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Personal info

Full name
DE FOSTER, Anthony J
Date of birth
10 May 1916
Age
28
Place of birth
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
Hometown
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York

Military service

Service number
32038173
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade
Function
unknown
Unit
A Company,
643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion,
3rd Platoon
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 December 1944
Place of death
Baraque de Fraiture, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
G 3 67

Immediate family

Members
Joseph De Foster (father)
Catherine De Foster (mother)
Emilis De Foster (brother)
Leo De Foster (brother)
Sam De Foster (brother)
Amadeo De Foster (brother)
Robert De Foster (brother)
Rocco De Foster (brother)
Genevieve De Foster (sister)
Anne De Foster (sister)
Nancy (Mastriano) De Foster (wife)
Antony de Foster Jr (son)

Biography

www.bensavelkoul.nl

More information

T/5 De Foster graduated from Christian Brothers Academy.

He enlisted in April 1941. He had been overseas since September 1944.

According to several sources, Sgt Joseph S. Giordana and T/5 Anthony J. De Foster were killed during the defense of Parker's Crossroads at Baraque de Fraiture at daybreak on 23 December 1944 during a mortar and artillery shelling on their positions.

This must be the right date when they were killed, because their position at Parker's Crossroads was overrun on 23 December 1944 at 7 PM.

According to the After Action Report of the battalion, they were registered MIA on 24 December 1944 together with 19 others. This date became their official date of death.

The third pictured shows a comrade visiting his temporary grave at Henri-Chapelle.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.myheritage.nl - Syracuse Herald Journal

Photo source: Ben Savelkoul, Peter Schouteten