Everett E. JOHNSON

Clarence JOHNSON 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  St Andre De L'Eure N°3572

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

The 782nd Tank Battalion was formed on February 1, 1943 at Camp Campbell, KENTUCKY.

The men first received basic infantry training before being assigned to a tank unit.

The 782nd Tank Battalion was initially a medium tank battalion in October 1943.

On January 1, 1945 the battalion boarded the USS Henry GIBBONS, direction Le Havre.
This transport was the first transport between the United States and France. the trip lasted two weeks.
on January 16, 1945 the ship arrives in the estuary of the Seine.
At Le Havre the men are embarked on a train composed of 40 wagons. The train was to go to St Valery en Caux where the battalion would be stationed at the Lucky STRIKE camps.
This camp was located in Janville near the St. Sylvain acreage.

St Valery en Caux station was the terminus of this railway line.
	Either following a human error or a technical error whatever the train finishes its course in the station.

In shock the wagons disarm, dislocate, causing many casualties including fifty dead including Everett.
Everett's body was buried in the temporary cemetery of St Andre De L'Eure.

On September 14, 1948, Everett's body was transferred to the Colleville sur Mer cemetery.

His father made the decision that Everett would remain buried on Normandy land.