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name
BECK, Merwin C - Date of
birth
21 July 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
West New York, Hudson County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32207652 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tank Commander -
Unit
A Company,
741st Tank Battalion
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
20 September 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Heckhalenfeld, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Herman Beck (father)
Pauline Beck (mother)
Leon S. Beck (brother)
Mary Beck (wife)
More information
Sgt. Merwin C. Beck was an engraver before he enlisted at Fort Dix, New Jersey on 5 February 1942.His tank was hit by four of five shells of enemy fire and began to burn immediately. Three crew members escaped. Sgt Beck and Cpl Harold C. O'Riley were left in the tank and were not seen to leave the vehicle. As the tank was burning no assistance could be given and enemy artillery forced the other members of the crew to abandon the position of the tank. An examination of the interior of the tank at the time it was evacuated failed to disclose any evidence of human remains. Also a field investigation proved negative. It was presumed that both crew members failed to leave the tank and that their bodies were cremated by the fire.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment
Reocrd, http://cgsc.contendm.oclc.org - After Action Report 741st Tank Battalion
Photo source: Peter Schouteten