As most of America complains about social distancing on Memorial Day weekend, let me offer a tribute to the real reason we have a Memorial Day...and it's not about hot dogs & socializing.
This post is in memory of the brave men who fought for their country and lost their lives.
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| I saw this on Facebook, so powerful! |
Casualties of WWII in my tree:
~William C. Mendenhall
Born: 23 Jun 1923 in Montgomery County, Ohio
Died: 20 Jun 1944 over Germany, age 20
Cause of death: William's bomber was over Germany when it went down.
Army- Sergeant- Service # 35625420
Son of Russell Lowell Mendenhall (1892-1970) & Irma E. Mannier (1895-1993)
William never married or had children.
William is buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium Grave # B 36 48
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| William's Gravestone in Belgium |
~Gordon C. Mendenhall
Born: 23 Jul 1924 in Payson, Utah
Died: 25 Oct 1944 at Sea, age 20
U.S. Navy- Shipfitter USNR
Son of Byron Mendenhall (1889-1969) & Ida Marie Cherrington (1896-1975).
Married: 20 Mar 1944 to Eunice Cook (1925-2001)
Enlisted in the Navy- 30 Sep 1944
Died not even a month later!
Burial:
Memorial at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio in Manila, Philippines.
~Van Max Mendenhall
Born: 23 Mar 1924 in Alabama
Died: 09 Oct 1945, Killed in action- Okinawa, Japan, age 21
Cause of death: "non-combat"
Navy- Gunner's Mate, 2nd Class, Service # 8372615
Son of Van Dewitt Mendenhall (1889-1956) & Bessie A. Moring (1892-1965)
Van never married or had children.
Van is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia, Alabama
~Robert V. Mendenhall
Born: 27 Nov 1922 in Alameda County, California
Died: 18 Jun 1945 in Lorraine, France, age 22
Army- Second Lieutenant- 377th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group
Service #2057507
Son of Jesse Vertner Mendenhall (1877-1936) & Nelda Marie Prairie (1886-1983)
Robert never married or had children.
Burial: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, France
- Grave #C 12 88
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| Robert's memorial at Lorraine. |
~Dean Mendenhall
Born: 02 Sep 1919 in Payson, Utah
Died: 16 Oct 1942- Shot down into Sea near Hawaii, age 23
Dean was piloting a B-26 Maraunder- killed along with his co-pilot and 2 crew members.
Army Air Force- 2 LT, Service # 0724796
Son of Harvey Henry Mendenhall (1896-1971) & Sarah Alexander (1898-1985)
Dean never married or had children.
His memorial is at Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.
~Thomas Denver Mendenhall
Born: 11 Oct 1919 in Washington County, Ohio
Died: 06 Jun 1944- killed in action in France, age 24
Army- Technician Fifth Grade- Service # 35405344
Son of Hobart Daniel Mendenhall (1896-1974) & Leota Lindamood (1894-1974)
Thomas was married to Ilean L. Ramsier (1924-2010) & had 1 son: Thomas Eugene
Thomas is buried in the Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Ohio
~Stanley Filtodus Mendenhall
Born: 03 Dec 1918 in Custer, South Dakota
Died: 26 Oct 1944, Killed in action at Inger, Germany, age 25
Enlisted in Army- 24 Oct 1942
Private- Service #: 37462553
Son of James Fowler Mendenhall (1877-1949) & Eva Viola Gould (1880-1969)
Stanley was married to Charlene Faye Crabb & had two twin daughters: Karen Raye & Mary Faye.
Stanley was buried in Custer Cemetery in Custer, South Dakota.
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| Gravestone at Custer Cemetery |
~George Elby Mendenhall
Born: 15 Sep 1918 in San Patricio County, Texas
Died: 1943- killed in action in Italy, age 25
Cause of death: "Diagnosis: Wound, penetrating
Location: Head
Causative Agent: Shell Fragment from Shell explosion"
Enlistment Date: 29 Mar 1941, Service # 38030414
Son of Elby Leroy Mendenhall (1885-1941) & Jessie Smith Sutcliffe (1885-1959).
George never married or had children.
George is buried in the Sinton Cemetery in Sinton, Texas.
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| Gravestone at Sinton Cemetery |
~Clinton Vernon Mendenhall
Born: 03 Dec 1918 in Woodside, Illinois
Died: 28 Jul 1944 in France, age 25
Army- Enlistment Date: 25 Nov 1940-
Second Lieutenant- Service # 697571
Son of Errett Elder Mendenhall (1888-1975) & Flora Elizabeth Bridges (1890-1923)
Clinton never married or had children.
Clinton is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois
~Eugene Arthur Mendenhall
Born: 21 Feb 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Died: 02 Feb 1945 in Philippines, age 26
Army- Private- Service # 37019434
Son of George Henry Mendenhall (1887-1945) & Lilly B. Fisher (1893-1963).
Eugene never married or had children.
Eugene is buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
~Waldo Neal Mendenhall
Born: 01 Jan 1919 in Bonnie, Illinois
Died: 14 Apr 1945 in Okinawa, Japan, age 26
Cause of death: died in the hospital of a bullet wound in the head
Army- Enlistment Date: 19 Mar 1941, Staff Sergeant- Service # 36011066
Son of Emote E. Mendenhall (1890-1953) & Dora E. Johnston (1894-1986)
Waldo never married or had children.
Waldo is buried in the South Hickory Hill Cemetery in McClellan, Illinois.
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| Gravestone at South Hickory Hill Cemetery |
~Duncan Stevens Mendenhall
Born: 05 Jan 1917 in Conrad, Indiana
Died: 06 Sep 1944- Killed in action in Bretagne, France, age 27
Army- Private- 116th Infantry, 29th Division, Service # 35898078
Duncan is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery in Saint-James, France
Plot H, Row 10, Grave 3
~Carl Russell Mendenhall
Born: 05 Aug 1913 in Preble County, Ohio
Died: 10 Dec 1944 - killed in action in Germany, age 31
Cause of death: Unknown, Casualty in battle
Enlistment date: 31 Jan 1944
Son of Burton Norwood Mendenhall (1884-1965) & Rosa May Hager (1887-1961)
Carl had a wife- Eva Taggart (1916-1958) & 2 children: Norwood Lee & Judith.
Carl is buried in the Sugar Grove Cemetery in West Alexandria, Ohio.
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| Carl's Gravestone in Sugar Grove Cemetery |
Relation to me:
William C. Mendenhall 1923-1944, age 20, 7th cousin, 4x removed
Gordon C. Mendenhall 1924-1944, age 20, 6th cousin, 5x removed
Van Max Mendenhall 1924-1945, age 21, 5th cousin, 4x removed
Robert V. Mendenhall 1922-1945, age 22, 6th cousin, 4x removed
Dean Mendenhall 1919-1942, age 23, 6th cousin, 5x removed
Thomas Denver Mendenhall 1919-1944, age 24, 8th cousin, 4x removed
Stanley Filtodus Mendenhall 1918-1944, age 25, 8th cousin, 4x removed
George Elby Mendenhall 1918-1943, age 25, 9th cousin, 3x removed
Clinton Vernon Mendenhall 1918-1944, age 25, 7th cousin, 4x removed
Eugene Arthur Mendenhall 1918-1945, age 26, 8th cousin, 4x removed
Waldo Neal Mendenhall 1919-1945, age 26, 8th cousin, 4x removed
Duncan Stevens Mendenhall 1917-1944, age 27, 1917-1944, 8th cousin, 3x removed
Carl Russell Mendenhall 1913-1944, age 31, 6th cousin, 3x removed
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