12821 McGowan Drive,
Tyler, Texas 75707-9665, from 1946 Rayen Annual, Youngstown, Ohio,
Dedication Biographies.
SAPPINGTON, John H.,
Pvt., 36682085. a)
Chicago, Illinois. b) Aug.-Nov. 43, D/63/13. c) 17 December 1944,
near Elsenborn Ridge, Belgium. d) I/393/99. e) from
Dauntless: A History
of the 99th Infantry Division, by
 William C. C. Cavanagh: "When
Kampfgruppe Muller forced the 3rd Bn. to yield ground, two platoons
of Company I, 393rd Infantry joined with Company M to re gain the
lost ground. They were unable to regain it and were barely able to
hold their own in the face of enemy tanks. Four bazooka teams moved
forward. A Panther closed on the Company M command post and shot up
the Company M mess tent. Staff Sergeant Chester E. Kroll, a section
leader with the 2nd Heavy Machine Gun Platoon of Company M,
witnessed the clash with the Panther: ‘A Tiger [the Panther] tank
crept up on us and fired point blank. One of our guns opened up on
the tank and buttoned it up and knocked out some of the infantry
that followed. The gun was manned by Private Sappington and Private
Stallman. The tank scored a lucky hit on our machine gun, killing
Sappington. Stallman survived without a scratch.’
Stanton: The 99th Infantry Division landed at Le Havre,
France on 3 November 1944 and assembled at Aubel, Belgium, and
entered the line north of the Roer River between Schmidt and
Monschau on 9 November 1944. After a period of defensive
patrolling, the division attacked toward the Roer and Urft Dams on
13 December 1944 against heavy resistance from the West Wall.
On 16 December 1944 the German Ardennes Counteroffensive hit the
division which was partially surounded and suffered heavy losses
before Elsenborn Ridge. f)
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium, Plot F, Row 1, Grave 63. g) Leon W. St.
Pierre, 3325 Bain Place, Tyler, Texas 75701-8871, in the same
company at Fannin and in combat with the 99th at the same time.
  SAVARD,
Godfrey J., 2nd Lt., 01688296 a) Quebec, Canada; entered Army
from Connecticut. b) Not
known; information states only that he served at Camp Fannin. c)
October 22, 1945, Leghorn (Liv orno), Italy. d) 703rd Engineer Petroleum
Distribution Company. e) No information provided; served 16 months
heavy combat with A/339/85, promoted from private to tech sergeant
in a year, then commissioned. He was then reassigned to the 703rd
when 85th rotated home at the end of the war. f) American Cemetery,
Florence, Italy, Plot C, Row 3, Grave 9. g) Source of information: <http://www.geocities.com/carl123.geo/soldats.html>
and American Battle Monuments Commission. h) Awards: Silver Star
Medal (left), two Bronze Stars, French Croix d’Guerre with palm,
Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge.
SCHUESSLER, Frank A., PFC, 33925290.
a) Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. b) Sept-Dec
1944, 58/12. g) Carl A. Settle, 124 Culotta Drive, Hampton,
Virginia 23666, a fellow-trainee at Fannin.
SCOTT, Charles F., S/Sgt. a)
California. c) 15 Nov. 44, Ancerville, France. d) F/315/79 e)
Stanton: "An all-out divisional assault forced a German withdrawal
from the [Foret de Parroy] with the final capture of the road on the
main road junction 9 Oct. 44. The division next took Embermenil 3
Oct. 44 and battled for the high ground east of the town 15-22 Oct.
44. It was relieved in this area 24 Oct.44. It rested at Luneville
and returned to the attack 13 Nov. 44 with the 314th and 315th out
of the Montigny area which carried it across the Vezouse…"
g) Edgar
W. Henley (now deceased), Route 1, Box 66A, Emmet, Arkansas 71835,
who wrote: "I was first sergeant of Co. F when S/Sgt. Scott was
killed."
SCOTT, James Dryden.
b) late 1943
or early 1944. c) He was killed in Europe during the crossing of the
Rhine. He was a glider infantryman. f) U. S. Military Cemetery, Margraten, Holland. g) son, James D. Scott, Jr., 938 South Alamo
Road, #1, Alamo, Texas 78516-9521.
