Everett J. GRAY

 

ii

Source : Abmc (Instagram.com )
 
NUMBER OF SERVICE19087506
AGE22 yo
DATE OF BIRTHFebruary 1922 OKLAHOMA
ENLISTMENT STATESolano CALIFORNIA
FAMILYSingle
RANKPrivate First Class
FONCTIONParatroopers
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT Semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractorNE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT22 august 1942 San Francisco CALIFORNIA
COMPANY - BATTALIONCompany Easy - 2nd Battalion
REGIMENT 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
DIVISION 101st Airborne Division
DATE OF DEATH8 June 1944

ii

Source : Dominique Potier

STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATH St Come du Monts sector
DATA PLAN 

 

Airfield: Upottery
Air transport unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group

439tcg

Drop zone: C
Drop hour: 01:20
Transported unit: 2nd Battalion, 506th P.I.R.

CEMETERY TEMPORARY

 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  -- N°--

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

PlotRowGrave
------

 

CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
F2442
DECORATION

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge

Brevet Parachutiste


Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

combat infantryman badge

 

 

us army div 101 506pir
STORY
 

Pfc Everett J. Gray was killed in action on 8th June, 1944, just 2 days after he parachuted into Normandy, France, on DDay.
Gray was born in February, 1922, in Oklahoma.

He grew up in Keenesburg, Colorado, and was childhood friends with one Bill Dukeman.

After graduating high school the two young men and two friends decided to travel and work.

They worked their way down the south west of the U.S.
They were both working as drivers when they enlisted in the Army on August 22, 1942, in San Francisco.

They volunteered for the paratroopers and were sent to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, and placed in 1st platoon of Easy Company, 506th PIR.

 

iiSource : Dominique Potierii
 

The two friends made their first combat jump on DDay, 6 June, 1944, but sadly Everett was killed on the 8th June.

He is buried in the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach.

Sadly Dukeman would be killed in action in The Netherlands on 5th October.

Currahee to these two brave young men

 

div 101

101st AIRBORNE DIVISION - SCREAMING EAGLES

 

Activated/Activé

 Normandy/Normandie

15 Aug 1942  Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  214
   Casualties/Victimes 9 328

Entered Combat/Entré au combat

 
6 Jun1944 D-Day  

Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux

Maj. Gen. William C. Lee (Aug 42 - Mar 44)
Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (Mar 44 - Dec 44)
Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe (Dec 44 - Dec 44)
Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (Dec 44 - Sep 45)

Campaigns/Campagnes

Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 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

carte campagne europe

DIVISION CHRONICLE


The 101st Airborne arrived in England, 15 September 1943, and received additional training in Berkshire and Wiltshire. On 6 June 1944, the Division was dropped into Normandy behind Utah Beach. Against fierce resistance it took Pouppeville, Vierville, and St. Come du Mont. On the 12th, the stronghold of Carentan fell, and after mopping up and maintaining its positions, the Division returned to England, 13 July, for rest and training. On 17 September 1944, taking part in one of the largest of airborne invasions, the 101st landed in Holland, took Vechel and held the Zon bridge. St. Oedenrode and Eindhoven fell after sharp fighting on the 17th and 18th. Opheusden changed hands in a shifting struggle, but the enemy was finally forced to withdraw, 9 October. After extensive patrols, the Division returned to France, 28 November, for further training. On 18 December, it moved to Belgium to stop the German breakthrough. Moving into Bastogne under the acting command of Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, it set up a circular defense and although completely surrounded, refused to surrender on 22 December. Its perimeter held against violent attacks. The 4th Armored Division finally reached the 101st on the 26th and the enemy offensive was blunted. Very heavy fighting continued near Bastogne for the rest of December and January. On 17 January 1945, the Division moved to Drulingen and Pfaffenhoffen in Alsace and engaged in defensive harassing patrols along the Moder River. On 31 January, it crossed the Moder in a three-company raid. After assembling at Mourmelon, France, 26 February 1945, for training, it moved to the Ruhr pocket, 31 March, patrolling and raiding in April and engaging in military government at Rheydt and Munchen-Gladbach. The 101st reached Berchtesgaden by the end of the war and performed occupational duties until inactivation in Germany.

CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION


Le 101st Airborne est arrivé en Angleterre, le 15 septembre 1943, et a reçu une formation supplémentaire dans le Berkshire et le Wiltshire. Le 6 juin 1944, la division est larguée en Normandie derrière Utah Beach. Contre une résistance féroce, il fallut Pouppeville, Vierville et St. Come du Mont. Le 12, le fief de Carentan est tombé, et après avoir nettoyé et maintenu ses positions, la Division est revenue en Angleterre, le 13 juillet, pour se reposer et s'entraîner. Le 17 septembre 1944, participant à l'une des plus grandes invasions aéroportées, la 101st débarque en Hollande, prend Vechel et tient le pont de Zon. St. Oedenrode et Eindhoven sont tombés après des combats acharnés les 17 et 18. Opheusden a changé de mains dans une lutte changeante, mais l'ennemi a finalement été forcé de se retirer, le 9 octobre. Après de longues patrouilles, la Division revint en France le 28 novembre pour suivre une formation complémentaire. Le 18 décembre, il a déménagé en Belgique pour arrêter la percée allemande. Déménagement à Bastogne sous le commandement de Brig. Général Anthony C. McAuliffe, il a mis en place une défense circulaire et bien que complètement encerclé, a refusé de se rendre le 22 décembre. Son périmètre tenu contre les attaques violentes. La 4e division blindée atteignit finalement la 101e le 26 et l'offensive ennemie fut émoussée. De très violents combats ont continué près de Bastogne pour le reste de décembre et janvier. Le 17 janvier 1945, la division s'est déplacée à Drulingen et à Pfaffenhoffen en Alsace et s'est livrée à des patrouilles de harcèlement défensif le long de la rivière Moder. Le 31 janvier, il a traversé le Moder dans un raid de trois compagnies. Après s'être rassemblé à Mourmelon, France, le 26 février 1945, pour s'entraîner, il s'installa dans la poche de la Ruhr, le 31 mars, patrouillant et faisant des raids en avril et s'engageant dans un gouvernement militaire à Rheydt et Munchen-Gladbach. La 101e a atteint Berchtesgaden à la fin de la guerre et a exercé des fonctions professionnelles jusqu'à l'inactivation en Allemagne.
SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com

SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTOAbmc.govAad.archives.gov - Findagrave.com - Abmc (Instagram.com )       
PROGRAMMERHenri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
Partagez moi ...