The Ottre Massacre – We Remember

Chapter 15. We Remember…
I am coming at the end of my research and I would like to honor the following men who were on the field of Ottré and were Killed In Action during the fightings on 10 january 1945.
May they all rest in peace.

1. Pvt. Elmer Roy Antle
Born: 22 March 1922
Town: Russell, Kentucky
ASN: 35499063
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
MIA/ POW: 10 January 1944
Type: Died of Wounds. 18 January 1945; Kriegslazarett Calvarienberg/ Ahrweiler, Germany (https://www.alt-ahrweiler.de/1999/7-102-011.htm)
FOD: 12 January 1946.
Extra information:
Elmer was assigned and joined from 86th Replacement Battalion as of July 16, 1944. On 23 July he was severely wounded and transferred to 77th Evacuation Hospital on July 23, 1944. On 12 December 1944 he returned from 92nd Replacement Battalion to F Company. On 10 Janary he was MIA.
IDPF states: “Deceased died in Unknown German Hospital. Records P.E. taken by personnel of hospital. Information obtained from Matthias Romers, Burgermeister of Ahrweiler and Matthias Hilbrath, cemetery caretaker. Records are kept by Agnes Uhlrich, Wilhelmstr. 40, Ahrweiler, Germany.” And: “The nurses which took good care of him, only know that one of his legs was amputated. After that he felt very weak. It is our opinion that he died from weakness caused by the operation.”
Conclusion is that Elmer Antle was a POW and not KIA on the field.

2. Pfc. Curtis D Campbell
Born: 16 April 1922
Town: Bellburn, West Virginia
ASN: 35741177
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Multiple wounds left leg. Other document says: Fractured left humerus, fibula, femur and skull.
MOS code: 607 Light Mortar Crewman
Extra information: Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of July 13, 1944. Reported as KIA on 10 January 1945 in MR of 16 January 1945.

3. Sgt. John M. Creech
Born: 1 December 1924
Town: Lewis, Washington
ASN: 39204526
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
MIA: 10 January 1945
KIA confirmed: July 1948.
Type: Direct hit in the forehead/ crushed skull, fractured mandible.
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of July 13, 1944. Promoted to Sergeant as of August 22, 1944.
John could not be identified and was buried at the temporary cemetery of Foy under number X-124. John could be identified by a sterling ring with an eagle with spread wings on it, a canteen cover and an Aid pouch with number “4526” on it, which corresponds with his ASN.
Thanks to the Grave Registration Service we know the exact location where John was found. That location also gives us the exact spot where the incident took place. What is strange is that John’s dog tags are missing.
I am still looking for his picture.

4. Pvt. James G. Fair
Born: 15 June 1917
Town: Grand Forks, North Dakota
ASN: 17016991
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Gunshot wound in the neck.
Mos Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of January 2, 1945. MIA as of 11 January  1945. Killed in action on January 11, 1945, which corrects MR of January 17, 1945
Another document states: “Trunk intact. Upper and lower extremities disarticulated.”
Tony Vaccaro said he made a photograph of James G Fair. In the picture we see the remains of a man, crushed under a Sherman tank. The IDPF first states that he was KIA by a GSW (gunshot wound) in the neck. The second document speaks about disarticulated body parts.
James had some souvenir money and a pencil with him.

5. Pfc. George Guthrie
Born: 1 March 1924
Town: Harvey, Iowa
ASN: 37665162
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Lacerated wound left shoulder
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of July 13, 1944. Non battle casualty and transferred to 108th Evacuation Hospital on August 8, 1944. Assigned and joined from 108th Evacuation Hospital as of September 3, 1944. Missing in action as of January 11, 1945. Killed in action on January 11, 1945, which corrects MR of January 17, 1945.
George still had many items on him, according to the IDPF. (Billfold, broken watch, ring, religious medal on a chain, money)
I am still looking for his picture.

6. S/Sgt George S. Henderson
Born: 19 August 1909
Town: Casa Grande, Arizona
ASN: 13036722
MIA: 10 January 1944
KIA: Identified on 5 July 1945
Type: Stomach wounds
MOS Code: 653 (Squad leader)
Extra information: George was MIA since 10 January 1945. The IDPF states on 1 May 1945 a unburied body was found in the immediate vicinity of 3 American tanks. Temporarely buried at the Foy cemetery, near Bastogne. It is unknown what items he had with him when he was KIA.

