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George Russell Caldwell

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George Russell Caldwell

Birth	:	2 Oct 1913
Death	:	13 Oct 1944 Germany
Burial	:	Tokoroa Cemetery, Tokoroa, South Waikato District, New Zealand
Coordinate	:	-38.2311010, 175.8826160
Description	:	George Russell Caldwell (Oct. 2, 1913 – Oct. 13, 1944) - Russell was the son of Granvill and Lena Caldwell. He was survived by wife Irene V. Hughes Caldwell and five young children Richard, Lowell, James Russell, Donald and Cherie Caldwell. His siblings were Oakie, Marie, Oscar, Ralph, and Alford. He was killed in Germany just prior the Battle of the Bulge. The 9th Division captured the first German town of the war. Private George Russel Caldwell was a member of G Company, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. ASN: 35780135 The October 1944 attacks:... Read More	George Russell Caldwell (Oct. 2, 1913 – Oct. 13, 1944) - Russell was the son of Granvill and Lena Caldwell. He was survived by wife Irene V. Hughes Caldwell and five young children Richard, Lowell, James Russell, Donald and Cherie Caldwell. His siblings were Oakie, Marie, Oscar, Ralph, and Alford. He was killed in Germany just prior the Battle of the Bulge. The 9th Division captured the first German town of the war. Private George Russel Caldwell was a member of G Company, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. ASN: 35780135 The October 1944 attacks: Attack towards the town of Germeter in the Hurtgen Forest. Private Caldwell was part of G Company, which was part of 2nd Battalion(which included E, F, G and H Companies). The 9th Infantry Division entered Germany in September 1944, and the 39th Infantry Regiment was thrown into battle from the start as well. They fought for nearly 2 weeks at a town called Lammersorf, near Paustenbach to take control of all the bunkers in that area and the dominating Hill 554. At the end of September, the 39th Infantry was moved to the forest area west of a town called Germeter. An attack was to start on 6 October, 1944. The series of attacks in October, 1944 were described by veterans who survived these battles as “theworst days in their lives.” Many still have nightmares about those days in the forest. The gains were measured in yards and objectives were not much more than muddy crossroads or small towns. The 9th Infantry Division men had a tough time cracking groups and lines of bunkers in the area that lay ahead of them. September attacks were halted while casualty numbers ran up high. At the time of the October, 1944 attacks, 2nd Battalion of the 39th Regiment was commanded by Lt. Col. Frank L. Gunn. During the attacks the 2nd Battalion, under the command of Captain Preston Gordon went forward to aid the 3rd Battalion which was commanded by Lt. Colonel Robert Stumpf. The mission of the 2nd Battalion was to protect the left flank of the 3rd Battalion from enemy attacks from the north. The Regimental plan was for the 3rd Battalion on the left and the 1st Battalion on the right to advance first to the town of Germeter and then to Vossenack. From here, the plan was to eventually attack the twon of Schmidt, located 4 miles to the southeast. From a line of departure running generally north and south across the road at near a junction within the forest. The two leading battalions were to attack eastward with the road as a boundary between them. The 2nd battalion would initially move in support, having elements on both sides of the aorad and as the attack progressed, would follow the 3rd Battalion to forme a defense against an attack from the north. The attack started on October 6, 1944 after being postpone for 1 day due to poor weather conditions. In the morning, the 2nd Battalion began to move up towards the line of departure and shortly after the leading battalion attacked at 12:00, the 2nd Battalion was in position . The only enemy activity it felt at the time was artillery fire. However; the density of the trees made nine out of ten of these shells so-called “tree bursts.” It took the men up to 4 days in order to get from the forest west of Germeter to the town. So, after one week of fighting ,et from the forest west of Germeter to the town. So, after one week of fight, 13 October, G Company found itself in position just west of the main road near Germeter. They set up a defense line in the forest area, between one of the other battalions and a roadblock near the road there. The line was very thinly defended there. On the 12, a German counterattack was thrown on to the Company, but all battalions combined and managed to fight off the attack. The following day the positions were approximately the same. On October 13, 1944, heavy artillery started to fall on the positions from 7:00 and all morning there was minor enemy activity along the front. Enemy tanks were also spotted on this day, and the mane had to keep their grounds in spite of the artillery and tank fire. It is most likely that Private Caldwell was killed from shrapnel coming from the artillery falling on the positions. The casualty report for October 13th, 1944 mentions Pvt. George R. Caldwell. To give you the severity of this fight, casualties for this one day alone 13 of October mounted up to 152. 10 of G Company were killed and 6 wounded. 16 went missing. He was buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium and repatriated in 1947.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is George Russell Caldwell's memorial?
George Russell Caldwell's memorial is located at: Tokoroa Cemetery, Tokoroa, South Waikato District, New Zealand.
When did George Russell Caldwell death?
George Russell Caldwell death on 13 Oct 1944 in Germany
Where are the coordinates of the George Russell Caldwell's memorial?
Latitude: -38.2311010
Longitude: 175.8826160

