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Personal info

Full name
BURITSCH, William Rudolph
Date of birth
4 December 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33088549
Rank
First Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
60th Infantry Regiment,
9th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
18 April 1945
Place of death
Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
B 2 13

Immediate family

Members
John Buritsch (father)
Anna (Petrasovitz) Buritsch (mother)
Hilda T. Buritsch (sister)
John F. Buritsch (brother)
Emma A. Buritsch (sister)
Francis J. Buritsch (brother)
Anna Buritsch (sister)
Helen Buritsch (sister)
Edward Buritsch (brother)

More information

1st Sgt William R. Buritsch enlisted on 25 July 1941 at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland and was sent overseas in August 1942, serving in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium and Germany.

During his time in England, he met an English girl, Patricia Murphy of Winchester Hants, and became engaged.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. The citation cited: Seeing a man fall seriously wounded while advancing through strongly fortified territory, Sgt Buritsch moved forward to go to his aid. He observed several replacements which were pinned down by enemy fire and could not advance. With complete disregard for personal safety, he exposed himself to direct enemy fire to encourage and shout discorrections to these men. Then he proceeded to where the casualty lay and picked him up evacuated him to a position of safety.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, www.newspapers.com - The Morning Call

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, www.newspapers.com - The Morning Call