The 175th landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France on D-Day (Day Overlord).
They were part of the sweep through France to drive the Germans back into Germany and then occupy Germany and end the war.  The Story of the 175th is told here.

In mid to late November 1944 they were in the roer River Offensive. He died in this effort but before they captured Bourheim on the 23rd. His family would not have heard anything but the date of his death and the country he died in.