Joseph C Padjan Jr

Sgt Joseph Padjan, Jr was killed in action on 15 June 1944, serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment. On the evening of 15 June 1944, near Villeneuve, the 2nd Battalion's positions came under increased enemy pressure. An observation post reported growing enemy activity around 9:00 p.m., prompting a call for mortar fire, and roughly twenty-five minutes later German forces launched an attack against the line between two of the battalion's companies. The assault failed to break through, and the neighboring 1st Battalion, attacked at the same time, also held its ground. Prisoners taken afterward reported that the attacking troops had suffered heavy losses in the failed effort. Sgt Padjan was killed in action that day; the report does not specify the individual circumstances.