SIMONETTI John R - 9 IR 2 ID

 

John R. SIMONETTI 

 

simonetti john r
NUMBER OF SERVICE32021788
AGE26 yo
DATE OF BIRTH24 May 1918 NEW YORK
ETATQueens County NEW YORK
FAMILY

Parents:  FirstName LASTNAME

Siblings: FirstName LASTNAME

RANKStaff Sergeant
FONCTIONFonction
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENTJobNE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT20 February 1941 Jamaica NEW YORK
BATTALION COMPANYCompany G - 2nd Battalion
REGIMENT9th Infantry Regiment
DIVISION2nd Infantry Division
DATE OF DEATH16 Juin 1944simonetti john r tombe
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHSt Germain d'Elle

CEMETERY

ARLINGTON MILITARY CEMETERY

October 24, 2010   simonetti john r 4

NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
Wall of Missing
DECORATION

Bronze Star + OLC

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge

 

bsm+olc

Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

 

us army div 2 9ri 9 inf reg
STORY

On June 16, 1944, Sargeant John SIMONETTI got engaged into the St Germain d’Elle battle.


plan de St Germain d elle

Right after throwing a grenade with his gun to a machine-gun nest, he is mortally injured by the shot of a sniper who was in the church bell towe or in the St Germain d’Elle milk factory.

John was hit in the throat.

His body has never been found, which explains his inscription on the tablets of missing.

 

In May 2009, his body is exhumed by a crane that was working for the canalization setting.
On November 10, 2009, his body is identified and on October 24, 2010, his remains are buried at the Arlington Military Cemetery with the military honors.
Marilyn DUELL (John’s cousin) receives the American flag from Major General Mike TUCKER who commanded the 2nd Infantry Division.
These dog tags were confirmed and a DNA test confirmed his identity. dog tags de John SIMONETTI
Picture sent by John during his transition in England. He simply wrote LOVE JOHN
The document announcing his death was added to this picture by his family.
His nephew Peter SALERNO with John’s medals.


For 65 years, his family never stopped looking for John, travelling actually to St Germain d'Elle.

It was difficult to know where John’s remains were, because the village was taken five times by the American forces. Two members of his unit witnessed John’s death.

They testified but they didn’t have the same version. For one of them, John was evacuated and for the other, it was impossible to take the body back, due to the enemy activity.

In 1950 an Army Comission made an investigation and declared him "Missing in Action".

At the end of the war, about 74 000 American servicemen have never been found or identified.

After St Germain d’Elle battle, the inhabitants buried soldiers from both camps more or less carefully. Some of them identified the soldiers thanks to their identification tags, sometimes an American soldier was buried with a German soldier.

To our Saint Germain d'Elle Family:


On behalf of the entire Simonetti family, I want to express to the people of Saint Germain d’Elle our utmost gratitude and appreciation for your continued efforts to preserve and honor the memory of our dear uncle, John Simonetti.


It is important for me to try to adequately express to the citizenry of your dear town, just how deeply our family has been moved by your dedication to his sacrifice.

Staff Sgt. John Simonetti was a true American hero who fought bravely along with his colleagues and your citizens to preserve the principles of liberty and self-rule.


Thousands of brave soldiers gave their lives during the famous battle of Normandy. Although John is but one of those great men, we are so proud that John can represent all of them to the people of Saint Germain d’Elle.


John’s story is a simple one but it is reflective of the life stories of so many of the heroes that gave their lives 69 years ago. He was the son of immigrant parents who came to the United States at the turn of the 20th century.


They had the same dreams we all have: to worship their own God, to work hard, to raise a family and to strive for a better life for their family.

John did everything right, including volunteering to fight for the cause of liberty. Unfortunately, his life was cut short.

During all the years that his body laid hidden in the earth of Saint Germain d’Elle, our family had an open wound.
His mother died believing he would return home one day and his siblings, including my mother, never quite got over his death as he was so dear to them. Miraculously though,
his nieces and nephews were finally able to celebrate the discovery of his body in a way that no one could ever have imagined.


110 of his 200 direct living decedents were able to attend his interment at Arlington National Cemetery.


What made this celebration even more unbelievably special, was that Marc and Guy traveled to Washington DC to honor John and our family with their presence at that wonderful event.

Then your town’s beautiful and heartfelt act of establishing this memorial to our uncle gave us one more unbelievable experience that continues to touch us deeply every day.


