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name
CHEATHAM, Floyd Davidson Jr - Date of
birth
12 February 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Lakeland, Polk County, Florida -
Hometown
Volusia County, Florida
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34789577 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
B Company,
1st Battalion,
502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 January 1945 - Place of
death
Bastogne, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 15 | 41 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Floyd D. Cheatham (father)
Mary B. Cheatham (mother)
Margaret Cheatham (sister)
Mary O. Cheatham (sister)
Virginia Cheatham (sister)
More information
Pfc Floyd D. Cheatham Jr. was employed by Sparks Theaters before he enlisted in Camp Blanding, Florida on 8 July 1943.Lt. George Gunn, Floyd's commanding officer, wrote te following: "Floyd was with the company in the defence of that important sector, which was under constant attack by the Germans. Floyd carried on his duties under trying and dangerous circumstances with courage, skill and good spirit, contributing more than his fair share to the eventual success of our forces in that area."
"On 13 January 1945 during an attack by our company upon strong enemy positions, Floyd was struck by machine gun fire and died instantly. The effort made by him and his comrades enabled us to destroy the enemy and occupy new positions. After a simple service by a Chaplain of his faith, Floyd was laid to rest in a American cemetery alongside his fellow soldiers who had also given their lives for their country in this operation."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, https://www.supportourtroops.org, http://www.ww2-airborne.us
Photo source: Astrid van Erp, http://www.ww2-airborne.us