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SSgt Brad Crooks
to remember
Crooks, Leonidas M., Jr. (Leon), 1ST SGT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Parsons
Date of Passing Apr 12, 2014
Location of Interment South Mound Cemetery - South Mound, Kansas
The Second Chemical Mortar Battalion was a bastard unit, that was basically sent from division to division, as needed. Â Often, the 4.2's would be on the line, and when the parent division was relieved, they would be sent to another.
Both Generals Mark Clark, and George Patton stated that they would never commit an infantry division to battle, without a 4.2 mortar Battalion attached, due the weapons effectiveness, Â mobility and superb cover it provided for troop movements and advancements.
The battalion also found itself attached to other seperate units, such as the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 106th Cavalry Group. Also, it was attached to the Free French Army, the First French Army, and the French Forces of the Interior.
By the end of the war, the 2nd Chemical Mortar Bn, had 511 days on the front line, tying the 157th RCT of the 45th Infantry Divison, for the most time in combat, of any American unit in the European Theater of OperationsÂ
The unit was in 7 battle campaigns, and had a total of 57 KIA
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Sicily Campaign (1943)
From Month/Year
July / 1943
To Month/Year
August / 1943
Description (Sicily Campaign 9 July to 17 August 1943) In preparation for the invasion of Sicily the Allies captured the islands in the Sicilian strait, with aerial bombardment forcing the capitulation of Pantelleria on 11 June 1943. By that time Allied air power had begun the attack on Sicily by bombing defenses and airfields. The invasion itself got under way on the night of 9/10 July with airborne landings that were followed the next day by an amphibious assault. The enemy offered strong resistance, but the Allies had superiority in the air and soon had planes operating from Sicilian bases to support Montgomery’s Eighth Army and Patton’s Seventh.
Interdictory operations against communications in Italy and between Italy and Sicily convinced the enemy that it would be impossible to move strong reinforcements. By 17 August 1943 the Allies were in possession of the island, but they had not been able to prevent a German evacuation across the Strait of Messina.
SSgt Brad Crooks
to remember
Crooks, Leonidas M., Jr. (Leon), 1ST SGT.
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