Richard William Shewan was born April 12, 1920 in Erie, Pennsylvania. His father, William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973), was an immigrant from London, England. His mother, Louisa Sauer Shewan (1896 - 1984), was the daughter of a German immigrant and his American wife born of German ancestry.
Richard graduated June 13, 1940 from Strong Vincent High School in Erie. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard (28th Infantry Division) as an infantry soldier on Feb 17, 1941 and was advanced to the rank of staff sergeant (E-6). He was commissioned a second lieutenant (O-1) after completion of officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
During World War II Richard was called to active duty and assigned to Company A, 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, VIII Corps, U.S. First Army (LG Omar N. Bradley commanded the First Army, MG Troy H. Middleton commanded the VIII Corps, MG John S. Wood commanded the 4th Armored Division, LTC George L. Jaques commanded the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion).
The main body of troops of the 4th Armored Division were transported by sea from Boston harbor in December 1943 bound for England. From England, the 4th AD landed at Normandy on Utah Beach on July 13, 1944, entered combat on July 17th and took the town of Coutances on July 28th.
But before Coutances was taken, Richard was killed in action in Saint-Lô, France on July 19, 1944, only six days after the 4th AD landed in France, and only two days after engaging in combat. He was 24 years old and held the rank of first lieutenant (O-2) at the time of his death. He was unmarried and had no children.
Richard was initially buried in France at St. Laurent Cemetery, but his body was exhumed and returned to his family for final burial. In 1948 he was buried at Calvery Cemetery in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He also earned the Combat Infantry Badge.
In addition to his parents, Richard was survived by four siblings, brothers Gerald A. Shewan and William T. Shewan, and sisters Donna Shewan and Mary Louise Shewan.
Richard graduated June 13, 1940 from Strong Vincent High School in Erie. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard (28th Infantry Division) as an infantry soldier on Feb 17, 1941 and was advanced to the rank of staff sergeant (E-6). He was commissioned a second lieutenant (O-1) after completion of officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
During World War II Richard was called to active duty and assigned to Company A, 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, VIII Corps, U.S. First Army (LG Omar N. Bradley commanded the First Army, MG Troy H. Middleton commanded the VIII Corps, MG John S. Wood commanded the 4th Armored Division, LTC George L. Jaques commanded the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion).
The main body of troops of the 4th Armored Division were transported by sea from Boston harbor in December 1943 bound for England. From England, the 4th AD landed at Normandy on Utah Beach on July 13, 1944, entered combat on July 17th and took the town of Coutances on July 28th.
But before Coutances was taken, Richard was killed in action in Saint-Lô, France on July 19, 1944, only six days after the 4th AD landed in France, and only two days after engaging in combat. He was 24 years old and held the rank of first lieutenant (O-2) at the time of his death. He was unmarried and had no children.
Richard was initially buried in France at St. Laurent Cemetery, but his body was exhumed and returned to his family for final burial. In 1948 he was buried at Calvery Cemetery in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He also earned the Combat Infantry Badge.
In addition to his parents, Richard was survived by four siblings, brothers Gerald A. Shewan and William T. Shewan, and sisters Donna Shewan and Mary Louise Shewan.
Richard William Shewan was born April 12, 1920 in Erie, Pennsylvania. His father, William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973), was an immigrant from London, England. His mother, Louisa Sauer Shewan (1896 - 1984), was the daughter of a German immigrant and his American wife born of German ancestry.
Richard graduated June 13, 1940 from Strong Vincent High School in Erie. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard (28th Infantry Division) as an infantry soldier on Feb 17, 1941 and was advanced to the rank of staff sergeant (E-6). He was commissioned a second lieutenant (O-1) after completion of officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
During World War II Richard was called to active duty and assigned to Company A, 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, VIII Corps, U.S. First Army (LG Omar N. Bradley commanded the First Army, MG Troy H. Middleton commanded the VIII Corps, MG John S. Wood commanded the 4th Armored Division, LTC George L. Jaques commanded the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion).
The main body of troops of the 4th Armored Division were transported by sea from Boston harbor in December 1943 bound for England. From England, the 4th AD landed at Normandy on Utah Beach on July 13, 1944, entered combat on July 17th and took the town of Coutances on July 28th.
But before Coutances was taken, Richard was killed in action in Saint-Lô, France on July 19, 1944, only six days after the 4th AD landed in France, and only two days after engaging in combat. He was 24 years old and held the rank of first lieutenant (O-2) at the time of his death. He was unmarried and had no children.
Richard was initially buried in France at St. Laurent Cemetery, but his body was exhumed and returned to his family for final burial. In 1948 he was buried at Calvery Cemetery in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He also earned the Combat Infantry Badge.
In addition to his parents, Richard was survived by four siblings, brothers Gerald A. Shewan and William T. Shewan, and sisters Donna Shewan and Mary Louise Shewan.
Richard graduated June 13, 1940 from Strong Vincent High School in Erie. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard (28th Infantry Division) as an infantry soldier on Feb 17, 1941 and was advanced to the rank of staff sergeant (E-6). He was commissioned a second lieutenant (O-1) after completion of officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
During World War II Richard was called to active duty and assigned to Company A, 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, VIII Corps, U.S. First Army (LG Omar N. Bradley commanded the First Army, MG Troy H. Middleton commanded the VIII Corps, MG John S. Wood commanded the 4th Armored Division, LTC George L. Jaques commanded the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion).
The main body of troops of the 4th Armored Division were transported by sea from Boston harbor in December 1943 bound for England. From England, the 4th AD landed at Normandy on Utah Beach on July 13, 1944, entered combat on July 17th and took the town of Coutances on July 28th.
But before Coutances was taken, Richard was killed in action in Saint-Lô, France on July 19, 1944, only six days after the 4th AD landed in France, and only two days after engaging in combat. He was 24 years old and held the rank of first lieutenant (O-2) at the time of his death. He was unmarried and had no children.
Richard was initially buried in France at St. Laurent Cemetery, but his body was exhumed and returned to his family for final burial. In 1948 he was buried at Calvery Cemetery in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He also earned the Combat Infantry Badge.
In addition to his parents, Richard was survived by four siblings, brothers Gerald A. Shewan and William T. Shewan, and sisters Donna Shewan and Mary Louise Shewan.
Inscription
RICHARD W. SHEWAN
1st. LT. CO. A 53 ARMD INF. BN.
1920 1944
