347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division
Calvin Cecil Dobson was born on May 24th, 1924 in Tooele, Utah. His parents were Cecil Henry Dobson (1895-1973) and Ella McLaws Dobson (1899-1986). Cecil and Ella were both born in Utah. Calvin had three other siblings: Joan Dobson Allred (1921-2006), Dorothy Dobson Lea (1922-2016), and Corinne Dobson Lougy (1931-2009). Calvin's father Cecil enlisted into the U.S. Navy in WWI on June 20th, 1918. He only had an eighth grade education. Cecil also worked on tram cable cars (1930 census) and worked at an ore mill (1940 census). Calvin's mother Ella was a clerk at a drugstore (1920 census). She had a high-school education. The family was Protestant and owned their own home. Calvin went to the local high-school in Tooele and then went on to graduate Utah State Agricultural college. He was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity there. As far as one can see in all of his records he was not married or had any children.
Calvin went on to enlist into the U.S. military on March 5th, 1943. He was 19 years old. His enlistment took place in Salt Lake City, Utah. Calvin joined the 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division, CO C. This was known as the Golden Acorn Unit. He did his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and was then assigned to Aviation Cadet Training in Miami Beach Florida. He continued this training at Concord College in W.V. After this Calvin transferred to the Infantry Division doing further training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
The 87th Infantry Regiment was ordered into active military service on December 15, 1942 at Camp McCain, Mississippi. They deployed to the European Theater on October 17, 1944. The commanders of this Regiment were MG Percy W. Clarkson (December 1942- October 1943), MG Eugene M. Landrum (October 1943-April 1944), and MG Frank L. Culin Jr. (April 1944 to inactivation). The 87th Infantry Division got to Scotland in October of 1944 and trained in England through November. They landed in France the beginning of December moving on to Metz. There they went into action taking Fort Drains. They also took Rimling, Obergailback, and Guiderkirch.
In December of 1944 the 87th would move into Germany while an offensive was launched by German Field Marshal, Von Rundstedt. The Division was basically thrown in to the Bulge Battle in Belgium on December 29th. They would capture the Moircy on December 30th and the Remagne on December 31st. Two different offensives would take place on December 30th at the same time, one German and the other American. Calvin's Unit, the Golden Acorn Unit, would be caught in the middle of this Battle. This was a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge when the Germans launched a surprise offensive which would end up cutting them off from ammunition, food, and fuel. Needing a road for re-supplying they chose the St. Hubert-Bagstone which had a railroad fanning out of Bagstone. The 87th played a huge role here. They would be thrown into battle right after motor marching in open trucks in near zero weather from Germany's Saar Valley. They were ordered to form a protective barrier around Bagstone and re-capture villages seized by the Germans. The 87th was successful at first but then took heavy losses in Moircy and Jenneville. December 31st through January 2nd they would fight in severe cold, snow, and sleet but would accomplish their mission cutting off the highway that linked supply sources back to Germany. On January 1st, 1945 the 347th along with the 345th went in to take Jenneville. They would encounter the Nazis who retaliated with a strong counter-assault. This is the mission that Calvin lost his life on.
One can only imagine what this single day was like not only for Calvin but his entire Unit. Calvin was KIA in Belgium January 1st, 1945. His final rank was Sergeant. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. Sergeant Calvin Dobson received a purple heart posthumously. This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000 of the U.S. fallen here on Fold3.
*Ancestry
*Wikipedia
*The Power and Glory by Mitch Kaidy
*Story of the 87th Infantry Division - web
Added by emilyscollins222976 · January 10, 2021
Calvin Cecil Dobson was born on May 24th, 1924 in Tooele, Utah. His parents were Cecil Henry Dobson (1895-1973) and Ella McLaws Dobson (1899-1986). Cecil and Ella were both born in Utah. Calvin had three other siblings: Joan Dobson Allred (1921-2006), Dorothy Dobson Lea (1922-2016), and Corinne Dobson Lougy (1931-2009). Calvin's father Cecil enlisted into the U.S. Navy in WWI on June 20th, 1918. He only had an eighth grade education. Cecil also worked on tram cable cars (1930 census) and worked at an ore mill (1940 census). Calvin's mother Ella was a clerk at a drugstore (1920 census). She had a high-school education. The family was Protestant and owned their own home. Calvin went to the local high-school in Tooele and then went on to graduate Utah State Agricultural college. He was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity there. As far as one can see in all of his records he was not married or had any children.
