Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
OGLENSKY, David
Date of birth
25 December 1915
Age
29
Place of birth
Connecticut
Hometown
Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
O-1016415
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Platoon Commander
Unit
C Company,
740th Tank Battalion,
1st Platoon
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 February 1945
Place of death
A field between Düren and Girbelsrath, Germany
Girbelsrath, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Samuel Oglensky (father)
Rose (Seigal) glensky (mother)
Morris Oglensky (brother)
Lillian Oglensky (sister)
Bernard Oglensky (brother)
Helen (Ides) Oglensky (wife)
Elaine B. Oglensky (daughter)

More information

1st Lt David Oglensky graduated from Freehold High School, Hebrew School and the University of California.

He was part owner and manager of the Lincoln auto dealer store in his hoemtown before he enlisted in Camden, New Jersey on 30 July 1942.

H was awarded the The Silver Star Medal for his action on 20 December 1944 in Belgium. The citation reads: "Lt Oglensky distinguished himself by leading a platoon of tanks in an attack against the enemy. His tank was hit to such an extent that his gun was put out of action. After evacuating the crew he reentered the tank and placed it across the road as a block. Taking over command of the tank immediately behind this roadblock, he continued to fire at the enemy until the second tank was also knocked out of action by enemy fire. The inspiring fortitude, courage and outstandig devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenantn Oglensky reflect great credit to himself and are in keeping with the traditions of the armed forces."

On 25 February 1945, the platoon was ordered to advance across an open field between Düren and Girbelsrath against the platoon leader's advice, Lt Oglensky. As a result three tanks were destroyed by 88mm fire. Of the casualties, two men are buried at Henri-Chapelle: T/5 Grady Morris Jr. and Cpl Ray T. Merritt. Lt Oglensky's body was never recovered.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree, http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org - After Action Report, www.coulthart.com/134, www.newspapers.com - Ashbury Park Press

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Jori Videc - Monmouth County Historical Association via Dana Howell, www.newspapers.com - The Freehold Transcript and The Monmouth Inquirer