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name
NEUDECKER, William Anthony "Pete" - Date of
birth
5 March 1916 -
Age
29 - Place of
birth
Highland, Grundy County, Illinois -
Hometown
Madison County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36696045 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
HQ Company,
16th Infantry Regiment,
1st Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1945 - Place of
death
Sechtem-Weilerstwist, near Bonn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 5 | 30 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William A. Neudecker (father)
Anna Neudecker (mother)
Cecilla Neudecker (sister)
Coletta U. Neudecker (wife)
More information
William A. Neudecker was killed while covering Pfc Harry E. Flynn’s retreat across open ground under heavy enemy fire. Almost everyone else in the unit had taken cover, but Pfc Neudecker remained at his Jeep-mounted .50 caliber machine gun, fully exposed on an open road. Just as Pfc Flynn reached cover in a ditch immediately behind the Jeep, he was shot through the heart. He fell into the ditch beside and breathed his last just inches away from his friend and comrade. For this action he was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans www.worldwartours.be, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Ukena Family Tree