Obie F Helms, a resident of Coffee County, Alabama, enlisted in the United States Army on Nov 30, 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was described in his enlistment records as being 5'8" tall and weighing 141 pounds. He had completed grammar school. He gave his date of birth as 1922, although his tombstone says 1924. He may have fudged a little on the date to get in the army at age 16. After basic training, he was assigned to the 28th Infantry of the 8th Division.
The 28th Infantry distinguished itself in combat during World War II as part of the 8th Infantry Division. After landing on Utah Beach on July 4, 1944, its first action was an attack to the south to establish a critical bridgehead over the Ay River so that armored divisions could launch a breakout and then attack into Brittany and Northern France. During its ten months of combat, the regiment played a major part in four allied campaigns - winning three Presidential Unit Citations embroidered Normandy, Bergstein and Stockheim. It captured over 115,000 prisoners of war and vast stores of enemy material. Pfc Helms was killed in action within a few days of the landing of US forces at Utah Beach. His remains were returned to Alabama for burial.
Obie F Helms October 14 1924 - July 10 1944 Rest in peace.
The 28th Infantry distinguished itself in combat during World War II as part of the 8th Infantry Division. After landing on Utah Beach on July 4, 1944, its first action was an attack to the south to establish a critical bridgehead over the Ay River so that armored divisions could launch a breakout and then attack into Brittany and Northern France. During its ten months of combat, the regiment played a major part in four allied campaigns - winning three Presidential Unit Citations embroidered Normandy, Bergstein and Stockheim. It captured over 115,000 prisoners of war and vast stores of enemy material. Pfc Helms was killed in action within a few days of the landing of US forces at Utah Beach. His remains were returned to Alabama for burial.
Obie F Helms October 14 1924 - July 10 1944 Rest in peace.
Obie F Helms, a resident of Coffee County, Alabama, enlisted in the United States Army on Nov 30, 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was described in his enlistment records as being 5'8" tall and weighing 141 pounds. He had completed grammar school. He gave his date of birth as 1922, although his tombstone says 1924. He may have fudged a little on the date to get in the army at age 16. After basic training, he was assigned to the 28th Infantry of the 8th Division.
The 28th Infantry distinguished itself in combat during World War II as part of the 8th Infantry Division. After landing on Utah Beach on July 4, 1944, its first action was an attack to the south to establish a critical bridgehead over the Ay River so that armored divisions could launch a breakout and then attack into Brittany and Northern France. During its ten months of combat, the regiment played a major part in four allied campaigns - winning three Presidential Unit Citations embroidered Normandy, Bergstein and Stockheim. It captured over 115,000 prisoners of war and vast stores of enemy material. Pfc Helms was killed in action within a few days of the landing of US forces at Utah Beach. His remains were returned to Alabama for burial.
Obie F Helms October 14 1924 - July 10 1944 Rest in peace.
The 28th Infantry distinguished itself in combat during World War II as part of the 8th Infantry Division. After landing on Utah Beach on July 4, 1944, its first action was an attack to the south to establish a critical bridgehead over the Ay River so that armored divisions could launch a breakout and then attack into Brittany and Northern France. During its ten months of combat, the regiment played a major part in four allied campaigns - winning three Presidential Unit Citations embroidered Normandy, Bergstein and Stockheim. It captured over 115,000 prisoners of war and vast stores of enemy material. Pfc Helms was killed in action within a few days of the landing of US forces at Utah Beach. His remains were returned to Alabama for burial.
Obie F Helms October 14 1924 - July 10 1944 Rest in peace.
Inscription
Alabama 28 Inf 8 Div
