Charles Mayer and Family
Charles Mayer's Class of 1943
According to classmates,
No yearbook was produced
due to the war.
(Source: Marysville High School Alumni Class)
According to classmates,
No yearbook was produced
due to the war.
(Source: Marysville High School Alumni Class)
Charles W. Mayer was born in 1925 in Elm Creek Township, Marshall County, Kansas. He and his family lived south of Marysville. He was the son of Charles W. and Sally Barnes Mayer.(1) Charles or 'Chuck' had several siblings which included: Loyal B. or Flip, Jack D., James Ward, Betty, Twila, and Judy.(2) His brother, Loyal, shared that Charles was a mild manner and serious young man who had many friends. They attended District #142 for the first eight years of school and then Marysville High School. Loyal and Charles graduated in 1943.(3) His mother, Sallie or Sarah B. Barnes, died in 1936.(4)
Charles Mayer and the 9th Infantry Regiment 2nd Division
9th Infantry in Cherbourg
July 28, 1944
the day Charles Mayer died
July 28, 1944
the day Charles Mayer died
Charles Mayer entered the Army on September 10, 1943 as a private.(5) According to his Enlistment papers he was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment 2nd Division. Charles or Chuck Mayer was killed in action July 28, 1944 and is interred in the American Cemetery at Normandy, France. He was awarded the Purple Heart.(6)
2nd Division in Normandy
2nd Division Normandy Campaign
(National Archives and
Records Administration Photograph)
(National Archives and
Records Administration Photograph)
The 2nd Division trained in Northern Ireland and Wales in the fall of 1943 to the Spring of 1944. The division landed on Omaha Beach on June 7th or D Day plus 1. The 9th attacked across the Aure River towards Trvieres facing fierce opposition in hedgerow fighting. From that date until June 28th, Mayer's unit fought to secure Hill 192 on the road to St. Lo. Casualties were high. The 2nd Division then moved towards St. Jean des Baissant on July 26. (7)
Another 2nd Division Veteran's Oral History
2nd Division at
St. Lo, France
St. Lo, France
The following is part of a transcript of an interview of Veteran of the 2nd Division, John Paulson about his experiences in Normandy in the same division and action as Charles Mayer.
"I had been a front-line infantry soldier. I had been designated a company that they needed a fill in and so I came in on D Day One as a replacement. I was a front-line combat infantryman for 51 days. And then on the 25th, 25th of July, 1944 we had probably got in about I don't really know but I would say ten or fifteen miles. And we were in at that point we were in a holding action and the whole thing was so that they could generate enough equipment and troops to get them in on the in France. And they were preparing for what they called the Cobra breakthrough on July 25th. That's when Patton, I believe that was the date that Patton started off for Paris. And three days later at this town of Saint -Lo on the outskirts of Saint-Lo, I got wounded." (8) (Note: This was the day Mayer was killed)
"I had been a front-line infantry soldier. I had been designated a company that they needed a fill in and so I came in on D Day One as a replacement. I was a front-line combat infantryman for 51 days. And then on the 25th, 25th of July, 1944 we had probably got in about I don't really know but I would say ten or fifteen miles. And we were in at that point we were in a holding action and the whole thing was so that they could generate enough equipment and troops to get them in on the in France. And they were preparing for what they called the Cobra breakthrough on July 25th. That's when Patton, I believe that was the date that Patton started off for Paris. And three days later at this town of Saint -Lo on the outskirts of Saint-Lo, I got wounded." (8) (Note: This was the day Mayer was killed)
Charles Mayer's Obituary: Victim of War: Charles W. Mayer Is Killed in France on July the Twenty-Eight (Blue Rapids (Marshall Cty) Times Volume Seventy Four-August 31, 1944 p. 1)
Charles W. Mayer, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Loyal Mayer of north of Blue Rapids was killed in action in France on July 28 according to information reaching Mr. and Mrs. Mayer last week.
Charles Mayer entered the service in October 1943 at Camp Walters, Texas. He received additional training at Fort George Meade, Maryland and went with the Ninth Infantry Division to North Ireland in March. Then he was transferred to England and on June 19 went with the Americans to France.
Born April 29, 1925, Charles Mayer lived all his life in Marshall county. He is a graduate of the Marysville high school with high school class of '43 and before and following his graduate he was a faithful employee of Western Auto Store in Marysville.
Immediate members of the family are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Loyal Mayer, three brothers, Loyal Jr., Jack and James; three sisters, Betty, Twila, and Judy; his grandfather, C. B. Mayer, all of the home; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Barnes of Frankfort.
Charles Mayer entered the service in October 1943 at Camp Walters, Texas. He received additional training at Fort George Meade, Maryland and went with the Ninth Infantry Division to North Ireland in March. Then he was transferred to England and on June 19 went with the Americans to France.
Born April 29, 1925, Charles Mayer lived all his life in Marshall county. He is a graduate of the Marysville high school with high school class of '43 and before and following his graduate he was a faithful employee of Western Auto Store in Marysville.
Immediate members of the family are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Loyal Mayer, three brothers, Loyal Jr., Jack and James; three sisters, Betty, Twila, and Judy; his grandfather, C. B. Mayer, all of the home; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Barnes of Frankfort.
Sources:
1. 1930 Federal Census <ancestry.com>
2. D. J. Smith, Phone Conversation with Author. 28 August 2011.
3. Loyal Mayer, Phone Conversation with Author. 4 September 2011.
4. Mayer Family Tree <ancestry.com>
5. World War II Selective Service Records. Kansas Adjutant General. Armed Forces Personnel Who Served Between September 16, 1940, and June 30, 1946. Kansas State Archives.
6. American Battle Monuments Commission <http://www.abmc.gov/home.php>
7. W. M. Robertson, "From D+1 to 105: The Story of the 2nd Infantry Division" <http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/2ndinfantry/>
8. John R. Paulson, Interview by Shannon Forrester and Brittany Plude, Veterans Oral History, Library of Congress, 8 November 2008
1. 1930 Federal Census <ancestry.com>
2. D. J. Smith, Phone Conversation with Author. 28 August 2011.
3. Loyal Mayer, Phone Conversation with Author. 4 September 2011.
4. Mayer Family Tree <ancestry.com>
5. World War II Selective Service Records. Kansas Adjutant General. Armed Forces Personnel Who Served Between September 16, 1940, and June 30, 1946. Kansas State Archives.
6. American Battle Monuments Commission <http://www.abmc.gov/home.php>
7. W. M. Robertson, "From D+1 to 105: The Story of the 2nd Infantry Division" <http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/2ndinfantry/>
8. John R. Paulson, Interview by Shannon Forrester and Brittany Plude, Veterans Oral History, Library of Congress, 8 November 2008