35th Infantry Division Belgium

A study group of the US 35th Infantry Division

Pvt. Troy R. Bader

Troy Russel Bader was born to Fred Bader and Linna Victoria Bader on January 1, 1907, in Esther, St Francis county, state of Missouri. He was one of the five children the Bader Family had. “Troy was called “Speedy” by his family and has always been referred to as Uncle Speedy”, a relative of Troy R. Bader remembers.

Like many American Families the Bader’s descended from European Immigrants whom had left everything behind to find a better life in the new world. In the case of the Bader family it were Troy’s grandparents who had decided to trade the Westphalia and Wurttemberg regions in Germany for the American state of Missouri.

During his youth Troy worked in the lead mines together with his father.

Working in the lead mines was an obvious job when you lived in Esther. The town was nestled in the heart of St. Francois County's Lead Belt, a region also known as the Mineral Area. In this area there were numerous mining company’s in the various towns that where located there. Troy Probably worked for the Doe Run Lead Company since it was the only mining company located in Esther.

At some point in the 1930s Troy decided to quit his job in the lead mines and he moved to the city of St Louis, Missouri. It was there that he married his wife Imogene Decker but unfortunately they did not have any children.

Troy was drafted for military service like many thousands of Americans during the course of the second world war. He completed his basic training with the rank of Private and in late 1944 he was sent overseas to the European theatre of operations. There he was designated as a replacement for the 134^th Infantry Regiment of the 35^th ID. He participated in the Lorraine Campaign and later on in the Battle of the bulge alongside his buddies of the 35^th ID.

On January 1, 1945 Troy celebrated his 38^th birthday and the beginning of a new year on the frontline during the Battle of the bulge. On January 6,1945 Troy R. Bader was reported Missing In Action. On that day companies A and C made an advance under heavy mortar and artillery fire. The 2^nd battalion attempted to secure positions astride the Lutremange-Lutrebois road but they were repulsed by strong enemy fire.

On January 12, 1945 the regiment was reinforced and continued to attack encountering scattered enemy positions and artillery and mortar fire. The regimental objective was secured by 1130. It was on this day, January 12, 1945 that Troy R. Bader was Killed In Action under unknown circumstances. He had been in Europe for only 1 month…

Today, Troy Russel Bader has found his final resting place at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial among thousands of his comrades.