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Personal info

Full name
GRAEF, Robert S
Date of birth
28 August 1916
Age
28
Place of birth
Piqua, Miami County, Ohio
Hometown
Miami County, Ohio

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