Floyd Thomas HARDZOG

Parents : Daniel Henry & Mary Ann Elizabeth Billett HARTZOG

Siblings : William Alex, William Donald & Josephine

Half Siblings : Ernest Marion, Eudora, George Washington & Viola Hartzog

Source : F Lavernhe

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

Pfc. Floyd Hardzog (Hartzog), field artilleryman missing in France since June 6,
is reported killed in action, according to War Department telegram to his
mother , Mrs Mary Hardzog (Hartzog), 749 Tate (St. Memphis TN). He is 25.
Pfc. Hardzog was born and reared at Daleville, Ala. and moved to Memphis
about five years ago. Before entering the Army Nov. 4 ,1941, he was
employed by John C. Dix & Son Co. He had been overseas since January.
He also leaves his sister, Mrs. Josephine Wilkins, 749 Tate; two half-sisters, Mrs. Viola Foster, Memphis, and Mrs. Dora Stones, New Brockton, Ala. , and two-half brothers Cpl. W. D. Blackman, with the Army at Camp Chassee, Ark., and Sam Blackman of Memphis.

Name inscribed on the Tablets of the missing. American St. Laurent Cemetery Normandy, France

He was attached to Battery B, 29th Field Artillery Battalion and went missing at Sea after his LCT 458 landing craft struck a German mine during the D-Day invasion.
He was one of 39 men who were killed when LCT 458 hit a floating mine, exploded, and sank.

Army serial number 34180153. Awarded the Purple Heart medal.

Born with 2 opposing thumbs on right hand. He pinched very well as told by my Grandmother and Uncle.

Landing Craft Tank (Mark 5):
Laid down, 19 September 1942, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
Launched, 24 September 1942
Delivered, 2 October 1942
Placed in service, LTJG John Frederick Bierkamp, Jr in charge
During World War II LCT-458 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater, LCT Flotilla 4, LCDR Louis E. Hubbard in command, and participated in the following campaign:
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns Campaign and Dates
Invasion of Normandy, 6 and 7 June 1944
Sunk by and enemy mine off Utah Beach, Normandy, 7 June 1944

LCT-458 transported B Battery of 29th Field Artillery Battalion, CO CAPT Vernon P. Burns, scheduled to land on Tare Green at H+145 (June 6, 1944). However, on the way in she struck a mine. Of the 59 artillerists aboard, 37 were killed and 22 were wounded. The bodies of 27 men were never recovered. Battery B was reconstituted with about thirty reserves who were left in the UK plus replacements, and joined the battalion after the surrender of Cherbourg on June 27. Many sources say there were 39 people killed, but Irving Smolens (still alive), who served with 29th FA, said that the Army records are wrong in this respect.

"1000 The next LCT's were scheduled for the 13th wave, Flotilla 4. LCT 362 (one of five LCT's) was lost en route to the Uncle Red Beach. The 14th wave on Tare Green Beach, also Flotilla 4, lost LCT 458. At the Uncle Red Sector, three of the LCT's were sunk during the landing, LCT Mark(5)'s 486, 443, and 489. (On the 14th wave, four of the eleven LCT's were lost)."
(Source: LCT Stories - Joe Suozzo's report

4^th INFANTRY DIVISION - IVY

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
1 Jun 1940	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  299
	Casualties/Victimes 22 660
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
6 Jun 44 D-Day
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. Walter E. Prosser (Jun 40 - Oct 40) Maj. Gen. Lloyd R. Fredendall (Oct 40 - Jul 41) Maj. Gen. Oscar W. Griswold (Aug 41 - Sep 41) Maj. Gen. Harold R. Bull (Oct 41 - Nov 41) Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen (Dec 41 - Dec 41) Maj. Gen. Fred C. Wallace (Jan 42 - Jun 42) Maj. Gen. Raymond 0. Barton (Jul 42 - Dec 44) Maj. Gen. Harold W. Blakeley (Dec 44 - Oct 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) 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
DIVISION CHRONICLE The 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division was one of the first Allied units to hit the beaches at Normandy on D-day, 6 June 1944. Relieving the isolated 82nd Airborne Division at Ste. Mere Eglise, the 4th cleared the Cotentin peninsula and took part in the capture of Cherbourg, 25 June. After taking part in the fighting near Periers, 6-12 July,, the Division broke through the left flank of the German Seventh Army, helped stem the German drive toward Avranches, and by the end of August had moved to Paris, assisting the French in the liberation of their capital. The 4th then moved into Belgium through Houffalize to attack the Siegfried Line at Schnee Eifel, 14 September, and made several penetrations. Slow progress into Germany continued in October, and by 6 November the Division reached the Hurtgen Forest, where a severe engagement took place until early December. It then shifted to Luxembourg, only to meet the German winter offensive head-on, 16 December 1944. Although its lines were dented, it managed to hold the Germans at Dickweiler and Osweiler, and, counterattacking in January across the Sauer, overran German positions in Fouhren and Vianden. Halted at the Prum in February by heavy enemy resistance, the Division finally crossed 28 February near Olzheim, and raced on across the Kyll, 7 March. After a short rest, the 4th moved across the Rhine 29 March at Worms, attacked and secured Wurzburg and by 3 April had established a bridgehead across the Main at Ochsenfurt. Speeding southeast across Bavaria, the Division had reached Miesbach on the Isar, 2 May 1945, when it was relieved and placed on occupation duty.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Le 8e régiment d'infanterie de la 4e division fut l'une des premières unités alliées à débarquer sur les plages de Normandie le 6 juin 1944, jour du débarquement. Soulager la 82nd Airborne Division isolée de Ste. Mère Eglise, le 4e défricha la presqu'île du Cotentin et participa à la prise de Cherbourg le 25 juin. Après avoir pris part aux combats près de Periers, du 6 au 12 juillet, la Division a franchi le flanc gauche de la Septième armée allemande, aidé à endiguer la route allemande vers Avranches et, à la fin du mois d'août, s'est installée à Paris, aidant les Français. dans la libération de leur capitale. Le 4e s'est ensuite déplacé en Belgique par Houffalize pour attaquer la ligne Siegfried à Schnee Eifel, le 14 septembre, et a fait plusieurs pénétrations. Les progrès lents en Allemagne se sont poursuivis en octobre et, le 6 novembre, la division a atteint la forêt de Hurtgen, où un engagement sévère a eu lieu jusqu'au début du mois de décembre. Il s'est ensuite déplacé vers le Luxembourg, seulement pour affronter l'offensive allemande d'hiver, le 16 décembre 1944. Bien que ses lignes aient été bosselées, il a réussi à tenir les Allemands à Dickweiler et Osweiler et, contre-attaquant en janvier à travers la Sauer à Fouhren et Vianden. Arrêtée au Prum en février par une forte résistance ennemie, la Division a finalement franchi le 28 février près d'Olzheim et a couru à travers le Kyll, le 7 mars. Après un court repos, le 4 mars traversa le Rhin à Worms, attaqua et sécurisa Wurzburg le 29 mars et, le 3 avril, il établit une tête de pont sur le Main à Ochsenfurt. Accélérant le sud-est à travers la Bavière, la division avait atteint Miesbach sur l'Isar, le 2 mai 1945, quand elle fut relevée et placée en devoir d'occupation.

Floyd

T HARDZOG

William Donald BLACKMON

Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown Memphis, Shelby County, TENNESSEE

Source : Neil Loftiss

Spouse : Elsie Jeanette

Parents : Daniel Henry & Mary Ann Elizabeth Billett HARTZOG

Siblings : William Alex, Floyd Thomas & Josephine

Half Siblings : Ernest Marion, Eudora, George Washington & Viola

Company A

64^th Armored Infantry Battalion

3^rd Infantry Division