Family Members:

Parent

Granville Dudley Caldwell

(1879 - 1965)

Lena Mae Wintz Caldwell

(1887 - 1974)

Spouse

Irene Virginia Hughes Caldwell

(1916 - 1986)

Siblings

Beulah Marie Caldwell Adkins

(1910 - 1987)

Oscar Joseph Caldwell

(1914 - 2004)

Okey Edwin Caldwell

(1917 - 1999)

Alfred Azel Caldwell

(1919 - 2015)

Edna Mae Caldwell Vititoe

(1922 - 2009)

Harry R Caldwell

(1903 - 1904)

Children

Richard McKinley Caldwell

(1936 - 2014)

James Russell “Jim” Caldwell

(1937 - 2009)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Tokoroa Cemetery
Tokoroa, South Waikato District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.2311010, 175.8826160

2. Mangakino Public Cemetery
Mangakino, Taupō District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.3617140, 175.7631240

3. Waotu Cemetery
Te Waotu, South Waikato District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.1410760, 175.6793690

4. Domain Road Cemetery
Putaruru, South Waikato District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0603810, 175.7952220

5. Mamaku Cemetery
Mamaku, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0986200, 176.0726700

6. Tirau Sreet Cemetery
Putaruru, South Waikato District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0431570, 175.7834490

7. Ruamano Parekarangi Urupā
Horohoro, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.2349430, 176.1912227

8. Ngakuru Cemetery
Rotorua, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.3227770, 176.1911950

9. Tirau Cemetery
Tirau, South Waikato District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -37.9622060, 175.7796770

10. Waiwharangi Māori Cemetery
Mokai, Taupō District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.5162400, 175.8759100

11. Kauae Cemetery
Ngongotaha, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0915298, 176.2152557

12. Whakarewarewa Urupā
Rotorua, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.1629708, 176.2556791

13. Pukeatua Cemetery
Te Awamutu, Waipa District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0732500, 175.5530120

14. Waiteti (Weriwiri Pa) Cemetery
Ngongotaha, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0689500, 176.2132000

15. Rotorua Crematorium and Cemetery
Rotorua, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.1533100, 176.2630900

16. Puhirua Urupā
Ngongotaha, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0433300, 176.2228820

17. Toatoaroa Urupā
Matamata, Matamata-Piako District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -37.9017870, 175.6996060

18. Puahue Cemetery
Te Awamutu, Waipa District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0392000, 175.4428300

19. Motutawa Māori Cemetery
Mourea, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0458300, 176.3381400

20. Okere Māori Cemetery
Okere Falls, Rotorua District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0332900, 176.3464800

21. Okauia Māori Cemetery
Okauia, Matamata-Piako District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -37.8015800, 175.8726300

22. Matamata Cemetery
Matamata, Matamata-Piako District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -37.8018000, 175.7535440

23. Leamington Cemetery
Leamington, Waipa District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -37.9048020, 175.4868830

24. Saint Paul's Churchyard Cemetery
Te Awamutu, Waipa District, New Zealand
Coordinate: -38.0143750, 175.3767790