World War II Honoree

Victor E. Phasey

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbia, South Carolina

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel. A graduate of the United States Military Academy ‘West Point’ Location: West Point, New York. Upon his graduation, he accepted his commission with the rank of Second Lieutenant. In October of 1944, he was transferred to the 66th Army ‘Black Panther’ Division. Assigned to the Third Battalion as Commander of Headquarters Company, an element of the 264th Infantry Regiment. In November of 1944, his division embarked to England, Great Britain, and based at South Hampton. Sunday, December 24, 1944 elements of the division were en-route from South Hampton to France, crossing the English Channel aboard the SS Leopoldville. The transport was sunk off the coastal shore-line of Cherbourg by the German submarine, U-486. The division was moving to the French Brittany-Loire area. Monday, December 25, 1944 after his rescue, he died of injuries suffered from the sinking. Personnel from a Grave Registration Company buried him in the Blosville Battlefield Cemetery Carentan, France. In the post-war era, this Soldiers’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Normandy American Cemetery Location: Colleville-sur-Mer, France. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.