Memorial

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Sgt Melville E. Denslow worked for the Standard Oil Refinery before he enlisted. He was married to Gertrude E. Sauers on 10 June 1939.
A letter written by a comrade, Warren Hoople, to his wife, Gertrude on 26 June 1945 related the following account of the attack that wounded and killed her husband: “It was on the second of April, we were traveling by truck the opposition in this sector of Germany, though little as it was, it didn't hinder us from advancing by vehicle. The head of our convoy was suddenly fired upon and we dismounted and killed a few Germans on the side of the road and took a few prisoners.
Through amateur interrogation of these prisoners we learned that there were a few hundred SS Troops about a thousand yards on our left flank in a small town called Waldenburg.
We set out through quite a thick patch of pine trees and met a good size patrol of these troops where Lt. Tarbel leading his platoon bravely forward was hit in the arm.
We were still some seven hundred yards from our objective and the tactics were thought and the derived conclusion was that F company would take the left flank of the town and E company the right and G company would clean out the town which had a small population of approximately five hundred.
We advanced about another three hundred yards and organized a line of departure where there would be a coordinated battalion assault.
Our company commander, three squad leaders and Mel lead the attack and acted as a patrol more than the latter. The tanks were about two hundred yards in front of them and as the tanks reached and passed the strategic portion of the town where the opposition was expected the enemy opened up from attics and top floor windows with heavy sniper and machine gun fire. These Krauts waited till the tanks passed through and then had fine pickings.
Mel and two others of the leading element were hit with the first opposing fire. Three slugs got Mel, one in the stomach, one in his right arm and another in his leg.
We knew it would be miraculous than if he pulled through. He lost quite a bit of blood. However, the medics gave him good attention and administered transfusions of plasma. They said he would pull through alright, but to us it looked quite doubtful. The next day, we heard he was getting along just fine also Lt. Tarbel.
Two weeks passed and word came down that Lt. Tarbel who was hit in the arm died of respiratory disease. I believe he contacted pneumonia. Nothing was official that ever did reach us it was passed down to us through the medics. I waited and waited, prayed and requested for a little information about my buddy, Mel. Then it finally came, the injury of Mel was very serious and he died April third the very next day after he was wounded at Waldenburg. It took over a month before the information reached us.
I didn't say anything to Mel, it was hard for him to talk, he was very brave and an excellent soldier.
It was a great loss to our company. To me, it has hit me harder than anything has in three years. He was a sincere true pal.
German bodies were laying all over this town, in one gutter along the road there were thirty dead, and many more scattered over the fields. We burned the town and created as much destruction as any town we took or have taken.”