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Great Uncle who Died in Action--Looking for Info

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by Perk46, Apr 22, 2016.

  1. Perk46

    Perk46 New Member

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    Hi Everyone!

    I was raised around my father's maternal side, and I had always heard about his uncle who died in WWII. My father was named after him and was given his uncle's Purple Heart. I found my great uncle online (where he is buried) and it shows what infantry he was in, when he died, etc, but I'm not clear what battle. From what research I could do it appears his infantry was one of the first to land in Normandy, but he obviously didn't die from that battle as his death date is after, but then appears to be before D day. I don't know if being buried in Belgium means he died there (?). I'm having a difficult time finding any records of this type of info, so I'm hoping you awesome WW2 guys can help me fill in the blanks. I don't think my father recalls much, which is sad since he is retired military and a Vietnam Vet... I was kind of hoping he would know just by being a military kind of guy. Thank you for any info provided!

    http://www.wwiimemorial.com/Registry/plaque_cemetery.aspx?honoreeID=659383
     
  2. BFBSM

    BFBSM Member

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  3. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    He died in Dec.1944. Normandy was in the previous June.

    Post what you know and have about him, pics, documents and the like. The more available, the better.
     
  4. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Granted, this is a Wiki article, but contains some useful information.

    In World War II, the 8th Infantry Regiment was cited twice in the order of the day by the Belgian Army – the first for action in the Belgian Campaign, and later for action in the Ardennes. The Belgian Government subsequently awarded the regiment the Belgian Fourragère.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)
     
  5. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

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    Perk, this is not too detailed but can give you an idea what your g-uncle went through.
    Stanton shows the 8th was an organic part of the 4th ID. They did invade Normandy at Utah Beach on June 6th. The 8th relieved the 82nd A/B at St. Mere-Eglise. The 4th drove into the Cotentin Peninsula and took Cherbourg on 21 June. They participated in COBRA breakout on 25 July and entered Paris on 25 Aug. on 14 Sept they penetrated the West Wall in the Schenee Eifel.
    The division moved to Zweifall area and releaved the 28th Div. on Nov 6, fighting in the Huertgen Forest. The 8th IR reached the edge of the Huertgen Forest on 30 Nov but failed in further advances. The 4th was relieved on Dec 3rd by the 83rd ID.

    Robert was apparently killed on the last day of fighting for the 4th Division in the Huertgen as Stanton says they were releaved on the 3rd of December.
    Read "A Dark and Bloody Ground". This was a terrible, worthless battle.
     
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  6. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

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    Here is a post by kerrd5 that you may find interesting. The IDPF can give you some important information on his death. He may have been wounded earlier and passed on the 3rd of Dec. as Slipdigit posted, a copy of his separation paper or any other information could help a lot to trace his service.

    " #1 Individual Deceased Personnel File: post #1 kerrd5

    Posted 18 September 2011 - 09:31 PM
    I went out to my mailbox 45 minutes ago to pick up yesterday’s mail where I found a CD mailer from the U.S. Army Human Resources Command.

    I suspected it must have been the IDPF I requested and it was.

    The CD contains the IDPF for PFC Arka R. Gibson, the only other B Company, 63rd Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division, man besides my Uncle Tim
    who was KIA on 18 January 1945. It appears he died of a shell wound to the chest.

    I must say I am pleased to receive a CD with a pdf. It is obviously cheaper for the Army to scan the documents and burn a CD than to copy and mail 57 pages.

    I was surprised, though, that this came from Fort Knox and not Alexandria.
    I did not know that HRC had moved to KY. Now I know that it was the result of the BRAC.

    https://www.hrc.army...dia/default.asp

    Here is a revised sample letter to request one:

    U.S. Army Human Resources Command
    ATTN: FOIA Office
    1600 Spearhead Division Avenue
    Fort Knox, KY 40122

    Dear Sirs,

    IAW with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), I should like to request a copy of the Individual Deceased Personnel File for my uncle, John Smith, who died in World War II.

    Below is his personal information:

    - NAME: John Smith
    - RANK: PFC
    - ASN:
    - UNIT:
    - DATE OF DEATH:

    I realize that this will take some time, and I will be patient. Naturally, I am prepared to pay any costs necessary for the production and mailing of the file.

    Dave
    Edited by Otto, 26 July 2013 - 07:34 PM.
    repaired formatting.
    mccann2nd Saluted this Salute This
     
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  7. Perk46

    Perk46 New Member

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    Thank you so much for all this information! I appreciate the links and the book suggestions, and the address of where to request the records.

    I've since talked to my father who mentioned he thought his uncle died in the Battle of the Bulge, but I told him that doesn't make sense since the timelines I've seen that battle came after uncle Robert's death.

    I also apologize for making an error in my original comment, where I said his death came before D day when I meant to type his death date was after, since Normandy happened that summer.

    My G uncle Robert is the only one of our family who died in action, so the urge to know more is great. I had a difficult time finding anything on him on the archives.gov website. I just found the link I posted oroginally.

    Military service is huge in my family: my father is a Vietnam Vet as I stated earlier, many cousins and other uncles served, as well as myself during the Gulf war. My father gave his uncle's Purple Heart to my cousin who was one of the few survivors of his platoon in Afghanistan. Oddly enough, my cousin was named after my father (so the saga continues!). It means a lot to me that you'd all be generous with your time and knowledge. I would love to be able to provide this info to the family and even my cousin, who was the only one who has been to Belgium to see our family's grave.
     
  8. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    There is a lot to be discovered. As you can see, family lore is often faulty. Kudos to you for trying to straighten it out. Keep us informed of your progress. We're interested in your journey and what you find out.
     
  9. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    I do recommend that you request your great uncle's IDPF which Buten42 suggested. The sooner you request it, the better. I submitted a request about 2 months ago and was informed it would take about 48 weeks to get the file.

    To submit your request, use the letter example in post #6 above and email to: USARMY.KNOX.HRC.MBX.FOIA@MAIL.MIL

    See also the thread Individual Deceased Personnel File.
     
  10. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Although about the 22nd IR of the 4th ID and not the 8th IR, the book Hell in the Hurtgen can you give some idea what he went through.

    Here are some links you can look through.
     
  11. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

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    I knew if I cleared enough dust out of my closet I'd find a book on the 4th Infantry Division. It's called " If You Survive", by George Wilson, a true first hand account of Company F, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th ID. From Utah Beach to the end of the war.
    It has a good chapter on the Hurtgen and tells about guys still getting killed as they were being relieved.
     

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