In Memoriam
31st Tank Battalion
Deaths in Europe
 Photographs
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Last updated: May 28, 2012 - What's New?

This page contains the photographs of members of 31st Tank Bn who died overseas in World War II.
For the complete list of all 31st Tank Bn overseas deaths, click here.

Spare a minute
to think
of the young who didn't grow up,
and how young they looked when they died,
and how no one will ever remember them looking tired and middle-aged
or even be bored by tiresome recitals of the time of their youth.

- - - - Russell Baker "How to Observe Dec. 7" (NY Times, Dec. 1965)

Please Help to Tell These Men's Stories and Preserve Their Memory!

PLEASE contact Wesley Johnston at the address below if you have any information on any 31st Tank Bn man who died overseas (see the complete list), such as:

  • photos
  • information on any of these men's deaths
  • information on what platoon and squad they were in
  • know of any men who died but are not on the list

    • Wesley Johnston
    1865 Herndon Avenue, Suite K-187
    Clovis, CA 93611-6163

    or send e-mail to wwjohnston@aol.com. For ALL other e-mail matters, please click here for information about contacting me.

    So they will not be “Forgot”
    There is a word
    Which bears a sword
    It hurls its barbed syllables,—
    At once is mute again.
    But where it fell
    The saved will tell
    On patriotic day,
    Some epauletted brother
    Gave his breath away.
    Wherever runs the breathless sun,
    Wherever roams the day,
    There is its noiseless onset,
    There is its victory!
    Behold the keenest marksman!
    The most accomplished shot!
    Time’s sublimest target
    Is a soul “forgot”!
         ----- Emily Dickinson
    A Note for the Children of these Men

    The American World War II Orphans Network (AWON) is an organization created by and for those who lost their father in World War II. AWON has an annual conference and a newsletter filled with useful information. Click here to go to the AWON web page and find those who share your experience.

    If you have a better quality photo of any of these men, please contact me.
    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
    This page contains only those men for whom I have photographs.
    For the complete list of all 31st Tank Bn overseas deaths, click here.

    Pfc. John Clifton Adkins, Jr. (35 872 700) - Company A (went by his middle name)
    October 28, 1944 1 mile west of Heitrak, Netherlands - Age: 19y 4m 29d
    MOS: 531 (Cannoneer) - Home Town: Cincinnati, OH - Buried at Arlington National Cemetery - Section 12 Site 5603
    Photo thanks to sister-in-law Joyce Adkins

    Pfc. Joseph G. Coleman (38 544 377) - Company C
    KIA April 8, 1945 in vicinity of Schmallenberg or Werpe or Fredeburg, Germany - Age: 29y 8m 20d
    MOS: [do not yet have Morning Reports] - Home Town: Huntsville, TX - Buried at Netherlands USMC (Margraten, Holland) D-18-4
    Photo from daughter, thanks to grave caretaker Marco Potten

    Pfc. John D. Lacney (33 436 089) - Company D
    DOW January 22, 1945 suffered January 21, 1945 3 miles southeast of Ligneuville, Belgium - Age: 31y 6m 11d
    MOS: 660 (Tank Mechanic, Minor Maintenance) - Home Town: Keating Summit, PA (Port Allegany) - Buried at Fairview Cemetery; Port Allegany, PA
    Photo thanks to Joel Frampton Gilfert on his McKean County Gold Stars web site
    Click here for his grave photo.

    Click here for information about contacting me.
    Copyright © 2012 by Wesley Johnston
    All rights reserved

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