CURRENT THEORY - SUMMARY SCENARIO
In the Matter of the Murder of Harold Eugene Vest
on 27 Jun 1946 in Gainesville, TX


IMPORTANT NOTE:

This document is strictly confidential.  It is designed to document an independent assessment of the facts and theories surrounding the death of Harold “Buddy” Eugene Vest on June 28, 1946 in order to discover the truth.  This document necessarily includes a significant amount of personal information – some of which may not be accurate – in order to analyze investigative leads.  This document and its information are not designed to impugn anyone.  Readers must understand that many of the statements in this summary are not factual, but rather are opinions, impressions and speculations based on assumptions and interpretations of existing and necessarily incomplete information.  Further, the information contained in this summary is not warranted to be accurate and we assume no responsibility for damages arising from the publication, distribution, use of, or reliance on any such information.  This document is being provided confidentially in order to further the investigation.  It is a living document, and as such remains subject to change without notice. 

HOWARD PENLEY TIMELINE

Italicized type = Civilian
Black type = Military
Bold type = Overlap with Buddy

May 31, 1923

Born Howard Lawson Penley in El Paso, TX, to Pete and Jeanette Penley. He has a brother, P.A. Penley (currently lives in Austin, TX)

1930

Lives with his Grandparents: Anton H. and Mary E. Faller at 3806 Trowbridge Street in El Paso

1930 to 1937

Attends Alta Vista Public School in El Paso

1937 to 1941

Attends Austin High in El Paso

1940 to 1942

Works at A.B. Poe Motor Co, El Paso during the summers while a student as a clerk, runner, PBX Operator, and Secretary to the Credit Manager

1941 to 1943

Attends Texas College of Mines in El Paso

Nov. 25, 1942

Enlists in the Army at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX, serial No. [withheld] SSN: [withheld]

April 1 , 1943

147th Engineering Combat Battalion is activated at Camp Swift, TX (28 miles east of Austin)

May 11, 1943

Goes on active duty

1943

Attends the Army Specialized Program at Oklahoma University in Norman (program only in existence from 8/1943 to 2/1944).  Exact dates of attendance unknown

1943

According to family members, Howard joins 147th at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. There is no record that the 147th was at Fort Leonard Wood

Jan. 8, 1944

147th departs from New York

Jan. 17, 1944

147th lands in England

June 6, 1944

147th with Penley lands in France on Omaha Beach

Sept.15, 1944

Chateau D’Enlesqueville La Percee, France, VT 6192, 4 miles west of Sur Mer

Dec. 2, 1944

Julouville, France

Dec. 24, 1944

Linas, France

Jan. 9, 1945

St. Trond, Belgium attached to 1143rd Engineering Combat Group

Jan. 16, 1945

Maastricht, Holland

Feb. 7, 1945

Assigned to 9th Army (12th Army Group)

Feb 28, 1945

Assigned to 1124th Engineering Combat Group (attached to 2nd British Army)

March 3, 1945

Helmond, Holland

March 27, 1945

Keppeln, Germany — road and bridge maintenance

March 30, 1945

Mehr, Germany

April 9, 1945

Rheinberg, Germany

April 17, 1945

Hervest, Germany

April 27, 1945

Talgte, Germany

April 30, 1945

Werle, Germany

May 4, 1945

Detmold, Germany

May 31, 1945

Bettenhausen, Germany

June 14, 1945

Liege, Belgium — guarding POWs and engineering dumps

July 1, 1945

Assigned to Channel Base Section

Aug. 22, 1945

Penley is listed as a T5

Sept. 5, 1945

Tongres, Belgium, assigned to Channel Base Section and the 1195th Engineering Base Depot. This overlaps with the 711th Engineering Base Depot Company, Buddy’s unit

Dec. 31, 1945

Penley is discharged and apparently resumes study at the Texas College of Mines

June 27-28, 1946

Penley is in Gainesville, TX, in the uniform of a PFC.  The newspaper states that he is hitchhiking to Camp Hood.  

1947

Marries Virginia Ruth Smith. Moves to Austin for the fall semester at University of Texas

January 1949

Graduates from University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Electrical Engineering

February 22, 1949

He goes to work for El Paso Electric Co. as an student engineer and  later becomes manager of systems planning. He becomes a licensed engineer (Texas license #20422)

Sept. 18, 1951

Son Howard L. Penley, Jr. is born (currently lives in El Paso)

May 23, 1953

Daughter Leslie Ruth Penley is born (married Chris Johnston, has 3 daughters, currently lives in El Paso)

Jan. 6, 1974

Wife Virginia Ruth Smith, dies in El Paso of “probable suicide” by alcohol and drug overdose. She may have been psychotic. She took Thorazine and Amobarbital

July 15, 1976

He marries Olga L. Penley

July 7, 1977

He divorces Olga

 

He marries Martha Jane Penley (currently lives in El Paso)

1986

He retires from El Paso Electric

May 31, 2004

He dies in El Paso of hypoxia caused by 15-year illness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, no autopsy