Rome, NY WWII Fallen

PVT CHARLES H. GRUBY

U.S. ARMY #32942480

91st Infantry Division, 361st Infantry Regiment

Charles Henry Gruby was born April 22, 1925, in Ilion, Herkimer County, New York, to Carlton, Sr. (1877-1951) and Cora Mae Fish (1896-1949) Gruby. Carlton was born in Cooperstown, New York. He worked as a mason. Cora was born in Gloversville, New York, and married Carlton on July 16, 1913, in St. Johnsville, New York.

Charles was the fifth of nine children: Frederick W. (1914-1982), Harvey Cline (1915-1984), Carlton, Jr. (1917-1981), Clarence Otto (1919-1982), Charles Henry (1925-1944), Howard Cline (1927-2007), John L. (1929-1998), Helena “Helen” Sipley (1931-2019), and Alice Baird Donovan (1935-1996).

Carlton, Sr. was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He served as a corporal in Company A of the 42nd Regiment in the Volunteer Infantry. Five of the Gruby sons were in military service during World War II. Charles, Clarence, Harvey, and Carlton, Jr. were in the U.S. Army and Howard was in the Merchant Marines. SSgt. Clarence Gruby had fifty missions as a ball turret gunner on a Flying Fortress in Europe and was awarded the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster for meritorious service. Sgt. Harvey Gruby served in cavalry reconnaissance in Africa. Cpl. Carlton Gruby, Jr., served in France, and Charles served in Africa and Italy.

Charles attended Barringer School and Junior High School in Rome, New York.

Charles registered for the draft on April 22, 1943, his 18th birthday, in Rome, Oneida County, New York. He was 5’ 7 ½” tall, weighed 148 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes. His home address was his parents’ address at 104 Atkinson Avenue, Rome, New York. Charles worked for New England Box and Lumber Company in Rome. Charles enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 28, 1943, in Utica, New York. He was stationed in Oregon, in an infantry camp prior to going overseas in early 1944.

According to a 91st Infantry Division website, https://www.armydivs.com/91st-infantry-division, the 91st was activated August 15, 1942. Training and embarkation sites included Camp White, Oregon (Aug 42-Aug 43), Bend Maneuver Area, Oregon (Sep 43-Oct 43), Camp Adair, Oregon (Nov 43-Mar 44), Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia (Mar 44-Apr 44), and Oran, Algeria (Apr 18, 1944 to May 10, 1944). The 361st moved to Naples, Italy, on May 27, 1944, and then to Anzio on June 1, 1944.

From July 24, to September 12, 1944, the 91st held their positions along the Arno while they underwent extensive training. On the 13th, the (91st) Division attacked the Gothic Line, took Monticelli, 18 September, and advanced to the Santerno River through stubborn resistance, 23 September. Moving through rocky escarpments and other natural barriers as well as heavy opposition, the 91st occupied Livergnano, 13 October.

Pvt. Charles Gruby was killed in action on October 10, 1944, at Livergnano, Italy. On November 2, 1944, his parents received a telegram from the War Department stating Pvt. Gruby was “Missing in Action” since October 10, 1944. In February, 1945, Carlton and Cora Gruby were informed of the death of Pvt. Charles Gruby on October 10, 1944, somewhere in Italy. He was 19 years old and the 55th Roman to give his life in World War II.

Pvt. Charles Gruby was buried at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Florence, Citta Metropolitana de Firenze, Toscana, Italy, Plot F, Row 9, Grave 15.

Pvt. Gruby was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome Medal of Honor from Rome, New York. A monument was erected near Livergnano, Italy, that pays tribute to the fallen of the 91st Infantry Division and 361st Infantry Regiment. A historical marker is in place at Camp Adair, Oregon, marking where the 91st Infantry Division trained prior to overseas duty.

Pvt. Gruby is listed on the World War II Honor List of Dead from New York, and on the WWII List of Fallen at Fold3.com.

Cora Gruby died March 2, 1949, at their home in Rome, New York. Carlton Gruby, Sr., died unexpectedly on May 30, 1951, also at home. Both are buried in the Floyd Cemetery, Floyd, Oneida County, New York.

Endnotes: This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project, a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3 web sites. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact hillerson@beyondbb.com.

Resources:

FindAGrave:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56363909/charles-h-gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13099339/carlton_gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13099343/cora_mae_gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15677943/frederick_w_gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20658992/harvey_cline_gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13099340/carlton_gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175389760/clarence-otto-gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236926979/howard-cline-gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13099345/john_l_gruby

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199649383/helena_sipley