Memorial

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2nd Lt Willis A. Utecht enlisted on 17 October 1942 in Marysville, Kansas.

During the battle of the "Mook Plain", 2nd Lt. Utecht and his platoon came under heavy fire from German forces. Lt Utecht was hit by enemy fire. It was the last time anyone saw him alive.

The mystery of what happened to Lt Utecht was answered when a Dutch farmer, Harry Lamers, unearthed a shallow grave while plowing a meadow. He believed the remains were those of a paratrooper because of the jump boots.

Willis Utecht was buried at Margraten Cemetery on Friday 16 September 1994 at 13.30 hours. It was the last burial at Margraten.

His name is also listed at the Walls of the Missing. Since his body is found, his name has a bronze marker.

Pfc Richard Weese remembered what happened: "We moved out and advanced for some time, like magic the fog was gone and we were out in the open. We started to receive some small arms fire, mortar and artillery fire. Lt Utecht was killed at this location and S/Sgt Atkins, both brave men. The lieutenant was shot next to me and the bullet that killed him passed between his pistol ammo pouches and his cartridge belt. Trying to help him, I searched for wounds. The lieutenant kept saying "My legs, my legs." He was hit and died in 5 minutes. No blood at all - he bled internally "