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name
BATES, Lawrence J - Date of
birth
26 October 1913 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
Oxford, Chenango County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32039349 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
L Company,
3rd Battalion,
112th Infantry Regiment,
28th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
8 November 1944 - Place of
death
Area Kommerscheidt and Schmidt, Hürtgen Forest, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
John Bates (father)
Bernice C. (Miller) Bates (mother)
Elizabeth Bates (sister)
Ruth (McNitt) Bates (wife)
More information
S/Sgt Lawrence J. Bates was sent overseas in October 1943.The Missing Report of 10 November 1944 indicates that L Company was assigned the mission to occupy Schmidt. The enemy overran and encircled the position, forcing withdrawal. Upon reorganization and check, Sgt Bates was not present. Eyewitness statements indicate that Sgt Bates' death was the result of a direct hit from enemy artillery fire.
Research teams made every effort to correlate this case with records pertaining to unknown deceased recovered from the area, U.S. Military Cemeteries and reported isolated burials. All results had been negative.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, IDPF, www.newspapers.com - Press and Sun-Bulletin
Photo source: Peter Schouteten