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Personal info

Full name
CLOSEN, Francis Edward
Date of birth
7 October 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois
Hometown
Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16017270
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
E Company,
2nd Battalion,
325th Glider Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
25 September 1944
Place of death
Rijksweg, behind the restaurant de Plasmolense Hof, at the crossing of Molenweg en Kiekbergsebaan
Plasmolen, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
B 17 32

Immediate family

Members
John M. Closen (father)
Etta A. (Hartwig) Closen (mother)
Matilda A. Closen (sister)
Leanora C. Closen (sister)
Edith C. Closen (sister)
Marie M. Closen (sister)
Viola W. Closen (sister)
Helena A. Closen (sister)
John N. Closen (brother)
Mildred M. Closen (sister)
Clara M. Closen (sister)
Martha M. Closen (sister)
Charles H. Closen (brother)
Frederick M. Closen (brother)
Anna C. Closen (sister)
Ruth M. Closen (sister)
Melvin E. Closen (brother)

More information

Pfc Francis E. Closen was a chauffeur.

He joined the Regular Army in Peoria, Illinois on 29 October 1940.

In November 1945 two graves, marked as "Two unknown American Soldiers" were discovered in Plasmolen. The remains were evacuated to Margraten, where Pfc Closen was previously buried as Unknown X-2063 on 28 November 1945. He was identified through tooth chart comparison, a laundry mark and a gold ring with the initials FEC. He was given his final resting place on 13 December 1948.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.findagrave.com, IDPF

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet / Frank Schaefer