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Personal info

Full name
STECKLER, Clarence H
Date of birth
26 March 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Eagle Butte, Ziebach County, South Dakota
Hometown
Fried, Stutsman County, North Dakota

Military service

Service number
37322484
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade
Function
unknown
Unit
A Company,
709th Tank Battalion
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
14 December 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Kesternich, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Julius Steckler (father)
Emilia Steckler (mother)
Jacob Steckler (brother)
Arlene Steckler (sister)
Alvin Steckler (sister)
Florence Steckler (sister)
Emil Steckler (brother)

More information

Clarence Steckler enlisted in November 1942 and went overseas in February 1944.

Thick drifts of snow and enemy minefields stalled the advance of the 709th Tank Battalion to Kesternich. The unit was hit by enemy shells, causing one tank to catch fire. T/5 Steckler was presumably killed in the engagement but his remains could not be located following the incident. Further attemps to locate them after the war were unsuccessful.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, WWIIMemorial.com, Ancestry.com - Hepfner Held Tree

Photo source: FOHF