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Personal info

Full name
ABBOTT, George Parrish Jr
Date of birth
31 October 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Lawrenceville, Brunswick County, Virginia
Hometown
Portsmouth, Virginia

Military service

Service number
33525801
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
E Company,
2nd Battalion,
345th Infantry Regiment,
87th Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
17 March 1945
Place of death
Koblenz, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
H 14 41

Immediate family

Members
George P. Abbott Sr. (father)
Clara K. (Finch) Abbott (mother)
John L. Abbott (brother)
Laura A. (Rawls) Abbott (wife)

More information

George P. Abbott graduated from Lawrenceville High School in 1940 and was employed at the Norfolk Navy shipyard before he enlisted in Richmond, Virginia on 13 February 1943. He was sent overseas since in 1944.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously. The citation cited: For gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United States in Neuendorf, Germany, on 28 February 1945. when a heavy counter-attack was repelled at the cost of several casualties, including leaders of the third platoon, Sgt Abbott was placed in charge of the third platoon. Disregarding fire from an enemy automatic weapon, he salvaged a light machine gun whose crew had been killed and, organising a new crew, set up the gun where it had an excellent field of fire. Then, under intermittent fire, he went from foxhole to foxhole checking positions and reassuring his men. When the Germans counter-attacked the following morning, they were repulsed without further casualities to our troops largely due to the machine gun emplaced by Sgt Abbott. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army. The sergeant was killed in subsequent action.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Hannah Majewski - Abbott Family, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / North Carolina Marriage Records / 1930 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 87thinfantrydivision.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Hannah Majewski - Abbott Family, Lawrenceville High School 1940