Biographical information courtesy of MEB (Find A Grave #47998630) on April 23, 2013.
Death Location: Grand Duché de Luxemburg in Operation Grenade. "The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby." (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013)
Parents:
Father - Cecil McShurley; Born January 1888, Indiana; Died: c. 1918-1919, unknown.
Mother - Katie Lavender; Born: April 1898, Curry, Putnam, West Virginia; Died: 22 April 1965, Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia.
Their marriage was 8 March 1917, Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.
Step-father Peyton Samuel Pearson.
On 7 July 1943, Cecil Vinson McShurley of St. Albans, Kanawha, WV, married Zella Jane Williams of Charleston, Kanawha, WV. Their issue is unknown at this time. Shortly thereafter, on 3 December 1943, Mr. McShurley enlisted in the U. S. Army at Fort Thomas Newport, KY, for service in World War II. He served as a Private First Class in the A/S Infantry, 330 Infantry Regiment. Service # 35559788.
Military Information: World War II
83rd Inf. Division, 330 Inf Reg't
Nicknames: Thunderbolt Division, and Ohio.
Combat chronicle
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013
The 83d Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944. After training in Wales, the division landed at Omaha Beach, 18 June 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carentan, 27 June. Taking the offensive, the 83d reached the St. Lo-Periers Road, 25 July, and advanced 8 miles (13 km) against strong opposition as the Normandy campaign ended.
After a period of training, elements of the division took Châteauneuf-d'Ille-et-Vilaine, 5 August, and Dinard, 15 August, and approached the heavily fortified area protecting St. Malo. Intense fighting reduced enemy strong points and a combined attack against the Citadel Fortress of St. Servan caused its surrender, 17 August. While elements moved south to protect the north bank of the Loire River, the main body of the division concentrated south of Rennes for patrolling and reconnaissance activities. Elements reduced the garrison at Ile de Cézembre, which surrendered, 2 September. On 16 September 1944: the only surrender of a German Major General B. H. Elster to US-troops with 18,850 men and 754 officers at the Loire bridge of Beaugency. The movement into Luxembourg was completed on 25 September. Taking Remich on the 28th and patrolling defensively along the Moselle, the 83d resisted counterattacks and advanced to the Siegfried Line defenses across the Sauer after capturing Grevenmacher and Echternach, 7 October. As the initial movement in operation "Unicorn," the division took Le Stromberg Hill in the vicinity of Basse Konz against strong opposition, 5 November, and beat off counterattacks.
Moving to the Hurtgen Forest, the 83d thrust forward from Gressenich to the west bank of the Roer. It entered the Battle of the Bulge, 27 December, striking at Rochefort and reducing the enemy salient in a bitter struggle. The division moved back to Belgium and the Netherlands for rehabilitation and training, 22 January 1945. On 1 March, the 83d advanced toward the Rhine in Operation Grenade, and captured Neuss. The west bank of the Rhine from north of Oberkassel to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positions established by 2 March and the division renewed its training. The 83d crossed the Rhine south of Wesel, 29 March, and advanced across the Munster Plain to the Weser, crossing it at Bodenwerder. As opposition disintegrated, Halle fell on 6 April. The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby. That city was taken on the 13 April. The 83rd established a bridgehead over the river.
On 11 April 1945 the 83rd encountered Langenstein, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. At the camp, the troops found approximately 1,100 inmates. The inmates were malnourished and in extremely poor physical condition. The 83rd reported the death rate at the camp to be 500 per month. Also, that the prisoners had been forced to work 16 hour days in nearby mines, and were shot if they became too weak to work. After liberation, the death rate continued at approximately 25–50 people per day, due to the severe physical debilitation of the prisoners.
To slow the spread of sickness and death, the 83rd ordered the local German mayor to supply the camp with food and water. Also, medical supplies were requisitioned from the U.S. Army's 20th Field Hospital. In addition, the 83rd recovered documents for use by war crimes investigators.
Please note: It is not known whether this stone marks the burial site or if it was placed "in memory of" as he was killed in action in the Grand Duché de Luxemburg.
Burial/Memorial Date: 15 April 1945, Thaxton Cemetery,
Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial:
West Virginia Veterans Memorial; Date added: Original. "Dedication of the Memorial, with the World War II sailor sculpture, took place on Veterans Day 1995" His name is inscribed on the wall.
West Virginia Memory Project: Record ID; 6562 (Reference: http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvvets.html)
Citing Information from this Memorial: If you copy any information from this memorial, please cite the source appropriately and that includes photo(s) information sources, which you may find by clicking on the photo. Endeavour by many people has gone into making this memorial and credit should be given to the respective person/organization – Thank-you, MEB (#47998630)
Death Location: Grand Duché de Luxemburg in Operation Grenade. "The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby." (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013)
Parents:
Father - Cecil McShurley; Born January 1888, Indiana; Died: c. 1918-1919, unknown.
Mother - Katie Lavender; Born: April 1898, Curry, Putnam, West Virginia; Died: 22 April 1965, Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia.
Their marriage was 8 March 1917, Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.
Step-father Peyton Samuel Pearson.
On 7 July 1943, Cecil Vinson McShurley of St. Albans, Kanawha, WV, married Zella Jane Williams of Charleston, Kanawha, WV. Their issue is unknown at this time. Shortly thereafter, on 3 December 1943, Mr. McShurley enlisted in the U. S. Army at Fort Thomas Newport, KY, for service in World War II. He served as a Private First Class in the A/S Infantry, 330 Infantry Regiment. Service # 35559788.
Military Information: World War II
83rd Inf. Division, 330 Inf Reg't
Nicknames: Thunderbolt Division, and Ohio.
Combat chronicle
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013
The 83d Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944. After training in Wales, the division landed at Omaha Beach, 18 June 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carentan, 27 June. Taking the offensive, the 83d reached the St. Lo-Periers Road, 25 July, and advanced 8 miles (13 km) against strong opposition as the Normandy campaign ended.
After a period of training, elements of the division took Châteauneuf-d'Ille-et-Vilaine, 5 August, and Dinard, 15 August, and approached the heavily fortified area protecting St. Malo. Intense fighting reduced enemy strong points and a combined attack against the Citadel Fortress of St. Servan caused its surrender, 17 August. While elements moved south to protect the north bank of the Loire River, the main body of the division concentrated south of Rennes for patrolling and reconnaissance activities. Elements reduced the garrison at Ile de Cézembre, which surrendered, 2 September. On 16 September 1944: the only surrender of a German Major General B. H. Elster to US-troops with 18,850 men and 754 officers at the Loire bridge of Beaugency. The movement into Luxembourg was completed on 25 September. Taking Remich on the 28th and patrolling defensively along the Moselle, the 83d resisted counterattacks and advanced to the Siegfried Line defenses across the Sauer after capturing Grevenmacher and Echternach, 7 October. As the initial movement in operation "Unicorn," the division took Le Stromberg Hill in the vicinity of Basse Konz against strong opposition, 5 November, and beat off counterattacks.
Moving to the Hurtgen Forest, the 83d thrust forward from Gressenich to the west bank of the Roer. It entered the Battle of the Bulge, 27 December, striking at Rochefort and reducing the enemy salient in a bitter struggle. The division moved back to Belgium and the Netherlands for rehabilitation and training, 22 January 1945. On 1 March, the 83d advanced toward the Rhine in Operation Grenade, and captured Neuss. The west bank of the Rhine from north of Oberkassel to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positions established by 2 March and the division renewed its training. The 83d crossed the Rhine south of Wesel, 29 March, and advanced across the Munster Plain to the Weser, crossing it at Bodenwerder. As opposition disintegrated, Halle fell on 6 April. The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby. That city was taken on the 13 April. The 83rd established a bridgehead over the river.
On 11 April 1945 the 83rd encountered Langenstein, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. At the camp, the troops found approximately 1,100 inmates. The inmates were malnourished and in extremely poor physical condition. The 83rd reported the death rate at the camp to be 500 per month. Also, that the prisoners had been forced to work 16 hour days in nearby mines, and were shot if they became too weak to work. After liberation, the death rate continued at approximately 25–50 people per day, due to the severe physical debilitation of the prisoners.
To slow the spread of sickness and death, the 83rd ordered the local German mayor to supply the camp with food and water. Also, medical supplies were requisitioned from the U.S. Army's 20th Field Hospital. In addition, the 83rd recovered documents for use by war crimes investigators.
Please note: It is not known whether this stone marks the burial site or if it was placed "in memory of" as he was killed in action in the Grand Duché de Luxemburg.
Burial/Memorial Date: 15 April 1945, Thaxton Cemetery,
Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial:
West Virginia Veterans Memorial; Date added: Original. "Dedication of the Memorial, with the World War II sailor sculpture, took place on Veterans Day 1995" His name is inscribed on the wall.
West Virginia Memory Project: Record ID; 6562 (Reference: http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvvets.html)
Citing Information from this Memorial: If you copy any information from this memorial, please cite the source appropriately and that includes photo(s) information sources, which you may find by clicking on the photo. Endeavour by many people has gone into making this memorial and credit should be given to the respective person/organization – Thank-you, MEB (#47998630)
Biographical information courtesy of MEB (Find A Grave #47998630) on April 23, 2013.
