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name
DOWNS, Francis Leo - Date of
birth
31 January 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, Maryland -
Hometown
Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, Maryland
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33559942 -
Rank
Private -
Function
unknown -
Unit
HQ Company,
3rd Battalion,
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 September 1944 - Place of
death
Waalriver near Nijmegen, Holland
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry Leo Downs (father)
Mary Lottie (Evans) Downs (mother)
George L. Downs (brother)
James E. Downs (brother)
More information
Pvt Francis L. Downs enlisted in Baltimore, Maryland on 25 February 1943. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Filling Station Attendant.Pvt Downs was killed during the Waalriver crossing near Nijmegen and was initially buried at Molenhoek Cemetery near Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com - Russ Pickett, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Headstone and Interment Record, Kathleen Buttke, 31 May 2016, www.bevrijdingsmuseum.nl
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Kathleen Buttke, 31 May 2016