In Memoriam
31st Tank Battalion
Deaths in Europe
Photographs
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Last updated: December 11, 2023 - 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
    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

    Tec 5 James M. Bell (32 253 313) - Company A
    October 7, 1944 at the Battalion Command Post area, St Antonis, Netherlands - Age: 29y 0m 20d
    MOS: 736 (Driver) - Home Town: Buffalo, NY - Buried at Henri-Chapelle, Belgium USMC E-4-76
    Photo from FindAGrave thanks to R. Davidson

    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: 014 (Automotive Mechanic, Second Echelon) - Home Town: Huntsville, TX - Buried at Netherlands USMC (Margraten, Holland) D-18-4
    Photo from daughter, thanks to grave caretaker Marco Potten

    Capt. Alvin Frank Davis (O-362 602) - Company A Commanding Officer
    Killed in Action August 28, 1944 crossing bridge at Épernay, France - Age: do not yet have his birthdate in 1914
    MOS: 1203 (Tank Officer) - Home Town: Spartanburg County, SC - Buried at Lorraine USMC (St. Avold, France) K-23-24
    FindAGrave
    7th Armored Division Deaths at pernay, France 28 August 1944
    Clemson Alumni Scroll of Honor

    Tec 4 Joseph J. Durst (36 234 794) - Company C
    Seriously Wounded in Action August 17, 1944 at Chartres, France; Died of Wounds August 19, 1944 - Age: 27y 3m 12d
    MOS: 736 (Tank Driver) - Home Town: Ithaca Township, Richland County, WI - Buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery; Keyesville, WI
    Click here for photo of his grave stone.
    Photo thanks to his brother's son Eric Durst

    Cpl. Frank L. Ensminger (33 148 547) - Company C
    Killed in Action August 28, 1944 at Épernay, France - Age: 26y 9m 6d
    MOS: 616 ([Bow] Gunner) - Home Town: Harrisburg, PA - Buried in co-mingled grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery; St. Louis, MO - Section 84 - Graves 168-170
    Photo from Harrisburg, PA, "Telegraph", 4 Sep 1945, p. 11, col. 4
    FindAGrave
    7th Armored Division Deaths at pernay, France 28 August 1944

    Capt. Robert Clemens Foster (O-1 011 320) - Company A, Commanding Officer
    Killed in Action December 21, 1944 1.5 miles NE of St. Vith, Belgium - Age: 27y 0m 14d
    MOS: 1203 (Tank Officer) - Home Town: Philadelphia, PA - Buried at Luxembourg USMC (Hamm, Luxembourg) Section G Lot 11 Grave 27
    Photo from 1935 Moorestown NJ High School Yearbook
    FindAGrave

    Tec 4 Michael Ambrose Holtz (37 174 672) - Company C
    Killed in Action August 28, 1944 in small woods 100 yards from the place called "La Cascade" on Ave Jean Jaures at Épernay, France (per IDPF of Beryle Bossman (C/434 AFAB) p 141 & 143) - Age: 26y 10m 2d
    MOS: 736 (Tank Driver) - Home Town: Little Falls, MN - Buried at Saint Stanislaus Cemetery; Sobieski, MN
    Photo thanks to Eugene Retka, son of second cousin
    7th Armored Division Deaths at Épernay, France 28 August 1944
    FindAGrave

    S/Sgt. Thomas Horwath (33 148 912) - Company C
    Killed in Action October 1, 1944 in open field northeast of Overloon, Netherlands - Coordinates 2A&3A/e76-31 Series 4042 [about 51.608870, 5.972330] on the land of J. Hubers at about 2 PM in tank U.S.A. 3099908S (7A31A C-3) - Age: 26y 5m 28d
    MOS: 651 (Platoon Sergeant) (Tank commander) - Home Town: Upper Lehigh, PA - Buried at Ardennes USMC (Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium) Section B, Row 40, Grave 35
    Photo thanks to nephew Bruce Horwath
    FindAGrave

    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.

    Capt. Willie Wyatt Oliver (O-1 010116) - Company C Commanding Officer
    KIA August 15, 1944 at Chartres, France - Age: 30y 6m 9d
    MOS: 1203 (Tank Officer) - Home Town: Nolan, TX - Buried at Slater Chapel Cemetery; Nolan, TX
    Photo from Abilene, KS Reporter News 10 Sep 1944 (Thanks to Pascal Bulois)
    FindAGrave

    Cpl. Harry H. Parthemore (33 148 542) - Company C
    KIA August 15, 1944 at Chartres, France - Age: 25y 11m 4d
    MOS: 616 (Gunner) - Home Town: New Cumberland, PA - Buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery; Fairview Township, York County, PA 106-J-5
    Photo thanks to Pascal Bulois of Brou, France
    Click here for his grave photo.

    2nd Lt. Donald Joseph Shaljian (O-1 017 063) - Company C
    Killed in Action August 28, 1944 at Épernay, France - Age: 24y 10m 14d
    MOS: 616 ([Bow] Gunner) - Home Town: Stockton, CA - Buried in co-mingled grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery; St. Louis, MO - Section 84 - Graves 168-170
    Photo from Stockton, CA, "Record", 13 Jun 1950, p. 10, col. 3
    FindAGrave
    7th Armored Division Deaths at pernay, France 28 August 1944

    Cpl. Stanley Stonek (32 298 551) - Company A
    KIA September 20, 1944 about 1 mile east of Arry, France - Age: 38y 4m 26d
    MOS: 616 (Gunner) - Home Town: New York, NY - Buried at Long Island National Cemetery J-15387; Farmingdale, NY
    Photos thanks to great niece Jennifer Wolff

    Cpl. Marvin F. Trandem (37 321 935) - Company A
    KIA December 21, 1944 (erroneous official date 24 Dec) at St. Vith, Belgium - Age: 22y 7m 23d
    MOS: 616 (Gunner) - Home Town: Ellendale, MN - Never recovered & identified; Memorialized at Ardennes USMC (Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium) on Tablets of the Missing
    Photo thanks to Granddaughter Ame Trandem

    Pfc. John Franklin "Jack" Tucker (38 516 495) - Company C
    KIA August 28, 1944 at Epernay, France - Age: 28y 9m 29d
    MOS: 736 (Driver) - Home Town: Cossett, AR - Buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery; St. Louis, MO - Section 84, Graves 168-170 (co-mingled burial)
    FindAGrave.
    7th Armored Division Deaths at pernay, France 28 August 1944


    Click here for information about contacting me.
    Copyright © 2023 by Wesley Johnston
    All rights reserved

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