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Personal info

Full name
VANIER, Francis William
Date of birth
21 February 1920
Age
25
Place of birth
Cohoes, Albany County, New York
Hometown
Troy, Rensselaer County, New York

Military service

Service number
42122258
Rank
Private
Function
unknown
Unit
A Company,
55th Armored Infantry Battalion,
11th Armored Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Died of Wounds
Date of death
24 February 1945
Place of death
France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Plot Row Grave
B 23 69

Immediate family

Members
Victor A. Vanier (father)
Elizabeth (Charbonneau) Vanier (mother)
Victor A. Vanier Jr. (brother)
Elizabeth E. Vanier (sister)
Eugene G. Vanier (brother)
William R. Vanier (brother)
Beatrix Vanier (sister)
George A. Vanier (brother)
Harry Vanier (brother)
Ernest Vanier (brother)
Rita J. Vanier (sister)
Henry A. Vanier (brother)
Alma T. (Graham) Vanier (wife)
Lawrence J. Vanier (son)
Terence F. Vanier (son)
Kenneth Varnier (son)

More information

Pvt Francis W. Vanier graduated from Christian Brothers Academy.

He enlisted in Albany, New York on 17 July 1944 and was sent overseas in December 1944.

He died of wounds sustained on 9 February 1945.

His brother, Pvt Ernest Vanier, was killed on 1 December 1944 and is buried at Epinal American Cemetery near his brother.

Source of information: André Koch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / New York, State Census, 1925 / Vanier Family Tree / Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942 / New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967,
http://www.11tharmoreddivision.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Dwight “Andy” Anderson, www.newspapers.com - The Troy Record 14 March 1945, The Times Record - 22 February 1945