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Personal info

Full name
ZERBE, Ralph J
Date of birth
9 January 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
13053596
Rank
Private First Class
Function
Rifleman
Unit
B Company,
1st Battalion,
502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Died of Wounds
Date of death
23 September 1944
Place of death
Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
D 14 31

Immediate family

Members
Harry Zerbe (father)
Annie (Halderman) Zerbe (mother)
Charles Zerbe (brother)
Irma Lengle (sister)
Ruth E. Keefer (half-sister)

More information

Pfc Ralph J. Zerbe enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 10 February 1942 and was sent overseas in September 1943.

He was slightly wounded in action on D-Day and was evacuated to a hospital in England. After recovering, he rejoined his unit.

In St. Oedenrode a plaque can be found with the names of the paratroopers of B Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division who gave their lives for the liberation and defense of St. Oedenrode in September 1944.

Source of information: www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1940 Census / WWII Army Enlistment Record / 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment "Five-Oh-Deuce" Unit History / Veteran Compensation Application File, http://www.airborne101st.com/grouphistory.html

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fred Munckhof,  Pottsville_Republican_Thu__Oct_12__1944, John Sise