Bate reported for active duty on 4 Jan 1943. He departed the U.S. 16 Jun 1944 for service in England. He was killed in action in the European Theater while serving with the Medical Detachment, Co. B, 2nd Bn., 22nd Reg't, 4th Infantry Div., 1st Army, in the Hürtgen Forest. He was a PFC and a combat medic. He was first buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium. His body was returned to the U.S. His father, who viewed the remains, never accepted that it was Bate's body.
Campaigns
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
"Easy Company, the next company in line, came up a small draw on the left of George Company, shifting slightly to the left as it maneuvered through the woods. Its lead platoon ran into a German fortified position covered by a barbed wire entanglement and mines in the draw north of Hill 201. Here the 2d Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant Erwin Mitman, recently awarded a battle field commission, was killed as he moved forward to recon the enemy position. The platoon medic, Private First Class Harry Coles, raced forward to help, only to also be killed. These two soldiers were probably the first in the 22d to die in the Hurtgen forest."
The Hürtgen Forest was one of the longest and bloodiest campaigns of WWII. It lasted from September 1944 until February 1945. Nearly 30,000 Americans were killed or wounded, and another 9,000 were lost to battle fatigue and disease. The Fourth Infantry Division suffered the second highest number of casualties of all US Army divisions in the European Theater of Operations.
THE PITTSBURGH PRESS, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1947, PAGE FORTY-EIGHT
PFC. HARRY G. COLES
Military services for Pfc. Harry G. Coles, a lifetime resident of Etna, will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel Lutheran Church.
Pfc. Coles was killed in action in Germany, November 20, 1944. He was 21. He was with the Second Bat., Co. B., 22nd Reg., Fourth Div. of the First Army.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Coles of 60 Angle St., Etna; two brothers, William J. and Robert J. Coles, both of Etna and two sisters, Miss Gladys V. and Miss Sylvia R. Coles, both at home.
Friends will be received Tuesday and Wednesday at the McIntyre & Neely Funeral Home, 644 Butler St., Etna. Burial will be in Mt. Royal Cemetery.
1. 1930 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, Ward 3, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-600, p. 9A [233A], 173/199 [age 6; b. PA].
2. 1940 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-185, p. 6B, 126R [home - $22] [new worker] [age 17; b. PA] [3 years of high school education].
3. WWII Enlistment Record [4 Jan 1943 - Pittsburgh, PA].
4. Military Service # 33-418-905.
5. Official Statement of Service and Death.
6. Tombstone.
7. Obituary.
8. www.5ad.orghurtgen.htm.
9. Records of William John Coles, Jr. [deceased].
Campaigns
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
"Easy Company, the next company in line, came up a small draw on the left of George Company, shifting slightly to the left as it maneuvered through the woods. Its lead platoon ran into a German fortified position covered by a barbed wire entanglement and mines in the draw north of Hill 201. Here the 2d Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant Erwin Mitman, recently awarded a battle field commission, was killed as he moved forward to recon the enemy position. The platoon medic, Private First Class Harry Coles, raced forward to help, only to also be killed. These two soldiers were probably the first in the 22d to die in the Hurtgen forest."
The Hürtgen Forest was one of the longest and bloodiest campaigns of WWII. It lasted from September 1944 until February 1945. Nearly 30,000 Americans were killed or wounded, and another 9,000 were lost to battle fatigue and disease. The Fourth Infantry Division suffered the second highest number of casualties of all US Army divisions in the European Theater of Operations.
THE PITTSBURGH PRESS, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1947, PAGE FORTY-EIGHT
PFC. HARRY G. COLES
Military services for Pfc. Harry G. Coles, a lifetime resident of Etna, will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel Lutheran Church.
Pfc. Coles was killed in action in Germany, November 20, 1944. He was 21. He was with the Second Bat., Co. B., 22nd Reg., Fourth Div. of the First Army.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Coles of 60 Angle St., Etna; two brothers, William J. and Robert J. Coles, both of Etna and two sisters, Miss Gladys V. and Miss Sylvia R. Coles, both at home.
Friends will be received Tuesday and Wednesday at the McIntyre & Neely Funeral Home, 644 Butler St., Etna. Burial will be in Mt. Royal Cemetery.
1. 1930 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, Ward 3, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-600, p. 9A [233A], 173/199 [age 6; b. PA].
2. 1940 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-185, p. 6B, 126R [home - $22] [new worker] [age 17; b. PA] [3 years of high school education].
3. WWII Enlistment Record [4 Jan 1943 - Pittsburgh, PA].
4. Military Service # 33-418-905.
5. Official Statement of Service and Death.
6. Tombstone.
7. Obituary.
8. www.5ad.orghurtgen.htm.
