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name
GROTENHUIS, John "Ted" - Date of
birth
22 October 1921 -
Age
23 -
Place of birth
Allegan County, Michigan -
Hometown
Holland, Allegan County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16084821 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
451st Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
unknown
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
19 April 1945 - Place of
death
Beauvechain, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 32 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William Grotenhuis (father)
Hattie (Jacobs) Grotenhuis (mother)
Arthur Grotenhuis (brother)
Angeline Grotenhuis (sister)
Alidia Grotenhuis (sister)
Wallace Grotenhuis (brother)
Herald Grotenhuis (brother)
Donald Grotenhuis (brother)
Lee E. Grotenhuis (brother)
Lavina Grotenhuis (sister)
Eugene Grotenhuis (brother)
Verna Grotenhuis (sister)
More information
Pfc John Grotenhuis volunteered for the Army of the United States in Kalamazoo, Michigan on 23 June 1942.He and a fellow soldier were proceeding toward a nearby village. On the way, they passed a pile of German incendiary bombs. The two men set off six of these bombs, and a small fire was started. Pfc Grotenhuis went back to put the fire out and approached within twenty feet of a burning bomb. The bomb exploded, and he was hit by a flying fragment. His death occurred shortly afterward. This took place at the airfield in Belgium at which he was stationed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Ed Tiebax, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Family Trees / 1930 Census, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.findagrave.com
Photo source: Ed Tiebax