2LT David Rogers
Second Lieutenant (2LT) David Rogers of HQ HQ & Service Battery, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (PFAB), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, to F. Gordon and Reba Rogers on March 13, 1920. David was their firstborn. He had two brothers, Harold and Stanley Rogers, and one sister, Phyllis Rogers. Harold and Stanley also served during WWII.
Harold Rogers (left) graduated in 1941 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After completing his boot training, he was sent to the Santos Islands in the South Pacific, where he spent 18 months on a jungle island airfield.
Stan Rogers (right) entered the U.S. Army immediately after graduating from high school in 1943. He served as a Technician Fifth Grade in a Medical Detachment of Transportation and made numerous trips across the Atlantic, traveling to Scotland, England, Italy, Africa, and many other places.
David Rogers was a member of the Class of 1940 at Atlantic City High School. Like Harold, he enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard in Atlantic City on September 16, 1940, and both men were assigned to the HQ Battery, 2nd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery.
David began his training at the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on November 12, 1942. After graduating on February 4, 1943, and earning his officer’s commission, he volunteered for paratroop duty. He was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, for his jump training, and after receiving his wings, he was assigned to the HQ HQ & Service Battery, 377th PFAB.
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Lieutenant Rogers jumped into Normandy. Four days later, he had been ordered to go to the Command Post of an infantry battalion of the 4th Infantry Division. He had to pick up about eight enlisted men of the 377th PFAB who had been dropped near St. Martin D’Audouville. He left with a small detail of two jeeps, two drivers, and a sergeant. While underway, moving northward, the Germans opened up with burp guns as Lieutenant Rogers’ detail was driving toward St. Mère Église. The sergeant was the only one to survive the attack. Both the drivers and Lieutenant Rogers were killed.
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
2LT David Rogers died at the age of 24 in Normandy, France, on June 10, 1944. On June 15, 1944, he was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of St. Mère Église #1 at Plot B, Row 9, Grave 162. He was disinterred on March 19, 1948, and moved by truck to Cherbourg, where his casket was placed on the USAT James E. Robinson on November 26, 1948. After arriving in New York Harbor, he was transported by train to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he arrived on January 7, 1949.
Ventnor city officials, military dignitaries, other veterans, his ice hockey coach of the Atlantic City High School, and 1st SGT John Cuthbert, under whom he served when he enlisted in the National Guard, all paid tribute to Lieutenant Rogers in Ventnor’s City Hall on Saturday, January 8th.
Lieutenant Rogers was buried the next day and rests eternally at Beth Israel Cemetery of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal.
May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, David.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Sources:
Family Search
NARA