By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

The 9th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army activated for service prior to U.S. entry in World War II in August of 1940 at Fort Bragg. They participated in Operation Blackstone in North Africa in November 1942. They then participated in Operation Torch and were in Spanish-controlled Morocco until 1943. They fought in the Battle of El Guettar and the Battle of Sedjenane.

The 9th Division then moved to Sicily, and they were involved in the Battle of Troina. In November of 1943 they were shipped to Winchester and Alresford, England for training until June of 1944. They landed on Utah Beach in Normandy, France on June 10, D-Day +4. The 9th Division helped liberate the Cotentin Peninsula. They then fought in Cherbourg in June and helped liberate St. Lo in July of 1944. The liberated Chateau-Thierry in August of 1944.

In September 1944, the 9th Division captured the Germany city of Roetgen and crossed the Siegfried Line. The 9th Division was then fighting in the Hurtgen Forest. By the end of September there had been heavy losses amongst their officers. The division fought in Battle of the Bulge near Eupen. On March 8, 1945 they were the first to cross the Rhine River at Remagen, and the 9th Division received the Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts.

In April of 1945, the 9th Division was fighting in the Ruhr Pocket against the Panzer Lehr Division in the Harz Mountains. After the war’s end in Europe on May 8, 1945 9th Infantry Division served as occupation forces in Germany. Part of the division served at Dachau Concentration Camp which became a prison camp for Germany army officers and Nazi leaders. The regimented deactivated in December of 1946.

Private Charles A. O’Neil served with the 60th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Division of the U.S. Army.

Charles Anthony O’Neil was born on July 31, 1922 in Calamine, Lafayette County, Wisconsin to Charles John and Evelyn (Murphy) O’Neil.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the O’Neil family lived in Willow Springs Township in Lafayette County. The household included father Charles, mother Evelyn, and children Charlie, Patrick, John, and William. Father Charles’s brother Leo, and a servant Mary McGettigan and her daughter Katherine were also in the household. Father Charles was farmer working in general farming on his own account. Brother Leo was a farm laborer.

From the 1940 U.S. Census, the O’Neil family was living in the same place in Lafayette County. The parents and their three sons were in the household together. Father Charles and the two oldest sons were all working in farming.

On June 30, 1942, son Charles A. O’Neil registered for the WWII Draft. He gave his place of residence and birth as Calamine. His employer was his father and he worked in farming.

[Note: This researcher could not find an enlistment record for Charles. However, other documents state that he enlisted for service on Dec. 23, 1943.]

From an undated obituary from the Darlington-Republican Journal posted on FindAGrave, “Pvt. Charles A. O’Neil, the oldest son of Charles J. and Evelyn (Murphy) O’Neil, was born in Willow Springs Township on July 31, 1922 and was killed in action in France on July 25, 1944 at the age of 21 years, 11 months, and 25 days.

“Charles attended the Sheldon school for eight years, graduating on June 10, 1936.

“He entered the Service of his country on Dec. 2, 1943 and took his basic training in the Infantry at Camp Croft, South Carolina. Charles came home on furlough early in May, 1944. He reported back to Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland; he then went to New York, from where he left shortly for overseas.

“Charles is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. O’Neil of Calamine and three brothers, Pvt. Patrick O’Neil with an Artillery Battalion in England, John J. O’Neil S 1-c in the South Pacific and William at home.

“A funeral mass was held at St. Michael’s church in Calamine on Aug. 16, 1944, the Rev. Paul Singleton officiating.”

From the Jan. 9, 1949 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Pvt. O’Neil’s Body Due in Darlington,” the news was that “They body of Pvt. Charles Anthony O’Neil, Jr., 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles O’Neil, Willow Springs township, will arrive in Darlington Tuesday at 2 p.m.

“Members of the Bates-O’Brien post of the American Legion and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post will escort the body to the Stell funeral home. The procession will be led by the Darlington high school band.

“Funeral services will be held…at St. Michael’s Catholic church, Calamine…”

Information about Private O’Neil’s service included that he was “inducted into the army Dec. 23, 1943. He was sent to England in June, 1944.

“Seven months after his induction, he was killed in action during the Normandy campaign, on July 25, 1944, while fighting with a First army infantry regiment.”

Private Charles A. “Oneil” (sic: O’Neil) is listed on the National WWII Memorial Registry Gold Star Honor Roll for Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

Private Charles A. O’Neil was repatriated and reburied in 1949 in the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Darlington, Wisconsin. He was killed in action. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.

Thank you, Private Charles Anthony O’Neil, for your service to and sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.