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Personal info

Full name
LACNY, Stanley Walter
Date of birth
27 March 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36325066
Rank
Private First Class
Function
Loader
Unit
B Company,
34th Tank Battalion,
5th Armored Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 December 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Grosshau, Hürtgen Forest, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Charles Lacny (father)
Anna (Mikrut) Lacny (mother)
Walter Lacny (brother)
Mechel Lacny (sister)
Edward Lacny (brother)
Charles Lacny (brother)
Lillian Lacny (sister)

More information

Pfc William W. Lacny enlisted at Camp Grant, Illinois on 14 March 1942.

A crew member Cpl Charles D. Fuller stated: "I was gunner in Sgt. Wilmer Doty's tank. We were on a mission in the vicinity of Grosshau, Germany when we were hit by enemy fire in the right front sponson, penetrating through the ammunition rack into the tank. I was burnt from the hit and before getting out of the tank, I glanced at my loader, PFC Stanley Lacny and noticed he was all tore up. I am sure he was dead. The tank was on fire when I left, powder was burning fiercely in the tank. I was around the tank for 2-3 hours ad did not see anyone get out.
Sgt. Doty tried to re-enter the tank to evacuate the rest of the crew but was driven off by enemy fire."

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, WWII Draft Cards, Lacny Family

Photo source: Peter Schouteten