Dewhirst, Leonard Vincent

1918 - 1944  (25 years)

• Name	Dewhirst, Leonard Vincent
  Birth	7 Aug 1918	Shamrock   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Burial	Riverside Cemetery, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois   [2]
  Reference Number	DEWH.L005
  _FGRAVE	2552731
  Military Service	World War II, Second Lieutenant, Company K, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army  [2]
  		United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959) In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…
  		United States Army
  		Second Lieutenant, United States Armed Forces
  		Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
  		United States Army Officer Rank Insignia
  		Military Service Ribbons, Dewhirst, Leonard Vincent (1918-1944) Contributed by Carl Wayne Gray
  		Purple Heart Medal, United States Military
  		Purple Heart Medal, United States Military
  		World War II (1939-1945)
  		4th Infantry Division ("Ivy Division"), United States Army
  		4th Infantry Division ("Ivy Division"), United States Army
  		22nd Infantry Regiment, United States Army
  Death	12 Jun 1944	France   [1, 2]
  	Cause: Killed in Action
  	Lt. Vincent Dewhirst was killed June 12, 1944, in the battle of Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion.
  Burial	Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois   [1]
  		Headstone, Dewhirst, Lt. Leonard
  		Burial Flag, United States Military Veterans
  		Headstone, Dewhirst, Leonard V.
  		Headstone, Dewhirst, Leonard V.
  Person ID	I38354	Carl Wayne Gray Research
  Last Modified	7 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	Dewhirst, Leonard C.,   b. 22 Jan 1896, Jasper County, Illinois d. 24 Nov 1976, Burgin Manor Nursing Home, Olney, Richland County, Illinois (Age 80 years)
  Mother	Birk, Lola,   b. 13 Jul 1895, Jasper County, Illinois d. 30 Dec 1981, Newton Rest Haven Nursing Home, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois (Age 86 years)
  Marriage	3 Feb 1915
  Age at Marriage	He : 19 years and 1 month - She : 19 years and 7 months.
  Family ID	F15399	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Burial - - Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Lt. Vincent Dewhirst was killed June 12, 1944, in the battle of Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion. He was the first known casualty in WWII, from Jasper county. Lt. Dewhirst was born August 7, 1918 near shamrock Illinois. After completing his work in rural schools in his home community, He attended Newton Community High School for two years then went to Chicago where he graduated from the Sullivan high school of that city with the class of 1938. Besides his parents , he is survived by his grandfather, O.T. Dewhirst of Newton and a grand-mother, Mrs. George Birk. One sister, Kathryn of Chicago, one brother, Clifford of Newton. A sister, Frankey preceded him in death. He was the first known casualty in WWII, from Jasper county. After completing his work in rural schools in his home community, He attended Newton Community High School for two years then went to Chicago where he graduated from the Sullivan High School of that city with the class of 1938. May 13, 1948 Olney Advocate, IL The casketed remains of 2nd Lt. Leonard V. Dewhirst of Dundas, being returned from overseas for final burial will be sent to the Camp Butler National cemetery within the next month accompanied by a uniformed Army escort from the Chicago Distribution center of the American graves registration division. The body of 2nd Lt. Dewhirst was interred in the St. Mere Eglise No. 1 temporary military cemetery in France, but has been returned to this country for final interment at the request of his next of kin, Leonard C. Dewhirst, of Dundas, IL.

  
  

• Sources

  [S12476] http://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Dewhirst, Leonard V., (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2552731/leonard-vincent-dewhirst) (Reliability: 2). [S12477] http://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Dewhirst, Lt. Leonard, (https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48199904) (Reliability: 2).