In Memoriam
48th Armored Infantry Battalion
Deaths in Europe
 Photographs
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Last updated: July 5, 2010 - What's New?

This page contains the photographs of members of 48th Armored Infantry Bn who died overseas in World War II.
For the complete list of all 48th Armored Infantry 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 48th Armored Infantry 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 48th Armored Infantry Bn overseas deaths, click here.

    Pvt. Joe Maurice Attebery (37 701 473) - Company B
    Died September 17, 1944 of wounds suffered September 16, 1944 in attack on Marieulles, France - Age: 20y 8m 30d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Akron, CO - Buried at Lorraine USMC (St. Avold, France) C-31-74
    Photo from the Washington County, CO GenWeb page, which used the photo from Service Record Book of Men and Woman of Akron, Colorado and Community, published by the Akron - Alva N. Graves - Post of the American Legion

    Pfc. Joe Wilson Bailey (38 671 835) - Company B
    KIA December 24, 1944 1 mile South of Manhay, Belgium [1963 Army report placing death 500 yards North of St. Vith is seriously in error] - Age: 36y 2m 24d
    MOS: MOS at time of death not yet known - Home Town: Bastrop, Tx - Buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery (San Antonio, TX) Section AC Site 122 (also on Ardennes USMC WOM but was later found and repatriated)
    Photo from Camp Fannin Roll of Honor web site

    Pfc. Harold F. Bellew (35 077 546) - Company A
    KIA January 25, 1945 in vicinity of St. Vith, Belgium - Age: 32y 0m 25d
    MOS: MOS at time of death not yet known - Home Town: (McDowell County), WV - Buried in US (WHERE?)
    Photo from book Young American Patriots of World War II

    Pvt. George Thomas Belyus (35 077 740) - Company B
    KIA January 25, 1944 in vicinity of Asten-Meijel road, 6 miles SE of Asten, Holland - Age: 32y 11m 2d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Little Hocking, OH - Buried in US (WHERE?)
    Photo from book Young American Patriots of World War II

    Tec 5 Robert Frey (33 139 116) - Company B
    Died September 4, 1944 of wounds suffered September 1, 1944 in airplane bombing of Verdun, France - Age: 24y 8m 27d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: (Montgomery County), MD - Buried in Arlington National Cemetery Section 7 Grave 9022
    Photo thanks to great-nephew Steve Frey

    Pvt. Chester F. Harple (33 772 498) - Company B
    KIA October 24, 1944 at Griendtsveen, Holland - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Chester County, PA - Buried at Henri-Chapelle, Belgium USMC E-5-65
    Photo thanks to Joost Evertson of Utrecht, Netherlands

    Pvt. Donald Paul Hinds (16 169 586) - Company C
    KIA October 2, 1944 in woods northwest of Overloon, Holland - Age: 21y 9m 15d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Waco, TX (originally Nyssa, OR) - Buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery; San Antonio, TX M-49
    Photo thanks to Frank Jasek who has a web page of Baylor University war dead and is preparing a book about them.

    Pvt. Mark Sylvester Leiss (39 934 144) - Company C
    Died December 20, 1944 at hospital in France of wounds suffered December 18, 1944 in vicinity of Poteau, Belgium - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Lebanon, PA - Buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lebanon, PA
    Photo thanks to son Charles Leiss

    T/Sgt. Henry Robert Longmier (36 211 807) - Company B
    KIA January 25, 1945 on the hillside east of St. Vith, Belgium - Age: 31y 6m 23d
    MOS: (Platoon Sergeant) - Home Town: Highland, WI - Buried at St. Anthony's Church Cemetery in Highland, WI
    Photo thanks to daughter Jane Matchey

    Pvt. George A. Meece (37 062 490) - Company B
    KIA October 5, 1944 at Overloon, Holland - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Fordyce, AR - Buried at Liberty Cemetery in Dallas county, AR
    Photo thanks to niece Sheila Witherington

    Cpl. Joseph F. Montagnola (32 227 734) - Headquarters Company
    KIA September 8, 1944 attacking Maizieres-les-Metz, France - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: 744 - Home Town: Port Henry, NY - Buried at Epinal, France US Military Cemetery A-11-68
    Photo from World War II Memorial Registry web site, thanks to brother Stephen Montagnola

