It is easy to imagine that Carr was treated like royalty by his parents and his sisters. Sadly, Carr’s life would end in the hedgerows of Normandy, France at barely the age of 20. Carr’s entire upbringing occurred in Lewistown. His father supported the household in a lengthy career as a spinner at the local rayon plant, where Carr’s sisters Anna and Margaret also were employed. His mother was a homemaker. Carr’s formal education ended with the completion of one year at Lewistown High School.

On his 19th birthday, Carr registered for the draft in Lewistown. He worked as a truck driver for Mifflin Fruit Produce in Lewistown. Carr enlisted in the Army in Altoona on Aug. 28, 1943 and entered active duty at Lewistown on Sept. 18, 1943.

Carr was deployed to the European Theater of Operations on April 1, 1944 and served with the 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the regiment landed at Utah Beach, Normandy as part of the assaulting force on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The regiment’s 2nd Battalion followed the next day after surviving the mine sinking of their transport, Susan B. Anthony. Carr’s assigned battalion could not be confirmed.

The 359th Infantry Regiment pursued the German forces through Normandy in grim and furious attacks. From July 3 through July 10, Carr and his regiment were part of the assault on Mount Castre (Hill 122) that was key to liberating Saint-Lo. At each hedgerow, American soldiers faced withering artillery and mortar fire from determined German defenders. The cost to gain 500 yards on the first day of the battle was 600 American casualties. A deluge of rain grounded vital air support for days. The Americans finally dislodged the Germans from Mount Castre and accomplished the breakthrough at Saint-Lo, where the enemy was crushed and its flank turned.

Photo courtesy of Stories Behind the Stars
John R. Carr, Jr.

Carr was killed in action on July 12, 1944 near Saint-Lo, France when he was shot by the enemy during a combat mission.

Carr’s remains were recovered. At the request of his family, Carr was buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, France in plot D, row 5, grave 36. Carr posthumously received the Purple Heart.

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Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smart phone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring all 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania. To volunteer or for more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.