SFC John Henry Shreves (WWII)

Remembering SFC John Henry Shreves (Fairmont)
February 29, 1911 - June 6, 1944

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Seaman First Class John Henry Shreves was born February 29, 1911 in Pine Grove, WV (Wetzel County), the son of John M. and Rosie (Lovell) Shreves. For the first portion of John H.'s life, his father was a farmer in Wetzel County (1920 census). By 1930, their family had moved to Owens Avenue in Fairmont, where John M. worked as a laborer at the coke factory.

In 1932, John Henry Shreves married Ardeth Phoebe Vanata in Fairmont. In 1933 they were living at 113 Walnut Avenue with Ardeth's parents, before moving by 1935 to 815 Ridgely Avenue. Ardeth's father (who died in 1937) and her twin brother, Benjamin, were both painters. John worked as a laborer at the Works Progress Administration.

On October 16, 1940, John entered the draft. He recorded himself as 5'10" and 174 lbs, with blue eyes and brown hair.

D-DAY:

On June 6, 1944, SFC John Henry Shreves was on board the USS LCI(L)-232, an amphibious landing craft, at Utah Beach. 

Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) Association historian John France wrote this of the LCI 232 in 2011 wrote this of the LCI 232 in 2011:
"While offloading troops, SM3c Ponseti overheard Navy personnel telling his Skipper that the area was heavily mined and that they needed to depart the area as soon as they disembarked their troops. A Lieutenant Commander serving as an LCI Group Commander was stationed in the Conn with the Skipper of LCI 214. Ponseti overheard the Group Commander ask his Skipper “Do you want to get a closer look at the beach?” Ponseti heard his Skipper respond in the affirmative but he did not know if his Skipper enthusiastically endorsed the move. His Skipper then turned to Ponseti and ordered him to signal the LCIs behind them to follow LCI 214. 

LCI 214 led the column of LCIs towards the beach. LCI 232, commanded by Lt. (jg) William R. Watson, was directly behind LCI 214. Ponseti did not know why they came near to the beach because he did not believe that there was much to see.

After moving forward for a distance, LCI 214 turned and headed back out to sea with a column of LCIs following. Shortly after LCI 214 made the turn, Ponseti heard a loud explosion and turned in time to see LCI 232 get blown out of the water by a mine. It immediately rolled over with the bottom of its hull facing skyward and sank within five minutes. 

The crewmen below deck did not have a chance. Half of the crew was killed. Ponseti observed the officers on the Conn of LCI 214 stand speechless. LCI 216, following LCI 232 came to the rescue. Ensign Mueller of LCI 216 was commended for heroism for his attempt to rescue crewmen of the ill fated LCI 232. An official report dated September 16, 1944, long after the incident, simply states that LCI 232 detonated a mine while returning to the Transport Area. The only LCI of Flotilla 2 to submit an after action report for D Day was LCI 217 which mentions nothing of the sinking of LCI 232. If SM3c Ted Ponseti’s recollection is correct, the destruction of LCI 232 and loss of crew was avoidable and therefore decidedly tragic."

Survivors and Legacy:

SFC John Henry Shreves was survived by his wife, Ardeth, and their four children: William, Ruth, Jennie, and Martha.

His body was never recovered, but he is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France.

Sources and More Information:


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