 SHERMAN, Nathan Gilbert, PFC,
33664113. a) Cross Keys, Virginia. b) Sept.-Dec. 44, C/64/13 and
C/58/12. c) 11 Feb. 45, Germany. d) C/318/80. e)
Stanton:
After
massive artillery preparation, the 80th Division attacked across
the Our and Sauer on 7 Feb. 45 with the 319th Inf. at Wallendorf and
the 318th near Dillingen. The heavy fire from the West Wall
positions and swift current combined to prevent any bridging. As
 the
West Wall fortifications and pillboxes were slowly reduced the
bridgehead was expanded. f) Luxembourg American Cemetery; reinterred St.
Paul’s Cemetery, Grottoes, Virginia. g) Carl A. Settle, 124 Culotta
Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666, who trained in the same company at
Fannin, and offers a roster including Nathan Sherman’s name. See
page 3, February 2003 issue of
Camp Fannin Guidon.
h) Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge.
SHEWCRAFT, Herman C., PFC,
35815761. a) Kentucky. b) Sept.-Dec. 44, C/64/13 and C/58/12. c) 29
April 45, Germany. d) 71/44. e) Stanton: "On 25 April 45 … the 71st
Inf. Regt. crossed the Iller at
 Dietenheim and cleared Voehringen.
The [44th] Div. then followed the 10th Armd. Div. and cleared
Fuessen and Wertach on 28 April 45…and rushed through the Fern Pass
and entered the Inn Valley."
f) Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot E, Row 21, Grave 34. g) Carl A. Settle, 124
Culotta Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666, who trained in the same
company at Fannin, and offers a roster including Herman Shewcraft’s
name. See page 3, February 2003 issue of
Camp Fannin Guidon.
SHOUSE, James Aubrey, PFC, date of birth May 30, 1925. a) Dublin,
Virginia. b) Fall 1943. c) September 12, 1944, France. f) New
Dublin Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Dublin, Virginia. g) Shane
Olson, Adjutant, 9th District Sons of American Legion,
216 Railroad Avenue South, Halma, Minnesota 56729-2908, who learned
of his death while researching for soldiers killed during the
war. h) Entered the Army September 4, 1943, trained at Camp Fannin
and Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, Served in Italy and France.
Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge.
  SIEK,
Leonard O., PFC, 35845850, DOB 2/6/1919. a) Pemberville, Ohio.
b) July-November 1944, B/66/14. 
c) March 17, 1945, Luzon, near Norton's Knob. d) H/27/25. e)
Stanton: The 25th Division redeployed to La Paz and prepared to
assault the Caraballo Mountains. The offensive was initiated 21
Feb. 45 as the division drove up Highway 5 toward Balete Pass. On
15 Mar. 45 the division began the battle for Norton's Knob where
entrenched Japanese repulsed attacks for the next ten days. f)
Re-buried 8/18/1948 in New Albany National Cemetery, Ind., Sect. F,
Site 129. g) Paul Rolf, a hometown friend, who was inducted with
Leonard, trained with him at Camp Fannin, and fought with him on
Luzon. “As I went through his company when my recon troop was
relieved,” Paul writes, “I asked about him and was told he was
killed in the battle leading to the Congo Fortress.” Additional
information from Shane Olson, Halma, Minn., and Patricia M. Hock,
Kentucky National Cemetery Complex. h) Purple Heart, Combat
Infantry Badge.
 SIMS, Ralph D., Jr., PFC,
18169673. a) Hazen, Arkansas. b) Fall 1943, D/66/14. c) 18 Nov. 44,
approaches to Metz, France. d) 2/5 e)
Stanton: On 12 Nov. 1944, the 5th Infantry Division returned
to the assault [on Metz] and was counterattacked at once as it
entered the bridgehead of the 6th Armd. Div. Over the next few days,
the 2nd Inf. took Ancerville.
f) Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot
C, Row 28, Grave 59. g) Mrs. Kim Groff, 6414 Shoreline Drive, Little
Elm, Texas 75068, phone (972) 294-8160, e-mail <kgroff@sbcglobal,net>. Mrs.
Groff is author of The Fitzgerald House, which memorializes the home
at 815 South Broadway Avenue in Tyler where Mrs. Lois Whiteman
welcomed so many Fannin service men during the war. Mrs. Groff
discovered letters to Mrs. Whiteman from many whom she had
befriended including Ralph D. Sims, Jr. Many of his letters appear
in her book, including a final one dated 12 Nov. 44, saying "It’s
cold here, and those big feet of mine just can’t seem to stay warm.
