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name
WELCH, Alvin - Date of
birth
31 March 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Union City, Obion County, Tennessee -
Hometown
Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34987441 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Squad Leader -
Unit
L Company,
3rd Battalion,
137th Infantry Regiment,
35th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 March 1945 - Place of
death
Ossenberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 16 | 25 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Millard E. Welch (father)
Luda (Brantley) Welch (mother)
Oris Welch (brother)
Hillured Webch (brother)
Leon Welch (brother)
Arnold Welch (brother)
Jessie M. Welch (sister)
More information
S/Sgt Alvin Welch worked as a farm hand.He enlisted at Camp Shelby, Mississippi on 11 April 1944.
He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously. The citation cited: For gallantry in action while serving with the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Germany, on 8 March 1945. When his unit was pinned down and encountered heavy opposition from the enemy during an attack, Sgt Welch voluntarily covered the reorganization of his squad from an exposed position. His gallant performance in this action enabled the squad to resume its advance, but as he moved to rejoin it, he was killed by an enemy sniper. His intrepid daring and self-sacrifice reflect high credit upon his character as a soldier.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Raf Dyckmans, Marc van den Berkmortel, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree, http://etvma.org, www.coulthart.com/134
Photo source: Astrid van Erp, www.honorstates.org