Death Location: Grand Duché de Luxemburg in Operation Grenade. "The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby." (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013)
Parents:
Father - Cecil McShurley; Born January 1888, Indiana; Died: c. 1918-1919, unknown.
Mother - Katie Lavender; Born: April 1898, Curry, Putnam, West Virginia; Died: 22 April 1965, Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia.
Their marriage was 8 March 1917, Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.
Step-father Peyton Samuel Pearson.
On 7 July 1943, Cecil Vinson McShurley of St. Albans, Kanawha, WV, married Zella Jane Williams of Charleston, Kanawha, WV. Their issue is unknown at this time. Shortly thereafter, on 3 December 1943, Mr. McShurley enlisted in the U. S. Army at Fort Thomas Newport, KY, for service in World War II. He served as a Private First Class in the A/S Infantry, 330 Infantry Regiment. Service # 35559788.
Military Information: World War II
83rd Inf. Division, 330 Inf Reg't
Nicknames: Thunderbolt Division, and Ohio.
Combat chronicle
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013
The 83d Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944. After training in Wales, the division landed at Omaha Beach, 18 June 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carentan, 27 June. Taking the offensive, the 83d reached the St. Lo-Periers Road, 25 July, and advanced 8 miles (13 km) against strong opposition as the Normandy campaign ended.
After a period of training, elements of the division took Châteauneuf-d'Ille-et-Vilaine, 5 August, and Dinard, 15 August, and approached the heavily fortified area protecting St. Malo. Intense fighting reduced enemy strong points and a combined attack against the Citadel Fortress of St. Servan caused its surrender, 17 August. While elements moved south to protect the north bank of the Loire River, the main body of the division concentrated south of Rennes for patrolling and reconnaissance activities. Elements reduced the garrison at Ile de Cézembre, which surrendered, 2 September. On 16 September 1944: the only surrender of a German Major General B. H. Elster to US-troops with 18,850 men and 754 officers at the Loire bridge of Beaugency. The movement into Luxembourg was completed on 25 September. Taking Remich on the 28th and patrolling defensively along the Moselle, the 83d resisted counterattacks and advanced to the Siegfried Line defenses across the Sauer after capturing Grevenmacher and Echternach, 7 October. As the initial movement in operation "Unicorn," the division took Le Stromberg Hill in the vicinity of Basse Konz against strong opposition, 5 November, and beat off counterattacks.
Moving to the Hurtgen Forest, the 83d thrust forward from Gressenich to the west bank of the Roer. It entered the Battle of the Bulge, 27 December, striking at Rochefort and reducing the enemy salient in a bitter struggle. The division moved back to Belgium and the Netherlands for rehabilitation and training, 22 January 1945. On 1 March, the 83d advanced toward the Rhine in Operation Grenade, and captured Neuss. The west bank of the Rhine from north of Oberkassel to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positions established by 2 March and the division renewed its training. The 83d crossed the Rhine south of Wesel, 29 March, and advanced across the Munster Plain to the Weser, crossing it at Bodenwerder. As opposition disintegrated, Halle fell on 6 April. The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby. That city was taken on the 13 April. The 83rd established a bridgehead over the river.
On 11 April 1945 the 83rd encountered Langenstein, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. At the camp, the troops found approximately 1,100 inmates. The inmates were malnourished and in extremely poor physical condition. The 83rd reported the death rate at the camp to be 500 per month. Also, that the prisoners had been forced to work 16 hour days in nearby mines, and were shot if they became too weak to work. After liberation, the death rate continued at approximately 25–50 people per day, due to the severe physical debilitation of the prisoners.
To slow the spread of sickness and death, the 83rd ordered the local German mayor to supply the camp with food and water. Also, medical supplies were requisitioned from the U.S. Army's 20th Field Hospital. In addition, the 83rd recovered documents for use by war crimes investigators.
Please note: It is not known whether this stone marks the burial site or if it was placed "in memory of" as he was killed in action in the Grand Duché de Luxemburg.
Burial/Memorial Date: 15 April 1945, Thaxton Cemetery,
Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial:
West Virginia Veterans Memorial; Date added: Original. "Dedication of the Memorial, with the World War II sailor sculpture, took place on Veterans Day 1995" His name is inscribed on the wall.
West Virginia Memory Project: Record ID; 6562 (Reference: http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvvets.html)
Citing Information from this Memorial: If you copy any information from this memorial, please cite the source appropriately and that includes photo(s) information sources, which you may find by clicking on the photo. Endeavour by many people has gone into making this memorial and credit should be given to the respective person/organization – Thank-you, MEB (#47998630)
Death Location: Grand Duché de Luxemburg in Operation Grenade. "The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby." (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013)
Parents:
Father - Cecil McShurley; Born January 1888, Indiana; Died: c. 1918-1919, unknown.
