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Robert Dale WELSH
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| NUMBER OF SERVICE | 33416840 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| AGE | 21 years old | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH | 6 January 1923 Koppel / Beaver county / PENNSYLVANIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ENLISTMENT STATE | PENNSYLVANIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FAMILY |
Parents : William Spiller & Sarah Jane Yoho WELSH Siblings : Pearl Marie, Florence Edna, Viola Mae, Ruth Loretta, David George, Naomi Evelyn, Lucy Adeline & Robert D | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| RANK | Private First Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FONCTION | Infantryman | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 23 December 1942 Pittsburg PENNSYLVANIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMPANY | Company B | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| REGIMENT | 264th Infantry Regiment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DIVISION | 66th Infantry Division "Black Panther Division" | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 25 December 1944 |
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| STATUS | KIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | Aboard in USS Léopoldville, In Manche(Channel), off Cherbourg | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| CEMETERY |
NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY from Colleville | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| GRAVE |
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| DECORATION |
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| STORY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arrived on November 26th, 1944 in England, the division polishes up its training until December 24th In the daytime of the departure and the crossing towards France and Normandy. The division embarks on two ships of which the SS Leopoldville which receives 262th and 264th regiment Infantry and leaves Southampton in training(formation) accompanied with four escort ships. Arrived unless 5 miles from Cherbourg, a German submarine U-Boat 486 is in ambush and sends a torpedo to the ship. He is touched on the starboard beam before. 802 soldiers over the 2235 which he(it) transported are killed in this drama. Leopoldville is marine cemetery today. |
Source : Deborah (Hartman) Cetti | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source : C.Sypolt |
Clinton Cemetery New Beaver, Lawrence County, PENNSYLVANIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source : Fold3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See History of Leopoldville (Click on the picture) 
Activated/Activé |
Normandy/Normandie |
| 15 Apr 1943 | Days of Combat/Jour de Combat 91 |
| Casualties/Victimes 1 452 | |
Entered Combat/Entré au combat |
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| 1 Jan 1945 | |
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Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. Herman F. Kramer (Apr 43 - Aug 45) |
Campaigns/CampagnesNorthern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44)
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PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP |
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DIVISION CHRONICLEThe three regiments of the 66th Infantry Division arrived in England, 26 November 1944, and the remainder of the Division, 12 December 1944, training until 24 December 1944 when the Division crossed the English Channel to Cherbourg. A German torpedo ripped into the transport as it was crossing the Channel, and 14 officers and 748 enlisted men were lost. Attached to the 12th Army Group and designated the 12th Army Group Coastal Sector, with operational control of all French forces in the area, the 66th relieved the 94th Division in the BrittanyLoire area, 29 December 1944. Its mission of containing the enemy in the St. Nazaire and Lorient pockets was carried out by daily reconnaissance patrols, limited objective attacks, and the maintenance of harassing and interdictory fires on enemy installations. A heavy German attack near La Croix was repulsed, 16 April 1945, and several strongly emplaced enemy positions were taken, 19-29 April 1945. Enemy troops in the Lorient and St. Nazaire pockets surrendered to the Division upon the end of hostilities in Europe, 8 May 1945. The 66th moved to Germany on occupation duty, in the Koblenz subarea, 20 May 1945, and left for Marseille, 26 May 1945. It sailed for home 27 October 1945. |
CHRONIQUE DE DIVISIONLes trois régiments de la 66e division d'infanterie arrivent en Angleterre, le 26 novembre 1944, et le reste de la division, le 12 décembre 1944, s'entraînant jusqu'au 24 décembre 1944 lorsque la division traverse la Manche jusqu'à Cherbourg. Une torpille allemande s'est faufilée dans le convoi alors qu'elle traversait la Manche, et 14 officiers et 748 soldats ont été perdus. Attaché au 12ème Groupe d'Armée et désigné Secteur de la 12ème division du Groupe d'Armées, avec le contrôle opérationnel de toutes les forces françaises dans la région, le 66th a relevé la 94ème Division dans la région BrittanyLoire, le 29 décembre 1944. Sa mission Les poches de Nazaire et de Lorient ont été réalisées par des patrouilles de reconnaissance quotidiennes, des attaques objectives limitées et le maintien de feux de harcèlement et d'interception sur les installations ennemies. Une forte attaque allemande près de La Croix fut repoussée le 16 avril 1945 et plusieurs positions ennemies fortement implantées furent prises, du 19 au 29 avril 1945. Des troupes ennemies dans les poches de Lorient et de Saint-Nazaire se rendirent à la Division à la fin des hostilités en Europe , Le 8 mai 1945. Le 66ème émigra en Allemagne en service d'occupation, dans la sous-zone de Coblence, le 20 mai 1945, et partit pour Marseille, le 26 mai 1945. Il partit pour la maison le 27 octobre 1945. |
| SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTO | Armydivs.squarespace.com |
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| SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTO | Clive TIRLEMONT - Frédéric LAVERNHE - Leopoldville.org - Findagrave.com |
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| PROGRAMMER | Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |