Searching for unknown US Army casualty

Discussion in 'US Units' started by Michael Somerville, Jul 12, 2021.

  1. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Micheal……now I’m not so sure it was the 143rd?? I found their After Action Report for that time period and it indicates that they didn’t arrive in that area until the night of the 15th?? Would they have time to arrive and then send out contact patrols…..and would they have “liased” with that 5 Forestors on the 14???

    Here’s the info, and trying to find more


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    Source: https://secureservercdn.net/50.62.1...loads/2014/11/143rd-aar-to-September-1944.pdf
     
  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Michael, found the AAR of the 141st Infantry Regiment and the 142nd Infantry Regiment.

    Went thru the 142nd……and they were way back in reserve during that time period, not even close to the front lines…..so discounted them

    The 141st Regiment……now I’m thinking from all that I have read in their AAR, THEY may have been the unit that was in contact with the 5 Foresters……..their AAR below……but they do NOT mention (not that I could see) any Officer’s casualties on the 15th??

    Their AAR mentions the 143rd moving to their “left” on the 16th……so now I’m thinking that it could have been the 141st that was in contact with the British….AND they were putting in an Attack the night of the 15th……and Glovers Account mentions a Company of US troops “lost” and he pointed out maybe they should move towards the sound of battle???

    Take a read and tell me what you think……I’ll look for anything else I can find?


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]




    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Source: https://secureservercdn.net/50.62.1...tent/uploads/2014/11/141staar-to-may-1944.pdf

    Here’s a link to all the After Action Reports on units of the 36th Division for you:

    After Action Reports – WWII | The Texas Military Force Museum
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2021
  3. Thanks, those are both useful sites.
     
  4. Thanks. I had found that site and looked at the 143rd report which I thought inconclusive - it talks about moving up 35miles on 15th, but that would not necessarily preclude advance patrols that night. However, had not looked at the 141st (since they were further to the north on the actual day of the crossing). It certainly appears they were the unit attacking Trocchio that night - and Glover's account seems to indicate that they were all part of the same regiment with the patrol involved in the friendly fire incident. As you say, they also specifically mention patrols with British units. I also checked out the 111th Engineers' diary thinking that they might be involved recceing crossing sites, but although they had a few guys out with a patrol the previous night, nothing on 15-16th. So inclined to agree the 141st are the most likely candidates, even though no mention of the incident in the AAR.
    The other possibility is still the 6th Armoured Infantry - but they appear to have been pulled out by 15th, hard to see wy they would have been patrolling down to the river. Think it is unlikely, and have not found a site that has their AAR online,
    I think next step is to check out the139 Bde and possibly 16 DLI and 2/5 Leicesters diaries for the period to see if they mention US units and/or their locations. Think it is still going to be near impossible to pin down a name, but you have been a great help.
     
  5. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    I agree with you Michael…….I too thought the 141 was father north…..but as they seem to be the only Regiment of the 3 “in the line” at that time, it seems they are the likely candidate now…..and the specific mention of the unit attacking Trocchio that night does match the Glover Account.

    I agree, your best bet may be the Brigade and other unit diaries. I would suspect the Brigade WD and Ops Logs for that period would tell you the US Unit on their right…..and specifically the planning of any “joint patrols” or RV’s……as Lt Glover was sent out to do

    Another thought I had that even if you FIND a list of 141 casualties for that night…..we know that the unit was attacking Trocchio the same night, so any casualties may be “mixed in” with the rest of the unit….and possibly you may have multiple officer casualties on the same night? Making it harder to find a specific person

    Good luck……and of course if you DO FIND him (or not) please let us know……I seem to get “sucked into” mysteries and would sure like to know the final answer (if you can ever find it)
     
  6. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    MIchael, a couple more “clues”

    Source for info below:
    https://scholarworks.utep.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3574&context=open_etd

    First, this one confirming the142nd Regiment was indeed held in reserve…so not a candidate for your search



    [​IMG]


    This second Clue indicates that the “patrol’s” PREVIOUS to the Rápido Action was undertaken by the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 141st Infantry Regiment…….so at least you can discount any casualties from the 1st Battalion


    [​IMG]
     
  7. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Some sources that may give you more information:

    Journal, 2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, September, October, November, December, January, February, 1943. Roll 3039. Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library, Austin, Texas. Microfilm.

    Report of Operations, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, January-February, 1944. Roll 3028. Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library, Austin, Texas. Microfilm.
     
  8. Thanks - not sure I can justify a trip to Austin to look at them though :) !
     
  9. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Well, let me check with another Texan that I help all the time. He usually works on Americans who joined the RCAF/RAF……and he lives in Texas’s….so I’ll see if he has anyway to look at these (or possibly his connections)…….

    Also, did you see my post above about the ‘patrols’ being from the 2nd and 3rd Battalion of the 141st Regiment……I’ve been searching to see if I can find ANYTHING on casualties by these two Battalion’s during that time period…..so far nothing.