7. Michael J. Macaluso,
Born: 27 April 1915
Town: Chicago, Illinois
ASN: 36900979
MIA: 10 January 1945
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Gunshot wound in the head
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information: Assigned and joined from 53rd Replacement Battalion as of August 18, 1944. Missing in action as of January 10, 1945. Killed in action on January 10, 1945, which corrects MR of January 16, 1945.
Michael had 1 paybook, 1 testament, 1 rosary, pictures, 1 knife, 1 coin, souvenir money, 1 crucifix, 2 religious medals, 1 billfold, stamps and souvenir money on him.
I am still looking for his picture.

8. S/Sgt Arthur R. Mayberry.
Born: 8 September 1914
Town: Baltimore, Maryland
ASN: 33387867
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Penetration wound in the head
MOS Code: 653/ Squad Leader
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 48th Replacement Battalion as of August 14, 1944. Lightly wounded in action on December 13, 1944 and remained on duty. Promoted to Staff Sergeant, Squad Leader (653) as of December 16, 1944. Missing in action as of January 11, 1945. Killed in action on January 11, 1945, which corrects MR of January 17, 1945.
Arthur had 2 pocket knives, 1 cigarette case, shaving kit, 1 lighter, and souvenir money on him when he was found.
I am still looking for his picture.

9. Ralph Robert McDowell,
Born: 14 July 1915
Town: Schenectady, New York
ASN: 32948526
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Penetrating Wound neck and chest.
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 41st Replacement Battalion as of July 16, 1944. Ralph got wounded by an artillery shell somewhere in July 1944.
Promoted to Private First Class as of January 1, 1945.
Missing in action as of January 10, 1945. Killed in action on January 10, 1945, which corrects MR of January 16, 1945.
Ralph had 1 pipe, 1 chain, 1 combat badge, 1 rifle medal, 1 cigarette lighter, 1 shoulder patch, 1 identification card, 1 pen knife, 1 cigarette case and souvenir stamps, souvenir pins and souvenir money with him.

10. Pfc Richard H. Pfau.
Born: 25 January 1924
Town: Baltimore, Maryland
ASN: 33563049
DOW: 10 January 1945
Type: Amputated left leg and Fracture Compound Comminuted right leg. DOW: 10 January 1945. (MR 13 January 1945: “Died of wounds as of 11 January 1945. Initial wounds not reported. Died same day.”)
MOS Code: 604/ Light Machine Gunner
Extra information:
The body of Richard was identified on Henri Chapelle by Sgt. Benjamin B. Peluso (ASN 42047588) on January 13th. “I recognise the remains of the above soldier by sight. I have known him since september 1944.”
Apparantly Pfau was evacuated off the field. (Otherwise the MR would have said that he was KIA)

11. Pvt. Andrew H. Rohrscheib,
Born: 6 January 1925
Town: Perry, Indiana
ASN: 35708432
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Shell Fragments Multiple Wounds in the Chest.
MOS Code: Rifleman/ 754
Extra information:
Lightly wounded in action and transferred to 96th Evacuation Hospital on July 9, 1944, while being a member of B company. Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 12, 1944. Assigned and joined from E Company, 331st Infantry Regiment as of December 12, 1944. Missing in action as of January 10, 1945. Killed in action on January 10, 1945, which corrects MR of January 17, 1945. (should be corrected to 10 January 1945)
Shoemaker mentioned him as his messenger.
Andrew had an Identity bracelet, a billfold, pictures, personal papers and cards, Air Mail stamps and souvenir money with him.
I am still looking for his picture.

