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name
KILEY, John W - Date of
birth
15 September 1919 -
Age
25 -
Place of birth
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York City, New York -
Hometown
West Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1285066 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Company Commander -
Unit
HQ Company,
3rd Battalion,
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
18 September 1944 - Place of
death
Vlokhovenseweg, near the Volkhoven tower
Vlokhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 6 | 26 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John Kiley (father)
Pauline M. (Schiesman) Kiley (mother)
Joseph W. Kiley (brother)
Elmer Kiley (brother)
More information
John W. Kiley was a plumber.He joined the National Guard in New York City, New York on 15 October 1940.
At that time, the Battalion CP was located beside a burnt-out German halftrack, some two hundred yards from the Catholic Church of Onze Lieve Vrouw van Lourds, locally known as the Volkhoven tower. At a certain moment, Capt Kiley walked across the street and stood obstinately in full view, studying the church and road ahead. Even though the captain's bars on his helmet had been painted out, he could ill-afford to be reckless. One of his men shouted to him to take cover before his "ass was shot off by a sniper." Capt Kiley looked back and replied, "If I get down, so will everyone else". Moments later Capt Kiley was struck in the neck by a single bullet and collapsed.
His name is mentioned on the Airborne Monument at the Airborne Laan in Eindhoven.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – Orville L. Kline / Derek J. Olson, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.ancestry.com – WWII Enlistment Record / Kiley Family Tree / Headstone and Interment Record / New York Birth Index,
http://www.battledetective.com/casefiles1.html, Deliver Us From Darkness - courtesy of Joek Hulsmann, Fold 3
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Des Philippet, www.ww2airborne.com