Earle Richard Sutliff was born on June 26, 1920 in Korthright[sic], NY to Charles Sutliff and Mary K. Schermerhorn (1897-1981).  His parents married on June 16, 1915 in Delaware County, NY.  Otsego County marriage records indicate that his mom remarries in May 1925 to George Merwin Lane.  The 1930 U.S. Census recorded that he and his sister Hazel lived at the Upstate Home for Children in Milford, NY. Census records indicate he also had a brother Charles (1917-1998). In 1936 he was a freshmen (9th grade) at the Delaware Academy in Delhi, NY. The 1940 U.S. Census recorded that he had two years of high school education and that he was employed as a truck driver delivering coal.

On July 1, 1944 his unit landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. From there they saw action near Hautes Vents, France, then crossed the river Seine on August 26th, reaching Eschweiler, Germany, by mid September. There they fought along the West Wall of the Siegfried Line until mid-December when they were tranferred to the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) in January 1945. By late January his unit got some rest in Belgium then moved back into action in Germany. In early March they are near Roggendorf, Germany. The Operational Report for the 703rd Tank Destroyer's for March 1-31, 1945, pgs 7-8 detailed how Tec4 Sutliff is killed on March 4, 1945.  

"At 1215 hours the task force moved against the enemy at ROGGENDORF, the task force ran into strong anti-tank artillery fire and small arms fire. Sgt. Gore's TD (Tank destroyer?) of 3rd Plat was hit in the suspension system as he moved cross country onto the town. Sgt. Gore fired three (3) rounds of AP? at enemy tank firing on the task force. His TD was hit the second time, by two (2) rounds of enemy AT fire, killing Cpl. Janowicz, T/4 Sutliff, Pfc Hall and Pvt Shields."

Tec4 Sutliff was buried in the Henri Chapelle Cemetery, Belgium, Plot ZZZ, Row 4, Grave 71. In June 1948 his body is returned home to Fort Edward Station, NY per his mother's wishes and laid to rest in Union Cemetery there.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com. 

Sources

703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion web site, https://www.tankdestroyer.net/units/battalions700s/265-703rd-tank-destroyer-battalion, accessed January 14, 2023.

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142413627/earl-r-sutliff, accessed on January 14, 2023.

Fold3, (https://www.fold3.com/publication/1088/us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954 :accessed January 12, 2023), database and

images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/1088/us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

Fold3, (https://www.fold3.com/publication/831/wwii-army-enlistment-records :accessed January 12, 2023), database and

images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/831/wwii-army-enlistment-records

Individual Deceased Personnel File 293 Sutliff, Earl R. 32233924 T/4 Germany.

March 1-31, 1945 Operational Reports, from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index

Memorial Service, Press and Sun-Bulletin, March 30, 1945, pg. 1

"U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; Year: 1936

Year: 1930; Census Place: Milford, Otsego, New York; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 2341370

Supporting Files