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Personal info

Full name
WARCKEN, William George "Bill"
Date of birth
14 September 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
LaMoure, LaMoure County, North Dakota
Hometown
LaMoure, LaMoure County, North Dakota

Military service

Service number
37321418
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade
Function
unknown
Unit
A Company,
56th Armored Engineer Battalion,
11th Armored Division,
3rd Platoon
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Died of Wounds
Date of death
17 January 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Compogne, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 44 13

Immediate family

Members
George Warcken (father)
Mary (Wirth) Warcken (mother)
Rose J. Warcken (sister)
Alfred A. Warcken (brother)
Leo G. Warcken (brother)
Michael Warcken (brother)
Henry Warcken (twin brother)
Albert N. Warcken (brother)
Edward M. Warcken (brother)

More information

T/5 William G. Warcken had an identical twin-brother Henry, who also served with the 56th Armored Engineer Battalion. While eating breakfast in their truck early in the morning of 13 January an enemy artillery barrage started to impact nearby, not giving anyone a chance to take cover. Their truck took a direct hit, killing Henry and wounding William who died four days later. They are buried beside each other.

Source of information: André Koch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, http://www.11tharmoreddivision.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Jon Strupp