Otherwise, I’m fine." Additional information
provided in July 2009 by Shane Olson of Halma, Minnesota. h) Excerpts from his obituary in the Hazen
paper: "Ralph was a graduate of Hazen High School and president
and valedictorian of the class of 1940. He graduated from
Arkansas State Teachers College with a BS in chemistry, was
president of the student council and of his freshman class and was
listed in Who's Who Among Students in American
Universities and Colleges.
Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge.
SMITH, George A., Pvt., 36486831. a) Midland, Michigan. c) June
23, 1945, near Aparri,
Luzon, Philippines. d) 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment or
457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, both of the 11th
Airborne Division. e) From a communication from
 Randy
Brandt, husband of Bonnie J. Hollis, niece of George A. Smith:
“Family recollections of what they were told of his last parachute
jump most closely resemble the 511th and 457th drop near Aparri,
northern Luzon , as part of the Gypsy Task Force on or about June
23, 1945. Poor weather conditions resulted in more than 70
casualties including two dead. Based on what I know now, one of
those two probably was Pvt. George A. Smith.” f) Midland,
Michigan. g) Randolph D. Brandt, <Brandt.randolph@gmail.com> ,
(262) 681-9361. h) From letter cited above: “George Smith’s
service and death remain an important part of family memory and
traditions. My wife’s father Thomas J. Smith flew an American flag
in his yard every day in honor of his brother up until his own death
in 1999 and we’ve continued the practice to this day.” Purple
Heart, Combat Infantry Badge.
SMITH, Jack. a) Dallas, Texas. b)
July-Nov 43, B/63/13. c) Leyte, Philippine Islands, Oct or Nov 44.
d) A/718 Amph T ractor Bn., attached to 77th Inf Div. e) Made the initial assault on Leyte,
killed by enemy fire while on patrol. The 718th Amphibian
Tractor Battalion took part in the raids deep behind Japanese lines
on Leyte in late 1944 and early 1945. g) William J. Reilly, 93 Park
Ave., Unit 1504, Danbury, Connecticut 06810, friend from Camp Fannin
who served in the same unit overseas. Additional information
provided by Shane Olson, Halma, Minnesota. h) Purple Heart,
Combat Infantry Badge.
 SMITH, Rufus, Pvt., 36882849. a) Michigan. b) October 1943-? c)
11 September 1944, vicinity Aachen, Germany. d) 18th
Inf. Regt., 1st Inf. Div. e) Stanton: The 1st
Inf. Div. crossed the Meuse River at Liege, Belgium 9 September
1944, reached the German
 border, and laid siege to the fortress-city
of Aachen. f) Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium, Plot E,
Row 15, Grave 28. g) Great-greatniece, at
jenntatro@cox.net. h) Silver Star Medal (left), Purple Heart,
Combat Infantry Badge.
 SNOOK, Ivan J., Pfc, 37678681. a)
Newton, Iowa. b) A/67/14, finished training February 1944. c) 3
April 1945, Luzon. d) 158 (Bushmasters)/Separate. e) Stanton:
Attached to 11th Airborne Division 3-24 March 1945, began offensive
to open Balayan and Batangas Bays on 5 March 1945, and after heavy
combat, cleared the Calumpan Peninsula by 16 March 1945; attached to
the XIV Corps 25 March, assaulted Legaspi area of Bicol Peninsula,
Luzon 1 April 1945 and battled for ridge near Daraga 1-9 April
1945. g) Robert G. Myers, 917 South 2nd Ave. W, Newton, Iowa 50208,
who trained in the same battalion at Fannin.
 STROUSE, Liston, Pvt. c) 18 June
45, Luzon, P.I. d) L/148/37. e) Killed by machine gun fire while
attacking a Japanese strong point. g) Don Ely, RR 1, Cornell,
Illinois 61319-9801. Don says he did not know deceased but that they
were in the same company, probably in another platoon.
SWANN, Ferdinand R., Pvt. a)
Doniphan, Missouri. b) D/52/11. c) 22 June 44, France. d) B/23/2. e)
Stanton: "The [2nd] Div. landed on the evening of 7 June 44 across
Omaha Beach and was committed in the Foret de Cerisy and next
attacked across the Elle and Aure Rivers. It assaulted the German
strongpoint position on top of Hill 192 which commanded the
approaches to St. Lo on 12 June 44. Fierce fighting for Hill 192
continued through June."
f) Normandy American Cemetery. g) Howard H. Hoblet, 6628 Tully-Harrison Road, Convoy, Ohio 45832, company clerk
D/52/11 both at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and Camp Fannin. Learned of
deceased’s death from Letter 4, dated Jan. 1, 1945, sent out to
former members of D/52/11 by John B. Culbertson, then stationed in
Ft. Meade, Md. Further information from Ferdinand R. Swann’s grand
niece, Tanya Banderman, tjband@msn.com.
