Memorial

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Pfc Richard G. Nims was a carpenter before he enlisted at Fort Dix, New Jersey on 13 February 1942.

Pfc Richard G. Nims was working with six men of his unit to clear mines, planted by an American unit, to protect the front of the 131st Field Artillery. The following is from the C Company diary on that day: The final mention of mine work with the battalion for January ends on another somber tone. Company C sent a mine detector crew in a three-quarter ton weapons carrier to the 131st Field Artillery to sweep for mines. Eleven anti-tank mines and A-1 American mines were removed. The fuses were frozen in the mines and the detector crew loaded them on the truck and brought them back to the Battalion dump in Bilwisheim. On the way back to the company area they picked up two men from their company who had been to the showers in Bilwisheim. After all had arrived at the Battalion Supply Dump in Bilwisheim an explosion occurred killing all eight of the men instantaneously with the exact cause of the detonation unknown.