John O`Melia THAUREN [1913-1944]...
Due to the unforgiving nature of GenForum and their lack of following up on a three plus year request for a THAUREN list we thought we would post on the O`MELIA site that took us three plus years to get it online.(g)
John O`Melia THAREN was a cousin to Leonard John O`MELIA.Both were born in Muscatine Co IA in 1913.They both went to St. Mathias in Muscatine Co IA.
Leonard was in federal service with the CAA in SC when WWII broke out and the US went to war.John was in still in Muscatine Co IA and enlisted in the Army.
John found himself in the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division.Somewhere before or after the crossing of the Siegfried Line we find John in a fox hole in a bitter fire fight on 13 SEP 1944.
John is listed as KIA on 14 SEP 1944.His unit and division had the distinction of being the first into Germany on 11 SEP 1944.This unit just finished clearing the Monschau Forest and was preparing to do the same to the Huertgen Forest.
The 28th Infantry Division earned the title of the "Bloody Bucket" Division by the Germans.
John O`Melia THAUREN was awarded Plot B Row 13 Grave 38 at the beautiful grounds at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.
John was awarded the Purple Heart and a promotion to PFC after the fact.
He left a widow, and an eight year old daughter, back in Muscatine Co IA.The widow never remarried and died in 1991.
I wanted it known that my father`s favorite cousin, John O`Melia THAUREN was known.After the many times my father mentioned his cousin while I was growing up...I still remember and his is still remembered.