by Robert Evers, Covington Veterans Foundation
In the Second World War, many families had their sons all serving in the military. The Fedele family from New York had eight sons who served in the war, and all of them survived the conflict. In the beginning of World War II, brothers were permitted to join within the same unit, contrary to the official rules. 23 sets of brothers were killed on board the USS Arizona during the battle on Pearl Harbor that began the war.
In the month of March 1942, in 1942, the USS Juneau was struck by Japanese torpedoes as part of the Naval battle of Guadalcanal. Five brothers from the Sullivan family on board were killed when the ship was sunk. A few weeks later, the Rogers family from Birmingham, Alabama, learned that three of their sons had been lost in the event that their ship, the USS New Orleans suffered a hit by an Japanese torpedo during the Battle of Tassafaronga.
The tragic fate of both the Sullivans along with the Rogers resulted in for the War Department to enforce the policy of segregating siblings in order to prevent tragedies like this. However, many families lost many more sons in the conflict. They were known as the Borgstrom brothers had Four American family members from Utah and included twin brothers, who died in a period of six months during World War II.
Covington County, Alabama, lost three brothers in World War II. They were:
The Catrett Brothers. Catrett Brothers
Cpl. John W. Catrett, 1st Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army. He was reported missing during the Battle of Sidi Bou Zidin in Tunisia on February 14th in 1943. The remains of his body were not discovered. His name is mentioned on the Courts of the Missing in the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.
Sgt James “Jimmie” Catrett, 321st Infantry Regiment, 81st Infantry Division suffered a fatal injury in the battle on the night of October 17th, 1944 during the fight to capture Peleliu Island. He is buried in Brantley Cemetery.
Following the war, a brother from the third Lieutenant Roy Catrett, U.S. Air Force was lost on the 5th of August, 1953 in the crash of his RB-36 aircraft. fell into the Atlantic because of the engine burning. The only remaining Catrett son, William, was a soldier in WWII, too. The brothers of the Catrett family were children of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Catrett of Searight/Andalusia.
The Cook Brothers. Cook Brothers
PFC Richard A. Cook, 73rd Infantry, Regiment, 92nd Infantry, Division, U.S. Army. He was killed during an attack during the northern part of Italy on the 17th of April 1945.
Sergeant Fred E. Cook, 60th Infantry, Regiment, 9th Infantry, Division, U.S. Army, was killed in action on the opening morning in Operation Cobra, the Allied break-out of Normandy on the 25th of July 1944. It is believed that the Cook brothers are interred side-by-side within Red Oak Cemetery. Red Oak Cemetery. They were the sons of Mr. as well as Mrs. Joe G. Cook from Red Oak. Red Oak community.
The Kelley Brothers Kelley Brothers
PFC Harold R. Kelley, 31st Infantry, Regiment 3rd Infantry, Division, U.S. Army, was killed in combat in Operation Dragoon, the allied assault on Southern France. He is buried at Rhone American Cemetery as well as Memorial at Draguignan, France.
Sergeant James C. Kelley, 127th Infantry, Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, was killed during combat on March 23 45 during the Battle of Luzon in the liberation of the Philippine Islands. He is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines. Kelley brothers Kelley Brothers were brothers of Mr. as well as Mrs. Elbert J. Kelley of Florala.
The Covington Veterans Foundation is dedicated to preserving and recognizing the sacrifice and service of the people of this region who participated in the nation’s armed forces. If you have any additional information or corrections to this story, you can contact our office at covvets.org.
The article The Brotherly Sacrifice of the Brothers: Covington County lost three sets of brothers during World War II appeared first on The Andalusia Star-News.
