Briefing Document: Harold Hal Townsend

Subject: Biographical Information and Military Service of Harold Hal Townsend

Date: October 26, 2023

Sources: Excerpts from "Harold Townsend Pasted Text" (provided source material)

Executive Summary:

This document details the life and military service of Harold Hal Townsend, born October 19, 1920, in Lometa, Texas. The information covers his family, early life, military enlistment, and ultimate death in service during World War II. Townsend's journey from a small-town Texas youth to a soldier killed in action is a snapshot of an individual life impacted by global events.

Key Themes & Facts:

Early Life and Family:

Birth: Harold Hal Townsend was born on October 19, 1920, in Lometa, Lampasas County, Texas.

Parents: His parents were Mary Grace Spruill (born 1900, died 1987) and Brown Low Townsend (born 1892, died 1949). At the time of his birth, his mother was 19, and his father was 29.

Family Location: Townsend lived with his family in Lometa, Lampasas County, Texas, throughout the 1930s based on census records.

1940 Location: By 1940, at age 19, he was living with his family in Ward 4 of Brownwood, Brown County, Texas. This demonstrates a move in his late teenage years.

Education: The 1940 Census indicates that Harold had completed two years of high school.

Military Enlistment and Service:

Enlistment: Harold H. Townsend enlisted from the National Guard into the US Army Infantry at Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas, on November 25, 1940. He enlisted as a single, white male and was assigned the service number asn-20804433.

Military Role: Townsend was part of A Company of the 142nd Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 36th Infantry Division.

Pre-Enlistment Work: Prior to joining the army, the 1940 census notes he worked as a telegraph messenger, a common job of the era.

Wounded in Action and Death: Townsend was "wounded in action during an assault in France and died of the wounds 1 October 1944".

Post-Mortem:

Initial Burial: Townsend was initially buried in a temporary grave in France.

Repatriation: He was later repatriated to the United States and reinterred at the Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood, Brown County, Texas, on June 23, 1948.

Award: He was awarded the Purple Heart, an indication he was wounded in combat and was killed because of those wounds.

Key Quotes from Source:

"Harold H. Townsend asn-20804433 a single white male born 1920 in Texas residing in Brown County, Texas and working as a telegraph messenger with two years of high school education enlisted from the National Guard into the US Army Infantry at Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas on 25 November 1940."

"Private Harold H. Townsend 20804433 US Army A Company 142nd Infantry Regiment 36th Infantry Division was wounded in action during an assault in France and died of the wounds 1 October 1944."

Analysis and Significance:

Harold Hal Townsend’s story is a microcosm of the experience of many young Americans during World War II. He transitioned from a working life in Texas to a soldier fighting overseas. His service record, ending in his death in France, highlights the personal sacrifices of those who served in that conflict. The fact that he was later repatriated and reburied in his home state reflects the deep respect accorded to fallen soldiers and the desire of families to have their loved ones rest in peace close to home. His life, although cut short, provides a window into the social and historical context of the time.