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name
SWAGEL, Joseph A "Joe" - Date of
birth
2 July 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Krok, West-Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Krok, West-Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36844970 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
I Company,
3rd Battalion,
275th Infantry Regiment,
70th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1945 - Place of
death
Spicheren, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 37 | 25 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Swagel (father)
Frances (Ratajczak) Swagel (mother)
Eugene A. Swagel (brother)
More information
Pfc Joseph A. Swagel graduated from Kewaunee High School in 1938.He enlisted in July 1944 and was sent overseas in January 1945.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement in action on 18 February 1945. The citation reads in part: Prior to an attack, Pfc Swagel, with three of his comrades, moved forward to determine the location of enemy strong points in Etzling, France. Reaching a vantage point, the patrol discovered a group of enemy soldiers and, in the fierce engagement that followed, four enemy were killed and six others routed. By elimination of the strong point, which included two enemy machine guns, the main contribution was to the successful attack on the village.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census, http://www.trailblazersww2.org, www.newspapers.com – Green Bay Press-Gazette / Wisconsin 15 March 1945, General Orders #19 courtesy of TrailBlazersWWII.org
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy, Kewaunee Enterprise - 22 February 1946