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Personal info

Full name
GRUCA, Walter P
Date of birth
19 April 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36655968
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Platoon Sergeant
Unit
89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized),
9th Armored Division,
A Troop - 3rd Platoon
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 April 1945
Place of death
Heygendorf, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
M 4 5

Immediate family

Members
Peter T. Gruca (father)
Walerya M. (Hiczkiewicz) Gruca (mother)
John Gruca (brother)
Angeline Gruca (sister)
Magadelen Gruca (wife)

More information

Sgt Gruca had been with 'A' troop just exactly one month. Originally a member of the 12th Armored Division, he was left in the States while on an emergency furlough when his unit departed overseas. After many months in the replacement system, he joined the troop on 11 March 1945 in Bad Neuenahr, Germany.

He quickly distinguished himself as an excellent fighter and soldier and as platoon sergeant of the third platoon.

Sgt Gruca was killed while the troop was taking an important road junction in Heygendorf.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 census / 1940 census / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, Out Front With Able - Troop 'A' 89th Cavalry Reconn Squadron

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Out Front With Able - Troop 'A' 89th Cavalry Reconn Squadron