Our family is so proud of your efforts to preserve John’s memory and we have shared the story of your reverence and dedication with so many of our friends and colleagues here in the U.S. John never had a family of his own, but in an amazing way, everyone in Saint Germain d’Elle has become his family.


And now the people of Saint Germain d’Elle are forever a part of our family and we will forever be grateful for their kindness.
Through the tragic events of his death and the miraculous events of his recovery, we have forged a tremendous bond that bridges the Atlantic Ocean and ends in all of our hearts.


Next year will be the 70th anniversary of John’s death and we will make every effort to be with your citizens to express our gratitude in person.

On this special day and every day, may God bless the soul of Staff Sgt. John Simonetti and may God bless the people of Saint Germain d’Elle.

Kindest regards,


Fred SALERNO

Photo Fdlm
Photo Fdlm
Staff Sergeant John R SIMONETTI in 1936 in "Baldy"
Photo Fdlm
Training

div 2

2nd INFANTRY DIVISION - INDIAN HEAD

 

Activated/Activé

 Normandy/Normandie
26 Octobre 1917  Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  303
   Casualties/Victimes 16 795

Entered Combat/Entré au combat

  
8 Jun 44 Normandy  

Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux

Maj. Gen. John C. H. Lee (Nov 41 - May 42)
Maj. Gen. Walter M. Robertson (May 42 - Jun 45)
Brig. Gen. W. K. Harrison (Jun 45 - Sep 45)
Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond (Sep 45 - Jun 46)

Campaigns/Campagnes

Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44)
Northern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44)
Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45)
Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
   

PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
carte campagne europe

DIVISION CHRONICLE


After training in Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July. Exploiting the St. Lo break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15 August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26 September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March. The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Gottingen 8 April, established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved 200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the GermanCzech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, reaching that city as the war in Europe ended.

CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION


Après s'être entraînée en Irlande et au Pays de Galles d'octobre 1943 à juin 1944, la 2e Division d'infanterie traverse le chenal pour débarquer à Omaha Beach le jour du 1er au 7 juin 1944, près de Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. Attaquant de l'autre côté de la rivière Aure, la division libéra Trévires, le 10 juin, et attaqua et sécurisa la colline 192, le principal point d'appui de l'ennemi sur la route de Saint-Lô. Avec la montée de la colline le 11 juillet 1944, la division est passée sur la défensive jusqu'au 26 juillet. Exploitant la percée de Saint-Lô, la 2 e division avança à travers la Vire pour prendre Tinchebray le 15 août 1944. La division se dirigea ensuite vers l'ouest pour rejoindre la bataille de Brest, la forteresse fortement défendue capitulant le 18 septembre 1944 après un combat de 39 jours. La division a pris un peu de repos du 19 au 26 septembre avant de passer à des positions défensives à St. Vith. L'offensive des Ardennes allemandes à la mi-décembre a contraint la division à se replier vers des positions défensives près d'Elsenborn, où la campagne allemande a été stoppée. En février 1945, la division attaqua, reprenant le terrain perdu et s'empara de Gemund le 4 mars. Atteignant le Rhin le 9 mars, le 2d s'avance vers le sud pour prendre Breisig, 10-11 mars, et pour garder le pont de Remagen, du 12 au 20 mars. La Division a traversé le Rhin le 21 mars et a avancé à Hadamar et Limburg, en soulageant des éléments de la 9ème Division Blindée, le 28 mars. Avançant rapidement dans le sillage de la 9ème Armored, la 2d Division a traversé la Weser à Veckerhagen, 6-7 avril, capturé. Göttingen, le 8 avril, établit une tête de pont à travers la Saale, le 14 avril, s'emparant de Merseburg le 15. Le 18, la division s'empare de Leipzig, épongée dans la région, et a quitté la rivière Mulde; les éléments qui avaient traversé la rivière ont été retirés le 24 avril. Relâché sur la Mulde, le 2d se déplace de 200 miles, 1-3 mai, à des positions le long de la frontière Tchécoslovaque près de Schonsee et Waldmunchen, et attaque dans la direction générale de Pilsen, atteignant cette ville comme la guerre en Europe a pris fin.

 

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOFred SALERNO - Clive TIRLEMONT - Frédéric LAVERNHE
PROGRAMMERFrédéric & Renaud
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