8th AF Base Duxford
8th AF Base Duxford
website bigpigeon.us, webpage WW II Roster > The Roster > Roster-C - © 2022 by Robert A. Christiansen, last update 12 May 2022, 37 names.

Pottawattamie Area WW II Dead Roster - part 3/16, C
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​† Cadwell, Newell Lewis, SN 37-194-793, USAAF, Montgomery & Marshall Cos.
  • b. 9 Oct 1913 Elliott, Montgomery Co.; s/o Charles F. Cadwell & Jessie I. Busby who moved to Ames, Story Co. in 1934; attended law school in Iowa City and practiced in Marshalltown, Marshall Co.; entered service 12 May 1942 from Marshalltown; bur. Ames Mun. Cem.
  • 19th Photo. Mapping Sqdn., 4th Photo Gp. stationed at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, CO.; North American B-25C Mitchell #41-13247 radio operator w/ pilot Richard P. Marx; DNB 11 Jan 1943 near Falcon N of Colorado Springs; plane failed to recover from a spin and crashed; all six crew dead.

† Campbell, Bennie Clinton “Ben”, SN 39-313-929, US Army, Harrison Co. & Lane Co., OR
  • b. 6 May 1900 Union Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o Thomas A. Campbell (d. 1941) & Alice P. Musgrove (d. 1934) of the Neola/Persia area; entered service from Lane Co., OR; bur. Valley View Cem., Persia, Harrison Co.
  • Co. C, 11th Maintenance Bn., 11th Armored Div.; DNB 4 Mar 1943, Camp Polk, Vernon Parish, LA, peritonitis from a gastric ulcer.

​† Campbell, Sheldon Edward, SN 37-752-491, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 17 Oct 1925 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o George H. Campbell & Ida K. Luecke; entered service 18 Sep 1944 from Rt. 2, Harlan; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • 24th Medical Bn., 24th Inf. Div.; DNB 23 Dec 1945 in hotel fire on Skikoku Is., Japan; Japan Overpowered > Japan Vanquished.

​† Campbell, Wendell Melvin, SN O-719557, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 Jan 1922 Keg Creek Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Clifford A. Campbell & Frances A. Smith of rural Co. Bluffs; entered service Sep 1942 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs; bur. Zion Cong. Cem., Treynor, Pott. Co.
  • 235th Army Air Force Base Unit, Biggs Army Air Field, El Paso, TX; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #42-100144 crewman w/ pilot Walter Slont; DNB 20 Jul 1944 one mile north of Roswell, Chaves Co., NM; two B-24s collided on routine training mission from Biggs Field to Walker Army Air Field at Roswell; ten died, seven parachuted and survived.

​† Card, Earl E., SN 20-706-381, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Aug 1922 Avoca, Pott. Co.; s/o Jesse V. Card (d. 1926) & Alma Garrison (d. 1928) of Avoca; gs/o James O. Garrison & Cora O. Anstine of Avoca; entered service 19 Nov 1941 at Atlantic, Cass Co.; bur. Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.
  • Co. B, 4th Ranger Bn.; KIA 12 Nov 1943, Venafro, Molise, Italy, 16 miles E of Cassino; Italian Mainland > To the Gustav Line.
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† Cargill, Lawrence Elroy, SN 37-464-353, USAAF, Fremont Co.
  • b. 6 Aug 1922 Malvern, Mills Co.; s/o Clarence E. Cargill & Florence R. Moore; entered service 20 Nov 1942 from Tabor, Fremont Co.; bur. Tabor Cem., Mills Co.
  • 44th Bomb. Gp., 66th Bomb Sqdn., 8th AF, based at Shipdham Airfield, Norwich, England W of the city of Norwich; Consolidated B-24 Liberator #41-28795 radio operator w/ pilot Forest M. Musgrave; DNB 8 May 1944 near Acle, Norwich, England, between the city of Norwich and Great Yarmouth; aircraft was on a training mission preparatory to serving as a radar-equipped Pathfinder; lost control from unknown causes and crashed; two killed (Musgrave's chute didn't open and Cargill stayed with the aircraft); The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Carley, Albert Boyd, SN 37-035-663, US Army, Audubon & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 4 Jan 1912 O'Neill, Holt Co., NE; s/o Robert O. Carley & Matilda P. Shirey (d. 1925), both b. Audubon Co.; family generally lived in or near Exira, Audubon Co. between stints in Nebraska and Wyoming; living w/ sister Bertha in Harlan, Shelby Co. in 1940; entered service date unknown, service credited to Shelby Co.; bur. Netherlands American Cem., Margraten, Netherlands.
  • 712th Tank Bn., Seventh Army; KIA 1 Apr 1945 in Germany; Central Europe > Central Germany.

