06/15/2026
ON THIS DATE IN 113th FIELD ARTILLERY HISTORY:
82 years ago, on the morning of June 15, 1944, the 517 men of the 113th Field Artillery Battalion were crossing the English Channel headed for Normandy. The battalion was loaded on board the USS LST-133, USS LST-372 and USS LST-510. The convoy that these ships were a part of had sailed from Portland Bill Harbor, England the previous night. Headquarters Battery along with Batteries B and C, were loaded on LST-133, Battery A and the Medical Detachment were loaded on LST-372 and Service Battery was loaded on LST 510. A little after 0800, while the men were cleaning up from breakfast, a tremendous explosion shattered the stern of the LST-133. After a head count was taken it was determined that 20 soldiers of the 113th FA were missing and their bodies were lost to the sea. Twelve of the missing were from HHB, six were from Battery B, and two of the missing were from Battery C. Nineteen of these soldiers are memorialized on the wall of the missing at the Normandy American Military Cemetery in France and one is on the wall of the missing at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery in England. Among those still on board the ship Technician 5th Grade James E. Clark, Jr of Battery C and Private Stanley Moniuszko of HHB were killed. Corporal George Tyner of the Headquarters Battery was nearly cut in half when a piece of the stern fell on him. Corporal Tyner would pass away a couple days later in England. Seven other soldiers were seriously injured. Below is a list of those who were never found. Let us never forget the sacrifices these brothers-in-arms made in the cause of freedom.
TEC4 Joseph E. Barbour, HHB
SGT Clyde W. Beachen, Btry C
PVT Steve W. Carroll, HHB
SSG James B. Collier, HHB
CPL James S. Davis, HHB
TEC5 Clarence M. Edwards, HHB
TEC5 Donald B. Edwards, HHB
PVT Otis G. Hall, Btry B
PVT John A. Hussli, Btry B
CPL Jacob C. Marshall, HHB
TEC4 John W. Martin, HHB
PVT Cecil E. McLendon, Btry B
SGT John E. Nelms, Jr, Btry B
PVT Albert P. Ramiez, HHB
TEC5 Wiley G. Ratcliff, Btry C
PVT Outra Schroader, Btry B
TEC5 William S. Srp, HHB
PVT J. C. Swanger, Btry B
PFC John F. Udovic, HHB
CPL James A. Wilkins, HHB
