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Personal info

Full name
RZEPPA, Robert L
Date of birth
24 July 1919
Age
26
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36661475
Rank
Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
K Company,
3rd Battalion,
334th Infantry Regiment,
84th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
22 November 1945
Place of death
Prummern, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Theodore Rzeppa (father)
Harriet Rzeppa (mother)
Virginia Rzeppa (sister
Theodore Rzeppa (brother)

More information

On 18 November 1944 K Company was assigned to establish contact between two battalions on the northern edge of Prümmern, Germany. The company departed an area 6oo yards south of the town with the intention of reaching the northern edge of the town. During the ensuing action the platoon to which Sgt Robert L. Rzeppa, Pvt Robert I. Croft and Pvt Joseph G. Mulligan were assigned was surrounded by German tanks on the northern edge of Prummern.

The following statement concerning the disappearance of these men was mede by 2nd Lt Richard S. Bullens: "Wounded men at an evacuation hospital talked with the company commander Capt Dudley. They stated that the platoon was surrounded by six German tanks. Some men were killed, some wounded and the reminder captured."

All three men were officially declared dead one one and one year after they were reported missing in action.

Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Erdmann Tree, http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/89/, IDPF of Robert I. Croft

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Madelon Franssen