134th Infantry Regiment Website 35th Infantry Division Research Center "All Hell Can't Stop Us"

Pvt Michael J Lavin

134th Infantry Regiment - Company L

Michael John Lavin was born August 22, 1907 in Kiltimagh, County Mayo, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in 1927 and lived in Chicago, Illinois. He married Ellen Honan in Chicago on January 30, 1930 and the couple had 2 sons, Michael and Thomas. He became a U.S. citizen December 20, 1939 and registered for the draft October 16, 1940. Pvt Michael J Lavin joined Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment as an Automatic Rifleman (B.A.R.) from the 14th Replacement Battalion on December 21, 1944 when the unit was in the vicinity of Loupershouse, France, about 20 miles southwest of Saarbrucken, Germany.

On the afternoon of December 29, 1944, Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment occupied the town of Lutrebois, Belgium, just south of Bastogne. Very early the next morning, the enemy counterattacked with infantry and tanks. By 5:00 am December 30 the town was completely surrounded with just over 40 Company L men left. All attempts to reach the surrounded men failed. Lutrebois was later retaken and all evidence indicated that the surviving 134th Infantry men had been taken prisoner. Pvt Michael J Lavin was initially reported missing. Witness accounts later confirmed that he had been killed in action by enemy tank fire December 30, 1944. He is buried at Henri Chapelle American Cemetery, Verviers, Belgium.