    Pvt. Eugene Ray Ramsey (37 180 306) - Company C
    KIA October 4, 1944 at position 3 miles northwest of Overloon, Holland - Age: 36y 11m 8d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Bollinger County, MO - Buried at Baker Cemetery in Lutesville, MO
    Photo from Eugene Ramsey memorial web page

    Pfc. George J. Renda (33 161 965) - Company C
    KIA October 5, 1944 at Overloon, Holland - Age: 24y 8m 4d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Pittsburgh, PA - Buried at Penn Lincoln Memorial Park on Rt 30 N. in Huntingon, PA
    Left two photos from family via Sieb Wilmsen of Netherlands, who found George Renda's remains in 1977;
    Right photo from Pittsburgh Press article of September 25, 1977 thanks to Niek Hendrix of Ospel, Netherlands

    Sgt. Simeon Howard Rush (14 095 074) - Company C
    KIA October 2, 1944 3 miles northwest of Overloon, Holland - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: 653 (Squad Leader) - Home Town: ???, MS - Buried at Henri-Chapelle, Belgium USMC C-4-7
    Photo thanks to Joost Evertson of Utrecht, Netherlands

    Pvt. Robert Lee Rutledge (34 973 267) - Company A
    KIA October 29, 1944 along the Asten-Meiel road 6-8 miles southeast of Asten, Holland - Age: 27y 10m 9d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Lumpkin, GA - Buried at Netherlands USMC (Margraten, Holland) D-7-21
    Photo thanks to daughter Ginger Gregory

    Pvt. Joseph A. Scheurich (32 957 961) - Company B
    Died December 22, 1944 at Rodt, Belgium - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: ?745 (Rifleman)? - Home Town: Gloucester City, NJ - Buried at Ardennes USMC (Neupré-en-Condroz, Belgium) D-30-17
    Photo thanks to sister Anna Scheurich Hamilton, posted in Joseph A. Scheurich memorial web page

    Pvt. Merle Kenneth Schultze (36 779 509) - Company A
    KIA October 5, 1944 in vicinity of Overloon, Netherlands - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: Delavan, IL - Buried at Henri-Chapelle, Belgium USMC E-7-63
    Photo thanks to grave caretaker Joost Evertson of Utrecht, Netherlands
    [Note that while the military records all spell his family name as Schultze, the family spelled the name Schultz, which is how he is listed on the Stewardson, Illlinois veterans memorial. Stewardson was the home of his parents.]

    Pvt. Tony M. Seyfang (35 239 508) - Company not yet known
    KIA March 29, 1945 at as yet undetermined location in Germany during encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket - Age: 25y 1m 15d
    MOS: ?745 (Rifleman)? - Home Town: Frankfort, OH - Buried in US - WHERE?
    Photo from book Young American Patriots of World War II

    Pvt. John Smella (42 077 168) - Company C
    Died December 9, 1944 of wounds suffered December 6, 1945 at Linnich, Germany - Age: 25y 0m 9d
    MOS: 745 (Rifleman) - Home Town: New York, NY (originally Lansford, PA) - Buried at Netherlands USMC (Margraten, Netherlands) in Section A, Row 7, Grave 26
    Photo provided by son John Smella, Jr.

    2nd Lt. Elefterios Stavros (O-526 383) - Company B
    Died August 31, 1944 at ?34th Evacuation Hospital in France? of wounds suffered August 24, 1944 in the vicinity of Seine-Port, France - Age: ??y ??m ??d
    MOS: 1560 (AIB Officer) - Home Town: Westfield, NJ - Buried at Epinal, France USMC B-45-24
    Photo thanks to cousin Dr. P. Roy Vagelos

    Pvt. John L. Strohl (35 295 677) - Company B
    KIA October 24, 1944 in the attack across the Deurne Canal east of Griendtsveen, Holland - Age: 19y ??m ??d
    MOS: ?745 (Rifleman)? - Home Town: New Lexington, OH - Buried in US - WHERE?
    Photo from book Young American Patriots of World War II

    2nd Lt. Charles Frederick Wilcox (O-1 309 459) - Company C
    KIA December 6, 1944 at Linnich, Germany - Age: 34y 6m 20d
    MOS: 1560 (Armored Infantry Officer) - Home Town: Kenosha, WI - Buried at Green Ridge Cemetery in Kenosha, WI
    Photo thanks to brother M/Sgt. Ralph C. Wilcox, USAF Ret

    Click here for information about contacting me.
    Copyright © 2008 by Wesley Johnston
    All rights reserved

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