    Ok, I’ll e-mail my Texan friend and see if he can help

    EDIT: just sent my Texan friend an e-mail to see if he can help….I’ll let you know
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2021
    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  10. Temujin

    Temujin Member

  11. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Micheal, I’ve been searching US National Archives…….and I came across records that list the burial of men on specific dates. The reports are “weekly” and I haven’t been able to find the right one for the week of the 15 Jan 44…….but thought I’d pass the info on to you

    Here’s a link to the few (not many but some) reports

    https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q=15 Jan 1944&f.recordGroupNoCollectionId=92&f.dateRangeFacet="1940 - 1949"

    I also searched and found a document that listed Casualty reports by date, so this may also help you find the correct report. In the file it list

    70 - Vol 38 - PT 1 - Jan 1-18, 1944

    You MAY be able to find this reference and vol in the link below

    Annotated American Casualty Lists, 1944 - 1944
    Record Group 498:
    Records of Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United States Army (World War II), 1942 - 1947


    https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5896748

    I’m NOT sure if US records would be split up between the two Campaigns (Mediterranean Operations) and European Operations, so this may not be the correct search area……but at least it DOES tell us casualty lists are still in the archives, and you “may” be able to find it by DATE, using these list and resources.

    Cheers
     
  12. George Sherman

    George Sherman New Member

    Temujin, sent out some feelers to some of my other connections here in Texas, will let you know what I get back on any feedback !
     
    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  13. Thanks. From thee catalog entry this looks like the US equivalent of the British casualty lists in WO417 which I've used a lot to analyse British casualties, they are all digitised and available on Findmypast. Not obvious that the same is true of the US records, but is good know that they exist and can investigate more.
     
  14. George Sherman

    George Sherman New Member

    Temujin and Michael,

    I explained to him that it it was a "Friendly Fire" incident in Italy and that the name was not given and that any help would be appreciated. Randy Asherbranner researcher with WW2Research.com replied that "Sgt. Salvatore Fulginiti" died on 15 Jan 1944 was with the 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Division,
     
    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  15. Thanks for that George. It doesn't quite fit the facts but may be a possibility. One problem as Temujin pointed out is that the 141st seem to have been attacking Monte Trocchio that night, so there may have been other casualties. In fact quite suprising if Sgt Fulginati was the only casualty that night.

    I tried those links to the US archives but they don't work for me - I wonder if they are only acccesible from US IP addresses.
     
  16. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Michael……the links “should” work……my IP is Canadian and I can link to them.

    George let me know about the info above….I found Sgt Fulginati on American records but wasn’t sure if this is the only death (like you)…..so I believe George (and company) are still looking, and I have been also. I haven’t found ANY other deaths on the 15th, which is strange BUT, we have to consider the deaths may be also on the 16th Jan (as this was an overnight operation) so I may have to start looking for that date also.

    Full Name: Salvatore Fulginiti
    State of Residence: New York
    Death Date: 15 Jan 1944
    Buried at: Plot F Row 11 Grave 40 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Nettuno, Italy
    Memorial Location: Plot F Row 11 Grave 40
    Memorial Cemetery: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
    Memorial Country: Nettuno, Italy
    Rank: Sergeant, U.S. Army
    Service Number: 32223101
    Regiment: 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
    Conflict Period: World War II
    Awards: Purple Heart
    Served for: United States of America
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
  17. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    This is what caused his death:
    Medical Diagnosis:
    FirstLocation: Face: Forehead and frontal region; CausativeAgent: Bullet, Missile Not Stated
    (US WW2 Hospital Admission Cards, Fold3)
     
    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  18. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Albert, this does look like a definite possibility…..wondering if the original story might be the opposite (sgt shot??)

    Micheal, info on Sgt Fulginti…..just in case this is the right man


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
    BrianHall1963 and ecalpald like this.
  19. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Micheal, I was able to use the American Battlefield Monuments search engine to check deaths by dates.

    For the 15 Jan 1944, it ONLY SHOWS Sgt Fuginiti

    For the 16 Jan 1944 it shows the names below (two deaths)

    [​IMG]

    The ONLY thing I don’t know……are these ONLY deaths of Americans that are buried in American Cemetaries oversea’s…….and NOT all that died on that day, and bodies were returned to the US

    I “think” these are only interments oversea’s…..not total deceased??? On a specific day

    EDIT:

    This is what it says on the ABMC website…..so I think this is telling us that those repatriated to the US are NOT listed on their site

    This register includes the records for those buried and memorialized at our World War I and World War II overseas, military cemeteries, along with those names on the Walls of the Missing at the East Coast Memorial, West Coast Memorial, and Honolulu Memorial. Burial information can also be found for those interred at Corozal American Cemetery and Mexico City National Cemetery. This register does not include individuals who died overseas in World War I or World War II and were repatriated to the United States for burial.
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
  20. Yes that was my understanding - those repatriated and commemorated in war graves in the US, which I believe is the majority, don't appear in that database. There are very few entries for the 36th Division as a whole in January, whereas of course they suffered huge loss. If there was an officer casualty and it happened within allied lines, I would probably have expected the body to be repatriated.
     

Share This Page