Lest We Forget

On this Veterans Day I would like to share the story of a true American hero who gave all for his country and fellow soldiers, my uncle Pfc. Donald J. Philpott.

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Veterans day is a day where the nation comes together to honor veterans en masse, both living and dead. We all pause to thank them for their service to their country. On this veteran day I want to share the story of a family hero whose memory will soon be a part of history fade into the collective memory of those long gone and I want to make sure his heroism is known before even I will not be able to honor his individual memory.

"Feb 6 1945 MRS PENELOPE C PHILPOTT

2418 14 ST NORTHEAST CANTON OHIO

THE SECRETARY TO WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DONALD J PHILPOTT HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SINCE NINETEEN JANUARY IN FRANCE IF FURTHER DETAILS OR OTHER INFORMATION ARE RECEIVED YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY NOTIFIED

J A ULIO THE ADJ GENERAL"

The most feared sight for families of servicemen during World War II was the Western Union man walking up to your front door with a little yellow envelope in his hand. There is no way of knowing the thoughts that went through the mind of my aunt as the Western Union man handed her the 3" x 6" envelope that contained 43 words that would bring the world crashing down on her and her three little girls. While the words "MISSING IN ACTION" may have held out some hope, that was not to be. None in the family know when the official word came that my uncle Donald J. Philpott was killed in battle near Nancy, France, January 19, 1945. Just a few months before the end of the war and victory in Europe.

Donald J. Philpott was born on June 22, 1917 in New Franklin, Ohio to Craig and Sylvia Philpott. Little is known about his early life. He was my uncle by marriage, having married my aunt Penelope Anastis on Christmas Day December 25, 1935. Together they had three girls Sylvia, Janice, and Rebecca who were respectively 6,5, and 3 at the time of Donald's death. Donald and his wife might possibly have thought that Donald would be spared being drafted and going to war because of being married and having three little children, since fathers were exempt from being drafted until the policy was changed late in 1943. However he would eventually be drafted and inducted into the army on March 17, 1944 a few months before D-Day.

After 13 weeks of basic training and maybe a very short leave home Philpott was sent to Camp Howze, Texas where he was assigned to the 103rd Infantry, Cactus Division. We know from the diary by fellow soldier Hallet K. Brown that Philpott was assigned to a heavy weapons company where he was trained as a machine gunner and after several months of training Philpott's unit shipped out for France in late September. After a long and arduous journey aboard a troop transport ship the 103rd landed in Marseille, France on October 20, 1944. They immediately started a journey that unfortunately would be Philpott's last.

For the next month they slogged slowly northward towards Nancy, France. Each day was filled with cold, rain, and occasional snow. Meeting little resistance until on November 27 as they got within 20 or 30 miles of the German border where the 103rd met heavy German artillery barrages suffering heavy losses. After regrouping and picking up some replacement personnel and equipment the 3rd managed to get two days of rest from December 4-6. After those brief rest days the 3rd resumed its march towards the German border. On December 19, 1944 the 3rd managed to get within two kilometers of the border of Germany. After weeks of heavy fighting the 3rd connected with other units near Diehling, France on January 15, 1945.

After a day of rest the 103rd continued its march in a southeast direction toward the German border. On January 18, 1945 they encountered a heavy artillery bombardment, mortars as well as intense machine gun fire. Suffering heavy loses the 3rd was ordered to retreat. At 2:00 AM on January 19 their unit was surrounded by a large German force. By this time Philpott's unit was retreating at a full run, carrying the wounded and what equipment that they were able to. There were two machine guns in Philpott's unit, but one was out of commission. Without regard for his own safety he manned his machine gun firing at the advancing German forces, knocking out one of their machine guns and disrupting the German offensive enough to give his fellow soldiers time to retreat. He eventually gave all and died from enemy fire, but due to his heroics most of the unit was able to retreat safely. As U.S. forces regrouped and forced back the German army Philpott's body was able to be retrieved. He was buried in the Epinal American Cemetery near Nancy, France where he rested with other American heroes.

A little over three years after being killed in action and being buried over 4,000 miles away in France, Pfc. Donald J. Philpott's body was returned to American soil where he was buried with full military honors on April 15, 1948. Laid to rest under the shadow on the American flag on Military Hill, Forest Hill Cemetery, Canton, Ohio.

For his sacrifice to his fellow soldiers and his country Pfc. Donald J. Philpott was awarded The Silver Star. An article in The Canton Repository describes Philpott's final service to his country: "...Information accompanying the award stated that 'on Jan 19 in the vicinity of Nancy, France the enemy launched a counterattack in great strength, under cover of intense fire necessitating a withdrawal of our troops. Pvt. Philpott realizing that his was the only machine gun in action, elected to cover the withdrawal. With disregard for his life he maintained his position, directing heavy fire on the advancing enemy which destroyed one hostile machine gun and temporarily disorganized them. Under cover of Pvt. Philpott's fire, our forces were able to withdraw without serious loss. When last seen, Pvt. Philpott, caught in severe cross-fire, was valiantly engaging the enemy. He was subsequently reported missing in action and later declared dead."

I never knew my uncle, being only six months old when he died. The youngest of his children, Rebecca is still alive but has no recollection of her father, being only two years old when he entered the army. The only other remaining member of our family besides myself and Rebecca is my aunt Barbara Cook who was also too young at the time to have any recollection of Donald. This article came about because written history of our family (the Anastis family) shows Donald J. Philpott as little more than a footnote. As I read this history I reflected that a true American hero would soon be forgotten to be absorbed into the collective memory of what many have come to call "The Greatest Generation". Now at the age of 80 I at least wanted to honor my uncle's memory lest I forget. Lest we forget.