SBTS Side Projects - 3.1. 2026

Lorraine American Cemetery - Saint-Avold, France - the largest American WWII cemetery in Europe.

HELP WANTED to write stories!!

• 70^th Infantry Division “Trailblazers” – 887 casualties from 48 states, 135 completed stories. 3 states completed – AK, PA & RI.  Submitted by Betsy Brannon Mills. 

  
  

• Arisan Maru –1,670  casualties from 47 states, 745 stories/45% completed. These were American POW’s aboard this Japanese hell ship, sunk 10/24/1944.  Contact Rona Simmons at rona_simmons@bellsouth.net

  
  

• Battle of Tarawa from 11/20 thru 11/23/1943 – 1,022 casualties, submitted by John Haskins stories completed for 986 or 96.5%.  A google sheet is available.  Need help to complete the last 36 stories - 16 KY, 8 LA, 1 NY, 10 VA and 1 WA.  Contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org

  
  

• Overloon, Netherlands, Units of the 7th Armored Division in battle for the town from 9/28-10/8/1944.  131 Americans killed, stories completed for 19.  SBTS is partnering with Oscar Huisman from Overloon.  77 IDPF’s are available, along with other information, including daily battles.  Submitted by Jack Oberholtzer.  Jack will be the lead on this project and will work with both the writer and Oscar.  Stories needed from AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, RI, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV.  New project started 2/22/2026.  Contact Jack at jeoberho@comcast.net. 

  
  

• Typhoon Cobra, 3 ships lost in a storm on 12/18/1944 – USS Hull, USS Monaghan and the USS Spence.  769 total casualties from all ships, stories competed for 414 or 53.8%, 13 states are complete.  Submitted by Wilma Dempsey and Sheree Dowdle.  Donna Fluegel has taken the lead.  A google sheet is available with all men and their home states identified.  Stories needed for AR, CA, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.  Contact Donna at donnabf@aol.com .

HELP WANTED to lead a project and/or write stories!!

• 180^th Infantry Regiment, 45^th Infantry Division – google sheet has been started with 1,266 names/ranks only.  Stories completed for 56.  Submitted by Pam Broviak. Help is wanted to write stories.

• 328^th Infantry Regiment, 26^th Infantry Division – multiple companies in this unit that landed on Normandy September 1944 until VE day 5/8/1945. 554 losses, stories completed for 81.  Submitted by Karl Wheatley.  A google sheet is available with a summary of losses per state.  States completed are AL, CO, MD, PA & WY.

  
  

• 503^rd Parachute Infantry Regiment – this includes the 503 PIR, 161 Parachute Engineering Co and the 462 Parachute Artillery Battalion.  406 losses, stories completed for 42.  Submitted by Cindy Cicco.  This was her father’s unit.  A google sheet is available.  States completed are AL, CO, MT, UT & WY 

  
  

• Liberation of Vexin, France – Memorial in France for American losses 8/18 – 8/30/1944.  236 losses, stories completed for 47.  States completed - AL, AZ, ME, MT, PA, SD & WY.  A google sheet is available with a summary of losses per state.

• Merchant Mariners, 469 ships identified so far with about 9,500 losses.  A google sheet is available, states are identified for 69%, 652 stories completed. Losses from every state.  Submitted by Kathy Harmon.  Note, the state sheets probably don’t have most of these men.  PA shows a total of 478 Mariners and about 450 were missing from the PA state sheet.  This is a huge project to sort out if someone wants a real challenge!  Another idea…names of those lost have been identified/verified for 409 of the ships at this point.  Of those, 369 ships need stories to complete a ship. These range anywhere from 1 to 123 men per ship.  Would be a nice project if someone would like to work per ship.

  
  

• USS Savannah CL-42, ship was attacked 9/11/1943 that caused damage – 205 casualties from 36 states, 33 stories completed. A sheet has been created & verified using the Report of Changes for this ship on 9/30/1943 that lists each person that was missing and/or died. Stories completed for AL, PA & UT.

• If you can help with any of these projects, please reach out to Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org . 

  
  

IN PROCESS 

• 3^rd Marine Division – identified 2,150 casualties, stories completed for 59.  Submitted by Gene Major.  This unit was selected because Gene’s uncle was a veteran of this unit which mainly fought at Bougainville, Guam & Iwo Jima.  Also includes Marines lost in the sinking of the USS McKean on 11/17/1943.  A google sheet is available.

  
  

• 9th Infantry Division - new project 1/4/26, in process, currently 570 losses identified, stories completed for 3.  Submitted by William Vincent. A google sheet is available.

  
  

• 82^nd Airborne, 507 PIR – about 605 casualties, stories completed for 391. Submitted by and being written by Eric Malinowski.

  
  

• 82^nd Airborne, 505 PIR – 358 casualties, stories completed for 285. Submitted by and being written by Joanne King.

