Bernard J. IFFERT

"The Observer  Dispatch Utyca NY Daily press"

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UTICA OBSERVER DISPATCH Monday, August 21, 1944 Second Lt. Alfred A. Amann, son of John and Rose Iffert Amann has been missing since Aug. 6.

Lieutenant Amann, a pilot, had been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, and the Air Medal, for completion of several missions.

He enlisted Oct. 12, 1939, and after his graduation from the Roosevelt Field Aviation School he was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone and the British West Indies as a mechanic.

He was commissioned a pilot last October at Columbus, Miss., Army Air Field, and was sent Abroad in June.

He had been stationed in North Africa and Italy. The flier was born here Aug. 10, 1921.

He is a graduate of St. Mary's School and Utica Free Academy. His brother, Pvt. Edward Amann, was killed in action July 26 in France.

The boy's uncle, S. Sgt. Bernard Iffert, had been killed in France 10 days before that.

The family Amann John and Rose came from Oneida County, New York. The young couple grew up in the same neighbor-hood, probably playing together as children, and then dating as young sweethearts. Then John, like many young Americans, was called to serve his Country during World War I. After his service, he returned home, and married his long-time sweetheart Rose.

As most young couples – their first child was soon born. A beautiful bouncy baby boy – who they named Alfred. 3 years later Rose was once again pregnant, with their second child. 9 months later, it’s another boy – John is so proud he has 2 sons. Obviously all through Rose’s pregnancy, the young couple had discussed names - they had a long list of girls and boys names – but right at the top of the list for the boys was the name Edward – very special because it was the name of Rose’s little brother. So now John and Rose had 2 lovely boys Alfred and little Edward. Life was good for the little family, John worked and saved hard, and finally had enough money to buy a bakery. The years passed and were very busy between working hard at the bakery and raising 2 lively boys – life was just wonderful; the days and the years just flew past. August 10, 1939 – a very special day as the family Amann celebrated the 18th birthday of Alfred – the little boy was now all grown up and had become a man.

On October 12 – Alfred took a decision that would change his life forever – he enlisted – as all young men after the attack on Pearl Harbor he wanted to serve his Country. Alfred– he wanted to become a pilot and he joined the US Army Air Forces and become a Pilot in the 376th Bomber Group. For Rose and John, this was a very difficult time – they were very proud of their Son, but also very worried for the world was at war. April 9, 1941 – yet another day that would change the lives of Rose and John – this time it is Rose’s younger brother Bernard who enlisted becoming S.SGT in the 8th Infantry Division. September 20, 1943 – now it is Edward the baby of the family – except he is not a baby anymore, he is a young man who has just turned 18. He enlists and become a Private in the 4th Infantry Division.

At home, all of the family continues on with their lives, news comes from the Brothers and the Uncle – but not every day. They learn that Bernard and Edward have been sent to England, and Alfred well he doesn’t stop moving – North Africa, Sicily, and then Italy. June 6, 1944 – beachhead of Utah, Normandy – Edward comes ashore with the first wave. With his buddies he fights his way off   the beach and secures it by the end of the day – now begins the battle of the hedgerows. July 4, 1944 – Utah Beach – this time its Bernard who wades ashore and takes part in the battle of the hedgerows. Both Uncle and Nephew are pushing towards St Lo. Alfred – he is busy flying bombing missions from his Italian air base – preparing the D-Day of Provence landings in the South of France.

July 16, 1944 – Bernard whilst fighting with his buddies is killed, 10 days later July 26, 1944   Edward will lose his life also fighting with his buddies in the hedgerows of Normandy, far, far from home. August 6, 1944 – this time it is Alfred who will lose his life whilst attacking the port of Toulon. His plane that he was piloting took a direct hit from German flak. Back home in the States, the terrible news arrived, in the space of just under 3 weeks John and Rose would lose 1 brother and 2 sons, and with them all their dreams of better days. The family decided that Edward and Bernard should be buried in the area that they fought to liberate – so they were buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. Bernard can be found in the Plot E, Row 17, Grave 17. His young nephew is in the Plot G, Row 8, Grave 34. For Alfred, they buried him with his Brothers in Arms at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan in the Plot C, Row 3, Grave 3.

8^th  INFANTRY DIVISION - GOLDEN ARROW  

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
1 Jul 1940	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  266
	Casualties/Victimes 13 986
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
8 Jul 1944 Normandy
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. Philip B. Peyton (Jun 40 - Dec 40) Maj. Gen. James P. Marley (Dec 40 - Feb 41) Maj. Gen. William E. Shedd (Feb 41 - Feb 41) Maj. Gen. Henry Terrell, Jr. (Mar 41 - Mar 41) Maj. Gen. James P. Marley (Apr 41 - Jul 42) Maj. Gen. Paul E. Peabody (Aug 42 - Jan 43) Maj. Gen. William C. McMahon (Feb 43 - Jul 44) Maj. Gen. Donald A. Stroh (Jul 44 - Dec 44) Maj. Gen. William G. Weaver (Dec 44 - Feb 45) Maj. Gen. Bryant E. Moore (Feb 45 - Nov 45)	Campaigns/Campagnes Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44) Northern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44) Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45) Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
DIVISION CHRONICLE After training in Ireland the 8th Infantry Division landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, 4 July 1944, and entered combat on the 7th. Fighting through the hedgerows, it crossed the Ay River, 26 July, pushed through Rennes, 8 August, and attacked Brest in September. The Crozon Peninsula was cleared, 19 September, and the Division drove across France to Luxembourg, moved to the Hurtgen Forest, 20 November, cleared Hurtgen on the 28th and Brandenburg, 3 December, and pushed on to the Roer. That river was crossed on 23 February 1945, Duren taken on the 25th and the Erft Canal crossed on the 28th. The 8th reached the Rhine near Rodenkirchen, 7 March, and maintained positions along the river near Koln. On 6 April the Division attacked northwest to aid in the destruction of enemy forces in the Ruhr Pocket, and by the 17th had completed its mission. After security duty, the Division, under operational control of the British Second Army, drove across the Elbe, 1 May, and penetrated to Schwerin when the war in Europe ended.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Après s'être entraîné en Irlande, la 8th Infantry Division débarque à Utah Beach, en Normandie, le 4 juillet 1944, et entre en combat le 7. Traversant les haies, il franchit la rivière Ay, le 26 juillet, traverse Rennes le 8 août et attaque Brest en septembre. La péninsule de Crozon a été défrichée le 19 septembre et la Division a traversé la France jusqu'au Luxembourg, s'est installée dans la forêt de Hurtgen le 20 novembre, a défriché Hurtgen le 28 et Brandebourg le 3 décembre et s'est dirigée vers la Roer. Cette rivière fut franchie le 23 février 1945, Duren fut prise le 25 et le canal Erft traversa le 28. Le 8 a atteint le Rhin près de Rodenkirchen, le 7 mars, et a maintenu des positions le long de la rivière près de Cologne. Le 6 avril, la division attaqua le nord-ouest pour aider à la destruction des forces ennemies dans la poche de la Ruhr. Le 17, elle avait achevé sa mission. Après la sécurité, la Division, sous le contrôle opérationnel de la deuxième armée britannique, traversa l'Elbe le 1er mai et pénétra à Schwerin à la fin de la guerre en Europe.