† Carlson, Robert Andrew, SN 39-128-015, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 14 Sep 1920 Shepard, Yellowstone Co., MT; s/o Nels O. Carlson & Ella F. Johnson; family lived near Griswold in Pott. & Cass Cos. before moving to rural Elliott, Montgomery Co. in late 1930s; Robert & siblings worked in California in early 1940s; entered service 1 Apr 1943 from Rt. 2, Elliott; service claimed by San Francisco Co., CA; bur. Keokuk Nat'l Cem., Lee Co., IA.
  • 15th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div., Seventh Army; KIA 26 Dec 1944 N of Colmar Pocket, Alsace, France; Lorraine & Alsace > Alsace Campaign.

​† Carter, Meredith Merlene, SN O-1176509, US Army, Pott. & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 7 Feb 1918 Des Moines, Polk Co.; s/o Ernest A. Carter & Lola M. Stofferson; family moved to Co. Bluffs bef. 1920; living with Stofferson grandparents in rural Harlan, Shelby Co. in 1940; entered service 12 Feb 1942 from rural Harlan; m. Marian G. Dahl of Co. Bluffs 1943, one child; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Battery B, 14th Armored Field Artillery Bn.; 2nd Armored Div., Ninth Army; KIA 9 Jan 1945 Dochamps, NW of Houffalize, Belgium; The Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge.
  • Notes: Posthumous Silver Star recipient.

​† Caster, John Joseph, SN 37-699-158, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Jul 1945 Underwood, Pott. Co.; s/o Charles H. Caster & Mary A. Dale of Underwood & Neola; entered service 24 Jun 1944 from Rt. 1, Underwood; bur. St. Patrick’s Cem., Neola.
  • Co. G, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 28 Apr 1945, Ie Shima, near Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

​† Cavanaugh, James Bernard, SN 17-017-247, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 31 Oct 1915 rural Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o Hugh C. Cavanaugh (d. 1943) & Angeline C. West of rural Neola; bur. St. Patrick's Cem., Neola.
  • G2 (intelligence), HQ, 2nd Philippine Corps; POW captured on Bataan, Luzon, Philippines 1942; Master Sergeant kept with high-level captives; DNB 10 Feb 1943, Formosa POW Camp #4, Karenko, northern Formosa, malaria; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Caywood, John Sloan, SN 39-591-957, US Army, Lancaster Co., NE & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 27 Dec 1919 Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE; s/o Harold B. Caywood & Lelia A. Sloan; m. Marilyn Caywood of Co. Bluffs 1939; moved to California 1941; enlisted 29 Jun 1944 from Los Angeles Co., CA; bur. Walnut Hill Cem, Co. Bluffs.
  • 28th Inf. Div.; KIA 1 Feb 1945 near Colmar, Alsace, France; Reduction of Colmar Pocket - Lorraine & Alsace > Alsace Campaign.

† Chambers, Stanley Glen, SN 19-097-353, USAAF, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 6 Feb 1919 Hardin Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Harry B. Chambers (d. 1928) & Louise M. Thomas of rural McClelland, Hardin Twp.; raised in Hardin Twp. & Los Angeles Co., CA; ss/o Wallace Melton of Ault, Weld Co., CO; enlisted 10 Apr 1942 in Los Angeles Co., CA; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • pilot trainee at Randolph Army Air Field, near San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX; flying basic trainer Vultee BT-13A Valiant # 41-21514; DNB 7 Dec 1942 NW of Randolph Field; training accident.

† Chancellor, Elmer Lee, SN O-711946, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 7 Jun 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o Sam Chancellor & Grace S. Chilcote (div.) of Co. Bluffs; entered service 5 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 118 Tactical Recon. Sqdn., 14th AF; based at Chengkung, China w/ advance base at Suichwan, China; North American P-51C Mustang #43-24938 pilot; KIA 28 Dec 1944, over Yangtze River, Anking, southern China; China-Burma-India Theater > China; BNR.

