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name
HENKELMAN, Leonard J - Date of
birth
27 November 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois -
Hometown
Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O2005453 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
C Company,
741st Tank Battalion
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Died of Injuries - Date of
death
28 March 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Elz, Northwest of Limburg An Der Lahn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 20 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John H. Henkelman (father)
Maria A. (Donsbach) Henkelman (mother)
Lorrain A. Henkelman (brother)
Catherine Henkelman (sister)
Christine R. Henkelman (sister)
Raymond A. Henkelman (brother)
Florence K. (Hartke) Henkelman (wife)
Lois A. Henkelman (daughter)
More information
2nd Lt Leonard J. Henkelman enlisted in Camp Grant, Illinois on 13 January 1942.He was a salesman before he enlisted.
"We were on the road to Limburg when Lt Henkelman and his crew suffered severe injuries. His tank was creeping along a dangerous road leading out of Montabaur - a cobblesone road with a soft shoulder, and with a cliff just beyond - when half the road gave way and the tank slid toward the cliff. Before infantry could dismount the tank had crashed through the stone fence and gone thundering down, side over side, landing right side up at the bottom. The crew suffered injuries, but Lt Henkelman died. He was a friend to everyone, a cool, capable man in battle. His death was a loss to all who knew this friendly, good-natured officer."
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Zander de Rooij, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Various Family Trees, http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org - After Action Report 741st Tank Battalion, "Vitamin Charley" - A History of Co. C, 741st Tank Battalion in World War II by George M. Smith, Richard Meacham and George Hiller
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet / Jane Ries