The News, Frederick, MD, January 19, 1945
SGT. RICHARD F. SIMMONS, II, arrived in France the forepart of December. He graduated from the Frederick High School Class of 1943 and volunteered for service. He was sent to Lehigh University for special training and later transferred to a mortar brigade and received basic training at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. He was promoted to Pfc. In September this year and soon thereafter to Sergeant.
Sgt. Simmons is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Simmons, Wilson avenue.
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The News, Frederick, MD, April 21, 1945
Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue, died April 8 of wounds received the same day in the fighting in Germany, a brief War Department telegram notified his parents this morning. The telegram said a confirmatory letter would follow.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons had just been notified Friday that their son had been wounded in action. Sgt. Simmons, 19, was with the Seventh Army and was believed to have sustained the fatal wounds in the fighting in the Neurnberg area. He was a noncommissioned line officer with a mortar brigade.
A graduate of Frederick High School in 1943, Sgt. Simmons entered the ASTP course, after volunteering for service, and was sent to Lehigh University in the fall of that year. He received basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Van Dorn, Miss., where he was advanced in rank to a sergeant. He left this country late in November to go overseas and has been with the Seventh Army since that time. He saw almost continuous action, it was reported, which entitled him to two major offensive stars on his combat ribbons. His last letter to his parents was dated March 28 from somewhere in Germany and indicated he was in good spirits at that time.
Prominent in Boy Scout activities here which resulted in his elevation to Eagle Scout, one of Scoutdoms' highest honors, Sgt. Simmons was a senior patrol leader when he left Frederick. Sgt. Simmons also held the Gold, Silver and Bronze Palms, special Scouting awards.
He was very active in athletics and outdoor life while attending school here and had many friends. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Besides his parents, Sgt. Simmons is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Dan F. Keeney, temporarily residing in Frederick while her husband, Lieut. Keeney, is stationed at Randolph Field, Tex., and Miss E. Marguerite Simmons, at home, and one brother, William A. Simmons, also at home.
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The News, Frederick, MD, September 7, 1945
Members of the 63rd division of the 253rd Infantry have dedicated a new athletic field near Wertheim, Germany, in honor of two of their number killed during the months of continuous action in Europe. The field now bears the name of "King Simmons," dedicated in part to Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr.and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson Place, who died April 8 of chest wounds incurred in action beyond the line of duty.
Word has also been received from companions and friends who were with the sergeant at the time of his death. The circumstances are described in one letter which says that the town of Kressback, Germany, had been taken after five straight days of fighting against the 17th SS Panzer Division, resulting in the loss of the company commander, three lieutenants, and 72 men in the one company. Fourteen hundred Germans were accounted for as killed or captured.
Following that action, the men were informed by headquarters that "a certain bit of high ground outside the city had to be taken, so with hardly any men, we organized and prepared to seize that ground." It was then that Sgt. Simmons, a mortar squad sergeant, volunteered to become a rifleman and help gain the objective. The hill was taken and the men "dug in to escape the worst of the enemy barrage."
Sgt. Simmons was wounded in the chest by one of the enemy shells and, although the artillery barrage continued, he was given first aid and sent to the rear where he died the same day in a hospital. The wounds he received had not seemed serious enough to be fatal, said his companions. He was buried in Ensheim, Germany, from where his body was to be taken to France to the Seventh Army cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously to their son, in addition to the letters from his chaplain and friends.
The nineteen year-old youth, who graduated from Frederick High School in 1943, was widely known in this city as an Eagle Scout, holding the special Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. His interest in athletics and outdoor activities makes the dedication of the athletic field in his honor particularly appropriate.
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The News, Frederick, MD, September 10, 1948
The remains of Sgt. Richard Fessler Simmons, son of Mrs. And Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue will arrive in this city this afternoon and will be taken to the funeral home, 106 East Church street from where funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
SGT. RICHARD F. SIMMONS, II, arrived in France the forepart of December. He graduated from the Frederick High School Class of 1943 and volunteered for service. He was sent to Lehigh University for special training and later transferred to a mortar brigade and received basic training at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. He was promoted to Pfc. In September this year and soon thereafter to Sergeant.
Sgt. Simmons is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Simmons, Wilson avenue.
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The News, Frederick, MD, April 21, 1945
Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue, died April 8 of wounds received the same day in the fighting in Germany, a brief War Department telegram notified his parents this morning. The telegram said a confirmatory letter would follow.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons had just been notified Friday that their son had been wounded in action. Sgt. Simmons, 19, was with the Seventh Army and was believed to have sustained the fatal wounds in the fighting in the Neurnberg area. He was a noncommissioned line officer with a mortar brigade.
A graduate of Frederick High School in 1943, Sgt. Simmons entered the ASTP course, after volunteering for service, and was sent to Lehigh University in the fall of that year. He received basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Van Dorn, Miss., where he was advanced in rank to a sergeant. He left this country late in November to go overseas and has been with the Seventh Army since that time. He saw almost continuous action, it was reported, which entitled him to two major offensive stars on his combat ribbons. His last letter to his parents was dated March 28 from somewhere in Germany and indicated he was in good spirits at that time.
