Memorial Pvt. Daniel Pearson jr.
Locatie: Bredeweg, 6262 NX Banholt, 50°47'24.9"N 5°48'39.0"E
On Tuesday 12 September, "Old Hickory" liberated the villages of Gravenvoeren, Mheer and Banholt.
The next day, the American troops continued their route towards Termaar.
When they were near the Bredeweg, Daniel Pearson Jr. was seriously wounded by shrapnel to his chest.
On 14 September, he sadly died of his wounds. It was one day before he would have been with the army for one year, and less than a month before his 30th birthday.
Pearson was buried at the temporary American Cemetery in Fosses-la-Ville, in the province of Namur, Belgium.
In 1948, at the request of his wife, he was permanently committed to the earth at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, near Liège, Belgium.
His grave can be found in section G of the cemetery, row 2, number 20.
Danel Jr, was born on October, 1914 as eldest son of Daniel and Bertha Pearson. On April 24, 1920 his brother Harold was born, followed by his brother Kenneth in 1921 and his sister Annie in 1933. Daniel Sr. and Bertha are both from Blackburn, Lancashire in England while there four children were born in New Bedford, Bristol in the United states. Daniel Jr marries Hilda Greaves, born in Lancashire in England, in 1939. Their Daughter Carolyn is born in 1943.
Daniel jr. joins the army on September 15 1943. He reports to Boston, Massachusetts and receives the Army Serial Number (ASN) 31421262. Daniel Jr. has attended two years of high school. He is at that time working as a manager at a savings bank. He is also a freemason and member of the St Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
His basic training as a soldier takes place at Camp Blanding in Florida. On February 12 ,1944 the 119th regiment leaves Boston harbour on the army transport ship Brazil. After arriving in Liverpool on February 23, a train journey to southeast England follows. In the towns of Rustington, Middelton-on-Sea and Little Hampton soldiers are further trained in fighting with knife and bayonet, dirty fighting, equipment destruction, chemical warfare and aircraft recognition.
On April 3, the regiment moves to the Chalfont St Giles and Stokes Poges area in Buckinghamshire. Special in the meeting with the English general Montgomery on April 15 near Beaconsfield. His speech makes a big impression. The end point of the journey through England is Southampton. Here the regiment boarded.
On June 13, a few days after D-day, the soldiers arrived on Omaha beach. From here the 119th regiment begins a march through France. On August 2, the regiment crosses the border with Belgium as one of the first allied army units. However, they must share this Honor with the soldiers of the 79th division.
Tuesday September 12, “s Gravenvoeren, Mheer and Banholt are liberated. Now the 119th regiment only has the Honor to be the first to invade a country occupied by the Germans.
The Battalion digs itself in at Banholt.
On September 13 the soldiers continue their way to Termaar. Near de Bredeweg, Daniel Pearson Jr. gets seriously injured by shrapnel in his chest.
He dies on September 14, one day before he would be in the army for one year and less than one month before his thirtieth birthday.
Daniel is buried on September 15, 1944 at 10:00 am at the temporary American Cemetery in Fosse-la-Ville, in the province of Namur in Belgium. IN 1948, at the request of his wife, Daniel was definitively entrusted to the earth at the American cemetery in Henri Chapelle (B).
His grave is marked with a white cross with the inscription DANIEL PEARSOPN JR PVT 119 INF 30 DIV MASSACHUSETTS SEPT 13 1944 and de located in plot G, Row 2 at number 20.
Because Daniel was wounded when he served the American Army , he awarded the Purple Heart.
At the death of Daniel his daughter Carolyn is 16 months old. His brothers Harold and Kenneth, who are also under arms, will survive the Second World War. His wife Hilda remarries James E. Wordell and dies in 2003. Daughter Carolyn marries Robert Childs
