David Edward Chew was born 26-APR 1924 in St. Charles MO. David worked for Culver Farm in St. Charles. His mother was Della “Dellie” Mary Forster Brock (1905-1978) of Cottleville. David’s father is unknown. David’s mother remarried and he had two half-brothers; Harrison and Vernon and two half-sisters; Dolly and Carol Jean. David registered for draft 30-JUN 1942. His next of kin listed on the draft card was James E. Pastor. David later enlisted in the Army on 24-MAR 1944.
David served in the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. His rank was Private. The 30th Infantry Division was a unit of the Army National Guard in World War II. It was nicknamed the “Old Hickory” division, in honor of President Andrew Jackson. The Germans nicknamed this division “Roosevelt’s SS”. The 30th Infantry Division was regarded by a team of historians as the number one infantry division in the European Theater of Operations, involved in 282 days of intense combat over a period from June 1944 through April 1945.
The 30th Infantry Division went overseas arriving in England February of 1944. The unit continued their training in England for the upcoming invasion. The division landed on Omaha Beach 11-JUN, five days after the initial D-Day Landings. They were in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe.
In mid-December the unit rushed south to the Malmedy-Stavelot area to help block the enemy drive during the Battle of the Bulge. On 13-JAN 1945 the division launched a counterattack and would reach a point two miles South of St. Vith Belgium on January 26th. It was during this operation David was killed in action on 15-JAN 1945. The unit saw 282 days in combat after landing in France. David was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
David’s body was returned to his hometown and is buried in St Joseph Cemetery in Cottleville MO.
David Edward Chew is honored and remembered at the St. Charles County Veterans Museum.