Staff Sergeant Frank Dennis Soucy
Name: Frank Dennis Soucy
Army Serial Number: 20107809
Entered service from: Massachusetts
Hometown: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Service: US Army, 26th Infantry Division, 104th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Company C, 3rd Platoon
Date of Death: Sunday, November 19, 1944
Burial place: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold, France
Plot: B Row: 19 Grave: 7
Awards: Purple Heart
Frank Dennis Soucy was born on December 13, 1917 in Wells River, Newbury, Orange County, Vermont. He lived on 3354 Main Street in Springfield. These days his residence has gone and parking lots have been placed. His father was Dennis S. Soucy and his mother Louis J. Soucy, both were from Wells River, Vermont. In 1940 Frank married Margaret Alice Curtis, which of 22 Thomas Street, Springfield. Out of their marriage two sons and two daughters were born; Frank A. Soucy of Stratford, Connecticut; Dennis Soucy of Bangor, Maine; Cathleen Soucy and Fern Soucy. Sadly enough Fern died young while still being a infant.
Army Serial Number: 20107809
Entered service from: Massachusetts
Hometown: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Service: US Army, 26th Infantry Division, 104th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Company C, 3rd Platoon
Date of Death: Sunday, November 19, 1944
Burial place: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold, France
Plot: B Row: 19 Grave: 7
Awards: Purple Heart
Frank Dennis Soucy was born on December 13, 1917 in Wells River, Newbury, Orange County, Vermont. He lived on 3354 Main Street in Springfield. These days his residence has gone and parking lots have been placed. His father was Dennis S. Soucy and his mother Louis J. Soucy, both were from Wells River, Vermont. In 1940 Frank married Margaret Alice Curtis, which of 22 Thomas Street, Springfield. Out of their marriage two sons and two daughters were born; Frank A. Soucy of Stratford, Connecticut; Dennis Soucy of Bangor, Maine; Cathleen Soucy and Fern Soucy. Sadly enough Fern died young while still being a infant.
Frank D. Soucy's childhood home in Springfield, Massachusetts.
At the age of 18, Frank went into the Massachusetts National Guard on December 18, 1936. Within 3 years Frank would enter the US Army and enlist. On January 16, 1941 Frank enlisted in the Army in Springfield, Massachusetts. His rank was Staff Sergeant and for unknown reasons he was degraded to Private in May. Per special order of the Headquarters Company of the 104th Infantry Regiment, Frank was promoted to Corporal on April 17, 1942. At this time Frank was inducted at Camp Edwards and on June 1, 1942 he went on furlough to Atlantic Beach, Florida. In October 1942 he completed 6 years of service.
In January 1943, Company C of the 104th Infantry Regiment moved to Carolina Beach, North Carolina into Fort Blanding. In April of 1943 the unit moved out again, this time to Camp Gordon in Georgia. On November 19, 1943 Frank was on detached service to return a soldier who was under arrest by the Military Police. At this time the unit was stationed in Camp Campbell, Kentucky. In December 1943 Frank was again promoted to Sergeant and had a 9 day furlough on December 19. As of January 1, 1944 he was again promoted to Staff Sergeant and this was the highest rank he would gain during his Military service.
In February 1944 the 104th Infantry Regiment took part in the Tennessee Maneuvers, this happened in the Maneuver Area of Lebanon, Tennessee. On March 29, 1944 the unit moved to Dawsonville, Georgia just to be moved again the next day to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The 104th Infantry Regiment participated in a several types of combat fighting, like fighting in the woods and villages. They also received combat training with several fire arms. They stayed here until July 1944 and after some additional training the unit was again moved. This time they were moved towards Camp Shanks, New York were they were prepared to be shipped out for combat in Europe. In July, Frank's MOS (Military Occupational Specialties) shows as "604" meaning he was a Light Machine Gunner. This makes it likely that he was a squad leader of a machine gun crew, possibly also at the time of his death.
On September 7, 1944 Staff Sergeant Frank Dennis Soucy and the rest of C Company, 104th Infantry Regiment landed at Cherbourg, France at 14:15. After debarkation the unit moved 20 kilometers to their bivouac area near Saint-Martin d'Audouville. Eventually the unit moved to the front lines in France, their assigned front line would be Lorraine. On October 11, 1944 the 104th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Company C, 3rd Platoon would lose approximately 34 Enlisted Men. Amongst these men was Staff Sergeant Frank Dennis Soucy, which would become Missing in Action. The 3rd Platoon attacked an enemy position near Rechicourt, France. The platoon was practically wiped out on October 11. The disposition was not known and the company would remain under intermittent shell fire. On October 17 the Company listed 19 Enlisted Men as being Missing in Action since October 11, among these men was Frank Dennis Soucy.
On October 17 the unit left the area near Arracourt and arrived near Athienville, here the company stayed in Division reserve. After this the unit went back into combat and started the fight near the Moncourt Woods. On October 26, Company C went into reserve for the 3rd Battalion of the 328th Infantry Regiment. The company remained under shell fire throughout the day. On November 3rd the Company had 3 squads training for assault on fortified positions and 2 squads left for a USO show.
