By Krista Finstad Hanson
For the Times
During World War II, the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment activated for service on March 25, 1942 at Camp Clairborne, Louisiana. They reorganized and became part of the 101st Airborne Division on August 15, 1942.
Most of the unit arrived in Europe by sea on D-Day+1, June 7, 1944 on the coast of Normandy, France and then fought their way into France. They participated in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands from September 17 to 27, 1944. Some companies suffered casualties of the majority of their men. They helped liberate the two cities of Eindhoven and Nijmegen but failed to capture bridge access to the Rhine River. They inactivated on November 30, 1945 in France.
Green County soldier Milo Wallace served with the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army.
Milo Henry Wallace was born on December 10, 1910 in Blanchardville in Lafayette County to Henry and Ida (Doescher) Wallace.
From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Wallace family was living in Decatur Township in Green County. The household included father Henry, mother Ida, and children Milo, Myrtle, Elsie, Herbert, Howard, and Robert. Father Henry was a plasterer, and son Milo was an assistant plasterer.
On the 1940 U.S. Census, the Wallace family was living in the same house as they lived in 1935. {Note: Milo wasn’t living with them, and this researcher couldn’t locate him on the 1940 U.S. Census.}
On March 27, 1942 Milo H. Wallace enlisted for service in WWII in Madison, Wisconsin. He had a grammar school education and was employed as a “semiskilled brick and stone masons, and tile setters.”
Milo Henry Wallace married Jewelyn May Trickle on December 1, 1942 in Rock County, Wisconsin.
From the August 20, 1944 The Capital Times article titled “Many Brodhead Homes Show Service Flags With More Than One Star,” the article stated “Service flags with more than one star shine from the windows of many Brodhead homes...” Included in the list were the Wallace brothers: “S/Sgt. Milo H. Wallace is a member of a glider infantry unit of an airborne division, which took part in the D-day assault upon the Nazis in Normandy.
Corp. Howard Wallace, of the marines, is with an aircraft unit. He is ‘somewhere in the south Pacific.’
Corp. Herbert E. Wallace recently went overseas. He was formerly at Camp Van Doren, Miss.”
From the October 7, 1944 The Capital Times article titled “Brodhead Soldier Killed in Action,” the article stated “Staff Sgt. Milo H. Wallace, 33, Brodhead, was killed in action Sept. 19 in Belgium, according to a war department telegram received by his wife, the former Jewelyn Trickle, Janesville, now residing in Beloit.
Sgt. Wallace entered service March 27, 1942 and went to England in Sept. of 1943. He was born in Blanchardville, Dec. 10, 1910. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Wallace, Brodhead.
Surviving, besides his widow and parents, are a daughter, Lanaya; four brothers, Marvin, Lake Mills; Robert, Brodhead; Corp. Howard with the marines in the south Pacific; Pvt. Herbert E., overseas in the army; two sisters, Elsie and Myrtle, Rockford.”
From the July 1, 1949 The Capital Times article titled “Return Bodies of 9 Madison, Area War Dead,” the article stated “The remains of nine Madison area servicemen who lost their lives in World War II have been returned to this country from European cemeteries abroad the U. S. transport Carroll Victory which landed in New York City today…” Included in the list was Sgt. Milo H. Wallace.
SSG Milo H. Wallace was repatriated and reburied in Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead in Rock County.
Staff Sergeant Milo H. Wallace was listed on the Green County veteran services list. Wallace is listed on the National Archives WWII Honor Roll and the WWII Memorial Registry for Jefferson County, Wisconsin.
Thank you, Staff Sergeant Milo Henry Wallace, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.
