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name
WIRTZ, Matthew - Date of
birth
28 December 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Yugoslavia -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1287638 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Platoon Commander -
Unit
F Company,
2nd Battalion,
11th Infantry Regiment,
5th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
10 September 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Dornot-Arnaville, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Carl Wirtz (father)
Mary Wirtz (mother)
Rosita Wirtz (sister)
Mary Wirtz (sister)
Christell (Lynn) Wirtz (wife)
Lois L. Wirtz (daughter)
Robert C. Wirtz (son)
More information
Matthew Wirtz was a shipping clerk at the F.W. Woolworth Co.He joined the National Guard in Chicago, Illinois on 5 March 1941.
When ordered to withdraw from the bridgehead, it was necessary for some personnel to swim across the Moselle River to the west bank. Lt Wirtz was heard by Sgt Smith call for help when he (Lt Wirtz) had swum about half way across the river. Due to the extreme darkness, it was impossible to judge Lt Wirtz’s exact position when he called for help.
Source of information: Leo Minne, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com – 1940 Census, "A footsoldier for Patton" - Michael C. Bilder/James G. Bilder, The 5th Infantry Division in the ETO, IDPF
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Dave Hansen