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Personal info

Full name
MOEN, Richard Sidney
Date of birth
21 May 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Durand, Pepin County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Hennepin County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
37024518
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
39th Infantry Regiment,
9th Infantry Division
Awards
unknown

Death

Status
Died non-Battle
Date of death
19 May 1945
Place of death
Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 3 4

Immediate family

Members
Harry P. Moen (father)
Minnie (Steen) Moen (mother)
Claudine M. Moen (sister)
Irene O. Moen (sister)
Aldona Moen (half-sister)

More information

Pvt Richard Moen befriended a stray dog in the Aleutians and smuggled him back through the United states and across to Europe. Moen shared his food and quarters with the dog, Buff, for a year and a half in the Aleutians. When ordered back to the States, he smuggled his pet back in his barracks bag. He spent several months in the US before being ordered to Europe. Again the barracks bag trick worked and Buff became a mascot of the 39th Infantry. Besides eating and sleeping with Moen, Buff regularly stood guard with him and mastered 23 tricks with which he entertained the men of the outfit.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.newspapers.com - Eau Claire leader, WWII Draft Cards

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Phillipet, Hans Wijnands