Sherman Richardson

Sherman Richardson was 7th born child of Maggie and Clell. He was born in West Irvine, Kentucky. Margie his younger sister, remembers him as very special and a kind brother. She said her mother made her stand up and iron all the boys white shirts, but Sherman was the only one that ever said "thanks sis" and if he had any money, would give her a few cents for ironing his shirts for his dates with Ann. When they moved to Frankfort, Margie remembers Sherman rising very early and running a milk route around Devil's hollow road. At the time the war broke out, he and brother Edward wanted to "volunteer", but was drafted instead. At the time of his drafting, Sherman was working for the Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond and had worked there for 3 or 4 years, as a "ammunitions inspector)/per Roger Richardson. Roger said Sherman wanted to enlist as a "paratrooper". Grandma stopped his volunteering, and refused to sign his papers to do so. Then he was drafted. He was dating Ann Webster, whom he later married and Sherman's son was born, after Sherman was shot and killed in Normandy. Ann named their son Sherman Richardson Jr. He took his basic training in Spartansburg,South Carolina, but was inducted on November 13, 1943 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.Ann and Maggie hopped a bus or train to go and visit him there in S.C. before he was shipped over. He was assinged to Company C 37th Infantry of the U.S. Army and died 8 months after his induction, at St Lo France, on the beaches of the Normandy Invasion, July 22, 1944. He was interred at St. Mere Eglise, in Carentan, France as a temporary burial. this site was located in Normandy D-day beach area and confirms the period and campaign in which Sherman was lost. His body was received by train, engine #545 in Frankfort Ky at 8:45 am, July 18, 1948 (state journal article) on Sunday morning and the body was taken to LeCompte Funeral Home, 312 Washington St, Frankfort. (this is now the Harrod Bros Funeral Home). According to Roger Richardson, there was an "honor guard" assigned with the body, that could not leave uncle Sherman's casket, till he was in the ground in Versailles.........while at the funeral home, they stood at attention by the casket. After hours had passed, grandma Maggie, "released" the guard, so they could leave that night, before burial the next day in Versailles...........that was the only way, the guard "could leave" Sherman's side, till interment. According to same article, the Rev W.P. Wilhoyte, pastor of the Nazarene church officated. The funeral was at 2:00 pm, on Monday afternoon, July 19, 1948. Pallbearers were: Buck Hamilton, John Tracey, Robert Triplett, Sam Tracy, Charles Gillis and Doc Wright. The American Legion Post 7, was in charge of the graveside service at Versailles cemetery. His death crushed his parents, but especially Margie (who was still at home)......she worked certain Fridays of the month, making things for the "war effort" and looked forward to her brother's return home.

There was a soldier,that visited Maggie and Clell after he got out of the war. He didn't know that uncle Sherman "died".........he came there probably to see his friend and comrad Sherman. He said he was with him after he was hit with the 9 millmeter shell. Sherman reached in his pocket and gave him the money and told him to get that to Ann, his wife, for a baby bed. Medics picked him up and took him to a hospital the guy thought. He said, all that saved me in that attack, was I found an empty wine barrel, got down in it and didn't come out for days, till I was sure it was over...........so that was the account, but we've not been able to find any records/hospital records/documentation on what actually happened, or how long he lived after being hit........Sherman was given a "purple heart" for his service to his country. That purple heart, along with sharp shooter and other various pens, are in the hands of his son, Sherman, Jr, Frankfort Indiana. We have found copies of letters written by Maggie and Ann to the state department, trying to get more identification, to make sure it was Sherman. You see his casket was "bolted" shut, with a flag on the top..........nobody ever saw his "remains" for identification. The family only saw flag and dog tags...........those tags had "teeth mark" prints in them. His serial # was : 35880124. So incredibly sad for a young, young man to lose his life and never see his unborn child. There was an account at the Frankfort Nazarene church bulletin, where a friend had written them and said the night before the Normandy battle started, that Sherman knelt before the chaplain and received Christ as his Lord and Savior.........Hallelujah to the Lamb!

Sherman was a sweet, sweet, spirit by all accounts I've heard in trying to write this profile of his life......from brothers, sisters, friends/acquaintances. There is still a man living now in Frankfort, named Arnold Clark that has a band and comes to Lawrenceburg once a month. Everytime I see him, he cries when he mentions Sherman's name........he said, I loved him, better than a brother. With much love and honor to our family war hero, Sherman Richardson Sr., I submit this information gathered from Margie, Roger, Sherman, Jr, Bryan Sherwood, and myself. 3/09
More info added by Llnda McElwain 10/2022, interview with Charles Kincaid. A first hand acct of Shermans death
This info is included in a media picture below.