Captain Melville C. LaForce O-307200 KIA.

1940   

Captain Melville C. LaForce O307200 US Army KIA. He was born in 1907 in Kansas, the son of James Emmet LaForce and Emma Josephine Crocker LaForce.  He married Edna Thompson in 1927, they were divorced. He then married Clara Marie Whalen in 1936 and they had two children together. In 1940 he was living 107 1/2 North 3rd Street Grand Forks, North Dakota and he was an ROTC Instructor at the University of North Dakota. He entered G Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division on June 13, 1944.

1940

He earned the Bronze Star Medal for Valor for heroic achievement in action on February 17, 1945 in the vicinity of Neunkirch France. During a heavy enemy counter attack after their objective was taken Captain Laforces company become confused and disorganized. Acting quickly, in the face of intense enemy fire he exhibited a high degree of leader ship in immediately reorganizing his company to successfully repulse the enemy attack He entered the US Army from McCune Kansas.

He died on April 4, 1945, on hill 233 near the town of Untergriesheim Germany at the age of 38. At the time of his death he was serving as the company commander of G Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment. On this day G Company, and E Company, was holding back a strong close quarter counterattack by the 17th SS of Infantry and Tanks. Had G Company, and E Company, not been able to hold back this attack the SS would have pushed 2nd Battalion, 253rd Infantry, in to the Jagst River. His body was interred at Lorraine Military Cemetery France. He was awarded the Bronze Stare Medal With V and Oak leaf cluster, The Purple Heart Medal, The American Theater of operations Medal, The European African Middle Eastern Theater of operations Medal, the American Defense Medal, the World War Two Victory Medal,  and the Combat Infantry Badge.

 

 

For heroic achievement in action on 17, February 1945 in the vicinity of Neunkirch France. During a heavy enemy counter - attack after their objective was taken Captain Laforces company become confused and disorganized. acting quickly, in the face of intense enemy fire he exhibited a high degree of leader ship in immediately reorganizing his company to successfully repulse the enemy attack He entered the US Army from McCune Kansas.

 

1- The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher

2- 63rd Division Records

3- GO 67

4- 1910 United States Federal Census

5- 1920 United States Federal Census

6- 1930 United States Federal Census

7- 1940 United States Federal Census

8- North Dakota, Marriage Records, 1872-2017

9- U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil,

10 – University of north Dakota 1935 yearbook

11- University of north Dakota 1939 yearbook

12- University of north Dakota 1940 yearbook