A MEMORIAL could soon be erected to the US servicemen who trained and lived in Pembrokeshire during the Second World War.

A group of volunteers at Carew Airfield’s Cheriton Control Tower Group are hoping to build the 2-and-a-half tonne granite memorial to commemorate the Americans who were stationed in the county prior to the D-Day landings.

Keith Hamer, a volunteer with the group, said the memorial would be dedicated to the US troops on behalf of all the people of Pembrokeshire.

“We must not forget these guys. When school children visit the control tower museum we tell them: ‘Look who gave their lives for us,’ it doesn’t matter where they are from originally,” said Keith, 76, of Kilgetty.

Keith first raised the idea of the memorial three years ago, but brought the idea back earlier this year after seeing a flypast in Sheffield organised to commemorate the 10 US airmen who died when their bomber crashed at Endcliffe Park in 1944.

An estimated 5,000 American soldiers from the 110th US Infantry Regiment were based in the Pembrokeshire from October 1943, who were part of the larger 28th US Infantry Division.

Most of the soldiers were stationed at Llanion Barracks, but others were based across the county.

On April 1, 1944, the Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D Eisenhower, visited to the 110th regiment alongside Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who also observed invasion exercises on the beaches of Amroth.

There are memorials to American servicemen across Wales, including in Cardiff, Porthcawl and Port Talbot.

The volunteers hope to hold a ceremony in October to open the memorial and have spoken to Valero and the American embassy in London for support.

There are plans to invite local army regiments, and a search is on to find if there is an association for former members of the 110th infantry in the USA.