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Edward Merrel WITHERS
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Source : Janet Marie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NUMBER OF SERVICE | 16006892 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AGE | 22 yo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH |
8 June 1922 Redgranite, Waushara County, WISCONSIN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ENLISTMENT STATE | WISCONSIN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FAMILY |
Parents : George Albert & Rose May Drake WITHERS Siblings : Floy Emma, Albert Chester, George F., James Robert, Holly Elmer & Geraldine Caroline | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RANK |
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| FONCTION | Infantry Man | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 30 September 1940 Milwaukee WISCONSIN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMPANY | Company I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BATTALION | 3rd Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| REGIMENT | 60th Infantry Regiment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DIVISION | 9th Infantry Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 12 July 1944 |
Source : F Lavernhe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| STATUS | KIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CEMETERY TEMPORARY |
CEMETERY TEMPORARY of Sainte Mère Eglise #2 N°3586
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| CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GRAVE |
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| DECORATION |
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| STORY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foster Road Cemetery Source : Janet Mari |
Source : Frederic Blais | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source : Woose |
Source : Woose | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source : brewerlunnen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 58 (September 24, 1969) Action Date: Jun-44 Service: Army Rank: Staff Sergeant Company: Company I Regiment: 60th Infantry Regiment Division: 9th Infantry Division 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 Staff Sergeant Edward M. Withers, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy in June 1944, during the Normandy Campaign, while a member of Company I, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. Staff Sergeant Withers' company was situated on the western side of the peninsula in an area where the enemy occupied heavily fortified positions consisting of numerous pillboxes. Further advancement of his unit was impossible at this point, and the unit was receiving intense small arms, machine gun and rifle fire. Without regard for his personal safety, Sergeant Withers courageously made his way to the enemy pillboxes, one-by-one, while under withering fire. He hurled hand grenades into the turrets of the pillboxes, knocking them out, in succession, until four had been put out of action. The courageous actions by Sergeant Withers enabled his company and other units to continue the mission and contributed immeasurably to achieving the mission objectives. His exemplary courage and gallantry in the face of enemy fire were an inspiration to his fellow soldiers and reflected the utmost credit upon Staff Sergeant Withers, his unit, and the United States Army. |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Activated/Activé |
Normandy/Normandie |
| 1 Aug 1940 | Days of Combat/Jour de Combat 304 |
| Casualties/Victimes 23 277 | |
Entered Combat/Entré au combat |
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| 8 Nov 1942 North Africa | |
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Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. Jacob L. Devers (Oct 40 - Jul 41) |
Campaigns/CampagnesAlgeria-French Morocco (8 Nov 42 - 11 Nov 42)Tunisia (17 Nov 42 - 13 May 43) Sicily (9 Jul - 17 Aug 43) 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 |
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Cette carte retrace le parcours de la 9ème division d'infanterie en Méditerranée et en Europe pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. This maps charts the journey of the 9th Infantry Division throughout the Mediterranean and Europe during World War II. |
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DIVISION CHRONICLEThe 9th Infantry Division saw its first combat in the North African invasion, 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers, Safi, and Port Lyautey. With the collapse of French resistance, 11 November 1942, the Division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border. The 9th returned to Tunisia in February and engaged in small defensive actions and patrol activity. On 28 March 1943 it launched an attack in southern Tunisia and fought its way north into Bizerte, 7 May. In August the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily, and took part in the capture of Randazzo and Messina. After returning to England for further training, the Division hit Utah Beach on 10 June 1944 (D plus 4) , cut off the Cotentin Peninsula, drove on to Cherbourg and penetrated the port's heavy defenses. After a brief rest in July, the Division took part in the St. Lo break-through and in August helped close the Falaise Gap. Turning east, the 9th crossed the Marne, 28 August, swept through Saarlautern, and in November and December held defensive positions from Monschau to Losheim. Moving north to Bergrath, Germany, it launched an attack toward the Roer, 10 December, taking Echtz and Schlich. From mid-December through January 1945, the Division held defensive positions from Kalterherberg to Elsenborn. On 30 Jannary the Division jumped off from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to Rhine, crossing at Remagen, 7 March. After breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, the 9th assisted in the sealing and clearing of the Ruhr Pocket, then moved 150 miles east to Nordhausen and attacked in the Harz Mountains, 14-20 April. On 21 April the Division relieved the 3d Armored along the Mulde River, near Dessau, and held that line until VE-day. |
CHRONIQUE DE DIVISIONLa 9ème division d'infanterie a connu son premier combat lors de l'invasion nord-africaine, le 8 novembre 1942, lorsque ses éléments ont atterri à Alger, Safi et Port Lyautey. Avec l'effondrement de la résistance française, le 11 novembre 1942, la division patrouillait la frontière marocaine espagnole. Le 9 est rentré en Tunisie en février et s'est engagé dans de petites actions de défense et de patrouille. Le 28 mars 1943, il a lancé une attaque dans le sud de la Tunisie et s'est frayé un chemin vers le nord, dans Bizerte, le 7 mai. Le 9 août a atterri à Palerme, en Sicile, et a pris part à la capture de Randazzo et de Messine. Après son retour en Angleterre pour poursuivre sa formation, la Division a frappé Utah Beach le 10 juin 1944 (D + 4), a coupé la péninsule du Cotentin, s'est rendue à Cherbourg et a pénétré dans les lourdes défenses du port. Après un bref repos en juillet, la division a pris part à la percée de St. Lo et a aidé en août à fermer l’écart de Falaise. En tournant à l'est, le 9 a traversé la Marne le 28 août, a balayé Saarlautern et, en novembre et décembre, a occupé des positions défensives de Monschau à Losheim. Se déplaçant au nord de Bergrath, en Allemagne, il a lancé une attaque contre le Roer, le 10 décembre, en prenant Echtz et Schlich. De la mi-décembre à janvier 1945, la division a occupé des positions défensives de Kalterherberg à Elsenborn. Le 30 Jannary, la division a quitté Monschau en traversant la Roer et le Rhin, traversant à Remagen le 7 mars. Après avoir quitté la tête de pont de Remagen, le 9 a aidé à sceller et à dégager la poche de la Ruhr, puis à 150 milles à l’est de Nordhausen et à attaquer dans les montagnes du Harz, du 14 au 20 avril. Le 21 avril, la division a déchargé le 3e blindé le long de la rivière Mulde, près de Dessau, et a détenu cette ligne jusqu'au jour du VE.
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| SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTO | Armydivs.squarespace.com |
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| SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTO | Jean - Findagrave.com - Fold3 - Findagrave.com - Aad.archives.gov - Abmc.gov |
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| PROGRAMMER | Victor, Jean-Philippe, Eric, Henri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |