Charles Wesley SUMMERS

 

Charles W. Summers

Source : y Michael V Drachman
 
NUMBER OF SERVICE33378373
AGE24 yo
DATE OF BIRTH18 December 1920 Guilford County, NORTH CAROLINA
ENLISTMENT STATEMARYLAND
FAMILY

Parents : John Rankin & Lillie Mae Hedrick SUMMERS

Siblings : James S , John & Maribelle

RANKStaff Sergeant
FONCTIONInfantry Man
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENTSemiskilled blacksmiths, forgemen, and hammermenNE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT6 October 1942 Baltimore MARYLAND
COMPANYCompany
REGIMENT 8th Infantry Regiment
DIVISION 4th Infantry Division
DATE OF DEATH6 July 1944

Charles W. Summers

Source : Time To Go Home
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATH 
CEMETERY TEMPORARY

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of St Mère Église #23586 

St Mère Église 2

Story of Cemetery Temporary

CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
D2829
DECORATION

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge


Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

 

 

us army div 4 8ri 8ri 1
STORY
 

Remembering S/Sgt Charles W. Summers and PFC James S. Summers, two brothers from Archdale, North Carolina. During WWII, they both joined the U.S. Army and both fought to liberate Europe. Charles served with the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, while his little brother James was a member of the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division.

On July 6, 1944, in Normandy, Charles climbed out of a foxhole and stepped on a German land mine, which killed him instantly.

He was only 23 years old. Three months later, on October 10, 1944, James was fighting in Italy when he was struck by enemy fire and died at the age of 19. A third brother (John Summers) was also serving his beloved country overseas, but following James' death, he was sent back to the United States. Lillie Summers never recovered from the loss of her two sons.

Her daughter Betty Jean later recalled: "It was never discussed, but I know she was very sick. She was in the bed, probably for a couple of months, and the doctor would come to see her".

Charles and James are now resting in peace, side by side, at the Normandy American Cemetery.

div 4

4th 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

carte campagne europe

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.
SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com

Brother's

Charles W

James Samuel SUMMERS

 

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER34678880

James samuel Summers

Source : Michael V Drachman

James samuel. Summers

Source : Time To Go Home

AGE19 yo
DATE OF BIRTH1925 High Point, Guilford County, NORTH CAROLINA
STATENORTH CAROLINA
FAMILY

Parents : John Rankin & Lillie Mae Hedrick SUMMERS

Siblings : Charles W , John & Maribelle  

RANKPrivate First Class
 DATE OF DEATH10 October 1944
UNIT351st Infantry Regiment
88th Infantry Division
DATE of ENLISTEMENT7 August 1943 Fort Bragg NORTH CAROLINAPhoto FDLM
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATH in Italy
SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTOAbmc.gov Findagrave.com - Time To Go HomeAad.archives.gov
SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTOAbmc.gov - Findagrave.com Time To Go HomeAad.archives.gov
PROGRAMMERHenri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
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