World War II
(1941-1946 U.S. Involvement)
Pacific Theater
Leyte/Luzon/Southern Islands,
Philippines (10/44-7/45) 20,569
Philippines (12/41-5/42) 15,386
Okinawa/Ryukyus, Japan (3/45-7/45) 12,183
Iwo Jima, Japan (2/45-3/45) 6,922
New Guinea, Papua, New Guinea (1/43-12/44) 4,684
Guadalcanal, Solomons (8/42-2/43) 4,407
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (12/7/41) 2,403
European Theater
Rhineland, Germany (9/44-3/45) 50,410
Ardennes-Alsace, Belgium, France,
Luxembourg (12/44-1/45) 19,246
Northern France (7/44-9/44) 17,844
Normandy, France (6/44-7/44) 16,293
Central Europe-Germany, Austria,
Czechoslovakia (3/45-5/45) 15,009
Rome-Arno, Italy (1/44-9/44) 11,393
Participants 16,112,566
In Theater Deaths 291,557
Deaths in Service 113,842
Wounded in Service 671,846
Missing in Action 78,773
Illinois Deaths 22,283
Illinois Missing in Action 1,310
Kane County Deaths 565
Seven (7) Pearl Harbor Casualties
One (1) Congressional Medal of Honor
Recipient - Walter E. Truemper
Sixty-nine (69) Missing in Action
Youngest County Casualties - Ages 15 & 17
War Facts
1941 - Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The United States declared war.
1942 - American B17s staged their first bombing raid on Germany.
1944 - Allied Forces invaded the European continent along the Normandy coast of northern France, a massive campaign known as D-Day.
1945 - Germany surrendered.
1945 - The United States dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrendered.
Over 105 million men served in uniform in all combatant countries (1939-1946).
Over 15 million died on active service, and civilian deaths are estimated at between 26 and 34 million.
Military conflicts were fought on every continent except Central and South America.
Paratroopers parachuting into Europe.
Soldiers loading a bazooka.
Aircraft carrier with aircraft secured on deck traveling through the ocean.
Sherman tank advancing into combat.
Submarine breaking the ocean's surface
"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
General George S. Patton Jr.
Erected 2004 by Kane County Officials and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Kane County Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Spanish-American / Philippines War (here, next to this marker); World War I (here, next to this marker); Korean War (here, next to this marker); Vietnam (here, next to this marker); Kane County Government Center (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); JFK Campaign Speech (approx. half a mile away); The Lincoln Highway (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Geneva.
Also see . . .
1. World War II e-history. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. World War II Records at NARA. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. World War II at BBC. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Pictures of World War II at NARA. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
5. WWII Teaching Resources at Scholastic. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
6. The World War II Home Front. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
7. World War II Essays. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
8. World War II Memorial, Washington DC. (Submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 325 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 26, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on April 28, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.