Uniform grouping of 2nd Lt. Winston L. Blythe. Co. B, 756th Tank Battalion. KIA near Nuremberg, Germany.

[Henry Reynolds]

   Thought I'd share this KIA uniform grouping I picked up about a year ago attributed to 2nd Lt. Winston L. Blythe. Served with Co. B, 756th Tank Bn. attached to the 3rd Infantry Division. 

   Winston Layton Blythe was born on October 2, 1919 in Stamping Ground, Kentucky. He had attended the University of Kentucky and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Scabbard and Blade, Pershing Rifles, and ROTC. He had also been an officer in the Kentucky State Militia. Blythe was an excellent marksman having earned quite a number of awards while in ROTC. 

 

  On April 5, 1943, Blythe's senior year, he decided to leave the university and entered the Army tank corps. He received his commission at Fort Knox, KY in July of that year. In January of 1945, Blythe was deployed to Europe as part of Co.B, 756th Tank Bn. attached to the 3rd Inf. Division. At the time of his arrival, the 756th was in the middle of heavy fighting during the clearing of the Colmar Pocket in the early months of 1945. The unit took heavy casualties and 16 tanks lost in this engagement. By March 26, 1945, Blythe and his unit crossed the Rhine and were pushing into southern Germany. In April, the 756th was quickly approaching Nuremberg.

 

 

On April 17, 1945, in the outskirts of the city, between the towns of Almoschof and Lohe, 2nd Lt. Winston L. Blythe's tank was struck by a German anti-tank shell. In an interview between Pvt. Karl K. Kincaid, the loader of Blythe's tank, and author Jeff Danby. Kincaid stated that the anti-tank round just missed hitting him (passed behind his back) before striking both 2nd Lt. Blythe and Pvt. Charles R. Johns. Both men were killed instantly. Blythe was 25 years old and Johns was 18. 

 

Blythe was the only son of Mrs. W.G. Perry. Besides his mother, he left a wife, Marian Blythe, who gave birth to their son Winston Jr. in May of 1945, less than two months after his death. 2nd Lt. Blythe's body was eventually brought home from Europe and was buried by his family. He is currently located at the Lebanon National Cemetery in Lebanon Kentucky.

 

2nd Lt. Blythe (left) and Pvt. Charles Johns (right) on their tank. Photo taken in April, 1945, days before both men were killed. 

 

Pershing Rifles and ROTC awards Blythe earned while attending the University of Kentucky.

 

 

 

[268th C.A.]

Very Nice Tribute to 2nd Lt. W.L. Blythe. Keeping his memory alive. I had a friend in Texas who was in the 757th in Italy. Great post! 

[36thIDAlex]

Still love this group, they're in the process of restoring Memorial Coliseum on campus right now and I believe his name is listed on one of the plaques in there.

[Obsolete_Battleship]

Men were getting killed until the last hour. Always extra sad when its an only son and he never got to see his own. My dad was wounded on 20  Mar 45 while with the 242nd IR- delivering breakfast of all things 

[Mac.military]

Great grouping to a true patriot!  Thanks for sharing and keeping his memory alive!

[manayunkman]

Thank you for posting this poignant group and keeping Blythe’s memory alive.

[manayunkman]

I have a small collection of of ROTC medals.

 

One of the reasons I like this group.