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

Pvt Shirley T Needham

134th Infantry Regiment - Company G

Shirley Trent Needham was born in Maynardville, TN in 1921. He left home in the early 40s to go work in Glen L. Martin's Aircraft Plant in Maryland where he worked on the PBM 3. He returned back home in 1943 but could not stand not being part of the action, so he joined the US Army in June of 1944. He served in Company G, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division of General Patton's 3rd Army during The Battle of the Bulge. He joined Company G as a Rifleman from the 14th Replacement Battalion December 21, 1944 when the unit was in the vicinity of Guebenhouse, France. From there they moved to an assembly area in the vicinity of Ernstviller then moved by motor to Metz, France, arriving on December 23, 1944. They spent Christmas at Metz before departing for the Ardennes December 26, 1944. He was wounded in action January 4, 1945, suffering gunshot wounds to his right arm while fighting near Marvie, Belgium, about 2 - 3 miles southeast of Bastogne. He was treated at the 2nd Battalion Aid Station, then taken to the 110th Medical Battalion Clearing Station for transfer to a hospital. Pvt Shirley T Needham was invalided home and spent some time recuperating at Kennedy General Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He was honorably discharged in the summer of 1946. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Good Conduct medal, and others. He later went to work with the Union County Selective Service Board. He passed away in 2003.

Thanks to his grandson, Trent Stooksbury, for submitting these pictures and information about his grandfather.