Guest Post by Hans Veders as part of my Stories of the Greatest Generation series.
The Netherlands American Cemetery is located on the road from Maastricht (NLD) to Aachen (GER). Nearby the town of Margraten.
In 1944 Cpt Shomon, commander of the 611th Graves Registration Company selected the area to bury casualties of the ongoing war. In the end more than 18.000 American serviceman were buried at the site. Over the years more than 10,000 soldiers were repatriated to the US. Today the Cemetery holds 8301 servicemen, additional 1722 names are listed on the walls of missing. The names of the missing found in later years are marked with a Rosette.
Shortly after the war a adoption program started, the Dutch adopted a grave to remember the soldier, some in contact with the family in the States but for many it was just a name in the field.
Random and on special occasions as Memorial Day the adoptants place flowers.
The internet and movies like Saving private Ryan boosted the adoption program. Although fictional the movie made clear there is a story behind every name. People started researching resulting in new contacts oversea and more and more info became available. The Faces of Margraten, is an initiative to bring back the faces to the names.
All graves and the missing are adopted now and there is a long waiting list for adoption. Many families continue the adoption over generations.
The cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, select the cemetery and here you find more info and links to the adoption program and The Faces of Margraten program.
I adopted the grave of Paul Richard Imm. He is buried in Plot B, row 1, grave 22.
Paul was born august 27 1922 and KIA on November 20 1944, he was just 22 years old. He lost his live in or near Gereonsweiler, a small German town just across the Dutch border. Paul lived in Cuyahoga County Ohio. I think in Cleveland but that is not confirmed. He completed 2 years of high school and worked as a salesclerk in his father’s produce store.
Paul’s Family
Father Emil-August Imm. 1880-1947
Mother Martha A Berndt-Imm. 1885-1946
Brother Edward. 1921-1995
Sister Jean H Shields-Imm. 1926-2014
Brother Donald. 1923-????
Paul’s Service History
Paul enlisted in the US Army on November 19, 1942 at Cleveland, Ohio. Not known to me drafted or volunteered. On arrival in Europe PFC Paul Imm belonged to C company, 406th regiment of the 102nd infantry division.
The 102nd infantry division (Ozarks) was activated September 15 1942. Commanded by Major General Frank A Keating from January 20 1944
The division left the states by daylight on September 12, 1944, in six ships, John Ericson, Marine Wolf, Santa Paula, Sea Tiger, Bienville and the Marina. The ships fell in position in a convoy of 46 vessels + Naval escorts. The convoy crossed the ocean with no losses but with some excitement due to U boat alarm. The ships anchored 22 September in Weymouth Harbor, the next morning the ships weighed anchor and the Ozarks headed for Bombed out Cherbourg Harbor in France. This harbor was only recently captured and the 102nd was the second large unit to unload here. It was D-day+109
The division traveled from France through Belgium to the Dutch-German border opposing the Siegfried Line north of Aachen. The Division entered combat October 26, 1944, and had 173 days in combat with over 1000 men KIA.
The division had its hospital set up in Hoensbroek, the town i live in today. The attack on Gereonsweiler was part of operation Clipper, the town was defended for three days, 17-20 November, before it capitulated after which the US troops were severely counterattacked but were able to retain their positions only by skillful and courageous defense.
The 406th regiment was attached to the 2nd Armored Division. They had the task of clearing the village after the armor advanced. The goal was to open access to the Roer River.
All towns behind the lines were evacuated by the Germans and converted into strong holds. The town was secured by 1400 hours, but it was not until 1700 that all the enemy within the village were captured. During the entire operation German artillery had accurately registered on all road intersections and maintained continues interdicting fire. The tempo of artillery fire increased as Gereonsweiler was invested and continued so throughout the night. For many weeks to come the Church was a favorite target of the Wehrmacht gunners who gradually reduced the entire town to a pile of rubble. Gereonsweiler was destroyed for over 90%. After the war it was rebuilt with the use of the old street plan.
The individual fate of Paul is not known, it was a Monday with Rain all day resulting in mud, a miserable day, the fighting was fierce.
S/Sgt William R. Wilson from B company earned the DSC in this action on 20 November, he led three companions through a hail of fire in a series of bold assaults that netted 21 prisoners and 2 armored half-track personnel carriers. He then spearheaded an attack through the town, shattering resistance and capturing 29 more enemies.
In C company
Capt George C Armentrout
S/Sgt George M Dunn
Pfc Abe M Kuzminsky
Pfc Joseph R. Vara
Earned the Silver Star Medal as did 14 soldiers from other companies in the 406th.
Other 406th soldiers KIA in or near Gereonsweiler on 20 November and buried in Margraten.
PFC Paul H Webbink from Missouri, C comp A-20-6
PFC Ralph Figliuzzo, Virginia C comp A-21-9
S/Sgt Robert W Block, Michigan, C comp J-19-7
PVT Oscar A Douglas Jr, Texas, C-comp D-15-1
PVT Raymond A Ullrich, New York, C-comp A-21-18
PFC Robert E Cook, Maryland, F comp A-7-30
PVT Earl R Hurlbert, Nebraska, I comp P-9-7
PVT Joseph V Stone, Alabama, A comp E-8-14
Joseph M Monford, Michigan, K comp M-6-7
T/Sgt Philip F Sawyer, Oklahoma, K comp N-8-13
PFC Ronald W Helps, New Jersey, K comp F-11-20
Listed on Wall of missing
PVT Edward E Reinehr, Connecticut, G comp
PFC John A Koppi from Minnesota is buried at St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Hennepin County Minnesota.
Letter to General Keating
Major General E.N. Harmon, then commanding the 2nd armored division praised the Ozarks troops in a letter to General Keating
I wish to commend the 406th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Hurless, for the highly efficient manner in which it performed its duties and accomplished its missions while attached to the 2d Armored Division …… the attack and capture of Apweiler and Gereonsweiler by the 406th Infantry Regiment in conjunction with the 67th Armored Regiment and 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, was executed in spite of strong enemy resistance and difficult weather conditions……the holding of this critical terrain feature in the face of determined enemy counterattack with tanks and infantry, demonstrated the fighting spirit of our infantry even after several days of hard fighting and in spite of heavy casualties …..
Quote from the 102nd division book
For troops whose previous offensive experience had been limited to mock battles in the Louisiana swamps, who only a few short weeks before had enjoyed beer in New York it was a proud accomplishment.
What a story behind the grave, so many brave young men at the wrong place in the wrong time, they have fallen but are not forgotten.
Guest Author Information
Hans Veders is a Dutch man who lives in the Netherlands. He conducts research on his adopted graves at Margraten. Contact Hans at h.veders@gmail.com.
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