T/Sgt. Charles O. Dimmick

Biography and Wartime Service

Charles Otis Dimmick was born on August 12, 1915, in Three Rivers, Michigan, to Emma Augusta White (1884–1966) and Clyde Irvin Dimmick (1883–1961). Charles O. Dimmick married Jeanne Taylor Stiver in Battle Creek, Michigan, on June 7, 1941.

Dave Dimmick recounts the story of Albert Duffer's death during the Battle of the Bulge, one of the men under his father's command in I Company, 330th Infantry Regiment. On this particular day the men of I Company were advancing on the town of Fraiture as part of the Allied counteroffensive against the German advance in the Ardennes.

Albert Duffer was from the Louisville, Kentucky area. He was of Irish decent, and possibly first generation American Irish. He served in the 1st Platoon of I Company of the 330th Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division. Early in the morning on 6 January 1945, the platoon began its attack on the German held village of Fraiture, Belgium. They advanced cross country from the hills of Bois de Groumont north of Fraiture. They were part of Task Force Lovelady renamed Task Force Stallings which was made up of 330th IR 83rd ID and 33rd AR of 3rd AD. Combined, their task on this cloudy cold January day was to liberate the town of Fraiture from German oppression. 1st Platoon on that particular day was being led by Platoon Sgt. Charles Dimmick as their LT had been wounded in action on 3 Jan. They were down to 21 soldiers from a normal platoon size of 34. It had been a rough few days on 1st platoon. The Platoon Sgt. had made Luther Strunk scout that morning and ordered Luther to brake trail through knee to thigh deep snow across open fields. The platoon had to cross these open areas quickly and Luther told me the Platoon Sgt was poking him in the butt with his bayonet to speed them along. In the first two houses they came upon they captured 45 German prisoners. Tanks immediately joined them and after disarming and processing the POW’s the platoon joined up with the 3rd Armored tanks and continued their advance into the center of town. This is when all Hell broke loose as they encountered mortar, artillery, panzerfaust, small arms and sniper fire. Taking a lower street at a Y junction to try to create a left flank is when the Platoon Sgt was hit by mortar fire and 20 year old PFC Albert Duffer, assistant bazooka was killed by a German sniper. PFC Arthur Jacobson and PFC Albert Duffer were the bazooka team for I Co. since July of 1944. The only one I Co ever had. Arthur and Albert were the best of friends. (General Macon, 83rd CO personally awarded Arthur and Albert the Bronze star for meritorious action in France for disposing of German machine gun nests in the hedgerows.) Arthur tried to warn Albert about snipers in Fraiture as they advanced with a tank. Albert’s last words were, “They can’t hit me.” Seconds later Arthur saw his friend shot through the neck. Arthur picked up a rifle and never fired a bazooka again. By nightfall, Task Force Stallings had secured the village, capturing around 289 German soldiers, killing at least 57 and wounding 20 more. They also destroyed German equipment, munitions and supplies in the process. PFC Albert W. Duffer was unmarried and 20 years old at the time of his death.

For his service, Charles O. Dimmick received, among other decorations, the Combat Infantry Badge, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Silver campaign star, the Purple Heart Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

I met his son Dave Dimmick and his wife Becky on several occasions. For the first time at the Reunion of the 83rd Division Association, West Point, New York, 2011 and after that at seven more reunions. In January 2015 at Fraiture for the inauguration of the plate in honoring of Pfc. Albert W. Duffer. In December 2019, we had the pleasure to welcome Dave and Becky Dimmick to our home togheter with Art Jacobson (I/330) and his son Ed.

Gallery

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