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Personal info

Full name
ARCHER, Donald Curtis
Date of birth
18 February 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Akron, Summit County, Ohio
Hometown
Wood County, West Virginia

Military service

Service number
35657274
Rank
Private First Class
Function
Light Machine Gunner
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
193rd Glider Infantry Regiment,
17th Airborne Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 January 1945
Place of death
Near Bastogne, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
G 11 18

Immediate family

Members
Lincoln H. Archer (father)
Ora J. (Plate) Archer (mother)
Irene Archer (sister)
Nellie Archer (sister)
Erma Archer (sister)
Lincoln L. Archer (brother)
Marshall Archer (brother)
Denver C. Archer (brother)
Blair Archer (brother)
Althea L. (Lowe) Archer (wife)

More information

Pfc Donald C. Archer was a driver before he enlisted in Huntington, West Virginia on 7 April 1943.

His company was occupying a defensive position when they were ordered to attack. As the attack progressed Pfc Archer noticed that he could no longer support the company from his dug-in position and moved his gun to an open position. Although artillery shells fell all around his position he continued to occupy his position until he was struck by fragments of a shell that burst nearby, killing him instantly.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Grand Failly, France.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / J Archer - Newspaper, http://www.ww2-airborne.us, www.findagrave.com – Crystal,
Photo source: www.ancestry.com - J Archer / Leslie D