Calvin went on to enlist into the U.S. military on March 5th, 1943. He was 19 years old. His enlistment took place in Salt Lake City, Utah. Calvin joined the 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division, CO C. This was known as the Golden Acorn Unit. He did his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and was then assigned to Aviation Cadet Training in Miami Beach Florida. He continued this training at Concord College in W.V. After this Calvin transferred to the Infantry Division doing further training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
The 87th Infantry Regiment was ordered into active military service on December 15, 1942 at Camp McCain, Mississippi. They deployed to the European Theater on October 17, 1944. The commanders of this Regiment were MG Percy W. Clarkson (December 1942- October 1943), MG Eugene M. Landrum (October 1943-April 1944), and MG Frank L. Culin Jr. (April 1944 to inactivation). The 87th Infantry Division got to Scotland in October of 1944 and trained in England through November. They landed in France the beginning of December moving on to Metz. There they went into action taking Fort Drains. They also took Rimling, Obergailback, and Guiderkirch.
In December of 1944 the 87th would move into Germany while an offensive was launched by German Field Marshal, Von Rundstedt. The Division was basically thrown in to the Bulge Battle in Belgium on December 29th. They would capture the Moircy on December 30th and the Remagne on December 31st. Two different offensives would take place on December 30th at the same time, one German and the other American. Calvin's Unit, the Golden Acorn Unit, would be caught in the middle of this Battle. This was a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge when the Germans launched a surprise offensive which would end up cutting them off from ammunition, food, and fuel. Needing a road for re-supplying they chose the St. Hubert-Bagstone which had a railroad fanning out of Bagstone. The 87th played a huge role here. They would be thrown into battle right after motor marching in open trucks in near zero weather from Germany's Saar Valley. They were ordered to form a protective barrier around Bagstone and re-capture villages seized by the Germans. The 87th was successful at first but then took heavy losses in Moircy and Jenneville. December 31st through January 2nd they would fight in severe cold, snow, and sleet but would accomplish their mission cutting off the highway that linked supply sources back to Germany. On January 1st, 1945 the 347th along with the 345th went in to take Jenneville. They would encounter the Nazis who retaliated with a strong counter-assault. This is the mission that Calvin lost his life on.
One can only imagine what this single day was like not only for Calvin but his entire Unit. Calvin was KIA in Belgium January 1st, 1945. His final rank was Sergeant. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. Sergeant Calvin Dobson received a purple heart posthumously. This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000 of the U.S. fallen here on Fold3.
*Ancestry
*Wikipedia
*The Power and Glory by Mitch Kaidy
*Story of the 87th Infantry Division - web
Added by emilyscollins222976 · January 10, 2021
347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division
Calvin Cecil Dobson was born on May 24th, 1924 in Tooele, Utah. His parents were Cecil Henry Dobson (1895-1973) and Ella McLaws Dobson (1899-1986). Cecil and Ella were both born in Utah. Calvin had three other siblings: Joan Dobson Allred (1921-2006), Dorothy Dobson Lea (1922-2016), and Corinne Dobson Lougy (1931-2009). Calvin's father Cecil enlisted into the U.S. Navy in WWI on June 20th, 1918. He only had an eighth grade education. Cecil also worked on tram cable cars (1930 census) and worked at an ore mill (1940 census). Calvin's mother Ella was a clerk at a drugstore (1920 census). She had a high-school education. The family was Protestant and owned their own home. Calvin went to the local high-school in Tooele and then went on to graduate Utah State Agricultural college. He was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity there. As far as one can see in all of his records he was not married or had any children.
Calvin went on to enlist into the U.S. military on March 5th, 1943. He was 19 years old. His enlistment took place in Salt Lake City, Utah. Calvin joined the 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division, CO C. This was known as the Golden Acorn Unit. He did his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and was then assigned to Aviation Cadet Training in Miami Beach Florida. He continued this training at Concord College in W.V. After this Calvin transferred to the Infantry Division doing further training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
The 87th Infantry Regiment was ordered into active military service on December 15, 1942 at Camp McCain, Mississippi. They deployed to the European Theater on October 17, 1944. The commanders of this Regiment were MG Percy W. Clarkson (December 1942- October 1943), MG Eugene M. Landrum (October 1943-April 1944), and MG Frank L. Culin Jr. (April 1944 to inactivation). The 87th Infantry Division got to Scotland in October of 1944 and trained in England through November. They landed in France the beginning of December moving on to Metz. There they went into action taking Fort Drains. They also took Rimling, Obergailback, and Guiderkirch.
