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Personal info

Full name
VANCE, David Hancock Jr
Date of birth
28 September 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
Hometown
Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee

Military service

Service number
O2006108
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
unknown
Unit
I Company,
3rd Battalion,
142nd Infantry Regiment,
36th Infantry Division
Awards
Distinguished Service Cross,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 March 1945
Place of death
Near Kaiserslautern, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
A 27 24

Immediate family

Members
David H. Vance Sr. (father)
Harriet H. (Crook) Vance (mother)
Carolyn B. Vance (sister)
Stuart P. Vance (brother)

More information

2nd Lt David H. Vance graduated from Central High School and was a student at the University of Tennessee when he enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on 29 December 1943. He was sent overseas in October 1944.

He was killed when he tried to the rescue of three of his men who were cut off by the enemy. For this action, he was awared the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, https://36th-id.frb.io, https://texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards Young Men / HSM Family Tree, www.findagrave.com – Charlotte Vance Jones Gibson / Usafdo, www.newspapers.com – the Commercial Appeal - 26 August 1945/6 April 1945

Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Nicole Leibrecht Gros, www.ancestry.com – U.S. School Yearbooks