25Mar1922 – 04Dec1943
Edison Days
Earl withdrew from school without graduating, No photos from his time at Edison have been found.
Military Service
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: United States Army
Unit: Battery B – 151st Field Artillery Regiment – 34th Infantry Division
Earl joined the Minnesota National Guard sometime after withdrawing from school. Earl and the 151st were Federalized into the regular Army on 10Feb1941. Soon after the unit was shipped to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana.
In January 1942 they arrived in Northern Ireland as one of the first Army divisions to deploy overseas after the United States entered the war.
On 8Nov1942 the 151st was a part of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. It is likely that Earl participated in several famous battles in North Africa to include the Battle of Fondouk Pass in April 1943 and the heavy fighting around Hill 609 in April and May of the same year. The fighting in North Africa ended on 13May1943 and the 151st spent the next several months resting, refitting, and training for the upcoming fighting in Italy.
On9Sept1943 the 151st participated in the Allied invasion of Salerno, Italy. The Axis resistance was intense and in the first 8 days of fighting, the 151st fired more artillery rounds than they had during the entirety of their time in North Africa.
The unit was in continuous combat from the time they landed through October and November.
By December 1943 the 151st was supporting the 34th Infantry Division as they attached the German Bernhart Line in the vicinity of Monte Panano to the North of Naples. During this fighting, on 4December1943, that Earl was killed. The circumstances of his death are unknown.
Earl was originally buried in a temporary military cemetery in Corono, Italy. In 1948 his remains were returned to the United Stated for reburial.
Earl is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Edison Heroes 