TODAY marks the 60th anniversary of the "Millionth Yank" to embark from Southampton docks during the Second World War. Local historian Jake Simpkin looks back at the life of Private Paul Shimer Jr which left a legacy linking Southampton and his hometown in Pennsylvania. Jake is a Southampton tourist guide and local historian...
IN the months following D-Day to the end of the Second World War, three and a half million troops embarked from South-ampton docks.
More than two million of these were Americans bound for the European theatre of war.
This amounted to around 60 per cent of all American troops and equipment shipped from British ports to the Continent.
On October 25, 1944, Private Paul Shimer Jr, of the 15 Infantry, 3rd Division, Seventh Army, stepped through the counting machine in Southampton to become the millionth American.
Sergeant Murray Ley of the 14th Port Transportation Corps, pulled him out of the olive drab line and marched him to a makeshift stage, where he stood alongside an assembly of top brass, both military and local, including Southampton's mayor, Rex Stranger.
A large sign was hung around his neck, announcing "The Millionth Yank", and he went through the little agony of making an impromptu speech.
Paul Shimer Jr came from Chambersburg in Pennsylvania, where he lived with his wife, Marian, and three-year-old daughter, Patricia Ann.
He worked as an assistant manager in a chain store, JC Penney Company, in Chambersburg, a small town which had a population of 1,700. He was typical of many young Americans who left their farms, small towns, and cities to fight the tyranny of fascism. Paul Shimer underwent training at Camp Walter in Texas before crossing the Atlantic in an overcrowded troopship to Britain in October 1944.
Many of the details of Paul Shimer's army life were lost when a fire destroyed a US Army Records Depot in the 1970s.
What we do know is that within hours of departing Southampton, shrugging off the ribbing of his buddies for becoming the millionth soldier, Shimer arrived at Cherbourg.
From here he boarded 'Twentieth Century Flyer', pride of the US 729th Rail Operating Battalion, which by nightfall was well on its way to the front. Within days the "Millionth Yank" and his company were engaging the Germans.
Promoted to Sergeant, Shimer was slightly wounded in combat on January 27, 1945. His bravery resulted in him being decorated with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for "meritorious achievement".
Back home his parents and siblings awaited news of both Paul, and his brother John, who was also a GI.
By coincidence John Shimer was also in Southampton, on the gang plank, only feet away from the 'Two Millionth Yank', who embarked for France on January 16, 1945. John Shimer was wounded in action and still carries shrapnel in his body to this day. A third brother, Bill, also served in France and the youngest brother Jack was a pilot in the Korean War.
At this time, Southampton ranked fourth among the 60 US Army Ports operating in the world. The US Army 14th Major Port Transportation Corps arrived in Southampton in the summer of 1943 when they took over docks organisation.
Their main role was to co-ordinate the shipment of American troops, military equipment and stores through the port.
Their headquarters was in the Civic Centre. Officers were billeted in the Polygon Hotel, and the men at Blighmont Barracks in Millbrook Road. They also had a hutted camp in Hoglands Park. In fact, 14th Major Port were stationed in Southampton for more than three years.
In recognition of their service they were granted Freedom of the City, and in March 1946, before crowd-lined streets, they marched through the Bargate with bayonets fixed and drums beating.
Sgt Shimer lost his life on April 14, 1945, just 24 days before the end of hostilities. He was killed by the blast of a shell, as he led his men against a fortified German hill - a courageous act, which subsequently earned him a second, posthumous, Purple Heart. He had served in the US Army for just 51 weeks.
By a cruel twist of fate, wife Marian Shimer received the telegram informing her of her husband's death about one hour after reading an article in the Chambersburg local newspaper, Public Opinion, that her husband had been the "Millionth Yank" to embark from Southampton. The British censor had only just passed the information to the USA.
In 1947, the Southampton war-time mayor, Rex Stranger, visited Chambersburg and McConnellsburg to meet the Shimer family.
Rex Stranger and his wife wanted to do something to commemorate the death of the young man he had shaken hands with three years previously in Southampton docks.
They decided to place £1,000 in a trust fund for the daughter's education. The local citizens, not to be outdone, raised $3,000 for Rex Stranger to spend on worthy charities in England. They also gave him a large consignment of apples for Southampton schools.
Sgt Shimer's war grave is one of 10,000 situated at St Avold in France. Paul Shimer was a member of the St John's Reformed Church in Chambersburg.
Following Paul Shimer's death, his wife Marion remarried and moved to South Carolina where Patricia received a college education thanks to the money given to them by the mayor.
Patricia later married and is still believed to be living in South Carolina. Marion is believed to still be alive.
Of Paul's siblings, three sisters and one brother are remaining. They are John R Shimer, Dorothy S Demeter, Mary S Duncan and Kathryn S Ruggiero.
Kathryn S Ruggiero, who lives in Chambersburg, said: "Upon the mayor learning that Paul was from McConnellsburg, he starting coming to our home in McConnellsburg every Memorial Day for years.
"He always brought a British wreath with him that he and my mother placed during the Memorial Day ceremonies at McConnellsburg. He and his wife Trudy were certainly lovely people. I think it is very honourable that my brother and all the Second World War veterans are being remembered in your article. As the US TV commentator, Tom Brokaw, said: 'They are the best generation'."
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