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Personal info

Full name
COLBORN, Harry Blackstone II
Date of birth
3 September 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia
Hometown
Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia

Military service

Service number
O-534287
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Platoon Commander
Unit
E Company,
2nd Battalion,
10th Infantry Regiment,
5th Infantry Division
Awards
Distinguished Service Cross,
Silver Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 February 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Weilerbach, Luxembourg

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
C 6 12

Immediate family

Members
Andrew J. Colborn (father)
Martha (Hutchinson) Colborn (mother)
Melville L. Colborn (brother)
Martha J. Colborn (sister)
Andrew J. Colborn (brother)

More information

1st Lt Harry B. Colborn attended the University of West Virginia.

He enlisted at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio on 23 March 1943.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. The citation stated: On 8 February 1st Lt Colborn was leading an assault platoon to spearhead a regimental attack on the Siegfried line. Under enemy-machinegun and artillery fire he successfully held his patrol together during the Sauer River crossing in a rubber-boat. Organizing his defence on the other side of the river, he saw enemy-machinegun-fire from a pillbox on his flank, inflicting heavy losses on the following platoon crossing the river. Together with some volunteers he attacked the pillbox. Running over an open field, they gained positions near the pillbox. While two men covered him with rifle fire, he rushed the door, forcing the enemy back into an inner room. With a demolition charge he started through the opening, but as he entered, the hidden enemy again opened fire; mortally wounding him. By his fearless charge he enabled his men to surround the pillbox and force his surrender. Through his supreme sacrifice he enabled the other elements of his regiment to cross the river and enlarge the important bridgehead.

Source of information: Leo Minne, Kathy McDermott, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / U.S. Headstone and Interment Record for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil 1942-1949 / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Richmond Family Tree / U.S. School Yearbooks, A footsoldier for Patton / Michael C. Bilder James G. Bilder, The 5th Infantry division in the ETO

Photo source:
www.findagrave.com – Luxembourg American Cemetery, www.ancestry.com – U.S. Schoolyearbooks, The Shield of Phi Kappa Psi - November 1945