Nickolas* C. Rosher Jr. was born October 30, 1919 in Oneonta, NY to Nickolas Rosher (aka Nickolas Vose)(1885-1952) and Margaret Pizza (1884-1970). Both his parents were from Italy and they were married in Oneonta, NY on June 4, 1910 (or 1909). His dad worked for the D&H Railroad in Oneonta. The 1920 U.S. Census recorded the family living on Wells Ave., Oneonta, NY. By 1930 the U.S. Census recorded the family at 8 Liberty St., Oneonta, NY. Nicholas was the 5th of six children. Barbara, Michael, Frank and Anthony were all older and Madeline was younger.

The 1934 Oneonta City Directory recorded Nickolas also working for the D&H Railroad. He graduated from Oneonta High School in 1939 where he was known as "Nick", was on The Echo (student newspaper) staff and played baseball. The quote with his senior picture was telling. "Life is not so short but there is time for courtesy." He joined the New York National Guard on August 16, 1940 and on October 15, 1940 when the guard was federalized he became a member of  Company G, of the 106th Infantry Regiment. Nick was one of four brothers that all served in WWII.  

For its service in World War II, the 106th Regiment had 12 companies, all initially recruited from the communities of upstate New York. The entire first battalion companies A, B, C, and D was recruited from Albany. Companies E and H were recruited from Binghamton. Companies F, G, I, and K were recruited from Walton, Oneonta, Mohawk, and Oneida respectively and companies L and M were formed in Utica. Additional Regimental troops were drawn from Catskill, Hudson, and Rome.

The 106th Regiment was inducted into federal service on October 15, 1940 and moved to Fort McCllelan, Alabama on the 23rd, a week later. The Regiment departed for Hawaii on March 10, 1942 and arrived there on March 15, 1942. Nick was promoted to Sgt. while in Hawaii. The Regiment was designated as a floating reserve for the projected Marshall Islands operations and on December 14, 1943 it was attached to the V Amphibious Corp. for training. The Regiment’s 2nd battalion occupied Majuro Atoll on February 1, 1944, expecting to encounter strong resistance, but instead finding that the Japanese had withdrawn their troops, months earlier. The battalion remained there until March 5, 1944 when it was sent back to Hawaii.

The remainder of the Regiment was sent to assault Eniwetok Island, which was the eastern most of the Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands, and within bomber range of the Japanese stronghold at Truk. The assault commenced on February 19th 1944 as the 1st battalion of the 106th, preceded by amphibious tractors, splashed ashore with little opposition. The possession of the little island was hotly contested and the 3rd battalion of the 106th in addition to the 22nd Marine Regiment was sent in to reinforce the 1st battalion. Fighting went on until the 21st of February when the Japanese garrison succumbed and the 106th returned to Hawaii on April 13, 1944 for rest and preparation for the Saipan offensive. The men were now battled tested.

The Regiment landed on Saipan on June 20, 1944, several days after the rest of the Division. The 106th was heavily involved in the fighting for Saipan’s dominant terrain feature; a 1,554-foot mountain called Mount Tapotchau. The 106th initially fought along a ridgeline near the mountain’s base and in an open valley at the base of the ridgeline, two terrain features that were grimly dubbed Purple Heart Ridge and Death Valley. Later in the fight, following the reduction of most of the Japanese defenses and the failure of their Banzai charge, the 106th was instrumental in repelling the second and final Japanese counterattack. The battle for Saipan amounted to 786 officers and 13,438 enlisted men killed, wounded or missing in action.

S/Sgt. Rosher is killed on Saipan, June 24 or 25 and buried in the Army Cemetery #1 there, Plot 2, Row 2, Grave 445. Later, at the wishes of his family, S/Sgt. Rosher's remains are returned home to Oneonta and buried with full military honors in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Oneonta, NY.

*Author's Note: In various records Nick was sometimes referred to as Nicholas and other times Nickolas.  He also used Jr. at times. This resulted in some confusion locating his remains and contacting his next of kin.  I did not attempt to correct any of this in the documents.  

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

1934 Oneonta City Directory, The Oneonta Chamber of Commerce, 248 Main St., Oneonta, NY, pg. 109.

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35710531/nicholas-c-rosher, accessed January 25, 2023.

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235986047/nicholas-rosher, accessed January 25, 2023.

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235986082/margaret-rosher, accessed January 25, 2023.

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Rosher, Nicholas C. Jr, Service Number 20270351, File number 293, U.S. Army, Record Group 319, National Archives at St. Louis.

Moore, Edwin, WWII Scapbook Series, Huntington Memorial Library, Oneonta, NY.

National Archives at Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID: A1, 2110-C; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General

New York National Guard enlisted men and noncommissioned officers activated for federal service during World War II. New York (State). National Guard. Infantry Division, 27th United States, Army. Infantry. New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, Saratoga Springs, New York.

New York State Museum, History of the 106th Infantry Regiment

https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/unit-history/conflict/world-war-2-1939-1945/106th-infantry-regiment, accessed June 27, 2022.

Oneonta High School’s Student Newspaper. The Echo, Oneonta Historical Society, Main St. Oneonta, NY, June 2022.

"Nicholas Rosher Dies in Oneonta", Press and Sun Bulletin, Binghamton, NY, May 22, 1952, pg. 2

Obituary for Margaret Rosher, The Oneonta Star, March 14, 1970, pg. 7

Year: 1920; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: T625_1255; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 209

Year: 1930; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 2341370

Wikipedia, 106th Infantry Regiment, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/106th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)#:~:text=The%20106th%20Infantry%20Regiment%20is%20an%20infantry%20regiment,independently%20and%20as%20parts%20of%20larger%20divisions.%20Contents, accessed June 27, 2022.

Supporting Files