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Personal info

Full name
GARASCIA, Joseph F
Date of birth
22 January 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Michigan
Hometown
Wayne County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36545140
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
K Company,
3rd Battalion,
406th Infantry Regiment,
102nd Infantry Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 December 1944
Place of death
Near Linnich, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
J 19 9

Immediate family

Members
Ambrose Garascia (father)
Maria (Cucchi) Garascia (mother)
Charles Garascia (brother)
Paul Garascia (brother)
Paulina Garascia (sister)
Mary Garascia (sister)
Rose F. Garascia (wife)

More information

From a letter from his friend Joe Careccia:
"It happened on December 7th around 10:00 P.M. in Linnich, Germany. The boys were defending the river bank and the Germans always came thru our lines and made trouble so they decided to put mines in front of the company's foxholes for extra protection. Some men were picked to lay the mines and Joe was to protect the mine layers with a few more men while the boys planted the mines. They finished the job and started back towards the road. While walking on the road three German Artillery Shells landed and they hit Joe and two others. A piece of the shell hit Joe in the stomach. They rushed the jeeps over there and brought them to the Aid Station. He was unconscious all the time he lived. I guess he lived half an hour. They buried him the next day."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Edward Schmidt, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – A Grateful Dutchman, www.ancestry.com – Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. Social Security Death Index

Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Des Philippet, Edward Schmidt (nephew)