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name
KOVANDA, James Victor - Date of
birth
25 November 1918 -
Age
26 -
Place of birth
Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska -
Hometown
Lincoln County, Nebraska
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
20722086 -
Rank
First Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
417th Infantry Regiment,
76th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 February 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Echternach, Luxembourg
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 5 | 37 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Victor Kovanda (father)
Emma (Stetina) Kovanda (mother)
Leo F. Kovanda (brother)
Ruth S. Kovanda (sister)
Edward W. Kovanda (brother)
Marie J. Kovanda (sister)
Violet V. (Russell) Kovanda (wife)
Rodney J. Kovanda (son)
More information
1st Sgt James V. Kovanda graduated from North Platte High School in 1935 and worked on a farm before he joined the National Guard in North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska on 23 December 1940.Per Capt Milton F. Scheuermann, CO: "Sgt Kovanda lost his life while participating in an attack made by the 417th Infantry on Siegfried line positions in Germany near Echternacherbrück. This attack involved a night crossing of the Saur river, a position of the boundary between Germany and the Duchy of Luxembourg and was met by heavy enemy fire which sank the assault boat in which he was crossing. Burdened with essential equipment, your husband was not able to reach the river bank and was drowned."
Source of information: André Koch, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census / Headstone and Interment Record, Nebraska Signal 19 June 1945
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery / Hearse Driver, North Platte High School 1934