During World War II, C.O. Dennis F. Blalock served with Fox Corps, 141st Infantry, 36th Division, U.S. Army (T-Patchers). Here is a glimpse into one mission during his service.

In late April 1945, Fox Corps, under the command of Dennis F. Blalock, moved forward to attack a Nazi battalion command post that was guarding a Kaufering subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp system at or near Hurlach, France (near Landsberg).

Instructions for the mission were as follows (translated from the tactical notes of C.O. Dennis F. Blalock): Move light and fast. Bring no kitchens, 2 blankets, 1 munitions BAR, wools, and carry fatigues. Deploy at 8 o'clock with three trucks and no lights. Keep guns out. Objective is to overtake a Nazi battalion command post (Bn CP) guarding 800 Jewish prisoners.

At this point in the war, the BAR usually referred to an individual weapon rather than a team. The Browning could be carried and operated by one soldier, so they weren't using the designated "gunner, spotter, loader" plan or working like a .30 Browning LMG team. This allowed all men to fire as needed and didn't load any soldier down with excessive magazines as supply for the other soldiers (i.e., faster and more flexible movement). There were no spare barrels to carry and the gun didn't need a tripod; however, this plan left no backup to supply more munitions to soldiers who had expended their supply and also did not provide for spotters.

Their mission was successful and they liberated approximately 800 Jewish prisoners. After overtaking the enemy, the troops began administering aid to the freed prisoners, many of whom were diminished to almost skeletal form. The swastika that flew overhead was torn down and the American flag was raised. At full strength, Fox Corps would have included about 150 men. The platoon members that initially entered the stronghold with C.O. Dennis F. Blalock had the privilege of signing the captured battle flag. A photo of these signatures appears in the Gallery on this memorial. Biographical information about these individuals is included below. If you recognize one of these men and can provide further information, please let us know!

NAMES ON SWASTIKA – Fox Corps, 141st Infantry, 36th Division (in order of signatures)

-- CO 1st Lt Dennis F. Blalock – Born 22 Dec 1917. From Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Enlisted 9 Jul 1941. Single. College Student. Commanded H Company during Rapido River. Transferred to F Company in Feb 1944**. **Served in U.S. Army Reserve for another twenty years, retiring as a Colonel. Died 24 Sep 1995 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Buried at Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, Louisiana. **Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart +2 OL clusters, 5 Batle Stars.**

-- Sgt Mario Anthony Carfi – Born 4 Aug 1924. Entered service from Bronx, New York. Enlisted 27 Feb 1943. Single with dependents. 2 years of high school. Semiskilled painters, construction and maintenance. Discharged 19 Nov 1945. Died 17 Apr 1997 in Red Bank, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Buried at Shoreland Memorial Gardens in Hazlet, New Jersey.

-- PFC Harold C. Wright – Born 23 Aug 1915. Entered service from St. Francois County, Missouri. Enlisted 18 Apr 1944. Married. 2 years of college. Semiskilled Aircraft Construction. Joined F Company in Nov 1944. Died 20 Feb 1998 in St. Louis, Missouri. Buried at Hillview Memorial Gardens in Farmington, Missouri.

-- PFC Robert Harry Bruce – Born 12 Apr 1924. Enlisted 20 Apr 1944. Entered service from Pennsylvania. Married. High school graduate. Insurance Salesman. Joined F Company in Apr 1944. Continued to serve in Korea, reaching rank of Captain. Died 4 Feb 1972. Buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, California. **Bronze Star.**

-- PFC Denzil Ray "Denzie" Fitzgerald – Born 1 Dec 1918. Entered service from Upshur County, West Virginia. Enlisted 4 Jun 1941. Single. Grammar school. Farm hand, general farms. Sustained injury in the line of duty from artillery shell and was admitted to hospital in May 1944 (blast effects, sacroiliac joint); discharged from hospital in Jul 1944. Left F Company on 6 Aug 1945. Died 24 Apr 1946 in auto accident between Buckhammon and Lorentz, West Virginia. Buried at Canaan Cemetery in Canaan, West Virginia.

