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name
YORKO, William J - Date of
birth
15 November 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Sagamore, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
06896441 -
Rank
Private -
Function
Rifleman -
Unit
B Company,
1st Battalion,
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
Windmill, Rijnbandijk 131
Opheusden, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George Yorko (father)
Anna C. Yorko (mother)
Joseph Yorko (brother)
Margaret Yorko (sister)
Clara Yorko (sister)
Christina Yorko (sister)
Edward Yorko (brother)
Helen Yorko (sister)
Robert Yorko (brother)
Clement Yorko (brother)
Eugene Yorko (brother)
Ella Yorko (sister)
More information
Pvt William J. Yorko attended Kittanning High School for two years as the class of 1937.He joined the Regular Army on 19 April 1939.
When severely wounded near Opheusden, he was picked up by medics and transported by jeep to the field hospital near Opheusden. This hospital was located in a windmill. Before he could be off loaded in front of the windmill a German tank shell hit the hospital killing him and seriously wounding the medic officer attending him.
Pvt Yorko was initially buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Molenhoek Cemetery near Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
The picture was taken in high school in 1935.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.specialforcesroh.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / New York U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records / 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" Unit History / Veteran Compensation Application File, http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/506/506.html
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Kittanning High School yearbook 1935