SWISHER, Robert Benjamin, Pvt. a)
Kirksville, Missouri. b) Aug. 44-Jan. 45. c) 28 April 45, Luzon, P.I.
f) Greencastle Cemetery, Green City, Missouri. g) Walter D.
Straight, 3101 S. Route O, Columbia, Missouri 65203-9281, who
writes: "The Swisher boys, Carroll and Robert, are cousins. They
were inducted together, trained in the same company at Camp Fannin,
home on leave together Christmas 1944, went overseas together, both
severely wounded together, in same hospital, where Robert died."
 TAYLOR, Robert R., Cpl.,
38545302. a) Corrigan, Texas. b) Winter-Spring 1944, D/62/13,
transferred in April 1944 to A/56/12. c) 7 August 1944, Anzo,
France. d) 110/28.
 e) Stanton:
"The 28th Infantry Division landed in
Normandy, France on 22 July 1944 and entered the hedgerow struggle
north and west of St. Lo. Advancing slowly against determined German
defenders, it took Percy 1 August 1944 and overran Gathemo with 2nd
Armored Division assistance on 10 August 1944." f) U. S. Military
Cemetery, Le Chene-Guerin, 14 miles south of St. Lo, Plot E, Row 6,
Grave 113. Repatriated and buried on or about 29 April 1949 at Union
Springs Cemetery, Corrigan (Polk County), Texas. g) Niece, Joyce
Mosley, 6103 Egypt, Pasadena, Texas 77505, garyjoyce925@hotmail.com. h)
Mrs. Mosley, three years old at the time of her uncle’s death, says
"I remember my mother receiving a late-night telegram and sitting
down on the side of the bed and crying. I remember going to Robert’s
funeral after his body was returned to Corrigan, Texas."
TENLEY, William H. a) Iowa. c)
1944, Leyte, P.I. f) Stanwood, Iowa. g) Mrs. Janet Taylor, Kilgore,
Texas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Werner of Tyler, transmitted
by Mrs. Ruby Neilson, Gordon’s widow, 417 Bond St., Hillsboro, Texas
76645-2332. Ruby writes: "Mrs. Taylor got hold of guest register
from the First Baptist Church, Tyler, signed during the war, and
began to try to track the signees. She took the state of Iowa as her
project. She had really fantastic results. The people of Iowa are so
helpful and friendly. Some of the newspapers, Chambers of Commerce,
country clerks, etc. wrote to say that they knew some of the
veterans, including William H. Tenley, were deceased." See also
story about Mrs. Taylor in Camp Fannin Guidon, Spring 1997 issue,
page 2, "God Bless The Children".
THOMAS, Carl, Pvt. b) Aug-Dec 43,
A/81. c) 20 Oct 44, Leyte, P.I. g) Eric Diller, 504 Via La Selva,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277; (310) 375-2024; eddiller@earthlink.net; in
same barracks with deceased at Camp Fannin.
THOMAS, Raymond P., Sgt.,
31389683. a) Massachusetts. b) D/52/11. c) 18 Dec. 44, France. d)
30/3. e)
Stanton: "The [3rd] Div. emerged from the Vosges onto the
Alsatian Plain and entered Strasbourg 27 Nov. 44. On 5 Dec. 44 the
division began its attack toward the Maginot Line and cleared
Bennwihr 24 Dec. 44."
f) Epinal American Cemetery, France, Plot B,
Row 41, Grave 1. g) Howard H. Hoblet, 6628 Tully-Harrison, Convoy,
Ohio 45832, company clerk D/52/11 both at Camp Robinson, Arkansas
and Camp Fannin. Learned of Raymond Thomas’s death from Letter 4,
dated 1 Jan. 45, sent out to former members of D/52/11 by John B.
Culbertson, then stationed at Ft. Meade, Md.
TIEMANN, Edgar B. ("Boots"). b)
March-Sept. 44. c) 17 April 45, Tanne, Germany. d) L/3/16/1. e)
Excerpts from letter from daughter, Patricia Tiemann Fabri: "He was
wounded in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest on 23 Nov.
