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name
SWEET, Roy Leslie - Date of
birth
21 October 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Quantico, Prince William County, Virginia -
Hometown
New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13178926 -
Rank
Technician Fourth Grade -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
B Company,
300th Engineer Combat Battalion
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 December 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Havrenne, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| F | 16 | 29 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter Sweet (father)
Pauline G. (Cumings) Sweet (mother)
William H. Sweet (brother)
Robert W. Sweet (brother)
Richard B. Sweet (brother)
Betty J. Sweet (sister)
More information
Report of 23 December: Reconnaissance reported enemy tanks had cut the road between Marche and Rochefort but had made no attempt to cross the La Lesse River. At about 0900 hours, a German reconnaissance force in strength was encountered in the vicinity of Havrenne consisting of a German armored car and two tanks, one an American M-4 complete with white stars. One 300th enlisted man, [Pvt. Willie D. McGowan], was "lightly wounded in action" and another enlisted man, [Tech 4 Roy L. Sweet], was missing in action. [Sweet was later confirmed dead]. Ten American tanks manned by German personnel and accompanied by German Infantry were reported in the vicinity of Humain. B Company withdrew to Herock. No further action took place but reports indicated that the enemy was building up strength north of the river.Per Cpl Don Richter: " [T/4 Roy L Seet] always rode in the back seat of Company B Commander, Capt. Falvey’s jeep [Capt. Gene P. Falvey] where all of the company radio equipment was installed.I do know that when Companies A & B were out in front of the main US Army & British Army defense line along the bank of the Meuse River, we encountered forward elements of the Germany Army advancing through the Ardennes Forest. We had roadblocks with bridges set for destruction upon the approach of the enemy. On December 23, 1944 Capt. Falvey, with his jeep driven by McGowan [Tech 5 Willie D. McGowan] and radio operator Sweet, were out checking on our various defense installations when they were approached by what appeared to be a US Army Sherman tank.
When it began firing on them, they quickly realized that it must be a tank that was captured by the Germans and was now the enemy. The jeep came to a sudden halt and McGowan and Capt. Falvey bailed out and took cover though both were wounded. Roy Sweet was mortally wounded and remained in back seat of the jeep. McGowan though wounded returned to the jeep, found Sweet dead and recovered the map case in which the defenses of Companies A & B were recorded."
Source of information: Leo Minne, Terry Hirsch, Sheree Dowdle, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / Virginia Birth Records, http://www.300thcombatengineersinwwii.com, http://www.300thcombatengineersinwwii.com/kia.html, http://www.veteransofthebattleofthebulge.org - Don Richter (veteran of 300th Engineers)
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Des Philippet, Vineland High School, Vineland, New Jersey 1941