PFC. Harold H. Eikmeier
359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division
Product of the Upper Pebble Valley
On April 4, 1918 Conrad & Mary (Peitzmeier) Eikmeier became the parent of a son they named Harold. The family lived in Lincoln Twp. Colfax County, outside of Dodge, NE. The Eikmeier children attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Olean. Harold completed his grade school education at the Sacred Heart Academy.Harold assisted his father in farming until his draft call arrived.
Background to a Battle Hero
Besides Harold, at least 9 other draftees from the Dodge- Snyder vicinity left by train on March 23, 1942 for Ft. Leavenworth, KS for induction into the Army.The group included: Vincent Dirkschneier, Emil Faltin. Walter Jahrmarkt, Frank Kavan, Reinhold Klemke, Marin Mead, Harry Meyer, Leon Molle and Charles Vodvarka.
The majority of the men were sent to Camp Barkeley, TX for their basic training.Harold was assigned as an anti-tank specialist with the 357th Infantry of the 90th Division.He had advanced training at other bases in the SW.As an anti- tank specialist he was assigned the latest anti-tank weapon- commonly known as the “bazooka”.
Going East:All the Way to the Allies Fortress in England
Several of the original Dodge- Snyder recruits reached Ft. Dix, MJ by early 1944.A portion of the 90th Div. shipped out for Scotland by March 23, 1944.Their voyage across the North Atlantic to Liverpool, England took 16 days.The “Battle of the 90 Inf. Div. in the European Theater of Operations” historical sketch made mention of the following:
BR90INF: (Harold was a part of the Main Body of the 90th) sailed from New York on March 1944 & docked at LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND & to BIRMINGHAM. Div. moved to staging area centered on CARDIFF & BRISTOL, WALES
Harold’s brother, Valerian who was also station in England, searched for him there for the entire three months they both were stationed there.However the communication logistics were too difficult to allow them that highly anticipated rendezvous.They wrote to their parents of their interest in finding each other, but they weren’t allowed to divulge their present location through the letters, so this avenue offered no help.
Next Objective: Normandy Beaches
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial on the slopes above Omaha Beach contain a number of inscriptions preserving in tone (historical record) of the operation leading to Harold’s entry to UT Beach.
The divisional historical highlights for the BR90INF also present the story:
BR90INF: The Group A personnel (1st & 3rd Bns. Of the 359th) moved to DARTMOUTH. Group A sailed 5 June as Reserve Reg. of 4th Inf. Div. (assault div. of UTAH BEACH). Main Body sailed from BRISTOL, CHANNEL ON June 6.
The majority of the 90th Inf. Div. (including the 357th) landed at Utah Beach & began going ashore on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 6th.Evidence indicated that Pfc. Eikmeier disembarked at Utah on about D+4.Originally was scheduled to go in about D+2 but was delayed in unloading.
WITHIN A WEEK, UNDER COVER OF CONTINUOUS NAVAL GUNFIRE & AIR SUPPORT, THE INDIVIDUAL BEACHHEADS HAD BEEN LINKED TOGETHER.
MEANWHILE NAVAL PERSONNEL WERE ESTABLISHING TEMPORARY ANCHORAGES & ARTIFICIAL HARBORS BY SINKING SHIPS & PREFABRICATED CONCRETE CAISSONS, THESE EXPEDIENTS WERE OF PRICELESS AID IN THE UNLOADING OF TROOPS & CARGO OVER THE UNSHELTERED BEACHES.
THE ALLIED ARMIES GREW RAPIDLY IN STRENGTH, DRIVING NORTHWARD, AMERICAN FORCES, AIDED BY STRONG NAVAL & AIR BOMBARDMENT FREED CHERBOURG ON 26 JUNE.ON 9 JULY THE BRITISH AND CANADIANS FOUGHT THEIR WAY INTO CAEN: 9 DAYS LATER U.S. UNITS TOOK ST. LO
BR90INF: Elements reached the western shore of the peninsula by 18 June in the vicinity of PORTBAIL. Battle of FORET de MONT CASTRE was fought between 3-12 July.
By July 9th based upon historical writings it appears nearly everyone was needed to battle the Germans.Harold was killed in action that day during combat at a location entitled by a government writer as the “Battle of Foret de Mont Castre”.
In a book entitled “Nebraska’s Militia: The History of the Army & Air National Guard”, Douglas R Hartman writes that at the time of Pfc. Eikmeier’s death,“The 90th” was engaged with the Nazi troops in a furious blow for blow extended battle.The description of the St. Lo side of Hill 122 indicates a hedgerow type skirmish, but the use of the term “Foret” appears a forested area is also being contested by the hill “Mont Castre” or a town by that name.Since the Germans had the advantage of being the first to dig in on their Mahlman Line, they had command of the high vantage spots and had fortified their positions with well-established machine gun nests.Not much was said about the use of German panzers at this site, but they were prevalent at Mortain, a couple of weeks later in the campaign.
Just prior to his death Harold wrote his parents stating, “We had quite a fireworks display here on the 4th (of July)”. He broke the news to his parents in this “encoded” expression soon after that evening of the intense fighting in which his unit had been engaged in.They waited several weeks for his next letter to arrive instead his parents were notified that Harold was Killed in Action by the US Army later that month.
OMAHA BEACH
By Peter A. Thomas
When we went in, the beach had been taken
The living fought on, the dead forsaken
We were dropped into water up to our shoulders
We waded in – a group of green soldiers
Onto that thin strip of beach
So many had tried to reach.
They were the ones who went in first
Among the machine gun fire and shell burst
They went to watery graves
Sinking under the waves
The water was red
Red from the dead
Red from the dying
In agony crying
Those who made the land
Were not able to stand
They fell on the sand
Writhing in pain
Screaming for help in vain.
Every advantage was on the hill
They murdered our men at will
The rain of death from the cliffs never stopped
But we just kept coming in from the sea
Wave after wave, as far as you could see
Sheer courage and determination
Not believing they were done
Dictated the victory that day.
Others in the future will say
When they stand on that mighty height
And look down on that thin strip of beach
They’ll say, “I don’t see how they ever did it.”
They fought for every inch of it
Up the sides of that fortified wall
Over the tops of those cliffs so tall.
I’ll never forget that beach
I’ll never forget the men
In the ships
In the air and on the land
And those who died on the sand
And in the water.
They lie now beneath thousands of white crosses
And Stars of David
Above the beach
Those wonderful soldiers who died so young
They died so we
Could be free
How can we ever forget what they did
We honor them this day
We salute them
And we humbly beseech
Dear God, bless the men who died on
Omaha Beach.
Buried:
Originally Buried at:
United States Military Cemetery
Plot F, Row 8, Grave 147
Blosville France
Located 20 miles northwest of St. Lo, France
Later moved to:
Normandy American Cemetery
Plot D, Row 8, Grave 14
St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France
Located NE of village of St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France on Omaha Beach
US Army Awards/ Medals:
Purple Heart
Good Conduct Medal
Meritorious Unity Commendation
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII
Conrad & Mary Eikmeier Sons in Military Service:
WWII:
Harold - March 23, 1942- KIA – July 9, 1944
Valerian - Entered - August 30, 1942 – Discharged October 20, 1945
Ralph - Entered- March 1943 - Discharged September 4, 1945
Korean War:
Albin - Entered- December 1, 1950 – Discharged October 22, 1952
Clarence - Entered March 1, 1953 – Discharged March 1, 1955