 44, sent to
England for surgery and rehabilitation and back to his unit in March
45." Stanton: "On 8 April 45 the [1st] Division was called up to
force the Weser River after the 3rd Armd Div had reached it only to
find all the bridges blown. The 16th and 18th Infantry Regiments
expanded the bridgehead . With the 4th Cavalry Group attached, the
division was tasked with mopping up along the edge of the Harz
Mountains. The bypassed German troops were encircled commencing 12
April 45 and organized resistance ended by 20 April 45."
g)
Daughter, Patricia Tiemann Fabri, 3715 W. Calavar Rd., Phoenix,
Arizona 85053. h) Deceased was 32 at time of death.
TINKER, Eugene, Pvt., 31401988.
a) Maine. b) Sept.-Dec. 44, C/64/13 and C/58/12.
c) 26 Feb. 45, Luxembourg. d) I/304/76. e) Stanton: "The [76th] Div.
crossed the Pruem River 24-25 Feb. 45 and regrouped, as the 304th
Inf. Regt. crossed the Nims at Wolsfeld the next day." f) Luxembourg
American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Plot E, Row 15, Grave 66. g)
Carl A. Settle, 124 Culotta Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666
.
TROTTER, George I. ("GI"). a) Iowa. b) C/64/13. c) Aug. 44, Italy.
g) Edgar W. Henley, Route 1, Box 66A, Emmet, Arkansas 71835. Edgar
and "GI" were fellow cadremen in C/64/13, along with another Roll of
Honor hero, Wayne W. Dahlstedt. The three are shown together in a
1944 photo, printed on page 3 of the Fall 1999 issue of Camp Fannin
Guidon.
TUCKER, Raymond J., PFC,
35907914. a) Indiana. b) Sept.-Dec. 44, C/64/13 and C/58/12. c) 16
March 45, Germany. d) F/276/70. e)
Stanton: "Divisional patrols
reached the outposts of the West Wall on 6
 Mar 45. The German forces
withdrew 13 March 45 and the division began pursuit operations
immediately, driving north to the Saar and crossing into Germany 14
March 45. Saarbruecken was attacked on 15 March 45."
f) Lorraine
American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot E, Row 6, Grave 10. g)
Carl A. Settle, 124 Culotta Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666. See also
item "Rosters Available" on page 3 of the February 2003 issue of
Camp Fannin Guidon.
VEIL, William.T.,
PFC, 33762987. a) Johnstown,
Pennsylvania. b) July-Dec. 43. c) 23 June 1944, near Cherbourg,
France. d) 8/4. e) Stanton: The 4th Div. , reinforced by the 359th Inf.
of the 90th Inf. Div., assaulted Utah Beach, France with the 8th
Inf. leading 6 June 44. The 8th Inf. Regt. relieved the isolated
82nd Airborne Div. at Ste. Mere-Eglise and countered several German
attacks 7 June 44. The following day the division began its drive on
the Cotentin Peninsula toward Cherbourg, and the 22nd Inf. Regt.
took Azeville fort and Ozeville 9 June 44 with naval gunfire
support. The division reached Cherbourg’s main defenses by 21 June
44 and on 22 June 44 began its assault . On 25 June 44 it breached the fortress
city and garrisoned it until relieved at the end of the month by the
101st Airborne Division." f)
Normany American Cemetery, St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. g) Emory A. Domen,
1990 Minno Drive, Johnstown, PA 15905-1172, who writes: "William
Veil lived a quarter-mile from my home and was housed in the
barracks next to mine during 17 weeks of basic training at Fannin. I
have been to France many times and always paid my respects to his
final resting place." Additional information provided by
Carl A. Settle, 124 Culotta Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666.
WALDO, Duane, PFC. a) Kalamazoo,
Michigan. b) July-Sept. 43. c) January 1945, Battle of the Bulge. d)
17th Airborne Division. e) Stanton: " The 17th Airborne Division was
flown to the Reims area of France 23-25 Dec. 44 by emergency night
flights and assembled at Mourmelon. The division defended the Meuse
River from Givet to Verdun 27-31 Dec. 44 and relieved the 28th Inf.
