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Personal info

Full name
HELLE, Merville Ernest
Date of birth
21 January 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Saunemin, Livingston County, Illinois
Hometown
Sullivan, Livingston County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16143105
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
117th Infantry Regiment,
30th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 October 1944
Place of death
Palenberg, 1 mile northwest of Ubach, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
B 15 30

Immediate family

Members
Ernest C. Helle (father)
Alice A. (Melvin) Helle (mother)
Eugene D. Helle (brother)
La Verne D. Helle (brother)
Loretta M. Helle (sister)
Marie (Mann) Helle (wife)

More information

S/Sgt Merville E. Helle attended high school for one year.

He was married to Marie Mann in March 1942.

He volunteered for the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 11 November 1942. He was sent overseas in February 1944.

After being in hospital for three months in England, he rejoined his unit in July 1944.

According to a newspaper article in the Pantagraph of 26 October 1944 he captured six Germans without assistance and performed a secret mission behind the German lines.

He fought with his unit through Normandy and Northern France.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.oldhickory30th.com, www.30thinfantry.org, www.newspapers.com - The Pantagraph 13 March 1942 / 26 October 1944

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet