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Personal info

Full name
DOLAN, Russel Eugene
Date of birth
16 May 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
unknown
Hometown
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Religion
Catholic

Military service

Service number
39475057
Rank
Private
Function
unknown
Unit
F Company,
2nd Battalion,
513th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
17th Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
3 April 1945
Place of death
Münster, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
D 6 27

Immediate family

Members
William L. Dolan (father)
Mary C. (Regan) Dolan (mother)
Jane O. Dolan (sister)
James L. Dolan (brother)
D. William Dolan (brother)
Peter I. Dolan (brother)
Ursula M. Dolan (sister)
E. Nicholas Dolan (brother)
Michael T. Dolan (brother)

More information

Pvt Russel E. Dolan was convicted for 2nd degree burglary on 15 July 1943 and taken to jail. He was paroled on 5 June 1944.

He enlisted in Seattle, Washington on 5 June 1944. He had been overseas only since January 1945.

Account on his death (quoted from "The Skymen" by Kirk B. Ross):
"The company moved out cautiously - it was almost impossible to see through the dense growth of trees. As they neared the battle area, F Company was pinned down by tree burst artillery, a couple of men were hit. Cuthberson was stung by shrapnel on the sleeve where he wore his watch, but it didn't penetrate. However, Pvt Russel E. Dolan, a seventeen year old from Washington State who had been on point, was killed instantly."

Source of information: Tom Verheijden, The Spokesman-Review - 19 April 1945, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree , 1930/1940 US Census, WWII Draft Registration Card, http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/513/513_honor.html

Photo source: Tom Verheijden, The Spokesman-Review - 19 April 1945