† Chancellor, James Maurice, SN 872-24-12, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 15 Oct 1925 Co. Bluffs; s/o Sam Chancellor & Grace S. Chilcote (div.) of Co. Bluffs; entered service 19 Nov 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Attack Transport USS Sandoval (APA-194); KIA 28 May 1945, off Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Sandoval damaged by Japanese kamikaze; eight dead; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Naval Battle of Okinawa.

† Christensen, Darwin Arthur, SN 372-48-80, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 15 Feb 1924 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Henry S. Christensen (d. 1940) & Mary L. Vosler of Co. Bluffs; ss/o Grant Goehring; entered service 24 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; m. Ruby Cunningham 1943, one child.​
  • Aircraft Carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), Task Force 58 flagship, KIA 11 May 1945 90 miles E of Okinawa, Japan; Bunker Hill severely damaged by Japanese kamikaze attack, 389 dead; Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets; buried at sea.
  • Notes: Web information on the kamikaze attack on the Bunker Hill is sometimes incorrect. The Bunker Hill did not sink. When hit, the Bunker Hill was off the coast of Okinawa, not Kyushu. After the Bunker Hill was hit, Admiral Mitscher transferred Task Force 58 headquarters to the USS Enterprise, and elements of Task Force 58 then proceeded to Kyushu to attempt to deal with the continued kamikaze threat. 

† Christensen, Lester Angus, SN 316-61-17, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 10 Oct 1921 Co. Bluffs; s/o Bartel Christensen & Leona Dawson; entered service 8 Nov 1939 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Heavy Cruiser USS Houston (CA-30), the Asiatic Fleet flagship; KIA 1 Mar 1942 Battle of Sunda Strait, between Java & Sumatra, Dutch Indies; Houston sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedoes, 793 dead; Japan Lashes Out > The Dutch Indies Lost; BNR.

† Chuda, Jack Richard, SN 371595, USMC, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 14 Nov 1920 Co. Bluffs; s/o William J. Chuda & Effie May Hanson of Omaha; bur. Forest Lawn Cem., Omaha.
  • Co. C, 4th Marine Regt., 1st Provisional Marine Brigade; KIA 26 Jul 1944 Guam, Mariana Is.; Battle of Guam - Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.
  • Note: Only known Pottawattamie area connection is birth in Council Bluffs.

† Coad, Ernest Dyer, SN 39-147-004, US Army, Douglas Co., NE & Alameda Co., CA
  • b. 21 Jun 1913 Omaha; s/o John F. Coad Jr. (d. 1941) & Helen I. Dyer (d. 1928) of Co. Bluffs; m. Elizabeth R. Tinley of Co. Bluffs 1936, three daughters; enlisted 20 Jan 1944 from Alameda Co., CA; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • unknown unit, First Army (assigned to First Army one day before death); KIA 22 Nov 1944, near Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; The ETO > Rhineland 1944.

† Cody, Claude LeRoy, SN 648-05-90, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Feb 1920 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Edward L. Cody & Bessie Cogley of Glenwood & Co. Bluffs; m. Darlene Agnes Crawford of Tama, Tama Co. 1943; entered service 18 Dec 1941 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Cruiser USS Houston (CL-81), Task Force 38; KIA 14 Oct 1944 off Formosa; Houston hit by Japanese aerial torpedoes on 14 & 16 Oct; 55 died, 937 survived; Houston stayed afloat and was towed to the US Naval base in Ulithi; Formosa Air Battle - Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets; BNR.
  • Notes: The earlier cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) was lost in the Dutch Indies in 1942. Claude Cody had survived the sinking of the USS Helena in July 1943.

† Cohen, Irving, SN O-771221, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Jul 1921 Co. Bluffs; s/o Harry Cohen & Anna Segel; entered service Feb 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 728 Bomb. Sqdn; 452 Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Deopham Green, Norfolk, England; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress #42-97534 pilot; KIA on his first mission 25 Nov 1944 over Harren, N of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; plane exploded in mid-air after direct flak hit, seven crew dead, two POW; The ETO > ETO Air War; BNR.