In December of 1944 the 87th would move into Germany while an offensive was launched by German Field Marshal, Von Rundstedt. The Division was basically thrown in to the Bulge Battle in Belgium on December 29th. They would capture the Moircy on December 30th and the Remagne on December 31st. Two different offensives would take place on December 30th at the same time, one German and the other American. Calvin's Unit, the Golden Acorn Unit, would be caught in the middle of this Battle. This was a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge when the Germans launched a surprise offensive which would end up cutting them off from ammunition, food, and fuel. Needing a road for re-supplying they chose the St. Hubert-Bagstone which had a railroad fanning out of Bagstone. The 87th played a huge role here. They would be thrown into battle right after motor marching in open trucks in near zero weather from Germany's Saar Valley. They were ordered to form a protective barrier around Bagstone and re-capture villages seized by the Germans. The 87th was successful at first but then took heavy losses in Moircy and Jenneville. December 31st through January 2nd they would fight in severe cold, snow, and sleet but would accomplish their mission cutting off the highway that linked supply sources back to Germany. On January 1st, 1945 the 347th along with the 345th went in to take Jenneville. They would encounter the Nazis who retaliated with a strong counter-assault. This is the mission that Calvin lost his life on.
One can only imagine what this single day was like not only for Calvin but his entire Unit. Calvin was KIA in Belgium January 1st, 1945. His final rank was Sergeant. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. Sergeant Calvin Dobson received a purple heart posthumously. This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000 of the U.S. fallen here on Fold3.
*Ancestry
*Wikipedia
*The Power and Glory by Mitch Kaidy
*Story of the 87th Infantry Division - web
Added by emilyscollins222976 · January 10, 2021
Calvin Cecil Dobson was born on May 24th, 1924 in Tooele, Utah. His parents were Cecil Henry Dobson (1895-1973) and Ella McLaws Dobson (1899-1986). Cecil and Ella were both born in Utah. Calvin had three other siblings: Joan Dobson Allred (1921-2006), Dorothy Dobson Lea (1922-2016), and Corinne Dobson Lougy (1931-2009). Calvin's father Cecil enlisted into the U.S. Navy in WWI on June 20th, 1918. He only had an eighth grade education. Cecil also worked on tram cable cars (1930 census) and worked at an ore mill (1940 census). Calvin's mother Ella was a clerk at a drugstore (1920 census). She had a high-school education. The family was Protestant and owned their own home. Calvin went to the local high-school in Tooele and then went on to graduate Utah State Agricultural college. He was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity there. As far as one can see in all of his records he was not married or had any children.
Calvin went on to enlist into the U.S. military on March 5th, 1943. He was 19 years old. His enlistment took place in Salt Lake City, Utah. Calvin joined the 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division, CO C. This was known as the Golden Acorn Unit. He did his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and was then assigned to Aviation Cadet Training in Miami Beach Florida. He continued this training at Concord College in W.V. After this Calvin transferred to the Infantry Division doing further training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
The 87th Infantry Regiment was ordered into active military service on December 15, 1942 at Camp McCain, Mississippi. They deployed to the European Theater on October 17, 1944. The commanders of this Regiment were MG Percy W. Clarkson (December 1942- October 1943), MG Eugene M. Landrum (October 1943-April 1944), and MG Frank L. Culin Jr. (April 1944 to inactivation). The 87th Infantry Division got to Scotland in October of 1944 and trained in England through November. They landed in France the beginning of December moving on to Metz. There they went into action taking Fort Drains. They also took Rimling, Obergailback, and Guiderkirch.
In December of 1944 the 87th would move into Germany while an offensive was launched by German Field Marshal, Von Rundstedt. The Division was basically thrown in to the Bulge Battle in Belgium on December 29th. They would capture the Moircy on December 30th and the Remagne on December 31st. Two different offensives would take place on December 30th at the same time, one German and the other American. Calvin's Unit, the Golden Acorn Unit, would be caught in the middle of this Battle. This was a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge when the Germans launched a surprise offensive which would end up cutting them off from ammunition, food, and fuel. Needing a road for re-supplying they chose the St. Hubert-Bagstone which had a railroad fanning out of Bagstone. The 87th played a huge role here. They would be thrown into battle right after motor marching in open trucks in near zero weather from Germany's Saar Valley. They were ordered to form a protective barrier around Bagstone and re-capture villages seized by the Germans. The 87th was successful at first but then took heavy losses in Moircy and Jenneville. December 31st through January 2nd they would fight in severe cold, snow, and sleet but would accomplish their mission cutting off the highway that linked supply sources back to Germany. On January 1st, 1945 the 347th along with the 345th went in to take Jenneville. They would encounter the Nazis who retaliated with a strong counter-assault. This is the mission that Calvin lost his life on.
One can only imagine what this single day was like not only for Calvin but his entire Unit. Calvin was KIA in Belgium January 1st, 1945. His final rank was Sergeant. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. Sergeant Calvin Dobson received a purple heart posthumously. This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000 of the U.S. fallen here on Fold3.
*Ancestry
*Wikipedia
*The Power and Glory by Mitch Kaidy
*Story of the 87th Infantry Division - web
Added by emilyscollins222976 · January 10, 2021
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Entered the service from Utah.
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