Memorial

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Lt. Jack Tomlin graduated from Albany High School in 1940. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology.

Per PFC Kenneth E. Tobin (HQ Co., 406th Regiment):
"Shortly after the town of Brachelen was taken last January [1945] Lt Jack Tomlin of the I & R platoon, was given a patrol. His mission was to take his men into the town of Hilfarth and reconnoiter. Hilfarth straddled the Roer river, the only town the Jerries could call their own west of the stream in the 406th sector.

The patrol moved out across the snow laden, pillbox studded ground. That was the last seen or heard of the men. They disappeared as completely as though the earth had suddenly opened up and swallowed them.

We were perfect targets in the bright sun. The Jerries could see us but we couldn't see them until too late. Hilfarth looked deserted as we approached. Tomlin was 10 yards from a MG 42 when they opened up. The machine gun got Mirman and Tomlin right away. Everyone dived for the side of the road."

The day after we were captured, the Jerries told us that he had died in a German field hospital.

Only remember this: Lt. Tomlin, and for that matter, all the boys, had as much guts as I have ever seen. Even as Tomlin was being carried in, and he was going fast from loss of blood, he feebly spoke up and said to the Jerry in command: "Damn! If you can't carry me right set me down and leave me alone."

Per Sgt. Joseph Parayos (HQ Co., 406th Regiment):
"Lt Jack Tomlin, myself, Cpl. Al Hansel, Privates Mirman, Tobin and Bloodgood went on a daylight patrol on the afternoon of January 29, 1945. We left north of Linnich, crossing a bridge over the Roer and went up a dirt road through the woods.

We could see the town of Hilfarth about a quarter of a mile away. Halfway there was a trench near the road with German soldiers moving around. I told the Lieutenant. they were Germans, but he said "No, they are Americans." Our assignment was to find out if there were Germans in the town.

We got about even with the trench when a German opened up with a Schmeiser gun. He hit the lieutenant all up his side and Pvt. Mirman was hit in the heel. The rest of us fell into a couple of slit trenches at the side of the road. We fired back. I had a bullet glance off my helmet. There was nowhere to go because it was a bare field behind us. We had to give up so we could see how badly the lieutenant and Mirman were hurt.

The Germans came and picked up the lieutenant and carried him to town (Hilfarth). They put Mirman and the lieutenant in a vehicle and took them for treatment. They locked the rest of us in a shed. The next morning they opened the shed and called me out. The German sergeant told me that Lt. Tomlin had died on the way to the hospital."

A softball and baseball field is dedicated to Lt Jack Tomlin.