Memorial

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1st Lt George Jatros enlisted in Detroit, Michigan on 29 June 1942.

He was, as Lieutenant of the 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Battalion, 508th Regiment, involved in the airborne landings in Normandy, France and Groesbeek, Netherlands. He died on 29 September 1944 at a patrol of Foxhill to 'Den Heuvel'.

The 2nd Battalion patrolled intensively the last nights of September 1944. Right for them was 'Den Heuvel', a small bunch of about 300 m before the front, The Wylerbaan. To prevent an enemy attack, it was necessary to purify the forest of the enemy. For that reason, two combat patrols got the task to expel the enemy. The Germans defended from covered manholes, in which they were safe for exploding grenades. The soldiers cleaned out hole for hole. During the action it rained bullets from machine guns and 20 mm guns. In this action George Jatros lost his life.

"I sincerely hope that we can knock out the Germans soon, and that I can be back home where I can once more take up civilian life. I keep thinking about what I'll do when I'll get back. I don't want to be a policeman all my life, but at the same time it's a steady job and you do get a pension when you retire. Oh well I'll wait and see if I get back first"

The photo on the right shows George Jatros, September 17, 1944, immediately after the airborne landings at Groesbeek, in a ditch along the Wylerbaan.

1st Lt George Jatros was first buried at Temporary Cemetery Molenhoek, Block B, Row 4, Grave 79.