Div. in the Neufchateau area 1 Jan. 45. It attacked 3 Jan 45 five
miles northwest of Bastogne and was strongly opposed at Dead Man’s
Ridge, capturing Rechrival and Flamierge on 7 Jan. 45. The division
gained then lost the high ground north of Laval and was forced out
of Flamierge by German counterattack on 8 Jan. 45. On 11 Jan. 45 the
German forces commenced withdrawal and the division moved up to
retake Flamierge the next day. Salle fell without opposition on 13
Jan. 45, and the following day the 507th Parachute Infantry
(attached) secured Bertogne while the 194th Glider Inf. took
Givroulle and the division reached the Ourthe River. It took over
the Hardingny-Houffalize line on 18 Jan. 45 and by 20 Jan. 45 had
advanced beyond Tavigny. Steinbach and Limerle were occupied 22 Jan.
45 and the division continued behind the retreating Germans to take
Espeler and Wattermal by 26 Jan. 45, when it was relieved by the
87th Inf. Div." f) Kalamazoo, Michigan. g) Joseph H. Quade, 4 Cain
Court, Montville, New Jersey 02045, who was at Camp Fannin at the
same time as Duane Waldo and also attended M.I.T. with him in the
ASTP program. Joe Quade is also a 17th A/B Div. combat vet and
editor of the Division Association’s publication, Thunder
From Above.
 WALSH, Robert, PFC, 31435231. a)
Massachusetts. c) 6 April 45, Germany. d) 290/75. e) Stanton: "The
75th Inf. Div. attacked across the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Waltrop on
4 April 45 and began clearing the approaches to Dortmund. The
division was reinforced by the 320th Inf. Regt. and reached the Ruhr
at Witten with four regiments, taking two bridges intact on 11 April
45." f) Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands, Plot
P, Row 20, Grave 16. g) Carl A. Settle, 124 Culotta Drive, Hampton,
Virginia 23666. h) Won Air Medal with Gold Star.
WEBER, Robert E., Pvt., 36918499.
a) Pontiac, Illinois. b) Oct. 1944-March 1945, D/51/11. c) 15 April
1945, Torfhaus, Germany. d) H/26/1. e) Per letter from Pvt. Weber’s
company commander, 1st Lt. Paul C. Heath, to his father, Walter C.
Weber: "On the 15th day of April 1945, you son’s company was
assigned the mission of cutting a German-held road in the vicinity
of Torfhaus, Germany. As the attack progressed, the company
encountered enemy tanks which were set up as a defense against our
advancing elements. Heavy fire was exchanged by both sides, and it
was during this engagement that your son, while carrying ammunition
for his machine gun squad, was killed by shrapnel from an exploding
shell fired by an enemy tank. As his commanding officer, I want to
assure you that he died as a soldier, fighting on the field of
battle against the enemies of our country. He was killed instantly
with no suffering or lingering pain." f) American Military Cemetery
near Ittenbach, Germany; re-interred Patty Cemetery, Pontiac,
Illinois. g) Donald and Jo Ely, RR #1, Cornell, Illinois 61319
WELSH, Burl W.
Jr. Pvt., 38687328. a)
Oklahoma b) 1944 c) 22 April 1945, Okinawa
f) Turlock, California. g) <http://www.cagenweb.com/lr/stanislaus/staniobit.html>
.
WENNER, Carl Finley, Pvt.,
33940037. a) Knox, Pennsylvania. b) May-Oct. 44, D/51/11. c) 10 Dec.
44, Saarlautern, Germany. d) 379/95. e) Stanton: "The 379th Inf.
Regt. battled into Saarlautern and crossed
 the bridge there 4 Dec.
44, driving into the West Wall. In house-to-house fighting and
combat through mazes of pillboxes, the Saarlautern Bridgehead
Battles commenced the same day. The 379th and 377th fought the
Battle of Fraulautern, and the 379th fought the Battle for
Saarlautern-Roden, until the division was relieved in line on 18
Dec. as the 5th Inf. Div. took over the fighting."
f) Lorraine
American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot B, Row 23, Grave 11. g)
Widow, Marie E. Wenner, Rt. 1, Cranberry, Pennsylvania 16319-9801.
h) Carl Wenner was 31 years old and the father of four children at
his death.
WILDEVELD, Simion
G., Pvt., 36915611. a) Cook County, Illinois. g)
Carl A. Settle, 124 Culotta Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666.
