Thatcher, Delbert R. Jr.

DELBERT RENOLD THATCHER Jr.

PRIVATE
U.S. ARMY

Delbert Renold Thatcher Jr. was born on May 16th, 1923 in Spencerville Ohio. He is the son of Delbert Thatcher and Catharine (Banning) Thatcher. Delbert Jr’s father, Delbert Sr. worked at Yost Construction Company in Decatur Indiana. Delbert’s mother, Catharine was a stay-at-home mom who helped raise their 14 children. Delbert had five brothers (Preston, Alvin, Joseph, Eugene, and Monte), and eight sisters (Bonita, Wanita, Rose, Virgie, Mary, Marjorle, Virginia, and Darlene). By 1940, the family moved to a farmhouse on Fredline Road in St. Mary’s township near Pleasant Mills. As a teenager, Delbert would work alongside his dad at Yost Construction Company in Decatur. Delbert also had a job as a farmhand on the family farm.

In his teenage years, Delbert would attend Pleasant Mills High school for 3 years before joining the army. While he was at high school, the Pleasant Mills basketball team became county champions during the 1939-1940 season. After 3 years of schooling, Delbert quit to join the United States Army.

After leaving Pleasant Mills High School, Delbert Jr. volunteered for enlistment in the United States Army on August 26, 1943, in Toledo, Ohio. After enlisting, Delbert was assigned to the enlisted reserve corps with the serial number of 35227364. After being transferred to the reserve corps, Delbert entered service on September 16, 1943. Once he entered service, he was assigned to Co. F, 329th Infantry, 83rd Division, and sent to several training camps including Fort Harrison Indiana, Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi; and Camp Breckinridge Kentucky. At these camps, Delbert learned how to be an infantryman in the United States Army.

After his training, Delbert was sent overseas in April 1944. His division, the 83rd “Thunderbolt” Infantry Division, landed on Omaha Beach on June 18, 1944. After Delbert arrived in Normandy, France, he and his company fought near Carentan, and they saw action in the battle of Saint-Lô. The battle, which started on July 9 was part of Operation Overlord. “Operation Overlord” was the codename given for the Battle of Normandy. This battle lasted from June 6th 1944- August 30th 1944. The main point of the battle was to breach Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall”, and establish a point in mainland Europe to launch attacks against Germany. While in Normandy, a Life Magazine photographer captured an image of a resting Pvt. Thatcher with other wounded soldiers on Omaha Beach (photo left).

The battle of Saint-Lô was an important crossroad for the allies because all major roads ran through this town. During the battle, 95% of the town was destroyed due to bombardment. The 83rd Infantry Division was part of the VII Corps commanded by General Courtney Hodges. On July 9, 1944, Delbert’s division saw violent fighting near Périers, France. Eventually, the 83rd Division pushed past Périers, and took the town of St. Eny. On July 24th, 1944, the allies, and Delbert’s division captured the town of Saint-Lô.  After fighting at Saint-Lô, the 83rd Division went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. Soon after the battle, the 83rd Division crossed the Rhine River, and captured the town of Halle. Later, on April 11, 1945, the “Thunderbolt” division liberated the Langenstein concentration camp. After encountering the camp, the 83rd gathered medical supplies and food for the prisoners. 

On July 9, 1944, Delbert Renold Thatcher Jr. was killed in action in Normandy, France. Delbert was interred temporarily at Ste. Mere Eglise, France. However, at the request of his family, his remains were returned to the United States on August 31, 1948. Delbert Thatcher is now interred in the Willshire Cemetery, Willshire Ohio.

For his service and sacrifice, Private Thatcher earned the Purple Heart, American Theatre Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. Private Thatcher also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Information researched and collected by Carson Howk, 2017. 

SOURCES

American Legion Post No468, and Berne & Community Business Men, comps. Service     Record: World War I and II - Book of Men and Women of Berne, Indiana and Community. Marceline: Walsworth Brothers, n.d. Print.

Employees of the Decatur Daily Democrat, comp. Veterans of the Bi-State Area.   Marceline: D-Books Publishing Inc., 2010. Print.

Indiana Historical Bureau, comp. Gold Star Honor Roll: Adams County. Bloomington: Indiana War History Commission, 1949. Print. Vol. 1 of Indiana in World War II.

Ravelings Yearbook Staff, ed. Ravelings Yearbook. Decatur, IN: Decatur High School, 1944. Print.

Yearbook Staff, ed. 1936 Yearbook. Decatur, IN: Decatur Catholic High School, 1937. Print.

83rd Infantry Division Documents. 23 Nov. 2016, 83rdinfdivdocs.org/. Accessed 27
      Nov. 2017.

Ancestry K12. 1997, www.ancestryclassroom.com/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

"Search Page." Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, 2010,
      www.genealogycenter.org/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

"Search Results." Fold3, Ancestry, 2017, www.fold3.com/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

Greenfield, Kent Roberts, editor. United States Army in World War II. Atlanta,
      GA, Whitman.

"Pvt. Delbert R. Thatcher Jr. Killed in Action in France." Decatur Daily
      Democrat, Decatur, 1944.

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