Prominent in Boy Scout activities here which resulted in his elevation to Eagle Scout, one of Scoutdoms' highest honors, Sgt. Simmons was a senior patrol leader when he left Frederick. Sgt. Simmons also held the Gold, Silver and Bronze Palms, special Scouting awards.
He was very active in athletics and outdoor life while attending school here and had many friends. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Besides his parents, Sgt. Simmons is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Dan F. Keeney, temporarily residing in Frederick while her husband, Lieut. Keeney, is stationed at Randolph Field, Tex., and Miss E. Marguerite Simmons, at home, and one brother, William A. Simmons, also at home.
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The News, Frederick, MD, September 7, 1945
Members of the 63rd division of the 253rd Infantry have dedicated a new athletic field near Wertheim, Germany, in honor of two of their number killed during the months of continuous action in Europe. The field now bears the name of "King Simmons," dedicated in part to Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr.and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson Place, who died April 8 of chest wounds incurred in action beyond the line of duty.
Word has also been received from companions and friends who were with the sergeant at the time of his death. The circumstances are described in one letter which says that the town of Kressback, Germany, had been taken after five straight days of fighting against the 17th SS Panzer Division, resulting in the loss of the company commander, three lieutenants, and 72 men in the one company. Fourteen hundred Germans were accounted for as killed or captured.
Following that action, the men were informed by headquarters that "a certain bit of high ground outside the city had to be taken, so with hardly any men, we organized and prepared to seize that ground." It was then that Sgt. Simmons, a mortar squad sergeant, volunteered to become a rifleman and help gain the objective. The hill was taken and the men "dug in to escape the worst of the enemy barrage."
Sgt. Simmons was wounded in the chest by one of the enemy shells and, although the artillery barrage continued, he was given first aid and sent to the rear where he died the same day in a hospital. The wounds he received had not seemed serious enough to be fatal, said his companions. He was buried in Ensheim, Germany, from where his body was to be taken to France to the Seventh Army cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously to their son, in addition to the letters from his chaplain and friends.
The nineteen year-old youth, who graduated from Frederick High School in 1943, was widely known in this city as an Eagle Scout, holding the special Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. His interest in athletics and outdoor activities makes the dedication of the athletic field in his honor particularly appropriate.
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The News, Frederick, MD, September 10, 1948
The remains of Sgt. Richard Fessler Simmons, son of Mrs. And Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue will arrive in this city this afternoon and will be taken to the funeral home, 106 East Church street from where funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
The News, Frederick, MD, January 19, 1945
SGT. RICHARD F. SIMMONS, II, arrived in France the forepart of December. He graduated from the Frederick High School Class of 1943 and volunteered for service. He was sent to Lehigh University for special training and later transferred to a mortar brigade and received basic training at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. He was promoted to Pfc. In September this year and soon thereafter to Sergeant.
Sgt. Simmons is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Simmons, Wilson avenue.
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The News, Frederick, MD, April 21, 1945
Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue, died April 8 of wounds received the same day in the fighting in Germany, a brief War Department telegram notified his parents this morning. The telegram said a confirmatory letter would follow.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons had just been notified Friday that their son had been wounded in action. Sgt. Simmons, 19, was with the Seventh Army and was believed to have sustained the fatal wounds in the fighting in the Neurnberg area. He was a noncommissioned line officer with a mortar brigade.
A graduate of Frederick High School in 1943, Sgt. Simmons entered the ASTP course, after volunteering for service, and was sent to Lehigh University in the fall of that year. He received basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Van Dorn, Miss., where he was advanced in rank to a sergeant. He left this country late in November to go overseas and has been with the Seventh Army since that time. He saw almost continuous action, it was reported, which entitled him to two major offensive stars on his combat ribbons. His last letter to his parents was dated March 28 from somewhere in Germany and indicated he was in good spirits at that time.
Prominent in Boy Scout activities here which resulted in his elevation to Eagle Scout, one of Scoutdoms' highest honors, Sgt. Simmons was a senior patrol leader when he left Frederick. Sgt. Simmons also held the Gold, Silver and Bronze Palms, special Scouting awards.
He was very active in athletics and outdoor life while attending school here and had many friends. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Besides his parents, Sgt. Simmons is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Dan F. Keeney, temporarily residing in Frederick while her husband, Lieut. Keeney, is stationed at Randolph Field, Tex., and Miss E. Marguerite Simmons, at home, and one brother, William A. Simmons, also at home.
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The News, Frederick, MD, September 7, 1945
Members of the 63rd division of the 253rd Infantry have dedicated a new athletic field near Wertheim, Germany, in honor of two of their number killed during the months of continuous action in Europe. The field now bears the name of "King Simmons," dedicated in part to Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr.and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson Place, who died April 8 of chest wounds incurred in action beyond the line of duty.
Word has also been received from companions and friends who were with the sergeant at the time of his death. The circumstances are described in one letter which says that the town of Kressback, Germany, had been taken after five straight days of fighting against the 17th SS Panzer Division, resulting in the loss of the company commander, three lieutenants, and 72 men in the one company. Fourteen hundred Germans were accounted for as killed or captured.
