Marsh, Louis V. (01056160): Difference between revisions

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'''Louis V. Marsh''' (1920–2005) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States; Catholic) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 15.

Marsh was a Ritchie Boy. Born on February 2,1920, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt., and arrived at Camp Ritchie, starting Class 15 (French) on January 4, 1944. He graduated Class 15 on March 3, 1944 and released from Camp Ritchie, embarking on the SS Queen Mary on April 10, 1944 to Scotland. After some additional training in Britain, he was assigned to MII Team 407, attached to the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. He was later promoted to 1st. Lt., and served as the OIC of MII Team 478G attached to XXI Corps. Below is his Silver Star Citation details, as well as the after action report. Silver Star Citation The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Coast Artillery Corps) Louis V. Marsh (ASN: 01056160), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of Laneuville, France, on 16 September 1944. Lieutenant Marsh, a member of the Military Intelligence Team 407 on duty with the 137th Infantry Regiment, accompanied his section to the town of Laneuville, France, which at that time had not been liberated. As the party reached the outskirts of the village, French civilians led them to a group of Germans desiring to surrender, then pointed out several enemy strongholds at strategic points along the route of the German retreat. The party deployed through the town despite sniper fire and sporadic machine gun fire and, by zealousness and boldness, succeeded in driving the remaining enemy troops into a central locality, then succeeded in killing or capturing the entire enemy force. Lieutenant Marsh's gallant actions, initiative and leadership ability resulted in the killing of three, wounding of one, and capture of eighteen enemy troops, and the destruction of one machine gun and capture of an assortment of enemy equipment. (From New York) After Action Report 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division 15 SEPTEMBER 1944 On September 15, Task Force S moved into the city of Nancy, and on the same day elements of the 137th Infantry began to cross the Meurthe River. During the morning of the 15th, the regiment had driven out all hostile resistance in their sector south of the river, cleaning out the Germans from the Flavigny Forest. In addition to early patrols sent across the Meurthe by the 1st Battalion, the Regimental Civil Affairs Officer, Captain George T. Schneider, accompanied by 2nd Lieutenant Louis V. Marsh of the Military Intelligence Team, had already crossed the river into Dombasle, where they encountered enemy resistance unexpectedly. Their small party of only 4 men killed 3 Germans, wounded 1 and took 18 prisoners, and knocked out an enemy machine gun position and roadblock. On the morning of the 15th, with the 1st Battalion already on the river at St. Nicolas, the 2nd Battalion moved through Lupcourt to the high ground just east of the Canal de l'est Emb't de Nancy at 0930. They then moved north to the Meurthe River. The 3rd Battalion moved from Manoncourt to the vicinity of Laneuville, putting all battalions in position to cross the river. The Germans had generally withdrawn from south of the Meurthe to positions across the river, from which our 1st Battalion received machine gun, mortar and artillery fire during the day. Casualties reported on the 15th were 5 killed, 47 wounded and 19 missing, some of which had occurred prior to this date but had not been reported. There were 25 German prisoners taken. Attached are some photos of Louis V. Marsh, as well as his certificate graduating Camp Ritchie Class 15. Marsh passed away on March 16, 2005.

* MII 478 w/XXI Corps;Silver Star

* MII 427

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* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file