C Cleveland "Cleve" Osgood Roche was born in Pensacola on June 28, 1924, the son of Reginald F. Roche (1889-1935) and Mary Ann "Mamie" Argentina Butler (1892-1928). He was the fifth of seven known children born to the couple between 1912 and 1927. His siblings were: Marion Butler (1912-1972), Earl Hanaford (1915-1995), Ruby Modest (1920-2006), Dallas Lee (1922-1998), Eddy Jemsey (1926-1960), and Addie Ruth Coburger Roche (1927-2005). His father supported his family as a Pensacola city fireman while living at 603 N. Devilliers Street. Sadly, his wife passed away in 1928 at their home at 2800 North 11th Avenue. Reginald would remarry in 1930 to Jennie Mae (Johnson) Chavers (1900-1995). Five years later, Reginald himself would pass away in 1935, after 22 years with the fire depart, at his home at 1018 East Bobe Street.
Now with both parents gone, it was up to the older siblings to step up and take their place. His brother Harold Eugene Roche (1928-2011) appears to be the contact person listed on a lot of his later paperwork. However, he also appears to have lived at times with his aunt Leila Roche who was the widow of his uncle Cleveland Francis Roche (1884-1924). By 1942, he was living with her at 1319 East Bobe Street along with his siblings Dallas L., Eddy J., Rachel, and R. Clyde Roche. While there, he was working at NAS Pensacola and prior to that he was a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Company.
But the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changed all of that and America was now at war! Cleveland forfeited his last two years at Tate High School and enlisted in the US Army on February 15, 1943 and was sent to Camp Blanding for processing and orientation. Afterwards, he was sent to basic training before being assigned to Company "L" of the 411th Infantry Regiment of the 103rd Infantry Division. His unit was sent overseas in November 1944 to bolster the American forces driving for Germany's heartland. On December 16, 1944, the German juggernaut struck the unsuspecting American army causing widespread destruction and casualties. In the path of this monster army was Pensacola's PFC Cleveland Osgood Roche and his 411th Infantry Regiment.
On January 1, 1945, the enemy made halfhearted attacks against the regiment in the area known as the Saarbrucken Sector. However, the Germans were able to push the Americans back across the Rhine, thus entering French territory once again. In response, orders came down from on high on January 19th for the regiment to be ready to attack the sector containing the towns of Sessenheim, Stattmatten, Dengalsheim and the Moder River. After the attack began, heavy enemy artillery and fire from automatic weapons were received. The 411th received 40% casualties in some companies, of which Company "L" was one of the hardest hit. Even their tank battalion lost four tanks in rapid succession. Outside of Sessenheim, enemy machine guns were well concealed and dug it for the coming American attack. During the assault, Roche and his company were located on the right flank where the Germans held their fire until they were within fifty yards of their entrenchments. It was there that Roche was cut down on January 19, 1945 by either German machine gun fire or artillery rounds. Sadly, Roche was only one of 45 killed, wounded or missing that day from "L" Company. As soon as the medics could get to him, he was rushed to an aid station behind the front lines. The doctors did what they could before transferring him to a MASH hospital. His wounds were severe where the bullets or shrapnel and torn through his large intestines. The doctors and medics did all they could for the young Pensacolian, but the wounds proved to be fatal and Cleveland died in January 20, 1945.
His family was notified by telegraph that Cleveland had died of his wounds received in combat with the enemy. Thus, another Gold State was placed in another darkened Pensacola window.
Comments