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5.52. LOWER, EARL PVT, Company F, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division The 4th Infantry Division had accomplished its mission of capturing the Port of Cherbourg at the tip of the Contentin Peninsula. The 4th Division, including the 12th Infantry, moved southerly toward the battle that was shaping up around St. Lo. The 12th soon came up against the hedgerow country where the enemy was well dug in with more than sufficient men and equipment to defend its positions. On 7 July Company F was on the attack through the hedgerows in the vicinity of Le Varimesnil. They swept across open field but the enemy machine guns opened up on their right flank driving the Company back with casualties. The fighting went on all day and into the night. During this action Private Earl Lower, 30, was killed. His mother Percilla of Sennett and a sister survived him. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent-sur- Mer and was awarded the Purple Heart w/Oak Leaf Cluster. 5.53. MACK, EDGAR PFC, Company A, 299th Engineer Combat Battalion After the initial task to clear the obstacles on the Normandy Beaches Omaha and Utah the 299th Engineers continued work on the beach area which was still under German fire. At times the Engineers were required to act as infantry to take out enemy fire points and snipers. On 12 June the mission changed to clearing mines. This work continued as stated in the History of the 299th “…until 16 June during which period one man was killed and eight wounded because of exploding antipersonnel mines.” PFC Edgar Mack was no doubt the one man killed. His record states he died of wounds at a location near the initial landing areas. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Surviving PFC Mack, 21, were his wife Marion and daughter Judy, 9 months old, his widowed mother Charlotte of Union Springs, a sister and four brothers, one in the service. He is buried in the National Cemetery, Elmira, New York. ---PAGE BREAK--- THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER 5.54. MARULLO, THOMAS PVT, Company B, 175th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division The 175th Infantry during late August and early September 1944 began its drive to capture the port city of Brest, France. The attack began on 26 August near the Town of St. Renan located about nine miles from Brest. The advance continued toward Fort Kerannoux, one of five forts surrounding Brest. An anti-tank ditch supplemented by pillboxes, wire and mines encircled the Fort. On 12 September the first attempt to capture the Fort failed and the Regiment dug in for the night. The attack by the 175th with supporting artillery resumed early on the morning of 13 September the day PVT Marullo was killed in action. The Fort was overrun that day. The capture of Brest cost the 175th 236 killed in action and 852 wounded. The Port of Brest defenders surrendered on 19 September 1944. PVT Marullo, 32, was awarded the Purple Heart and was survived by his wife Janis and two children 8 and 2-years old, his parents M/M Louis Marullo of Auburn, five sisters and four brothers, two in the service. A memorial mass was said for him at Holy Family Church, Msgr. Conway presiding. He is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Fleming. 5.55. MAY, DELMAR 1SGT, 1st Signal Company, 1st Infantry Division On 29 December the day Technical Sergeant Delmar May, 24, died in a jeep accident while the 1st Division was in the thick of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest. On the prior day the German offensive was unable to penetrate the lines of the 1st Division, but the Division found itself caught in a salient (surrounded on three sides). Since no history of the 1st Signal Company could be located knowing the circumstances of 1SGT May’s death is impossible. He was previously awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious actions with the 1st Division while in North Africa and Sicily. He was survived by his wife Josephine, his parents M/M Charles May of King Ferry, and four brothers, two in the service. A funeral service was held for him at the King Ferry Presbyterian Church. He is buried in the West Genoa Cemetery, King Ferry, NY. ---PAGE BREAK--- THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER 5.56. McINTYRE, MARSHALL SSG Tech 3, Company L, 175th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division Without having SSG McIntyre’s personnel record that can only be obtained by family members, it is impossible to know on which day he was wounded. However, he died of wounds on 16 September 1944. He was likely wounded during the assault by the 175th on the Port of Brest, France. The 175th attack began on 13 September against the walled city and the forts surrounding it. A week later, after bitter and close in fighting, the Port of Brest surrendered to the 29th Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of previous combat action. SSG Tech 3 McIntyre, 25, was survived by his wife Jean and a daughter, his parents M/M Elmer McIntyre Town of Sterling, and three brothers all in the service. A military funeral was held for him at the Fair Haven Presbyterian Church. He is buried in Springbrook Cemetery, Sterling, NY. 5.57. MICHALEC, JOHN 1LT, 9th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division The American army breakout from the Normandy hedgerow country was well underway in early August 1944. The 2nd Division was moving relentlessly southwards from St. Lo, France towards the City of Vire. On 3 August the 9th Infantry met the obstacle of the Souleuvre River, located halfway between St. Lo and Vire. Some elements of the 9th Infantry waded across the River under heavy enemy fire, others crossed on a bridge built by the Division’s engineers also in the face of German machine gun and mortar fire. During this assault 1LT Michalec was killed in action on 3 August. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. His unit also received a Presidential Unit Citation. 1LT Michalec, 27, was survived by his parents M/M Michael Michalec of Weedsport and two brothers, one in the service. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church. He is buried in the Weedsport Rural Cemetery.