On This Day 16-SEP 1944, We Remember a Fallen Hero
Denver Otis Logan was born 25-OCT 1920 in Versailles IL. He later lived in Elsberry in Lincoln County MO. His father was Glen Logan. His mother was Katherine Logan. Our research shows his mother lived in St. Charles. He had one brother Glen. Denver completed four years of high school. He worked at an Ammonia plant in Louisiana MO and his trade was listed as a carpenter. He enlisted 14-JUL 1942 and was a PFC in the 16th Infantry Regiment A/S MD.
On June 6, 1944, the 16th Infantry was one of the regiments ordered to take Omaha Beach during “Operation Overlord,” better known as D-Day. Of the five D-Day landing beaches, Omaha Beach was the deadliest. Survivors dubbed it “Bloody Omaha.” Hundreds of the regiment’s young infantrymen were mowed down, but by noon, the 16th had established a beachhead and seized the town of Colleville-sur-Mer.
The men of the 16th Infantry piled on trucks, tanks, and anything else they could find to move eastward as quickly as possible. After motoring south past Paris, the regiment caught up with the enemy again near Mons, Belgium, where it helped the 1st Infantry Division destroy six German divisions in August and early September. It was in this area, that Denver was killed in action.
Denver was the driver of a Jeep in the Naval Corps. His duty was to pick up the dead and wounded on the battlefield. He was killed in action 16-SEP 1944. Denver Otis Logan is buried at Sunset Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois. Sunset Cemetery also known as Illinois Veterans Home Cemetery. His name is commemorated on the First Infantry Division monument in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.
Denver O. Logan is honored and remembered at the St. Charles County Veterans Museum. We are looking for more information about Denver including a picture. If you can help, please contact the museum.