On November 19th four Enlisted Men which were Missing in Action since October 11 were now listed as Killed in Action. Among these men was Frank Dennis Soucy, now pronounced to be Killed in Action on November 19, 1944 near Reichicourt, France. His body must have been found at that time and declared dead. His skull was shattered and his left humerus, tibia fibula, left and right radiu and ulnu were fractured. This was most likely happened after an artillery shell fell near him. At the time of his death the 104th Infantry Regiment was in the Moncourt Woods area. Where the 4th Armored Division was being relieved by the 26th Infantry Division. After this the Division took up defensive positions. On October 22, 1944 the 26th Infantry Division launched an attack towards Moncourt Woods with help of the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. On 19 November the 104th Infantry Regiment and the 101st Infantry Regiment continued the attack in an envelopment from north and south intended to encircle the road center at Marimont and seize Marimont Hill (Hill 334), lying just west of the village and overlooking the route along which the left wing of the 26th Division would have to advance.
November 19, 1944 would be the day that Frank Dennis Soucy, aged 26, would be reported as "Killed in Action". Frank received a head wound, which would lead to the death of Staff Sergeant Frank Dennis Soucy, born on December 13, 1917. Aged 26.
In January 1943, Company C of the 104th Infantry Regiment moved to Carolina Beach, North Carolina into Fort Blanding. In April of 1943 the unit moved out again, this time to Camp Gordon in Georgia. On November 19, 1943 Frank was on detached service to return a soldier who was under arrest by the Military Police. At this time the unit was stationed in Camp Campbell, Kentucky. In December 1943 Frank was again promoted to Sergeant and had a 9 day furlough on December 19. As of January 1, 1944 he was again promoted to Staff Sergeant and this was the highest rank he would gain during his Military service.
In February 1944 the 104th Infantry Regiment took part in the Tennessee Maneuvers, this happened in the Maneuver Area of Lebanon, Tennessee. On March 29, 1944 the unit moved to Dawsonville, Georgia just to be moved again the next day to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The 104th Infantry Regiment participated in a several types of combat fighting, like fighting in the woods and villages. They also received combat training with several fire arms. They stayed here until July 1944 and after some additional training the unit was again moved. This time they were moved towards Camp Shanks, New York were they were prepared to be shipped out for combat in Europe. In July, Frank's MOS (Military Occupational Specialties) shows as "604" meaning he was a Light Machine Gunner. This makes it likely that he was a squad leader of a machine gun crew, possibly also at the time of his death.
On September 7, 1944 Staff Sergeant Frank Dennis Soucy and the rest of C Company, 104th Infantry Regiment landed at Cherbourg, France at 14:15. After debarkation the unit moved 20 kilometers to their bivouac area near Saint-Martin d'Audouville. Eventually the unit moved to the front lines in France, their assigned front line would be Lorraine. On October 11, 1944 the 104th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Company C, 3rd Platoon would lose approximately 34 Enlisted Men. Amongst these men was Staff Sergeant Frank Dennis Soucy, which would become Missing in Action. The 3rd Platoon attacked an enemy position near Rechicourt, France. The platoon was practically wiped out on October 11. The disposition was not known and the company would remain under intermittent shell fire. On October 17 the Company listed 19 Enlisted Men as being Missing in Action since October 11, among these men was Frank Dennis Soucy.
On October 17 the unit left the area near Arracourt and arrived near Athienville, here the company stayed in Division reserve. After this the unit went back into combat and started the fight near the Moncourt Woods. On October 26, Company C went into reserve for the 3rd Battalion of the 328th Infantry Regiment. The company remained under shell fire throughout the day. On November 3rd the Company had 3 squads training for assault on fortified positions and 2 squads left for a USO show.
On November 19th four Enlisted Men which were Missing in Action since October 11 were now listed as Killed in Action. Among these men was Frank Dennis Soucy, now pronounced to be Killed in Action on November 19, 1944 near Reichicourt, France. His body must have been found at that time and declared dead. His skull was shattered and his left humerus, tibia fibula, left and right radiu and ulnu were fractured. This was most likely happened after an artillery shell fell near him. At the time of his death the 104th Infantry Regiment was in the Moncourt Woods area. Where the 4th Armored Division was being relieved by the 26th Infantry Division. After this the Division took up defensive positions. On October 22, 1944 the 26th Infantry Division launched an attack towards Moncourt Woods with help of the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. On 19 November the 104th Infantry Regiment and the 101st Infantry Regiment continued the attack in an envelopment from north and south intended to encircle the road center at Marimont and seize Marimont Hill (Hill 334), lying just west of the village and overlooking the route along which the left wing of the 26th Division would have to advance.
November 19, 1944 would be the day that Frank Dennis Soucy, aged 26, would be reported as "Killed in Action". Frank received a head wound, which would lead to the death of Staff Sergeant Frank Dennis Soucy, born on December 13, 1917. Aged 26.
The grave of SSgt. Frank Dennis Soucy at the Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, France.
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Frank's Purple Heart next to his grave marker, located in Saint-Avold, France.
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Frank Dennis Soucy in 1939 while serving with the Massachusetts National Guard.
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SSgt. Frank D. Soucy's Purple Heart.
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“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor do the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”
“They stand in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die. That freedom might live and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, they live in a way that humbles the undertaking of most men.”
"O Lord support us all the day long,
Until the shadows lengthen,
And our work is done,
Then in Thy mercy,
Grant us a safe lodging and a Holy rest,
And Peace at the last."
Age shall not weary them, nor do the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”
“They stand in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die. That freedom might live and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, they live in a way that humbles the undertaking of most men.”
"O Lord support us all the day long,
Until the shadows lengthen,
And our work is done,
Then in Thy mercy,
Grant us a safe lodging and a Holy rest,
And Peace at the last."
