Everett W. Baxter
NAME: Everett W. Baxter
ASN: 34096024
PLACE OF BIRTH: Moultrie, GA
DATE OF BIRTH: 17 Sep 1919
DATES OF SERVICE: 13 Aug 1941 - 14 Jun 1945
UNIT ASSIGNED:
73rd Material Squadron
F Company, 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
C Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
CAMPAIGNS: Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno
AWARDS: Parachutist Badge with one combat jump star, Combat Infantrymen Badge, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and three bronze campaign stars, American Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge with one oak leaf cluster, Four Overseas Service Bars
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
Born as a middle child of seven, all six brothers served
1937 - Graduated High School
Worked as a Arc Welder, Aerial Photographer and Draftsmen
13 Aug 1941 - Enlisted at Fort Jackson, SC - NARA Enlistment Record
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 34096024 | 34096024 |
| NAME | BAXTER#EVERETT#W######## | BAXTER#EVERETT#W######## |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | #7 | Undefined Code |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 089 | Undefined Code |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 4715 | FT JACKSON COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 13 | 13 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 08 | 08 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 41 | 41 |
| GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION | P0T# | Undefined Code |
| GRADE: CODE | 8 | Private |
| BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION | BI# | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| BRANCH: CODE | 00 | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| FIELD USE AS DESIRED | # | # |
| TERM OF ENLISTMENT | 0 | Undefined Code |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | 0 | Civil Life |
| NATIVITY | 43 | GEORGIA |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 19 | 19 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 4 | 4 years of high school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 685 | Semiskilled welders and flame cutters |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 7 | Selectees (Enlisted Men) |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 0752 | 0752 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 1.269 | 1.269 |
14 Aug 1941 - Following Induction into the Army he is directed to Fort Bragg, NC reporting in on the 14th where he will spend no more than 3 to 4 days being processed through the reception station before being sent off for training
17 Aug 1941 - Writes home to family from the 73rd Material Squadron Graig Field, Selma, Alabama. While there he is living five men to a tent with mosquito nets.
Pvt. Wayne Baxter photo taken in 1941 during basic training
16 Jan 1942 - Yellow Fever immunization received
Pvt. Wayne Baxter wearing early Riddel helmet, one piece HBT uniform, T-5 parachute and 22 foot reserve.
19 Jun 1942 - Graduates from Parachute School
Having completed airborne training, Pvt. Wayne Baxter at home on leave at Kingstree, SC
Military Identification Card issed on 1 Oct 1942
05 Oct 1942 - Departed US for England
15 Oct 1942 - Arrived in England as one of the 118 replacements requested by the 2/509th PIR
18 Nov 1942 - On or shortly after the replacements arrived to join the 2/509th PIR
21 Mar 1943 - Writes letter home from APO 464 (Oujda, Morocco) Mentions that Hubert Beatty is in D Company
03 Apr 1943 - Writes letter home from APO 464 (Oujda, Morocco)
14 Sep 1943 - T-5 Everett W. Baxter 34096024 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Participated in Operation GIANT III the airborne invasion of Avellino, Italy
17 Oct 1943 - Writes letter home from APO 464 (Caserta, Italy) He mentions that John Colbert and Hubert Beatty both made it out ok referring to the jump behind enemy lines at Avellino, Italy in which all personnel of the 509th were listed as Missing In Action for at least two weeks until they made their way back through friendly lines. Hubert Beatty will be getting a Purple Heart from this mission. He asks family to save articles about parachute troops overseas because he knows that the airborne operations were critical to saving the 5th Army at Salerno, Italy. He still cannot mention what country he is in but mentions that it is cooler than when he last wrote eluding that he is further north.
21 Oct 1943 - Pfc. Everett W. Baxter 34096024 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR per SO 75 Promoted to T5 (Temp)
17 Dec 1943 - Writes letter home saying that they just came off the front lines where they had been for 35 days and held a hilltop position against several German attacks. Describes getting shave, bath, pay, Christmas packages and participating in a large military funeral then seven days of leave with only a morning roll call of 0530. States that his friend Hubert Beatty is fine but will be getting an oak leaf cluster on his Purple Heart Medal (meaning wounded a second time) for getting a piece of shrapnel in his back and kidney. His friend John Colbert is ok also.
30 Dec 1943 - Writes letter home telling family that he is in Italy and just finished seven days of leave.
05 Jan 1944 - Small Pox immunization received
06 Jan 1944 - Tetanus immunization received
22 Jan 1944 - Participated in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy
14 Feb 1944 - Wounded in Action vicinity Anzio (based on letter home) This is likely the event described below in which a shell hit the building they were in. One family member describes that they were trapped for days before being rescued.
Transported in Army Hospital Ship Shamrock possibly from Anzio to Naples
02 Mar 1944 - Writes letter home from APO 464 (Caserta, Italy) briefly mentions getting hit in the back
19 Mar 1944 - Letter sent home stating that he was still in Italy and just got out of the hospital a few days ago. States injury was to his back after a shell hit the building he was in and shrapnel and bricks went flying everywhere. He also mentions that his friend Hubert Beatty also in the 509th just got back from spending a couple months recovering in a hospital in North Africa
12 Apr 1944 - Awarded Combat Infantrymen Badge
Front right: T5 Wayne Baxter, one of the others may be Stan Levy, believed to be taken in Venafro, Italy
Names currently unknown, believed to be taken in Venafro, Italy
Names currently unknown, believed to be taken in Venafro, Italy
Names currently unknown, believed to be taken in Venafro, Italy
Traded his trench knife to a British Paratrooper for a FS Commando knife
Account relayed by the family: One involved being shot at. I have his field jacket with the hole still there
28 Jun 1944 - Writes letter home from APO 512 (Algers, Algeria) while assigned to the Provisional Airborne Company, Airborne Training Center. He states he is currently in Sicily and that he was pulling guard duty on trucks. Also talks as if Hubert Beatty would be sent back to the states as a result o his wounds.
11 Sep 1944 - Typhus immunization received
Account relayed by the family: I do know that while he was in Rome on R&R after the last injury he was swimming (diving into waves) and broke his neck. That is what led to the long term hospitalization
00 Nov 1944 - General Mark Clark visits troops at hospital. Asks Wayne Baxter what he wants for Christmas? He replies to go home. Possibly at the 21st General Hospital in Naples, Italy
17 Nov 1944 - Departs Europe for US
04 Dec 1944 - Arrives in US possibly at Charleston, SC and taken to Battey Army General Hospital in Rome, GA
Transported to Welch Convalescent Hospital for extended medical care
27 Mar 1945 - Discharged from Welch Convalescent Hospital. Ceremony was conducted awarding medals earned in the service
27 May 1945 - Writes letter home from Miami Beach, Florida while assigned to Company 9 - Hotel New Yorker, A.G. - S.F.R.S. Mentions that he will be asked tomorrow whether he wants to stay in the Army. He says he will tell them no and they will put him on terminal leave for a couple weeks then send him to Atlanta to be Honorably Discharged.
29 May 1945 - Typhoid immunization received
14 Jun 1945 - T5 Everett W. Baxter honorably Discharged at Seperation Center, Fort Bragg, NC
Reunion photo
Recieved Bronze Star Medal after the war for earning the CIB in WWII
Member of Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 50 for 9 years
08 Dec 1980 - Passed away, buried in Forest Lawn Baptist Church Cemetery in Tabor City
Baxter family service