9. Records of William John Coles, Jr. [deceased].
Bate reported for active duty on 4 Jan 1943. He departed the U.S. 16 Jun 1944 for service in England. He was killed in action in the European Theater while serving with the Medical Detachment, Co. B, 2nd Bn., 22nd Reg't, 4th Infantry Div., 1st Army, in the Hürtgen Forest. He was a PFC and a combat medic. He was first buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium. His body was returned to the U.S. His father, who viewed the remains, never accepted that it was Bate's body.
Campaigns
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
"Easy Company, the next company in line, came up a small draw on the left of George Company, shifting slightly to the left as it maneuvered through the woods. Its lead platoon ran into a German fortified position covered by a barbed wire entanglement and mines in the draw north of Hill 201. Here the 2d Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant Erwin Mitman, recently awarded a battle field commission, was killed as he moved forward to recon the enemy position. The platoon medic, Private First Class Harry Coles, raced forward to help, only to also be killed. These two soldiers were probably the first in the 22d to die in the Hurtgen forest."
The Hürtgen Forest was one of the longest and bloodiest campaigns of WWII. It lasted from September 1944 until February 1945. Nearly 30,000 Americans were killed or wounded, and another 9,000 were lost to battle fatigue and disease. The Fourth Infantry Division suffered the second highest number of casualties of all US Army divisions in the European Theater of Operations.
THE PITTSBURGH PRESS, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1947, PAGE FORTY-EIGHT
PFC. HARRY G. COLES
Military services for Pfc. Harry G. Coles, a lifetime resident of Etna, will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel Lutheran Church.
Pfc. Coles was killed in action in Germany, November 20, 1944. He was 21. He was with the Second Bat., Co. B., 22nd Reg., Fourth Div. of the First Army.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Coles of 60 Angle St., Etna; two brothers, William J. and Robert J. Coles, both of Etna and two sisters, Miss Gladys V. and Miss Sylvia R. Coles, both at home.
Friends will be received Tuesday and Wednesday at the McIntyre & Neely Funeral Home, 644 Butler St., Etna. Burial will be in Mt. Royal Cemetery.
1. 1930 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, Ward 3, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-600, p. 9A [233A], 173/199 [age 6; b. PA].
2. 1940 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-185, p. 6B, 126R [home - $22] [new worker] [age 17; b. PA] [3 years of high school education].
3. WWII Enlistment Record [4 Jan 1943 - Pittsburgh, PA].
4. Military Service # 33-418-905.
5. Official Statement of Service and Death.
6. Tombstone.
7. Obituary.
8. www.5ad.orghurtgen.htm.
9. Records of William John Coles, Jr. [deceased].
Campaigns
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
"Easy Company, the next company in line, came up a small draw on the left of George Company, shifting slightly to the left as it maneuvered through the woods. Its lead platoon ran into a German fortified position covered by a barbed wire entanglement and mines in the draw north of Hill 201. Here the 2d Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant Erwin Mitman, recently awarded a battle field commission, was killed as he moved forward to recon the enemy position. The platoon medic, Private First Class Harry Coles, raced forward to help, only to also be killed. These two soldiers were probably the first in the 22d to die in the Hurtgen forest."
The Hürtgen Forest was one of the longest and bloodiest campaigns of WWII. It lasted from September 1944 until February 1945. Nearly 30,000 Americans were killed or wounded, and another 9,000 were lost to battle fatigue and disease. The Fourth Infantry Division suffered the second highest number of casualties of all US Army divisions in the European Theater of Operations.
THE PITTSBURGH PRESS, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1947, PAGE FORTY-EIGHT
PFC. HARRY G. COLES
Military services for Pfc. Harry G. Coles, a lifetime resident of Etna, will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel Lutheran Church.
Pfc. Coles was killed in action in Germany, November 20, 1944. He was 21. He was with the Second Bat., Co. B., 22nd Reg., Fourth Div. of the First Army.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Coles of 60 Angle St., Etna; two brothers, William J. and Robert J. Coles, both of Etna and two sisters, Miss Gladys V. and Miss Sylvia R. Coles, both at home.
Friends will be received Tuesday and Wednesday at the McIntyre & Neely Funeral Home, 644 Butler St., Etna. Burial will be in Mt. Royal Cemetery.
1. 1930 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, Ward 3, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-600, p. 9A [233A], 173/199 [age 6; b. PA].
2. 1940 census - Allegheny Co., PA: Etna, 60 Highland Ave., E.D. 2-185, p. 6B, 126R [home - $22] [new worker] [age 17; b. PA] [3 years of high school education].
3. WWII Enlistment Record [4 Jan 1943 - Pittsburgh, PA].
4. Military Service # 33-418-905.
5. Official Statement of Service and Death.
6. Tombstone.
7. Obituary.
8. www.5ad.orghurtgen.htm.
9. Records of William John Coles, Jr. [deceased].
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