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name
GEHRKEN, Willard Wayne - Date of
birth
14 June 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Fayette County, Illinois -
Hometown
Shobonier, Kaskaskia Township, Fayette County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36772736 -
Rank
Private -
Function
unknown -
Unit
501st Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
5 October 1944 - Place of
death
The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 41 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William Gehrken (father)
Mary A. (Leininger) Gehrken (mother)
Viola M. Gehrken (sister)
Ellsworth W. Gehrken (brother)
Virgie E. Gehrken (sister)
More information
Pvt Willard W. Gehrken entered the service on 7 December 1943. He was first in the infantry and later transferred by request for training with parachute troops.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, Kay Hallmark Mann, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ww2 airborne.us, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Knox Family Tree, www.newspapers.com - The Decatur Daily Review
Photo source: Kay Hallmark Mann, Gay Hallmark Rion