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SSG Justin Davis
to remember
Armentrout, Hansel Lee, S/Sgt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Parsons
Date of Passing Nov 04, 1956
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Last Known Activity:
S/SGT HANSEL LEE ARMENTROUT WAS BORN IN PETERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA ON 4 MAY 1913, SON OF LEE AND EMMA (GOODE) ARMENTROUT. HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A BRICK LAYER LIVING IN PARSONS, WEST VIRGNIA AND MARRIED TO PAIGE ARMENTROUT WHEN HE ENTERED THE SERVICE ON 15 SEPTEMBER 1942. S/SGT ARMENTROUT SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER FROM 14 JUN 1943 UNTIL 9 APRIL 1945 WITH AN UNKNOWN UNIT. ON 13 MAY 1945 S/SGT ARMENTROUT ARRIVED BACK IN THE STATES AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 2539TH AAF BASE UNIT AT FOSTER FIELD, TEXAS WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL DISCHARGED ON 10 OCTOBER1945. HANSEL ARMENTROUT WAS KILLED IN A AIR PLANE ACCIDENT ALONG WIH HIS BROTHER, JOHN HARRISON ARMENTROUT ON 4 NOVEMBER 1956 NEAR WILKSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. HANSEL WAS LAID TO REST AT THE PARSONS CEMETERY IN PARSONS, WV
Description (New Guinea Campaign 24 January 1943 to 31 December 1944) After the loss of Buna and Gona in New Guinea, the Japanese fell back on their stronghold at Lae. Their attempt to reinforce Lae by sea in March 1943 met with disaster when American and Australian planes sank most of the convoy in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Salamaua and Lae then became the objectives for an Allied advance along the northern coast of New Guinea. Fifth Air Force bombers attacked airfields at Wewak, 300 miles west of Lae, to neutralize them. The Allies dropped paratroops at Nadzab, just beyond Lae. Enemy resistance at Salamaua broke on 14 September 1943; Lae fell two days later. In the months that followed, MacArthur’s forces pushed westward, capturing some Japanese strongholds and bypassing others. After taking Hollandia in April 1944, the Allies attacked islands off the northern coast of New Guinea, taking Wakde and Biak in May, Owi in June, and Noemfoor in July. Sansapor on New Guinea also was gained in July. Aerial attacks on the Philippines began in August, and Morotai was seized in October to provide air bases for the invasion of the Philippines. Allied planes also bombed the oil center at Balikpapan and other targets in Borneo and Celebes.