Joseph M. Samulowitz was born on April 22, 1902, in Indiana. He was the son of John Samulowitz and Regina Spousel Samulowitz. He was married to Bernice Reis Samulowitz. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1940 and joined the 106th Cavalry, a Chicago-area National Guard unit known as the “Black Horse Regiment.” He served in Troop A of the 121st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, part of a light mechanized force whose dangerous mission was to scout ahead of the main U.S. units and make first contact with the enemy.

After three months of training in England, the 106th departed for France on June 29, 1944. Their arrival at Utah Beach was delayed until mid-July when Troop A’s transport ship struck a mine in the English Channel. Once ashore, the 106th immediately entered combat, engaging German forces cut off by the U.S. 8th Army Corps, shielding the 15th Corps as it closed the Falaise pocket, and then spearheading the Corps’ advance to Paris. After Paris was liberated, the 106th pushed rapidly east toward Joinville and then to Charmes on the Moselle River. By September 1944, they were once again at the front, conducting reconnaissance for the 15th Corps during its advance from the Moselle toward Luneville.

In late September, the unit fought in the brutal Battle of the Forêt de Parroy, an eight-mile forest fiercely defended by German panzergrenadiers and armored units. For two exhausting weeks, the 106th fought dismounted through dense woods, minefields, mud, and unrelenting artillery and small-arms fire. After repeated attacks and counterattacks, German resistance finally collapsed on October 9, allowing U.S. forces to resume their advance.

On October 18, 1944, during the continued push across northeastern France, SSgt Samulowitz was killed in action by a mine or artillery blast that struck Troop A near its command post. He suffered a fatal abdominal wound. He is now buried in the Saint Joseph Church Cemetery, Pesotum, Champaign County, Illinois, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com