Vincent Ely COCKEFAIR

Source : Elton Gibb

Parents : Ernest V & Mary E COCKEFAIR  

2^nd Lieutenant, Juin 1928,
1^st Lieutenant, 28 Septembre 1931,
Capitaine, 16 Octobre 1935,
Major, Juin 1941,
Lt. Colonel, Février 1942,

Lieutenant-Colonel

Source : Andy

 CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Marigny N°3555

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of St James American Cemetery

Source : Fold3 (krasdorf326)

Source : Fold3 (krasdorf326)

At Rutgers, Vincent was in the band and served as captain of the rifle team.

He received the silver medal for his team at the marksmanship contest held at Plattsburg Barracks.

During training at Fort Benning, GA, Vincent lectured at reserve officer's meetings and assisted in the planning and implementation of the summer program at Fort Dix, NJ. Vincent was called to active duty in February 1941.

In France, he served with the 36th Armored Division, lst Army.

He was killed in action by a high explosive shell that was meant to breach Allied lines in the Mortain area of France.

Men under his command remembered him as a brave leader and a gentlemen. Vincent came from a long line of patriotic servicemen.

He had ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

Source : Andy

Source : Fold3 (krasdorf326)

3^rd ARMORED DIVISION - SPEARHEAD

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
15 Apr 1941	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  231
	Casualties/Victimes  9 243
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
9 Jul 1944 at Normandy
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem (Apr 41 - Jan 42) Maj. Gen. Walton H. Walker (Jan 42 - Aug 42) Maj. Gen. Leroy H. Watson (Aug 42 - Aug 44) Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose (Aug 44 - Mar 45) Brig. Gen. Doyle O. Hickey (Mar 45 - Jun 45) Brig. Gen. Truman E. Boudinot (Jun 45 - Jul 45) Brig. Gen. Frank A. Allen, Jr. (Jul 45 - Jul 45) Maj. Gen. Robert W. Grow (Jul 45 - inactivation)	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)
CAMPAIGN MAP OF THE EUROPEAN THEATER
DIVISION CHRONICLE The 3d Armored Division landed in Normandy and entered combat 29 June 1944, taking part in the hedgerow fighting. The Division broke out at Marigny and with the 1st Infantry Division swung south to Mayenne in a general exploitation of the St. Lo break-through. In August 1944, the Division participated in the heavy fighting involved in closing the Falaise Gap, pocketing the German Seventh Army. Six days later (25 August) the Division had cut across the Seine River, and was streaking through Meaux, Soissons, Laon, Mons, Namur, and Liege. Liege fell 8 September and Eupen on 11 September. The Division breached the Siegfried Line with the capture of Rotgen, 12 September, and continued a slow advance against heavy resistance, to the vicinity of Langerwehe. When the Battle of the Bulge broke, the Division was shifted to Houffalize, Belgium, where it severed a vital highway leading to St. Vith, and in January participated in the reduction of the German salient west of Houffalize. After a brief rest, the Division returned to the front, crossed the Roer River- into Duren, broke out of the Duren bridgehead, and drove on to capture Koln, 6 March 45. The Division swept on to Paderborn ; it was at a road junction near Paderborn that Major General Rose was killed while attempting to surrender to a German tank commander, 31 March 1945. The Division took Paderborn, assisted in mopping up the Ruhr pocket, crossed the Saale River, and after overcoming stiff resistance took Dessau, 21-23 April 1945.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION La 3ème division blindée débarqua en Normandie et entra au combat le 29 juin 1944, participant aux combats de haies. La division éclate à Marigny et la 1ère division d'infanterie se tourne vers le sud en direction de Mayenne pour une exploitation générale de la percée de St. Lo. En août 1944, la division participa aux combats acharnés liés à la fermeture du fossé de Falaise, empochant la septième armée allemande. Six jours plus tard (25 août), la division avait traversé la Seine et traversait Meaux, Soissons, Laon, Mons, Namur et Liège. Liège est tombé le 8 septembre et Eupen le 11 septembre. La division a franchi la ligne Siegfried avec la prise de Rotgen, le 12 septembre, et a continué sa progression lente contre une résistance importante, à proximité de Langerwehe. Lorsque la bataille des Ardennes a éclaté, la division s'est déplacée vers Houffalize, en Belgique, où elle a coupé une autoroute vitale menant à Saint-Vith, et a participé en janvier à la réduction du saillant allemand à l'ouest d'Houffalize. Après un bref repos, la division revint au front, traversa la rivière Roer jusqu'à Duren, sortit de la tête de pont de Duren et continua à capturer Cologne, le 6 mars 45. La division se dirigea vers Paderborn; C'est à un carrefour près de Paderborn que le général de division Rose a été tué alors qu'il tentait de se rendre à un commandant de char allemand, le 31 mars 1945. La division a pris Paderborn, a aidé à nettoyer la poche de la Ruhr, a traversé la Saale la résistance a pris Dessau, 21-23 avril 1945.