By Krista Finstad Hanson
For the Times
During World War II, the 2nd Ranger Battalion activated for service on April 1, 1943 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. They went to England in September of 1943. They were part of 6 Army Ranger units that were a part of Operation Overload.
They participated in D-Day on June 6, 1944 landing at with three companies at Point du Hock with the British Royal Navy. They landed later than planned and many Rangers lost their lives. However, they scaled the cliffs and were able to disable artillery the Germans were going to use to fire on Utah Beach. They saved many American lives with this tactic. Another three companies landed at Omaha Beach and also lost many lives with one company having 96% casualties and only 2 survivors.
The survivors of these initial assaults went on to fight in the Battle for Brest and the Hurtgen Forest as a part of the larger Battle of the Bulge from December of 1944 to January of 1945. The 2nd Battalion remained fighting in Europe until Victory in Europe day on May 8, 1945.
Lafayette County soldier Garness L. Colden served with Company F of the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the US Army.
Garness LaVerne Colden was born May 28, 1924 in Lafayette County, Wisconsin to Garfield and Lula (Watkins) Colden.
On the 1930 US Census, the Colden family lived in Blanchardville township in Lafayette County. The household included father Garfield E., wife Lulu V., and children Garness and Joyce. Father Garfield was a laborer working in general farming.
On the 1940 US Census, the Colden family lived in Fayette Township in Lafayette County. The household included the addition of two more children, Shirley and Leah. Father Garfield continued working as a farm laborer for paid wages.
In the March 28, 1943 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Army Inducts Blanchardville Youth,” the article stated “Garness Colden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Colden, and a senior in Blanchardville high school, has been inducted into the army. He is the second senior to join the service…”
From the May 14, 1943 The Capital Times article titled “Blanchardville Graduation to Be on May 20th,” the article listed the graduating seniors which included Garness Colden.
On December 29, 1944, the Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Garness Colden Dies of Wounds in Belgium,” stated “Pfc. Garness Colden, 20, died of wounds received in action in Belgium Dec. 8, the war department Wednesday informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Colden, Blanchardville.
Pfc. Colden was born near Blanchardville. He enlisted in March, 1943, while a senior at Blanchardville high school and was sent overseas in November, 1943.
Survivors include his parents, and five sisters, Joyce, Shirley, Leah, Karen, and Lillian, all at home.”
The March 30, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Bodies of 10 Madison, Area Heroes Reach U. S.” stated, “The bodies of 10 Madison area World War II dead, including two from Madison, arrived in New York today aboard navy transports, the army announced…The bodies … were among some 5,300 bodies being returned from European cemeteries at this time...” The list included Pfc. Garness Colden.
From the May 14, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal notice titled “Rites for Pfc. Colden Conducted Today,” the notice stated “Military rites for Pfc. Garness Colden, 20, Blanchardville, were to be held … today in the Trinity Lutheran church...
Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Colden, Blanchardville, and five sisters, Mrs. Wayne Penniston, and Shirley, Leah, Karen, and Garnett Colden.”
PFC Garness L. Colden’s death status was DOW — Died of Wounds. He is listed on the Lafayette County WWII Honor list with the National Archives.
PFC Garness Colden was reburied at Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville in Lafayette County. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.
Thank you, Private First Class Garness LaVerne Colden, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.
