Categorie: Epinal

Name and Rank, Captain Robert Stuart Abbott Jr.

Unit/Placed, 127th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squadron.

 

Robert was born in 16 January 1912 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Father, Robert Stuart Abbott Sr.

Mother, Grace E. (Hubbs) Abbott.

 

Robert entered  the service from Louisiana with service number # O-308592.

 

Robert S. Abbott Jr. was a Captain in the 127th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad .

 

Robert died in an accident near Hürtgenwald on March 5, 1945, he is honored with a Senior Bomb Squad Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

And he is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal,
Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

WW2 Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Medals Forum, https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

WordPress en/of Wooncommerce oplossingen, https://www.siteklusjes.nl/

Military Recovery,  https://www.dpaa.mil/

BDs in the Pacific

No discussion of World War Two bomb disposal is complete without an exploration of the unique challenges of the Pacific Theater, where long distances, constant work, and jungle climate adversely affected unit record-keeping.

 

Owing to navy shortages, army personnel often handled all naval ordnance that they encountered. Today’s joint-service EOD training reflects the fact that many army technicians paid the price for this oversight.

 

Capt. George C. Sarauw and his entire team perished on April 18, 1945; when a Japanese beach mine blew up their transport on the island of Ie Shima, part of the Okinawa prefecture. Ironically, this tragedy occurred on the same date war correspondent Ernie Pyle died covering the battle.

 

Like the Germans, Japanese soldiers were masters of improvised explosives. In fact, when Douglas MacArthur famously waded ashore at Luzon, making good on his promise to return to the Philippines, he did so only when the 109th BD Squad had finished combing the beaches of for mines. The 109th also accompanied MacArthur on his “March to Manila”, where they were ambushed while scouting ahead for UXBs. No one was killed, but the team’s officer, 1st Lt. Carl Cirocco, lost the use of his arm due to shrapnel.

 

Japanese defenders would use anything, even “dud” American bombs, to hinder Allied troop movements. The 209th, one of the last squads to arrive in the Philippines, supported infantry operations on the large jungle island of Mindanao. They were disarming Japanese depth charges used as landmines on June 28, 1945.

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Frank Earl Ailio.

Unit/Placed in, 253^rd Infantry Regiment, 63^rd Infantry Division.

Frank is born approx. 1913 in Wisconsin.

Father, Frank E. Ailio.

Mother, Aina A. Ailio.

Both born in Finland.

Brother(s), Howard C. Ailio.

Frank enlisted the service in Michigan with service number # O1055200.

Frank was KIA during the raid on Bliesgersweiler, Germany, looking for better fire positions on Feb. 17, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Silver Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Frank Is buried/mentioned at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France.

Thanks to, http://www.63rdinfdiv.com/253rdinfregtpage1.html

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Medals Forum, https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

WordPress en/of Wooncommerce oplossingen, https://www.siteklusjes.nl/

Military Recovery,  https://www.dpaa.mil/

Silver Star

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Frank F. Ailio (ASN: 0-1055200), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 253IR, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 17 February 1945, in the vicinity of Bliesgersweiler, Germany. When a rifle platoon was pinned down by enemy fire, Lieutenant Ailio, in the face of intense mortar and machine gun fire, enabled the rifle platoon which he was supporting to drive the enemy from the woods and fulfill its mission by leading his heavy machine gun section, emplacing it skillfully and setting up the most advantageous base of fire for each gun. Lieutenant Ailio was killed during this action. His gallant sacrifice and courageous leadership remain as a lasting inspiration to his men and are in accord with the finest traditions of the military service.

General Orders: Headquarters, 63d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 63 (March 29, 1945)

Rank and Name, Flight Officer Billy Dee Kemp.

Unit/Placed in, 597th Bomber Squadron, 397th Bomber Group (Medium).

 

 

Billy was born on 27 June 1924 in Clinton, Arkansas.

Father, Fred Kemp.

Mother, Minnie Ann (Williams) Kemp.

Sister(s), Ray and Mary F. Kemp.

Brother(s), Dale W. and Robert Lee Kemp.

 

Billy enlisted  the service at Arkansas with serial number T-129084.

 

Billy D. Kemp was a Gunner on a B-26, in the 597th Bomber Squadron.

 

Billy‘s Crew-members on-board the plane a B-26 were,

1^st Lt.           Thaddeus J Karasinski       Pilot

1. Billy D Kemp Co-Pilot

SSgt.            Donald H Leupold              Gunner

Billy was KIA at the crash near the town off Villers, Carbonnel, France on Feb. 14, 1945, he is honored with an Air Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Aviator Badge, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Billy is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France

 

Thanks to Wikipedia

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/1273

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com and ww2-europe.com.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

WordPress en/of Wooncommerce oplossingen, https://www.siteklusjes.nl/

Military Recovery,  https://www.dpaa.mil/

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Richard A. La Barron.

Unit/Placed in, 830th Bomber Squadron, 405th Bomber Group (Heavy).

 

Richard was born approx. on 1921 in Hartford County, Connecticut.

Father, Charles La Barron.

Mother, Elanor La Barron.

Brothers, Newton, Lawrence, Leonard and Vernon La Barron.

Richard entered the service from Connecticut with service

number # O2065160.

Richard A. La Barron was a Navigator (B-24) in the 830th Bomber Squadron.

 

Richard‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-  were,

1st Lt.          George M. Manuel              Pilot

2nd Lt.         Vernon P. Lovejoy              Co-Pilot

2nd Lt.         Richard A. La Barron         Navigator

Capt.            Victor Vergara                  Bombardier

S/Sgt.           Chester E. Konkelewski       Rom Gunner

T/Sgt.          Bolland E. Roller               Engineer/Gunner

Cpl.              Rupart R. Hazen               Nose Gunner

Cpl.              John J. Brennan Jr.           Ball Turret Gunner

Cpl.              Raymond R. Hayden          Right Waist Gunner

Cpl.              George F. Raidel                Tail Gunner

 

Richard  was KIA near Bratislava, Slovakia when the plane was hit by FLAK, on March 26, 1945, and he is honored with an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Richard is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France.

Tablets of the Missing.

Thanks to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/830th_Bombardment_Squadron

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com and ww2-europe.com.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/