ANHORN Reuben | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 37171074 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
AGE | 36 yo | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE OF BIRTH | 18 Octobre 1908 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
STATE | DAKOTA du NORD | ||||||||||||||||||||||
FAMILY | Single | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RANK | PVT | ||||||||||||||||||||||
FONCTION | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JOB before ENLISTEMENT | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 8 Novembre 1940 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMPANY | Company F | ||||||||||||||||||||||
BATTALION | 2nd battalion | ||||||||||||||||||||||
REGIMENT | 357th Infantry Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DIVISION | 90th Infantry Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE OF DEATH | 6 august 1944 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
STATUS | KIA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PLACE OF DEATH | Langeais (37) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY de Colleville | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GRAVE |
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DECORATION |
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STORY | |||||||||||||||||||||||
A native of North Dakota, Reuben works in Minot before he enlists the US Army. He joins the Infantry, more precisely the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. Early in 1943, Reuben, with the whole division, trains in Louisiana for two months. September 1943, maneuvers are scheduled for three months in the Arizona desert and in California. March 1944, departure for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where the last preparations and perceptions occur. On March 23, 1944 the division leaves the USA towards England where it arrives on April 5. June 5, the 357th Regiment embarks in Cardiff towards Swansea, from there Reuben discovers the huge fleet which is getting ready to depart. The regiment comes ashore on Utah Beach on June 8, it must be engaged as soon as possible, in the evening of this day it must be in Loutres. In the night of June 9 to June 10, the Battle of Normandy really begins for the regiment as it comes across the La Fière bridge, the 357th was delayed by artillery fire. Late in the night, it joins the 325th G.I.R (Glider Infantry Regiment) 82nd Airborne Division westward of the Merderet river. After having suffered the shelling, the regiment engages the enemy in Amfreville, then after having suffered enemy fire, Gourbesville becomes its objective. An artillery barrage will prepare the ground. The village conquest is hard fought. For two hours no terrain was gained. At the end of the day, the regiment suffers 99 killed. On June 11, 1944 the 2nd battalion is launched to secure Gourbesville and push towards Orglandes. On June 12, 1944 the 357th leaves its position to try and seize Gourbesville once again, town the Germans are willing to hold. The «Tough 'Ombres» have to face a real barrier; in spite of the tanks support they are forced to withdraw. The 357th launches another attack at 1400. Despite ceaseless attacks, the Germans do not give up. On June 13, 1944 the 357th continues to fight to seize Gourbesville, A Company 315th Engineers reinforces it. The Colonel commanding the regiment is replaced that day. On June 14, 1944 a new objective is assigned to the division; to cover the 9th Infantry Division's north flank. But the 357th still increases its combativeness to seize Gourbesville. In the end of the day, at about 2240, the 3rd battalion seizes the town after hard fighting. In four days of fighting, 703 soldiers from the 357th were killed or wounded. On June 15, 1944 men take advantage of a relative resting time to rest and wash before being carried to LE HAM where they can rest for a while. On June 18, 1944 the 357th receives a new order which consists in establishing a defensive line so as to stop any enemy movement from the south towards the north. C Company 889th Tank destroyer battalion comes as a supporting. The men are carried from LE HAM to Portbail. On June 19, 1944 they are stationed in the eastern part of Portbail, waiting for German reinforcement to come from the South towards Cherbourg. The Germans bypass the lines and arrive from the north, taking Americans positions by surprise. 59 American soldiers were taken prisoners, among them was Reuben ANHORN. He is transfered and interned in Stalag 221 in ST Jacques-de-la-Lande near Rennes. Facing the American pogression, German troops lock 40 prisoners, including Reuben, in freight cars. In that train, there were between 1200 and 1600 prisoners, civilians as well as militaries. On August, 2nd, the train leaves Rennes. Throughout its drive, this convoy of deported will face many events, but in late afternoon of August, 6th the convoy stops at the railway station in Langeais following the railways' destruction due to an ammunition train being machine-gunned. By the end of this day, six P-38s Lightning fly over and machine-gun the convoy. Several prisoners take advantage from the confusion to escape, the Red Cross will care for the true and pseudo wounded. 18 dead body will be collected, and among them was Reuben ANHORN. 40 soldiers, among whom 9 Americans, died in this train:
There were British soldiers, Canadians as well as soldiers from the French Colonies.
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ANHORN Reuben - 357 IR 90 ID
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