Mother - Katie Lavender; Born: April 1898, Curry, Putnam, West Virginia; Died: 22 April 1965, Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia.
Their marriage was 8 March 1917, Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.
Step-father Peyton Samuel Pearson.
On 7 July 1943, Cecil Vinson McShurley of St. Albans, Kanawha, WV, married Zella Jane Williams of Charleston, Kanawha, WV. Their issue is unknown at this time. Shortly thereafter, on 3 December 1943, Mr. McShurley enlisted in the U. S. Army at Fort Thomas Newport, KY, for service in World War II. He served as a Private First Class in the A/S Infantry, 330 Infantry Regiment. Service # 35559788.
Military Information: World War II
83rd Inf. Division, 330 Inf Reg't
Nicknames: Thunderbolt Division, and Ohio.
Combat chronicle
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/83rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29, 4/22/2013
The 83d Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944. After training in Wales, the division landed at Omaha Beach, 18 June 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carentan, 27 June. Taking the offensive, the 83d reached the St. Lo-Periers Road, 25 July, and advanced 8 miles (13 km) against strong opposition as the Normandy campaign ended.
After a period of training, elements of the division took Châteauneuf-d'Ille-et-Vilaine, 5 August, and Dinard, 15 August, and approached the heavily fortified area protecting St. Malo. Intense fighting reduced enemy strong points and a combined attack against the Citadel Fortress of St. Servan caused its surrender, 17 August. While elements moved south to protect the north bank of the Loire River, the main body of the division concentrated south of Rennes for patrolling and reconnaissance activities. Elements reduced the garrison at Ile de Cézembre, which surrendered, 2 September. On 16 September 1944: the only surrender of a German Major General B. H. Elster to US-troops with 18,850 men and 754 officers at the Loire bridge of Beaugency. The movement into Luxembourg was completed on 25 September. Taking Remich on the 28th and patrolling defensively along the Moselle, the 83d resisted counterattacks and advanced to the Siegfried Line defenses across the Sauer after capturing Grevenmacher and Echternach, 7 October. As the initial movement in operation "Unicorn," the division took Le Stromberg Hill in the vicinity of Basse Konz against strong opposition, 5 November, and beat off counterattacks.
Moving to the Hurtgen Forest, the 83d thrust forward from Gressenich to the west bank of the Roer. It entered the Battle of the Bulge, 27 December, striking at Rochefort and reducing the enemy salient in a bitter struggle. The division moved back to Belgium and the Netherlands for rehabilitation and training, 22 January 1945. On 1 March, the 83d advanced toward the Rhine in Operation Grenade, and captured Neuss. The west bank of the Rhine from north of Oberkassel to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positions established by 2 March and the division renewed its training. The 83d crossed the Rhine south of Wesel, 29 March, and advanced across the Munster Plain to the Weser, crossing it at Bodenwerder. As opposition disintegrated, Halle fell on 6 April. The division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby. That city was taken on the 13 April. The 83rd established a bridgehead over the river.
On 11 April 1945 the 83rd encountered Langenstein, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. At the camp, the troops found approximately 1,100 inmates. The inmates were malnourished and in extremely poor physical condition. The 83rd reported the death rate at the camp to be 500 per month. Also, that the prisoners had been forced to work 16 hour days in nearby mines, and were shot if they became too weak to work. After liberation, the death rate continued at approximately 25–50 people per day, due to the severe physical debilitation of the prisoners.
To slow the spread of sickness and death, the 83rd ordered the local German mayor to supply the camp with food and water. Also, medical supplies were requisitioned from the U.S. Army's 20th Field Hospital. In addition, the 83rd recovered documents for use by war crimes investigators.
Please note: It is not known whether this stone marks the burial site or if it was placed "in memory of" as he was killed in action in the Grand Duché de Luxemburg.
Burial/Memorial Date: 15 April 1945, Thaxton Cemetery,
Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial:
West Virginia Veterans Memorial; Date added: Original. "Dedication of the Memorial, with the World War II sailor sculpture, took place on Veterans Day 1995" His name is inscribed on the wall.
West Virginia Memory Project: Record ID; 6562 (Reference: http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvvets.html)
Citing Information from this Memorial: If you copy any information from this memorial, please cite the source appropriately and that includes photo(s) information sources, which you may find by clicking on the photo. Endeavour by many people has gone into making this memorial and credit should be given to the respective person/organization – Thank-you, MEB (#47998630)
Gravesite Details
Memorial transferred July 10, 2013
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