Following that action, the men were informed by headquarters that "a certain bit of high ground outside the city had to be taken, so with hardly any men, we organized and prepared to seize that ground." It was then that Sgt. Simmons, a mortar squad sergeant, volunteered to become a rifleman and help gain the objective. The hill was taken and the men "dug in to escape the worst of the enemy barrage."
Sgt. Simmons was wounded in the chest by one of the enemy shells and, although the artillery barrage continued, he was given first aid and sent to the rear where he died the same day in a hospital. The wounds he received had not seemed serious enough to be fatal, said his companions. He was buried in Ensheim, Germany, from where his body was to be taken to France to the Seventh Army cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously to their son, in addition to the letters from his chaplain and friends.
The nineteen year-old youth, who graduated from Frederick High School in 1943, was widely known in this city as an Eagle Scout, holding the special Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. His interest in athletics and outdoor activities makes the dedication of the athletic field in his honor particularly appropriate.
___________________________________________________________
The News, Frederick, MD, September 10, 1948
The remains of Sgt. Richard Fessler Simmons, son of Mrs. And Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue will arrive in this city this afternoon and will be taken to the funeral home, 106 East Church street from where funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
SGT. RICHARD F. SIMMONS, II, arrived in France the forepart of December. He graduated from the Frederick High School Class of 1943 and volunteered for service. He was sent to Lehigh University for special training and later transferred to a mortar brigade and received basic training at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. He was promoted to Pfc. In September this year and soon thereafter to Sergeant.
Sgt. Simmons is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Simmons, Wilson avenue.
___________________________________________________________
The News, Frederick, MD, April 21, 1945
Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue, died April 8 of wounds received the same day in the fighting in Germany, a brief War Department telegram notified his parents this morning. The telegram said a confirmatory letter would follow.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons had just been notified Friday that their son had been wounded in action. Sgt. Simmons, 19, was with the Seventh Army and was believed to have sustained the fatal wounds in the fighting in the Neurnberg area. He was a noncommissioned line officer with a mortar brigade.
A graduate of Frederick High School in 1943, Sgt. Simmons entered the ASTP course, after volunteering for service, and was sent to Lehigh University in the fall of that year. He received basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Van Dorn, Miss., where he was advanced in rank to a sergeant. He left this country late in November to go overseas and has been with the Seventh Army since that time. He saw almost continuous action, it was reported, which entitled him to two major offensive stars on his combat ribbons. His last letter to his parents was dated March 28 from somewhere in Germany and indicated he was in good spirits at that time.
Prominent in Boy Scout activities here which resulted in his elevation to Eagle Scout, one of Scoutdoms' highest honors, Sgt. Simmons was a senior patrol leader when he left Frederick. Sgt. Simmons also held the Gold, Silver and Bronze Palms, special Scouting awards.
He was very active in athletics and outdoor life while attending school here and had many friends. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Besides his parents, Sgt. Simmons is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Dan F. Keeney, temporarily residing in Frederick while her husband, Lieut. Keeney, is stationed at Randolph Field, Tex., and Miss E. Marguerite Simmons, at home, and one brother, William A. Simmons, also at home.
__________________________________________________________
The News, Frederick, MD, September 7, 1945
Members of the 63rd division of the 253rd Infantry have dedicated a new athletic field near Wertheim, Germany, in honor of two of their number killed during the months of continuous action in Europe. The field now bears the name of "King Simmons," dedicated in part to Sgt. Richard F. Simmons, II, son of Mr.and Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson Place, who died April 8 of chest wounds incurred in action beyond the line of duty.
Word has also been received from companions and friends who were with the sergeant at the time of his death. The circumstances are described in one letter which says that the town of Kressback, Germany, had been taken after five straight days of fighting against the 17th SS Panzer Division, resulting in the loss of the company commander, three lieutenants, and 72 men in the one company. Fourteen hundred Germans were accounted for as killed or captured.
Following that action, the men were informed by headquarters that "a certain bit of high ground outside the city had to be taken, so with hardly any men, we organized and prepared to seize that ground." It was then that Sgt. Simmons, a mortar squad sergeant, volunteered to become a rifleman and help gain the objective. The hill was taken and the men "dug in to escape the worst of the enemy barrage."
Sgt. Simmons was wounded in the chest by one of the enemy shells and, although the artillery barrage continued, he was given first aid and sent to the rear where he died the same day in a hospital. The wounds he received had not seemed serious enough to be fatal, said his companions. He was buried in Ensheim, Germany, from where his body was to be taken to France to the Seventh Army cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously to their son, in addition to the letters from his chaplain and friends.
The nineteen year-old youth, who graduated from Frederick High School in 1943, was widely known in this city as an Eagle Scout, holding the special Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. His interest in athletics and outdoor activities makes the dedication of the athletic field in his honor particularly appropriate.
___________________________________________________________
The News, Frederick, MD, September 10, 1948
The remains of Sgt. Richard Fessler Simmons, son of Mrs. And Mrs. Richard F. Simmons, Wilson avenue will arrive in this city this afternoon and will be taken to the funeral home, 106 East Church street from where funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
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