The Millionth American
by Jake Simpkin
The year 2024 marks the 80th. Anniversary of the ‘Millionth Yank’ to embark from Southampton docks. In the months following D-Day to the end of WW2, three and a half million troops embarked from Southampton docks. Over two million of whom 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 the 25th. October 1944, Private Paul Shimer Jr, of the 15 Infantry, 3rd. Division, Seventh Army, stepped through the counting machine to become the millionth American soldier. Sgt. 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, including Col. Leo J. Meyer, US Army Commander of the Port, and Southampton’s Mayor Rex Stranger. A large sign was hung around his neck, announcing ‘The Millionth Yank’, and he went through the agony of making an impromptu speech
Private Paul Shimer Jr with Mayor Rex Stranger
Private Paul Shimer Jr stands on a makeshift stage
alongside an assembly of top brass
Paul Shimer Jr. came from Chambersburg in Pennsylvania, where he lived with his wife and daughter. His parents lived in the nearby town of McConnellsburg, his hometown. Before joining the army, he had been an assistant manager working for a chain store, J. C. Penney Company. He was typical of many young Americans, who left their farms, small towns, and cities. Paul Shimer underwent basic training at Camp Walter, Texas, before crossing the Atlantic in an overcrowded troop ship in October 1944.
With information gathered from Paul Shimer’s sister, Kathryn Ruggiero, and fellow soldier Al Brown, it is possible to piece together what happened to the ‘millionth yank’. We know that within hours of departing Southampton, he arrived at Cherbourg. From here he boarded the Twentieth Century Flyer, pride of the U.S. 729th Rail Operating Battalion, which by nightfall was well on its way to the front. According to Al Brown, “It would have taken two to four weeks to move through the replacement system to reach the 15th Infantry in the St. Die – Colmar area. If we accept the shorter time of two weeks, he would have reached the 15th Regiment as a private around the middle of November during the fighting around St. Die. We know that he was a Sergeant by December 24, 1944, when he earned the Bronze Star. This means that in a span of barely six weeks he was promoted from private to Sergeant. Promotions were not handed out based on how long one had been around, but filled by men who were demonstrating their leadership and mettle. I can tell you with certainty that Paul S. Shimer was a very good soldier”. Three days after being awarded the Bronze Star Sergeant Shimer was wounded in combat on in attacks on Sigolsheim, France, on 27th. January 1945.
Private Paul Shimer Jr embarking on a troop ship
Back home in McConnellsburg, his parents and siblings awaited news of both Paul, and his brother John, who was also a GI. By coincidence John Shimer was in Southampton, on the gang plank, only feet away from the ‘Two Millionth Yank’, who embarked for France 16th. January 1945. A third brother, Bill, also served in France. A fourth brother Jack later served in the Korean War.
At this time Southampton ranked as 4th among the sixty U.S. Army Ports operating in the world. The US Army14th Major Port Transportation Corps arrived in Southampton in the summer of 1943 when they took over dock’s organisation. Their main role was to co-ordinate the shipment of American troops, military equipment and stores through the port. Their HQ was in the Civic Centre. Officers were billeted in the Polygon Hotel, and men at Blighmont Barracks, Millbrook Road. They also had a hutted cap on Hoglands Park. 14th Major Port were stationed in Southampton for over 3 years. In recognition of their service, they were granted Freedom of the City, and in March 1946, before the crowd lined streets, they marched through the historic Bargate with bayonets fixed and drums beating.
Al Brown, fellow soldier, was in Co. H, 30th, Inf., 3rd Inf. Div.
Paul Shimer Jr
Sergeant Shimer’s war grave is one of 10,000 situated at St. Avold in France
Sergeant Shimer lost his life on 14 April 1945, just 24 days from cessation of hostilities. He had served in the US Army for just 51 weeks. According to Al Brown, “Paul would have been killed in skirmishes between Bamberg and Nuremburg as we advanced southerly toward Nuremburg”.
By a cruel twist of fate, Paul’s wife received the telegramme 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 having 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 create a trust fund for the daughter’s education. The local citizens, not to be out done, raised $3000 for Rex Stranger to spend on worthy charities in England. They also gave him a large consignment of apples for Southampton schools.
Kathryn Ruggiero, who lives in Chambersburg, said: “Upon the mayor learning that Paul was from McConnellsburg, he started coming to our hometown 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”.
Sergeant Shimer’s war grave is one of 10,000 situated at St. Avold in France. Today his memory stands as a poignant symbol of those three and half million soldiers who left Southampton Docks to fight the tyranny of fascism.