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name
CLELAND, Virgle - Date of
birth
5 October 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Baxley, Appling County, Georgia -
Hometown
Baxley, Appling County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34440219 -
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade -
Function
unknown -
Unit
K Company,
3rd Battalion,
120th Infantry Regiment,
30th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
25 December 1944 - Place of
death
Malmedy, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Ed Cleland (father)
Ora Cleland (mother)
Mary L Cleland (sister)
Michael Cleland (brother)
More information
T/5 Virgle Cleland was a farmer.He enlisted at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia on 3 September 1942.
On 23, 24 and 25 December 1944 the city center of Malmédy was bombed repeatedly by the United States Army Air Forces in a series of friendly fire incidents. Approximately 200 civilians were killed in the tragic attacks, while the number of American casualties has never been revealed by the United States Department of Defense. It is estimated that 69 American servicemen lost their lives of which a great number is still listed as missing in action. Virgle Cleland was one of those casualties of friendly fire.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, NARA Records, www.oldhickory30th.com, IDPF, 1940 US Census
Photo source: Siemon Bierma