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Personal info

Full name
PAYNE, Donald Frederick
Date of birth
22 March 1920
Age
25
Place of birth
Pawcatuck, New London County, Connecticut
Hometown
Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island

Military service

Service number
O1171712
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
unknown
Unit
466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion,
17th Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 March 1945
Place of death
Near Wesel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
E 5 8

Immediate family

Members
John Payne (father)
Bessie B. Payne (mother)
John R. Payne (brother)
Pearl P. Payne (sister)

More information

1st Lt. Donald F. Payne graduated from Westerly High School in 1938 where he was on the track team and a member of the Chorus. Lt Payne worked as a bank clerk at City National Bank.

He enlisted at Fort Devens, Massachusetts on 15 January 1942.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/466/466_honor.html, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Rhode Island State Census, WWII Draft Cards

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Westerly High School Yearbook, 1938