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name
GRAEF, Robert S - Date of
birth
28 August 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Piqua, Miami County, Ohio -
Hometown
Miami County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-887977 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Platoon Commander -
Unit
Service Company,
327th Glider Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 October 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Andelst, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 21 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank Graef (father)
Alma (Snyder) Graef (mother)
Margaret Graef (sister)
Harry Graef (brother)
Thomas J. Graef (brother)
Elizabeth J. (Schneider) Graef (wife)
More information
2nd Lt Robert S. Graef attended high school for four years and was an insurance agent. He volunteered for the Army of the United States at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He trained at Camp Clairborne, Los Angeles, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was sent overseas in August 1943 wearing the rank of Sergeant.On 4 October 1945, 1st Lt Ralph I. Epps, the assisant adjudant of his unit, wrote a letter to the father of Cpl Jack A Case, explaining what had happened to his son: "He was one of four enlisted men who volunteered with an officer to form a daylight patrol to make a reconnaissance of the area. The patrol advanced from the town of Dodewaard, protecting themselves by a dyke, nearing the town in an effort to reach a house some 50 yards away. When the officer had traversed half the distance he was hit by fire received from the house. Cpl Case jumped up, said, "I'm going after Graef" and ran forward to aid the officer. As he left the protection of the dyke another shot was fired from the house hitting your son in the head, killing him instantly. Heavy machine gun fire was directed upon the area and the remaining members of the patrol worked their way back to their lines. Five medics volunteered to go under a white flag to administer aid, but found both men dead."
Jack A. Case is also buried at Margraten.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Piqua, Ohio was chartered in November of 1945 and members voted to name the Post after Samuel Chaney from World War I and Robert Graef from World War II. In 2002 they added a Vietnam Medal of Honor winner, William Pitsenbarger for there current name, Chaney-Graef-Pitsenbarger VFW Post 4874.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - The Piqua Daily Call, www.ww2-airborne.us / 1920 census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Gerrie Franken - SOHE