Herschel T. Potter was born on September 27, 1924, in Brownsville, Edmonson County, Kentucky to father, Jesse (42) and mother, Tincy (35). He was the youngest of four siblings and the only boy eligible for enlistment in the family. Under U.S. Selective Service System law at the time, Herschel was not subject to draft. Two years had passed since the U.S. entered WWII and Herschel witnessed many of his friends from school as well as family go and fight...and sometimes pay the ultimate sacrifice. Herschel told the family he couldn't live with himself if he didn't volunteer to join the U.S. military in the war effort. Herschel told family he was no draft-dodger and would not accept a technicality to joining the service. Herschel made up his mind. Three days before his 19th birthday, he left Brownsville, Ky and enlisted into the U.S. Army as an Infantryman at the entrance processing station in Evansville, Indiana on September 24, 1943. After basic training, Pvt. Potter was assigned to the 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division and was shipped to Europe to join his unit that arrived from NYC months before. On 15 August 1944, Pvt. Potter and his division made an amphibious assault landing, against opposition in the Saint-Raphaël-Fréjus area of southern France as part of Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France. A rapid advance opened the Rhone River Valley. On 24 August 1944, Pvt. Potter was declared Killed in Action in LaCourcorde, France at the age of 19 and is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Rhone American Cemetery. The Regiment sustained more than 6,000 casualties in World War II, including 1,126 killed, approximately 5,000 wounded* and over 500 missing in action. For their action in World War II, the men of the 141st Infantry received 2,614 awards and decorations. Pvt. Potter is one of 1,685 Soldiers in the entire regiment who was awarded the prestigious Bronze Star Medal. He is also decorated with the Purple Heart. As a young boy visiting my grandmother, I remember a photo of him in her living room next to the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France. I used to wear his moth eaten garrison cap and play Army in the front yard. Her memory and love for him kept his memory alive. My decision to serve is partly due to my Uncle and his love and sacrifice for our country and to fight against tyranny. In 2019, I visited Rhone American Cemetery and asked for an investigation. DNA is now on file and DIPPA believes they have located an unknown who matches his profile. We are eagerly waiting for a DNA match.

MAJ Kyle Key, Great Nephew