-- PFC Frankie Lee Whitney – Born 29 Aug 1912. Entered service from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Enlisted in Evansville, Indiana, 25 Oct 1943. Married. Grammar school. Semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor Joined F Company in Jun 1944. Died 13 Aug 1992 and buried at Louisville Memorial Gardens in Louisville, Kentucky.

-- PFC Royden Victor Wagner Jr. – Born 18 Mar 1923. Entered service from Oregon. Joined F Company in Jun 1944. Died 14 Dec 1990 in Centralia, Washington. Buried at Grand Mound Cemetery in Rochester, Washington.

-- PFC Woodsie Charles Gibbs – Born 10 Mar 1924. Entered service from Lilly, Wisconsin. Listed as LWA with F Company at Rapido River, 16 Jan 1944. Died 6 Jul 1999 in Lebanon, Oregon. Cremated and ashes returned to family. **Purple Heart.**

-- PFC Henry Arthur Whitman – Born 25 Apr 1921. Entered service from Pierce County, Washington. Enlisted 18 Nov 1943. Single. High School graduate. Sales Clerk. Joined F Company in Oct 1944. Died 30 Apr 2003 in Puyallup, Washington. Buried at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood, Washington.

-- PFC John George Mehalo – Born 16 Sep 1924. Entered service from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Enlisted 4 May 1943. High School graduate. Single. Joined F Company in Dec 1943 (same day as Mowen). Died 25 Feb 2007 and buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. **Bronze Star.**

-- Sgt Tech. William C. "Willie" Henderson – Born 6 Apr 1922. Entered service from Caldwell County, Texas. Enlisted 25 Nov 1940 (National Guard). Single. 1 year of High School. Sales Clerk. Left F Company 19 May 1945. Died 2 Feb 1996 and buried at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

-- S Sgt Fred Albert "Sea Gull" Ayers – Born 28 Jan 1914. Entered service from Bexar County, Texas. Enlisted 25 Nov 1940 (National Guard).Single. 3 years of High School. Kitchen Worker. Died 25 May 1997 and buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. **Sllver Star, Purple Heart.**

-- PFC Theron Herold Turner – Born 3 Feb 1920. Entered service from Massachusetts. Joined F Company in Nov 1944. Died 16 Aug 2000 and buried at Deerlick Cemetery in Waynesville, Missouri.

-- T/5 Herman Slay – Born 1 Apr 1916. Entered service from Ellis County, Texas. Enlisted 17 Jan 1941. Grammar School, no High School. Single. Died 3 May 1996 and buried at Waxahachie City Cemetery in Waxahachie, Texas.

-- PFC Preston Junior "Snooks" Mowen – Born 12 Feb 1924. Entered service from Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Enlisted 5 Mar 1943. Single. 2 years of High School. Sales Clerk. Joined unit in Dec 1943 (same day as Mehalo). Died 29 Sep 2008 and buried at Parklawns Memorial Gardens in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. **Bronze Star.**

-- T/4 Robert Anthony DeRosa – Was PFC when signing battle flag, but promoted to T/4 prior to end of service. Born 9 Nov 1910. Entered service from Mamaroneck, New York. Single. 3 years of college. Insurance salesman. Single, with dependent (mother). Died 7 Jun 2012 and buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland. **Bronze Star.**

-- T/5 Raymond Daniel Currin – Born 10 Sep 1916. Entered service from Vance County, North Carolina. Enlisted 29 Nov 1942. Single. High School graduate. Farmer. Joined F Company in Mar 1943. Never married. Died 6 Feb 2004 and buried at Sunset Garden Memorial Cemetery in Henderson, North Carolina. **Bronze Star.**

-- T/4 Jackson Mitchell Erwin – Born 25 Feb 1919. Entered service from Palo Pinto County, Texas. Enlisted 21 Jan 1941. Single. 1 year of High School. Farm hand. Left F Company 16 Jun 1945. Died 8 Jan 1974 in Dallas, Texas. Buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.

Many of the soldiers listed here also saw heavy action during the brutal Rapido River conflict in January 1944. Dennis F. Blalock commanded H Company at Rapido River and transferred to F Company thereafter. In F Company, Fred Ayers was the mess sergeant, John Mehalo and Preston Mowen saw action, and Woodsie Gibbs was lightly wounded during the Rapido River conflict.

Dennis F Blalock