World War II Veterans from Dillon County, South Carolina

GRANTHAM, Shelbourne Lawton
Rank:	Private First Class
Service Branch:	U.S. Army
Serial Number:	34124859
Division:	79th Infantry ("Cross of Lorraine")
Regiment:	314th Infantry
Company:
Battalion:
Function:
Status:	Killed in Action, Battle of St. Lo, France
Date of death:	July 13, 1944
Place of death:	LaSurieville, France
Age at death:	25
Awards:
Burial 1:	American Military Cemetery, Blosville, France
Grave number:	Plot Y, Row 1, Grave ll
Burial 2:	Remains moved to Grantham Cemetery May 2, 1948
Cenotaph:
Born:	Dillon County, South Carolina
Hometown:	Gaddy's Mill, South Carolina
Family:	Parents: William Powell Grantham (1888 - 1964) Bertha Huggins Grantham (1894 - 1962) Spouse: Children: Siblings: Sarah Grantham Mrs. J. F. Mears, Jr. Gary Grantham Rhondell Grantham
Additional information:	Landed in England in April 1944. On June 8, 1944 (D-Day plus 2), the 79th crossed the English Channel to land at Utah Beach, in Normandy, France. By 14 Jun 1944, the division began its advance toward the vital port city of Cherbourg, with the 313th and 315th Infantry and reached the outer fortications of the fortress-city June 20th. The division began its main assault 22 Jun 44 as the 313th Infantry drove against the strong point at La Mare a Canards. The 314th Infantry captured Fort du Roule on 26 Jun 44. PFC Grantham's last letter home, written on June 29th, stated that he was resting up after having taken part in the Battle of Cherbourg. Leaving Cherbourg, the division moved south to hold defensive lines along the Ollonde River until 2 Jul 44. The division then pushed down the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula in driving rain and took La Haye-du-Puits after repelling German counter-attacks on 8 Jul 44.