Normandy
Throughout World War II Cecil served with the 741st Tank Battalion, under the Second Division. His history with the unit is a little tricky. The unit was activated in 1942, and shipped out to England from New York in 1943. However, there are some facts that are known.
According to a living descendant, Cecil fought in the Invasion of Normandy. He served in A Company, First Platoon as an assistant gunner and loader. Historic records show that, at the time of the invasion, the 741st was a part of the 1st Infantry Division. The 741st battalion assisted the 16th Infantry Regimental Combat Team during the fighting on Omaha Beach. Around June 15th, the unit was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Division.
According to a living descendant, Cecil fought in the Invasion of Normandy. He served in A Company, First Platoon as an assistant gunner and loader. Historic records show that, at the time of the invasion, the 741st was a part of the 1st Infantry Division. The 741st battalion assisted the 16th Infantry Regimental Combat Team during the fighting on Omaha Beach. Around June 15th, the unit was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Division.
France
Around the time of the invasion, Cecil earned a Bronze Star for helping recover a tank stuck in mud while under heavy enemy fire. Cecil fought with the 741st until he suffered a back injury in October of 1944 from an artillery shell. Cecil's recovery was long and he was discharged from the hospital in December, giving him a ticket home.
Many of Cecil’s exploits in Europe have been lost to time. What did survive is quite interesting. A living relative, Jennie McRae Greenwall (she married Cecil’s younger brother Harry) tells of a French woman Cecil was involved with. The woman, believed to be named Susie, had twin children. While there is a possibility of Cecil being the father, it is highly unlikely. One surviving story tells the fate of one of the children. The lore has it that the daughter, named Monica, fell off a table while being given a bath and was killed. The whereabouts and fate of the other twin are unknown to the Greenwall family.
Many of Cecil’s exploits in Europe have been lost to time. What did survive is quite interesting. A living relative, Jennie McRae Greenwall (she married Cecil’s younger brother Harry) tells of a French woman Cecil was involved with. The woman, believed to be named Susie, had twin children. While there is a possibility of Cecil being the father, it is highly unlikely. One surviving story tells the fate of one of the children. The lore has it that the daughter, named Monica, fell off a table while being given a bath and was killed. The whereabouts and fate of the other twin are unknown to the Greenwall family.