Philip B. EDELEN

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

Temporary Grave

He was the eldest of the family of 5 children (5 boys) The EDELEN family was very Catholic the 5 boys were a child of heart he entered the seminary at Mount St Mary Seminary in EMMETSBURG
	Philip is engaged as a litterer he was sent to the school of army chaplains at HARVARD he is declared to the army officer on February 17, 1943

Philip is posted to the 9th infantry regiment of the 2nd infantry division at Camp Mc Coy WISCONSIN
In October 1943 the 9th infantry regiment settled in Northern Ireland before being moved to the south of England in April 1944 in anticipation of the landing.
On June 07, 1944 the 2nd infantry division landed at OMAHA BEACH. His units are all engaged in the fighting, they must support the 1st infantry division
On June 9, 1944 the 9th settles on the Treviere Rubery road, after crossing this road the regiment crosses the river Aure the 9th infantry regiment installs its command post in a farm near Teurteville.On June 9, 1944 at 9:30 Philip is seriously injured by artillery fire the explosion cuts his leg above the knee.
Philip will die from his wounds on June 10, 1944 at 3:00 am
His family will be notified of his death on July 23, 1944

2^nd INFANTRY DIVISION - INDIAN HEAD

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
26 Octobre 1917	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  303
	Casualties/Victimes 16 795
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
8 Jun 44 Normandy
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. John C. H. Lee (Nov 41 - May 42) Maj. Gen. Walter M. Robertson (May 42 - Jun 45) Brig. Gen. W. K. Harrison (Jun 45 - Sep 45) Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond (Sep 45 - Jun 46)	Campaigns/Campagnes 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
DIVISION CHRONICLE After training in Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July. Exploiting the St. Lo break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15 August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26 September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March. The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Gottingen 8 April, established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved 200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the GermanCzech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, reaching that city as the war in Europe ended.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Après s'être entraînée en Irlande et au Pays de Galles d'octobre 1943 à juin 1944, la 2e Division d'infanterie traverse le chenal pour débarquer à Omaha Beach le jour du 1er au 7 juin 1944, près de Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. Attaquant de l'autre côté de la rivière Aure, la division libéra Trévires, le 10 juin, et attaqua et sécurisa la colline 192, le principal point d'appui de l'ennemi sur la route de Saint-Lô. Avec la montée de la colline le 11 juillet 1944, la division est passée sur la défensive jusqu'au 26 juillet. Exploitant la percée de Saint-Lô, la 2 e division avança à travers la Vire pour prendre Tinchebray le 15 août 1944. La division se dirigea ensuite vers l'ouest pour rejoindre la bataille de Brest, la forteresse fortement défendue capitulant le 18 septembre 1944 après un combat de 39 jours. La division a pris un peu de repos du 19 au 26 septembre avant de passer à des positions défensives à St. Vith. L'offensive des Ardennes allemandes à la mi-décembre a contraint la division à se replier vers des positions défensives près d'Elsenborn, où la campagne allemande a été stoppée. En février 1945, la division attaqua, reprenant le terrain perdu et s'empara de Gemund le 4 mars. Atteignant le Rhin le 9 mars, le 2d s'avance vers le sud pour prendre Breisig, 10-11 mars, et pour garder le pont de Remagen, du 12 au 20 mars. La Division a traversé le Rhin le 21 mars et a avancé à Hadamar et Limburg, en soulageant des éléments de la 9ème Division Blindée, le 28 mars. Avançant rapidement dans le sillage de la 9ème Armored, la 2d Division a traversé la Weser à Veckerhagen, 6-7 avril, capturé. Göttingen, le 8 avril, établit une tête de pont à travers la Saale, le 14 avril, s'emparant de Merseburg le 15. Le 18, la division s'empare de Leipzig, épongée dans la région, et a quitté la rivière Mulde; les éléments qui avaient traversé la rivière ont été retirés le 24 avril. Relâché sur la Mulde, le 2d se déplace de 200 miles, 1-3 mai, à des positions le long de la frontière Tchécoslovaque près de Schonsee et Waldmunchen, et attaque dans la direction générale de Pilsen, atteignant cette ville comme la guerre en Europe a pris fin.

Brother's

Philip B

William A. EDELEN

Brother's

Philip B

Neal L. EDELEN

Brother's

Philip B

Ernest F. EDELEN

Brother's

Philip B

Ruey J. EDELEN