  
  

• 103^rd Infantry Division – 846 casualties, stories completed for 22.  The main focus is on Company B, 411^th Infantry Regiment. Submitted by Terry Toohig.  A google sheet is available for various regiments of this division, home states are identified. Also on the sheet are names for 38 men from the 614th Tank  Destroyers (an African-American unit), stories completed for 3.

  
  

• 325th Fighter Group – 110 casualties, stories completed for 109.  Submitted by John Mier.

  
  

• American Brewing Industry – about 73 casualties, 59 completed stories for members of this industry whose deaths were noted in the industry trade journals, submitted by Greg Casey. 

• Army Firefighters killed in the war. New project 1/19/26. Identified 63 losses, stories completed for 3.  Submitted by Allen Ward.  A google sheet is available. 

  
  

• Battle of Coral Sea - those lost from the USS Lexington, USS Neosho & USS Sims.  This new project started in December 2025. 539 killed, stories completed for 270.  

• Fort Gibson National Cemetery - Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.  495 burials, stories completed for 12. Submitted by Linda Simpson. 

• Glider Pilots - new project.  379 losses identified, stories completed for 37. States completed AL, CO, MT, OK, UT & WY.  Submitted by Doria Owen.

• Grafton National Cemetery in West Virginia – 284 burials from 15 states, 50 completed stories.  Submitted by Jessica Batten.

• MA Nautical School/MA Maritime Academy with focus on the casualties from these locations, submitted by Matthew Sargent.  64 casualties.   

• Merchant Marine Reserve Officers in the Navy that died either mobilized or while serving in the Merchant Marines, submitted by Matthew Sargent.  145 casualties. 

• Military Police - new project, 402 losses identified, stories completed for 113.  States completed - AL, CO, MT, NV, OK & UT.  Submitted by Doria Owen.

• P-38 aircrafts - 233 losses, stories completed for 209.  Submitted by John & Keene Melde.  

  
  

• Pharmacists – focus on those men that were pharmacists or student pharmacists before entering the service. Note, most were assigned other duties in the service. 172 identified, 67 stories completed.  Submitted by Dennis Worthen. Dennis is working on all the stories.

  
  

• SS John Harvey - Merchant ship with 67 losses including Mariners and Navy men.  This new project started 1/24/26.  Stories completed for 5. Submitted by Linda Simpson.

• Taffy 3 – during the Battle off Samar, 13 US ships were involved.  Of those, 5 were sunk and 4 had damages with casualties.  1,161 total losses.  Submitted by Jeff Vessenmeyer. Scott Cole has taken the lead on this.  

  
  

• USS Gambier Bay - looking for help to write stories for this ship.  139 losses have been identified from the Gambier Bay, with stories completed for 26.

• US Submarine Crews – 52 subs lost, 48 subs with casualties.  Total 3,698 casualties and stories completed for 2,442 men. A google sheet is available for these subs, men lost and home states. Submitted by Loren Plisco, Susan Gould and Bob Joice.

• USS Franklin – attacked by a Japanese dive bomber on 3/19/1945. The ship survived, but 724 crew members were killed.  Stories completed for 265.  Submitted and led by John Avis.  

• USS Houston - new project.  745 losses, stories completed for 151. Submitted by Chris Moyer. 

  
  

• USS Leopold DE-319 - new project, 168 losses, stories completed for 21. Submitted by Linda Simpson

• USS Menges DE-320  - new project, 32 losses, stories completed for 5. Submitted by Linda Simpson.

• USS Mount Hood – ammunition explosion 11/10/1944 resulting in 375 losses, stories completed for 63. Submitted by Kim Hardaway. Brian Welhoelter has taken the lead.

• Yorktown Crew Losses - New project 2/8/26. Identified 176 losses.  Submitted by Bill Donaldson.

HELP WANTED for European Cemeteries 

• Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France – 1,087 WWII burials/memorials, stories completed for 293.  States completed - AL, CO, DE, MT, PA & WY.

• Brittany American Cemetery in St James, France, has 4,809 burials, stories completed for 821.  States completed – AL, AK, CO, MT, PA & WY. 

  
  

• Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium, with 4,988 burials, stories completed for 367.  States completed – AL, AK, CO, MT, NV, UT & WY.  FOH Cemetery Submitted and being led by Sheree Dowdle.  If you would like to help with this cemetery, please contact her at sdowdle@storiesbehindthestars.org 

• Luxembourg Cemetery in Luxembourg with 5,340 burials.  Stories completed for 357.  States completed - AL, AK, CO & WY.  This is an FOH cemetery. If you would like to help with this cemetery, please contact her at sdowdle@storiesbehindthestars.org 

. 

• Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy with 5,580 burials, stories completed for 335.  States completed - CO & MT.

• Epinal Cemetery in France with 5,605 burials, stories completed for 280. States completed - AL, AK, CO & MT. FOH cemetery. If you would like to help with this cemetery, please contact her at sdowdle@storiesbehindthestars.org

. 

