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Personal info

Full name
CARSON, Virgil Clair
Date of birth
15 October 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Napier, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Bedford, Bedford County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33766981
Rank
Private
Function
unknown
Unit
E Company,
2nd Battalion,
8th Infantry Regiment,
4th Infantry Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
1 December 1944
Place of death
Derichsweiler, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 19 8

Immediate family

Members
Orie Carson (father)
Carrie Carson (mother)
Sewell Carson (brother)
Glenn Carson (brother)
Melvin Carson (brother)
Clark Carson (brother)
Vance Carson (brother)
Reno Carson (sister)
Ivin Carson (brother)

More information

Virgil Carson enlisted on 3 December 1943 in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

On the morning of 1 December 1944 two battallions of the 8th Infantry Regiment were ordered to drive the enemy from well dug in positions in the vicinity of Derichsweiler. They encountered enemy mine fields and small arms fire what was described as the worst that had been encountered on this front. Pvt Carson failed to return from this attack and was reported missing in action.

In April 1946 four bodies of American servicemen were found, lying on top of the ground, in a field northwest of Derichsweiler. This field is crossed by the road called Kummer Bach.

The remains of Pvt Carson were initially marked as Unknown X-2495 and evacuated to Ardennes Cemetery for identification. Based upon a laundry mark on his field jacket and comparison of tooth charts, his remains could be identified.

He was initially buried in a temporary grave at Ardennes on 15 April 1946. After being disinterred and after the cemetery was given a permanent status, he was given his final resting place on 5 March 1949.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.findagrave.com, IDPF

Photo source: Simon Schuurman