Samuel J. Fooshee

  • ASN:
    0-1030239
  • DATE OF BIRTH
    October 7, 1919
  • DATE OF DEATH
    December 29, 1944
FULL NAME:

Samuel J. Fooshee

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):

0-1030239

  • DATE OF BIRTH: October 7, 1919
  • DATE OF DEATH: December 29, 1944
RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):

Dallas, Dallas County, Texas

DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
  • DATE OF ENLISTMENT:
    November 18, 1940
  • PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
    Fort Sam Houston, Texas
ORGANIZATION:
  • MAIN UNIT:
    2nd Reconnaissance Troop
  • SUBUNIT:
    Unknown
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
  • RANK:
    First Lieutenant (1st Lt.)
  • POSITION IN UNIT:
    Platoon Leader
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:

✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945), ✭ Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945)

SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:

Samuel J. Fooshee, Jr. was born on October 7, 1919 in Dallas, Texas. S.J., as he was called, was second of four children born to Samuel and Elizabeth Fooshee. He was a football star in high school, but he badly injured his knee one summer which put him out of sports. On November 18, 1940 S.J. voluntarily joined the Army and signed up for the ROTC program at Tarleton State University. After graduation, he was assigned as a 1st Lieutenant to the 2nd Reconnaissance Troop, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His unit landed in Normandy on June 9, 1944 and maintained contacts between Battalions and Regiments of the 2nd ID. 1st Lt. Fooshee led his men on several dozens of reconnaissance and combat patrols from June to December 1944 when his 1st Platoon returned from their last patrol. S.J. was a popular officer among his men. He was full of energy and had a great sense of humor. He was killed in action at the age of 25.

STATUS:
  • CATEGORY:
    Killed in action (KIA)
  • DATE:
    December 29, 1944
  • LOCATION:
    Elsenborn Ridge
  • NOTES:
    "December 29, 1944: About 03:00 shells were coming over thick and fast... About 03:10 we got a direct hit on our building where HQ and one section of the 1st Platoon were sleeping. It wounded S/Sgt. Maize, Sgt. McCollum, Cpl. Lynch, T/5 McHughes, Pvt. Delisle, Pvt. Gondek and 1st Sgt. Caffery... The ones killed were 1st Lt. Samuel J. Fooshee, 1st Lt. Edward A. Meyers, T/4 Francis F. Anderson, Pfc. Robert M. Fegley, Pfc. Harvey T. Taylor, T/5 Fredie A. Thomas and Pvt. Edward D. Shehorn. That was a blow that can´t be forgotten in a day. We have all been in a daze since it happened, we don´t know whether we are coming or going..." stated 1st Sgt. Litton. Although the 2nd Recon Troop was a combat unit, it did not have a high rate of casualties like a regular infantry unit until December 29, 1944 when the 2nd Recon Troop lost its 7 best men at one point in time.
HONORED BY:

Anne Clayton, Niece

NARA - Display Full Records

File Unit: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
in the Series: World War II Army Enlistment Records, created 6/1/2002 - 9/30/2002, documenting the period ca. 1938 - 1946. - Record Group 64 (info)

Brief Scope: This series contains records of approximately nine million men and women who enlisted in the United States Army, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

Source: aad.archives.gov/aad/
SOLDIER RECORD:
Full Name:
Samuel J Fooshee

Army Serial Number:
20848068

Enlistment Place:
Houston Texas

Enlistment Date:
18 Nov 1940

Army Branch:
Cavalry

Branch:
Army

Race or Ethnicity:
White

Residence:
Harris County, Texas

Source of Army Personnel:
National Guard

Army Component:
National Guard (Officers, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)

Level of Education:
2 years of college

Occupation:
Managers and officials, n.e.c.

Marital Status:
Single, without dependents

Birth Date:
1919

Birth Place:
Texas

Source Box Number:
0365

Source Film Reel Number:
3.86

Conflict Period:
World War II

Served for:
United States of America

ARTICLES

The Most Tragic Night of the 2nd Recon Troop – December 29, 1944

December 1944 – 1st Lt. Samuel J. Fooshee, a very liked and respected officer of 1st Platoon, 2nd Reconnaissance Troop, 2nd Infantry Division, led 8 men on a reconnaisance of a road net near Elsenborn Ridge. After return from the patrol they all bedded down in the Headquarters building. No one knew this would be the most tragic night of the 2nd Recon Troop. “December 29, 1944: About 03:00 shells were coming over thick and fast… About 03:10 we got a direct hit on our building where HQ and one section of the 1st Platoon were sleeping. It wounded S/Sgt. Maize, Sgt. McCollum, Cpl. Lynch, T/5 McHughes, Pvt. Delisle, Pvt. Gondek and 1st Sgt. Caffery… The ones killed were 1st Lt. Samuel J. Fooshee, 1st Lt. Edward A. Meyers, T/4 Francis F. Anderson, Pfc. Robert M. Fegley, Pfc. Harvey T. Taylor, T/5 Fredie A. Thomas and Pvt. Edward D. Shehorn. That was a blow that can´t be forgotten in a…

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