• Cambridge American Cemetery – 8,901 burials, stories completed for 1,171. State completed - AL, AK, CO, MT & WY.   Amanda Cockcroft has taken the lead on this project.

• Henri-Chapelle in Belgium with 8,335 burials, stories completed for 740.  States completed – AK, CO, HI, NV & WY.  FOH Cemetery Submitted and being led by Sheree Dowdle.  If you would like to help with this cemetery, please contact her at sdowdle@storiesbehindthestars.org

. 

• Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands – total 9,920 burials/cenotaphs, stories completed for 3,342. States completed - AL, AK, AZ, CO, KY, ME, MS, MT, NV, PA, SD & WY.  FOH Cemetery Submitted and being led by Sheree Dowdle.  If you would like to help with this cemetery, please contact her at sdowdle@storiesbehindthestars.org 

. 

• Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy with 10,452 burials, stories completed for 237.  States completed - CO & MT.

• Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France with 10,631 burials, stories completed for 259.  States completed - AK, CO & MT.  

• Lorraine American Cemetery in St Avold, France with 10,767 burials, stories completed for 285. States completed - AK & CO.  FOH Cemetery. If you would like to help with this cemetery, please contact her at sdowdle@storiesbehindthestars.org 

. 

• Note - Google sheets have been started for each cemetery that includes service info and home states.

• Help is needed to write stories and/or lead many of these cemetery projects.  Contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org  for more information.  

STATE SPECIFIC  

• Utah – state with 2,100 fallen. Recently discovered 146 stories not completed.  Looking for any help to finish this state.

  
  

RECENTLY COMPLETED  

• Exercise Tiger – live dress rehearsal for D-Day on 4/28/1944, 4 damaged and/or sunk ships, 637 losses from 42 states. Submitted by Jack Oberholtzer.  Paul Albert was the lead on this project!

• Marietta National Cemetery, Georgia – 360 casualties from 23 states.  Submitted by Loren Pilsco.  

• Marines lost during the Battle of Wake Island – 63 losses.  These men either died on the island or were captured and died later in POW camps.  Submitted by Bob Fuerst.

• SS Cherokee - a Merchant ship with 65 losses.  Submitted by Jack Chisum.

• USS Mullany & B-24 “The Madam” - 2 mini projects with 34 losses.  Submitted by Jon Miller

• Women casualties to include all women lost in the wartime – 571 casualties, stories completed.  Stories are now being reviewed before marking this 100% complete. Once this process is completed, this project will be shared with state directors. 

• INTERESTING FACTS - to date, various completed projects that have been tracked, totals 22,748 completed stories!

IDEAS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS –

• 30^th Infantry Division – various units, appears to be all deaths in Europe.  Total 3,842 losses identified from 19 units. A google sheet is available, states have not been identified.  Submitted by Sheree Dowdle.

  
  

• SS Elihu Thomson – ship struck a mine 9/26/1944, killing 32 men.  Of those 32, 20 were from the 133 Military Police Platoon. Submitted by John Turanin. No sheet has been started.

• USS Escanaba - new project.  Identified 101 losses, stories completed for 7.  Google sheet is available. Submitted by Linda Simpson.

• USS Juneau – torpedoed by enemy 11/13/1942, 683 casualties, including the 5 Sullivan brothers.  A google sheet has been started with just a list of names.

• USS Leary DD-158 – 97 men lost after U-boat attack on 12/24/1943. A google sheet has been started with names, states, rank.  Stories completed for at least 19.  Submitted by Sheree Dowdle.

• USS Turner DD-648 – 138 men lost 1/3/1944 after internal explosions on the ship.  A google sheet has been started with names, states, rank.  Stories completed for at least 21.  Submitted by Sheree Dowdle.

  
  

• USS Whitehurst – ship attacked by suicide bomber on 4/2/1945. 42 losses out of the crew of 213, the ship survived.  No list has been started. Submitted by Connie Breckenridge.

• West Loch Disaster – 6 LST ships loading/unloading at Pearl Harbor 5/21/1944, sparked an explosion causing a fire that lasted 24 hours. Death toll was 163, we have identified 97 of those, stories are completed for 20.  Submitted by Sheree Dowdle. A google sheet is available to include name, branch, SN, rank, state and ship.

  
  

Request/Notes– Please read!

Our goal is to have all project files stored in one location. With that said, we are requiring that each project be set up and maintained on an SBTS google sheet.  There are multiple reasons for this - 

1. As we send out project updates, it takes only a quick look on each project sheet for current updates.

2. If the person leading this project stops for an unexpected reason, the data is still available for another person to jump in.

3. Once each project is complete, the information is passed to all state directors so they can update their state data sheets. This helps each state director better track their state and also prevents them from assigning out already completed fallen names. This change has now become mandatory.

If you don’t have a google sheet already set up for your project, Kathy can help get you started. Please reach out to her at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org