Memorial

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Pvt Harold L. Finley attended high school for two years before he volunteered for the Army of the United States at Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky on 19 December 1941.

Pfc Glenn E. Schmidt recalled how his comrade Pvt Finley was killed:
"It seemed like it was about 2100 hours we set out single file in front of this pillbox. We passed several foxholes manned by shivering men of the Third Platoon and members of the Weapons Platoon. There were ten of us led by Pfc Harold L. Finley of St. Clairsville, Ohio. I was the second man. With the rest of the squad behind me was my assistant ammo carrier, a boy from New York. Bringing up the rear was our Platoon Leader, Jim Beers, who on this mission was shot in one heel. I also realized there were enemy in the creek, possibly as cold or worse off than we. My hands were too cold to wrap around a grenade which I wanted to toss in the creek and under the bridge. At that time one or more machine guns directly in front opened up on us. I could see tracers coming right at me. I could also feel them hitting the snow beside me. I turned my head to see them ricochet into the air above the pillbox way behind me. I was directly behind Finley, who I determined had been killed in the fusillade. After many years of reflection, I regret to this day being unable to evacuate Finley from that murderous ambush."