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Personal info

Full name
WINGARD, Jacob Henry
Date of birth
8 August 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Beccaria, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Philipsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
13146236
Rank
Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
HQ & HQ Company,
3rd Battalion,
501st Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
18 September 1944
Place of death
St. Antonius windmill, Zandvliet 11
Eerde, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
A 4 29

Immediate family

Members
Jacob H Wingard (father)
Emily D. Wingard (mother)
Evelyn (Hannel) Wingard (wife)

More information

Sgt Jacob H. Wingard volunteered for the U.S. Army in Altoona, Penssylvania on 14 December 1942.

He was killed at about 11 o'clock by a German sniper while he was hiding in a windmill as a lookout for directing mortar fire. The windmill was destroyed by German cannon fire.

In 2011, the windmill was restored and now houses the 'Geronimo Museum', a tribute to the 501st PIR.

Sgt Wingard was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Son, The Netherlands.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.specialforcesroh.com, Petra Pulles - Stichting Screaming Eagles of WWII, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Gerrie Franken - SOHE, Dianne Byers, www.specialforcesroh.com