Joe V. Tester
Joe Vell Tester
US Army
Private
34920034
115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division
Born August 1, 1925 to Tennessee Lester and Rebecca Jane Tester, Neva, TN
Died November 16, 1944
Tester enlisted on November 27, 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, GA and was assigned to the 115th Infantry Regiment.
On D Day, June 6, 1944, the 115th were part of the second wave assault force landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy. for their gallant and heroic actions that day, the unit was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation.
The 115th made slow progress and had numerous casualties as they fought their way across the bocage (pasture land divided into small hedged field interspersed with trees) toward the goal of St. Lo. During that offensive 175 were killed in action.
In late August, 1944 the 115th moved with the rest of the 29th Division to assist in the Siege of Brest. This offensive, called Operation Cobra, was important because the Allied forces were trying to capture and secure the main port of Brest. The timely delivery of war material supplies needed was enormous and it was critical that the ports be open. It was estimated that the 37 Allied divisions would need 26,000 tons of supplies each day. So the capture and secure hold of Brest was critical. The City of Brest surrendered in September after fierce fighting and then the unit moved onto assist in more campaigns in Germany.
The strength of the 115th was 3327 on June 6th and they suffered 5,800 casualties by the end of the year.
Pvt Tester was one of those casualties, first reported missing in action and then killed in action on November 16, 1944.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and is buried in the Tester Cemetery, Crackers Neck, TN
US Army
Private
34920034
115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division
Born August 1, 1925 to Tennessee Lester and Rebecca Jane Tester, Neva, TN
Died November 16, 1944
Tester enlisted on November 27, 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, GA and was assigned to the 115th Infantry Regiment.
On D Day, June 6, 1944, the 115th were part of the second wave assault force landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy. for their gallant and heroic actions that day, the unit was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation.
The 115th made slow progress and had numerous casualties as they fought their way across the bocage (pasture land divided into small hedged field interspersed with trees) toward the goal of St. Lo. During that offensive 175 were killed in action.
In late August, 1944 the 115th moved with the rest of the 29th Division to assist in the Siege of Brest. This offensive, called Operation Cobra, was important because the Allied forces were trying to capture and secure the main port of Brest. The timely delivery of war material supplies needed was enormous and it was critical that the ports be open. It was estimated that the 37 Allied divisions would need 26,000 tons of supplies each day. So the capture and secure hold of Brest was critical. The City of Brest surrendered in September after fierce fighting and then the unit moved onto assist in more campaigns in Germany.
The strength of the 115th was 3327 on June 6th and they suffered 5,800 casualties by the end of the year.
Pvt Tester was one of those casualties, first reported missing in action and then killed in action on November 16, 1944.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and is buried in the Tester Cemetery, Crackers Neck, TN
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115th Regiment street fighting in Brest, Germany - Operation Cobra
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