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name
REHFUS, John Christian "Jake" - Date of
birth
1 July 1913 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1311850 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
H Company,
2nd Battalion,
415th Infantry Regiment,
104th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 November 1944 - Place of
death
Eschweiler, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 8 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry F. Rehfus (father)
Elizabeth C. Rehfus (mother)
More information
2nd Lt John C. Rehfus graduated from Muhlenberg College and worked at Wilson & Co., meat packers.He enlisted at Fort Dix, New Jersey on 19 May 1942. He received his commission in February 1943 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In his last letter home, written on 18 November 1944, he wrote that the "going is rugged and will continue to be rugged," mentioned that he had just had his first chance in 13 days to shave or bathe himself. He sent home, too, a captured German parachute which was used in the promotion of the Sixth War Loan at Freihofer Baking Co., where his father was sales supervisor.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Astrid van Erp, Arjan van Hassel, Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Veteran Compensation Application File, www.newspapers.com - The Morning Call
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Morning Call, www.ancestry.com - William Allen High School Yearbook 1931