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Personal info

Full name
WHITEHAIR, Lawrence Theodore
Date of birth
26 February 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Preston County, West Virginia
Hometown
Preston County, West Virginia

Military service

Service number
35290112
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
325th Glider Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 October 1944
Place of death
Katerbosch, Holland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
G 3 12

Immediate family

Members
Oscar Whitehair (father)
Laura Whitehair (mother)
Mary M. (Hoffner) Whitehair (wife)

More information

Pfc Lawrence T. Whitehair enlisted in Fort Hayes Columbus, Ohio on 19 March 1942.
On October 2, the 325th attacked the Mook plains until they reached the hamlet at Katerbosch. The fog that had concealed them was lifting and they were in the open without cover. Heavy losses ensued. The men dug in and were in the area for several days.

Lawrence graduated from Aurora High School in the class of 1939 before he entered the service. He received his training at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Bragg, N.C., and in Louisiana. He was sent to North Africa with the Glider Infantry in May 1943 and saw active service in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He was then sent to Ireland for a rest period and returned to active duty at the start of the French Invasion.

Pfc Lawrence T. Whitehair first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery Molenhoek, Netherlands Block E, Row 4, Grave 65.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, WVGenWeb

Photo source: Peter Schouteten