12. Pfc. Jack William Rose.
Born: 22 May 1922
Town: Knoxville, Tennessee
ASN: 34492478
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Shrapnel abdomen
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from an unknown unit as of August 1, 1944. Severely wounded in action and transferred to 34th Evacuation Hospital on August 8, 1944 (machine gun fire). Assigned and joined from 34th Evacuation Hospital as of January 4, 1945. Killed in action on January 10, 1945
We wrote a story about Jack Rose some years ago. The reason was that Tony Vaccaro stated that he took a picture of Rose, just before he was shot and died in the streets of Ottré. Based on all the evidence we proved that this was not true. Jack Rose was KIA on the field, just outside of Ottré. Full article here.

13. Pvt. John Dexter Sansom,
Born: 22 October 1923
Town: Campbell, West Virginia
ASN: 35775961
KIA; 10 January 1945
Type: Shrapnel in the chest
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 48th Replacement Battalion as of July 20, 1944 (K company).
Lightly wounded in action and transferred to 100th Evacuation Hospital on August 7, 1944. Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 12, 1944. Transferred to F Company, 331st Infantry Regiment as of December 12, 1944. Assigned and joined from E Company, 331st Infantry Regiment as of December 12, 1944. Killed in action on January 10, 1945.

14. Pvt. George Schneider
Born: 6 November 1925
Town: Marion, Kansas
ASN: 36841275
Type: Chest wound
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 31, 1944.
Reported as Missing in Action on January 17th 1945. Reported to be found on May 1 1945.
Killed in action as of January 10, 1945.
George had a Shaeffer mechanical pencil and 35 cents in US coins on him.
His brother John was KIA on Iwo Jima on 28 February 1945.

15. Pvt. William V, Scholl,
Born: 25 February 1924
Town: Oneida, New York
ASN: 32849675
Type: Multiple Wounds
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 31, 1944
Missing in action as of January 10, 1945. And on 18 January he was confirmed to be KIA.William had one ring, one souvenir coin and 5 dollars on him.

16. Pvt. Sidney Peter Schutack,
Born: 29 January, 1926
Town: Montville, Massachusetts
ASN: 31465815
Type: Gunshot wound in the chest.
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of January 2, 1945.
Killed in action on January 10, 1945.
Sidney had a paybook, 1 identity bracelet and 1 ring on him.

I am still looking for his picture.

17. Pfc. Clarence Devet Self.
Born: 6 June 1909
Town: Kingston, Oklahoma
ASN: 38697322
Type: multiple shot wounds, left foot missing;
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 31, 1944.
Killed in action on January 10, 1945.

18. Pfc. John William “Jack” Shepard
Born: 19 July 1912
Town: Fairfield, Connecticut
ASN: 31461690
Type: Gunshot wound in the chest.
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 31, 1944.
Missing in action as of January 10, 1945.
Killed in action on January 11, 1945.
Jack had religious articles, 1 fountain pen, 1 tobacco pouch, 1 ring, souvenir money, a billfold, pictures, cards and 93 dollars on him.
I am still looking for his picture.

19. Pvt. Burke Fenton Shiner
Born: 1 Januari 1923
Town: Altonah Duchesne, Utah
ASN: 39619723
Type: Gunshot wound penetration abdomen
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
KIA: 10 January 1945
Extra information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 31, 1944.
Reported on 17 January: Missing in action as of January 11, 1945
Reported on 18 January: Killed in action on January 11, 1945, which corrects MR of January 17, 1945.
Burke had souvenir money, 49 dollard, pictures and folder and a rifle medal on him.

20. Pfc. William F. Sloan
Born: 29 October 1925
Town: Boston Massachusetts
ASN: 31428135
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Skull crushed, multiple fractures of all bones and burned/ 3rd degree burnes.
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman.
Extra information:
According tot he IDPF concerning the tankcrews William F Sloan was KIA while he was on the back of the tank of Sgt. Merritt.

21. Cpl. Jack Keene Smith.
Born: 13 May 1918
Town: Dallas, Texas
ASN: 38062384
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Shrapnel in the back
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
Extra information:
Jack Smith is reported as KIA in the Morning reports of 17 January 1945.
Jack had several items on him, like a watch and a billfold, ring and an identity bracelet.

22. John Ignatius Steinbauer
Born: 16 June 1921
Town: Altoona, Pennsylvania
ASN: 33254848
MOS Code: 607/ Light machine gunner
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Shrapnel wound in the chest
Additional information:
John is reported as WIA in August 1944 in France with a knee injury.
On 26 January 1945 he is reported KIA as of 10 January 1945.
John had some souvenir money, an empty billfold and some religious articles with him.

23. Pvt. Henry Irving Tannenbaum.
Born: 1 March 1916
Town: Washington, DC
ASN: 33752792
MOS Code: 745/ Rifleman
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Gunshot wounds, multiple wounds body
Additional information:
Assigned and joined company C/ 331st from 53rd Replacement Battalion as of August 18, 1944.
Lightly wounded in action and transferred to 110th Evacuation Hospital on October 3, 1944.
Assigned and joined company E from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 12, 1944.
Transferred to F Company, 331st Infantry Regiment as of December 12, 1944.
Assigned and joined from E Company, 331st Infantry Regiment as of December 12, 1944.
Killed in action on January 10, 1945.
According to Tony Vaccaro he took a picture of Henry, while he lay dead in the snow. The picture is well known under the name “White Death”.
Henry had multiple things with him when he was found: a pencil, a paybook, 1 picture folder, pictures, religious articles and receipts.

24. Sgt. Carl Ward.
Born: 12 October 1919
Town: Tulsa, Oklahoma
ASN: 39226203
KIA: 10 January 1945
Type: Multiple Wounds to the body
MOS Code: 653/ Squad leader
Extra information: WIA on 4 July 1944 during the attack on Meautis and returned to duty in December 1944. KIA 10 January 1945.

25. Raymond Edward Ruberg
Born: 10 August 1921
Town: Chaviot, Ohio
ASN: 35077248
DOW: 11 January 1945
Type: Multiple wounds legs, abdomen and arms.(DOW)
MOS Code: 745
Additional information:
Assigned and joined from 92nd Replacement Battalion as of December 31, 1944.
Severely wounded in action and transferred to 102nd Evacuation Hospital on January 10, 1945. Died of Wounds on 11 January 1945. It is possible that he was with the platoon that was supporting the tanks. And it indicates that he was evacuated of the field.
Raymond had 2 rings and 1 watch with him when he was found.

And I would like to add Raymond Kirkpatrick who was most likely one of the POW’s but lost his life while being transported to the rear.

26 Raymond Kirkpatrick
Born: 22 October 1923
Town: Greenville, Kentucky
ASN: 14153714
KIA: 11 January 1945
Type: concussion/ fractured left radius according to his IDPF (page 13, dated 13 May 1945)/ (DOW)
MOS Code: 745
Extra information: Raymond was a replacement and became a member of F company on 2 January 1945 and was Sergeant in A Company.
According to the IDPF Raymond was found appr. 250 meters from the Marechal  farm, in the small patch of woods. His remains were not buried.

And the men of 774thTB and 629thTD Bn:

Sgt. Lloyd Max Merritt
Born: 21 May 1915
Town: Marion, Indiana
ASN: 35162053:
KIA: 10 January 1945
Extra information: 774thTB, company B

Tec 4 Arnold A. Pfaff
Born: 30 August 1921
Town: Denhoff, North Dakota
ASN: 37323733
MIA: 10 January 1945
Extra information: 774thTB, company B
I am still looking for his picture.

Pfc Ralph Martin Hammond
Born: 1 September 1925
Town: Richmond, Virginia
ASN: 34889389:
KIA: 10 January 1945
Extra information: 774thTB, company B

Sgt. Daniel P. Liptrap
Born: 23 Oct 1918
Town: Cedar Creek, Virginia
ASN: 6994527
MIA: 10 January 1945
Extra information: 774thTB, company B

T/5 George A. Suprek
Born: 22 May 1919
Town: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
ASN: 33117631
MIA: 10 January 1945
Extra information: 629th Tank Destroyers

Sgt. Harvey N. Bradford.
Born: 1921
Town: Rising Fawn, Georgia
ASN: 34441449
MIA: 10 January 1945
Extra information: 629th Tank Destroyers

May they all rest in peace.

*Pictures donated by families, found on findagrave, fold3.com and ancestry.com

© Bob Konings

16. Sources and acknowledgments >>>>>