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Personal info

Full name
BURGHDUFF, Charles Leroy "Chuck"
Date of birth
10 September 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Hometown
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington

Military service

Service number
19075481
Rank
Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
A Company,
1st Battalion,
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 September 1944
Place of death
Mook, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
P 6 12

Immediate family

Members
Leroy M. Burghduff (father)
Marilie B. (Southard) Burghduff (mother)
Phyllis (Hall) Burghduff (wife)

More information

Sgt Charles L. Burghduff enlisted in Spokane, Washington on 3 March 1942.

On 17 September 1944 Charles Burghduff made his 4th combat jump during Operation Market Garden.

After a couple days of fighting A Company was send to Mook to support B Company which was running low on ammunition. While walking down a hill into the town of Mook, next to his friend Bob Murphy, they were ambushed. Lt Mike Chester, Bob Murphy and Charles Burghduff were on the left side of the causeway. Lt Chester said: "Ok guys, let's go." Murphy turned to say something to Sgt Burgduff and at just that moment he was hit in the side of his body by machine gun fire and was killed instantly.

Sgt Charles L. Burghduff was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Molenhoek, the Netherlands. After being disinterred, his remains were evacuated to Margraten where he was initially buried in a temporary grave. After the cemetery was given a permanent status, Sgt Burghduff was given his final resting place on 7 July 1949.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/505/505_honor.html, http://www.ww2marketgarden.com/sgtcharlesburghduff.html

Photo source: Michel Beckers, Marc van den Berkmortel