WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Private Robert E. Worden

 

Private Robert Elton Worden

Robert Worden's life was spent back and forth across state lines, between Scipio Township, Allen County, Indiana, and Hicksville, Ohio.  He was born to Henry Leroy and Edna Cecelia (Zuber) Worden in Scipio Township on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1921. 

 

He lived on Dixon Avenue in Hicksville village .at the time he applied for his draft card, and he held a job at the Auburn Rubber Company. At the time, he was 5'8" and 125 pounds.

In October 1942, he travelled to Toledo to enlist in the U.S. Army. Robert became part of the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Army Division, 3rd Battalion. After training in Indiana, off he went overseas to England and then the next stop, Normandy.

The hedgerows of Normandy

The attack on Normandy began on June 6, 1944. Private Worden's unit, the 22nd Infantry, assaulted on Utah Beach, landing in small crafts, ready to attack on the 8th.  On July 11, 1944, the Third Battalion was preparing to attack the village of Ozeville/Azeville.

An attempt was made to seize Cresberq and Azeville, but the attack was repulsed with heavy losses in the 1st and 2nd Battalion... The third Battalion was brought inland to attack Azeville. They moved up in preparation to attack, but enemy artillery and mortar fire caused a large number of casualties, and the strength of all five battalions was appreciably reduced. These were the conditions when Private Robert Worden lost his life on July 11, 1944.

"ROBERT WORDEN IS KILLED JULY 11

Hicksville Man Participates in Invasion, Loses Life in Normandy

Hicksville, Aug. 10 - Pvt. Robert E. Worden, 23, was killed in action on July 11 in Normandy as a member of the invasion forces, according to the War Department notification that had been received today by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Worden, Dixon Avenue.

He was the 36th from Defiance County to lose his life in service of his country.

In addition to his parents, Private Worden leaves two brothers, Charles and Calvin Worden, Hicksville; and three sisters, Mrs. Florence Trostell, St. Joe, Ind, Mrs. Rose Betz, Grabill, Ind., and Miss Garnet Worden, at home.

Private Worden was inducted from Defiance Oct 12, 1942, while employed at the Wayne Knitting Mills, Fort Wayne. He went to Camp Atterbury, Ind. and later trained in the 22nd Infantry, 3rd Battalion in Tennessee. He went overseas last January, received further training in England and then participated in the invasion.

He was born in Springfield township, Allen County, Indiana, and came to Hicksville with his parents where he grew to manhood."

Defiance Crescent-News, August 10, 1944, page 1

Pvt. Worden was originally buried in France at Sainte Mere, Eglise Cemetery, and it was 1948 before his body was returned from France. 

He travelled home on the U.S. Army transport, the Greenville Victory, to New York City.  From there he was brought home with a military escort to be buried at Scipio Cemetery in Indiana.

Scipio Cemetery, Indiana

In the Defiance Crescent-News on July 15, 1948, pg. 1:

"PVT WORDEN'S RITES SUNDAY

Hicksville Soldier's Body Will Arrive Friday From Europe

Hicksville, July 15 - The body of Pvt. Robert E. Worden, who lost his life July 11, 1944, while serving in the European Theater will arrive in Hicksville on the B & O Friday at 9:19 a.m.

It will be taken to the Perkins and Reeb funeral home where services will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m.  Rev Cleo Roth, Ev. Brethren minister, will officiate and gravesite rites will be conducted at Scipio Cemetery by Edward C. Smart post, American Legion and the VFW.

Pvt Worden was awarded the Silver Star posthumously, for gallantry in action.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Worden, 311 Dixon Street. He also leaves two brothers, Charles and Calvin Worden, Hicksville, and three sisters: Mrs. Florence Trostel, Butler, Ind., Mrs. Rose Betts, Harlan, Ind., and Garnet Worden, at home.

He was born December 24, 1921 in Scipio tp., Allen county, Indiana. He was graduated from Harlan high school and then was employed in Auburn and Ft. Wayne.

He was inducted into service Oct. 25, 1942, going to Camp Atterbury. He went overseas in January 1944 and was in England before entering combat service in the continent."

He also received the Purple Heart and the World War II Victory Medal.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Paul E. Singer

 Private First Class Paul Edward Singer

PFC Paul Singer
(with greqt thanks to Sandy
Dobbelaere for this photo)

Paul Edward Singer was born in Paulding County, but his parents, John Charles and Florence Sarah (Donier) did move to Defiance.

He attended St. Mary's Parochial School, ended his education there, and then he farmed awhile in Paulding County. 

Born on August 31, 1917, he enlisted in the army at the age of 25, on October 14, 1942. Toledo was his enlistment place, but then he moved on to Camp Perry and then Camp Attenbury, Indiana. He was trained and assigned as a medic in a detachment to the 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division.

His group departed the United States on March/April 6, 1944, arriving in England on the 16th. He underwent intensive training there and in Wales before setting out for one of the biggest battles of the World War II, Normandy Beach. (Differing sources on date of departure)

The 330th Regiment on its way through the English Channel to Normandy, France.

One of Pvt Singer's fellow soldiers told of his own experience there in a small history of the 330th:

"We landed on Omaha Beach June 23, 1944, after lying offshore a week while a storm raged that almost doomed the beachhead.  After assembling in the vicinity of Bricqueville, Normandy, we moved into the lines southeast of Carenten, relieving elements of the 101st Airborne Division.

The 4th of July, 1944, was no holiday for the infantrymen of the 330th. On that day at 0500 hours, we attacked...the first of hundreds of attacks which were to carry us from the hedgerows of Normandy to the flat plains beyond the Elbe River.

It is difficult to describe now what we did and how we felt then. We knew hate then...and fear...the kind of fear that becomes actual pain. We attacked every day for twenty-three straight days, from dawn to dark.  We repulsed the enemies counter-attacks and we moved forward. We became exhausted physically and mentally. It showed in our dirty and drawn faces. We lost our closest friends, reinforcements became veterans in a few days - if they lasted.

On July 10, 1944, during this battle, Private Paul E Singer lost his life, most likely trying to save someone else's as a medic. "Others before self."

His official place of death was recorded as Department de la Marche, Basse - Normandie, France. His body was temporarily buried in France but returned to the states in 1949. 

His obituary appeared in the Paulding Democrat on January 20, 1949:

"BODY OF PFC PAUL SINGER SENT HOME

The body of Pfc Paul E. Singer son of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Singer, just south of Defiance on state route 66,who was killed by a shell in France, July 10, 1944, arrived at the Mansfield Funeral Home, Defiance on Friday morning.  Services were in St. Mary's Catholic Church at 9 a.m. Saturday and burial in Riverside.

Pfc Singer lived just south of Ney on Route 66 with his parents before entering the service on Nov. 28, 1941. Previously he had farmed in Paulding County.

He was a member of the 23 (83) division with the medical corp. at the time of his death which came when he was 27 years old. He was born Aug. 31, 1917. He began his army career at Camp Attenbury, Ind. and was in several other camps before shipping to England in March 1944.

He was a graduate of St. Mary's Parochial School. He was unmarried, being survived by his parents and two brothers Raymond and Glenn, both of Brown Township, Paulding County.

A military escort accompanied the body home."

Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio

Dan Hasch - Researcher