Harry was born in Armenia in 1926, he lives in Saint West New York, New Jersey. Son of Charles and Zevart PROODIAN, he has one sister named Grace. Harry is a virtuoso who has a passion for violin.
Drafted in the US Army in 1943, he enters Camp Croft, North Carolina the same year, he is integrated to A Company.
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35th Battalion in the Replacement Training Center for 17 weeks where he will be taught the Infantryman basics from how to walk in a platoon to manual of arms including physical training, marches … then he is assigned to a specialty according to his skills acquired during these weeks, as far as Harry is concerned he will become part of a Rifle Company.
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At the end of his training, he is sent to Fort Meade where he will be assigned to the 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. He leaves the USA to England in mid-April 1944.
He is transfered into the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. He lands in Normandy on June 14, 1944 as part of replacement troops second wave.
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Drafted in C Company, 1st Battalion, he can be located somwhere between Gourbesville and Beauvais with the objective to reach Orglandes and estabish a defensive line there. The troops advance very slowly since they have to fight fields after fields and hedgerows after hedgerows to get closer to their objective.
On June 16, the regiment were pulled out from the frontline in the vicinity Gourbesville.
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On June 18, the regiment is ordered to hold the Portbail sector. The 357th maneuvers so as to establish a new defensive line through the north.
On June 19, the Germans try to break the American defensive line that cuts the Cotentin Peninsula off. On the same day, the 357th completes the cutting off of the Peninsula inspite of some Panzers against them.
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On June 20, the men maintain the positions despite several counter-attacks.
On June 21, the 357th has to face attacks coming from the south as well as from the north which are more of attempts to infiltrate Germans to escape this cutting off.
On June 22, the 357th on its ground launches an attack so as to repel the Germans who started to gain grounds on the defensive line, the attack will be crowned with success.
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On June 23, the 357th clean out Portbail. C company gets its positions near Creteville under German fire, particularly mortar fire.
On June 25, the men mantain the positions having a premonition of an attack within the day against the 357th; the 358th is sent to reinforce the threatened 357th.
However nothing happens, the Germans launch their attack in the evening. But the artillery, alerted as well, breaks the attack momentum.
On June 26, a German patrol worked its way into the 357th's lines creating a huge wave of panic. The fight begins, the Germans withdraw. 40 Germans are taken prisoners.
On June 28, the front is quiet, patrols are set, 6 German prisoners are taken back.
On the 357th Regiment's After Action Report dated from June 28, one can read that little activities exist except for artillery and mortar fire on both sides of the line.
Total casualties on this day : 3 killed - 5 wounded
Among these 3 killed soldiers were Harry PROODIAN.
This very same day, the regiment learns that it will be relieved by the 79th Infantry Division on June 30.
Harry was one of the 3 last killed soldiers on this line.