WRIGHT, Ralph E., PFC, 38687793.
a) Cooper, Texas. b) May-Oct. 44. c) 18 Jan. 45, German POW
facility. d) L/315/79. e) Ralph Wright died while a prisoner of war
as the result of wounds received in action 11 January. Stanton: "The
79th Div. reached the Lauter River at Schiebenhardt on 15 Dec. 44
and held defensive lines at Wissembourg until 2 Jan. 45. It then
moved to the southern portion of the Rhine River. The Germans
established a bridgehead at Gambsheim and by 6 Jan. the division had
battled through Stattmatten to relieve encircled elements of the
task force. German attacks forced the 315th Inf. out of Hatten and
Rittershoffen, and by 12 Jan. the 14th Armd Div and 103rd Inf Div
were committed to the battle." f) U.S. Military Cemetery, St. Avold,
France. g) Widow, Doris Toon Alley, 3177 Hwy. 154, Cooper, Texas
75432.
YEAPLE, Andrew Z., PFC, 42001056.
a) New Jersey. b) July-Oct. 43, C/63/13. c) 13 Dec. 44, near the
German West Wall. Elsenborn nearest large town. d) B/395/99. e) Ltr.
from Robert R. Pierce: " During our
attack on fortified positions of
the West Wall, Andy was killed."
Stanton:
"The 99th Div. landed at
Le Havre, France on 3 Nov. 44 and assembled at Aubel, Belgium, and
entered the line north of the Roer River between Schmidt and
Monschau on 9 Nov. After a period of defensive patrolling, the
division attacked toward the Roer and Urft Dams on 13 Dec. against
heavy resistance from the West Wall." f) Henri Chappelle Military
Cemetery, Belgium, Plot D, Row 10, Grave 37. g) Robert R. Pierce, 9420 – 37 Ave. S.W.,
Seattle, Washington 98126, who writes: "Andy and I went through
basic training together at Fannin, then were together in the ASTP
program at Louisiana State University. We were sent to the 99th Inf.
Div. in March of 1944, and were subsequently assigned to the same
squad in B/395/99. I had a chance to visit his gravesite in 1989."
ZACHARY, Harry, PFC, 39417993. a)
Fresno, California. b) Sept. 43-Feb. 44, C/52/11. c) 30 Oct. 44,
France. d) 157/45. e) Stanton: "The 157 Inf. Regt. took Girmont 24
Sept. 44 and the division entered the western foothills of the
Vosges. After severe fighting, Bruyeres fell 19 Oct. and after
several attempts managed a bridgehead across the Morgagne near
Fremifontaine 22-23 Oct. As the division was pushing slowly toward
Raon-l’Etape west of the Meurthe. It was relieved 1-9 Nov and moved
to a rest area." f) Epinal American Cemetery, France, Plot B, Row
12, Grave 10. g) Winston A. Bailey, 27211, Cranford Lane, Dearborn
Heights, Michigan 48127, who writes: "Harry was a dear best friend.
We took basic training together, same platoon. Looking for Harry, I
visited his mother after the war and she told me that he had been
killed."
ZANG, Robert J., PFC.,
36915409 a) Muskegon
Heights, Michigan. b) D/61/13. c) 9 June 1945, Okinawa. f) Norton
Cemetery, Norton Shores, Michigan. g) Thomas Vermilya, Jr., 3808
Pontaluna Road, Fruitport, Michigan 49415, who wrote: "We trained
together at Fannin and Fort Ord, and went to Hawaii where we were
separated. I learned of his death by a letter from home."
ZEIGLER, Clarence L., Sr. b)
D/52/11. c) Anzio. g) Howard H. Hoblet, 6628 Tully-Harrison Road,
Convoy, Ohio 45832, company clerk D/52/11 both at Camp Robinson,
Arkansas and Camp Fannin. Learned of deceased’s death from Letter 4,
dated Jan. 1, 1945, sent out to former members of D/52/11 by John B.
Culbertson, then stationed in Ft. Meade, Md.
We add names of Camp Fannin
veterans who died in uniform during World War II and make
corrections continuously to our Roll of Honor as new information is
provided. If you have personal knowledge of the death in uniform of
someone else who served at Camp Fannin, please nominate him or her
for membership in the Camp Fannin Roll of Honor. Write to Roll of
Honor, 2213 Mendoza Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32304-1319
requesting a nomination form or e-mail your request to
ethorne003@comcast.net.
Click "Home" at top or bottom for a comprehensive discussion of
what our website <campfanninrollofhonor.com> contains.
This version updated November 23,
2009.
For other Camp Fannin news, go to
http://www.campfannin.com.
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