† Cohrs, William Stanley “Dick”, SN 37-733-662, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Mar 1917 Co. Bluffs; s/o William P. Cohrs (d. 1928) & Mabel Scherner of Underwood & Co. Bluffs, ss/o Marion Stewart; m. Lucille L. Bridges, three daughters; entered service 5 Jul 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 184th Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 5 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Collett, Albert Henry, SN 6-580-825, USAAF, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 27 Jul 1911 Moniteau Co., MO; s/o George A. Collett & Edna P. Niehaus (div.); family moved to Co. Bluffs bef 1915; moved to Los Angeles Co., CA in late 1930s; entered service bef. 1940; bur. St. Paul’s Cem., Dumfries, Pott. Co.
  • 93rd Bomb. Sqdn., 93rd Bomb. Gp., Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 20 May 1942, POW camp, Luzon, Philippines, declared dead 8 May 1944; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Collins, James Perry, SN 122-08-81, US Navy, Pott. Co., Pott. Co.
  • b. Jan 1901 Prescott, Adams Co.; s/o William E. Collins & Melvina Baumann (d. 1929) of SW Iowa; blacksmith in Carson, Pott. Co.; m. Ruth D. Wynn 1923, one child; entered service 31 Dec 1941 from Carson.
  • Q-ship USS Atik (AK-101); KIA 27 Mar 1942 off North Carolina; Atik sunk by German submarine U-123, 141 dead, no survivors; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.

† Colwell, Carl Layne, SN 648-73-84, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 11 Nov 1923 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Carl L. Colwell & Velma M. Robinson of Carson & Co. Bluffs; entered service 18 Nov 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Minesweeper YMS-19; KIA 24 Sep 1944, off Anguar, Palau Is., E of the Philippines, Central Pacific; YMS-19 sunk by mine; nine dead, 27 survivors; Battle of Anguar - Central Pacific > Palau Islands; BNR.

† Comley, George K., SN 20-705-562, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 1915 Houston, Harris Co., TX; s/o Frank E. Comley (d. 1932) & Vida L. Darnold; family moved to Villisca, Montgomery Co. in early 1920s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Villisca; bur. Villisca Cem.
  • Co. F, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 9 Feb 1944 near Cassino, Lazio, Italy; 1st Battle of Cassino - Italian Mainland > At the Gustav Line.

† Connelly, Robin Gail, SN 17-122-875, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Aug 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o Leonel G. Connelly & Hildred O. Barnhouse of Co. Bluffs & Neola; entered service 18 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; m. Pauline Pieper of Neola, Pott. Co. 1944; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 20th Co., Separation Ctr., Ft. Dix, SSE of Trenton, Mercer Co., NJ; DNB 24 Dec 1945 from exposure, body found in Sanhican Creek, Trenton.

† Converse, Robert Franklin, SN O-73754, USAAF, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 20 Jun 1920 Co. Bluffs; s/o Frank E. Converse & Myrtle Zimmerman; m. Ruth Mattice; enlisted 28 Mar 1942 from Omaha; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak, Montgomery Co.
  • 958th Two-Engine Flying Training Squadron, Hobbs Army Air Field, Lea Co., NM (despite the unit name, this squadron gave newly-commissioned pilots a nine-week course in becoming four-engine B-17 pilots); Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress #42-29990 pilot, DNB 8 Sep 1943 8 miles NE of base in plane crash, five dead.

† Copeland, Donald Walter, SN O-700865, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 17 Sep 1921 Newcastle, Weston Co., WY; s/o Wayne H. Copeland & Mabel Norgaard of Co. Bluffs; entered service 21 Jan 1943 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 313 Troop Carrier Sqdn., 349th Troop Carrier Gp., 9th AF; based at Pope Army Air Field, Ft. Bragg, NC; Douglas C-47A Skytrain/Dakota #42-100712 pilot; DNB Jul 1944 25 miles SE of Cape Fear, SC; three aircraft from a flight of 54 disappeared in storm during training mission, all fifteen dead; BNR.

† Cox, Kenneth A., SN 17-078-406, USAAF, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 11 Mar 1919 Riley, Riley Co., KS; s/o Arthur B. Cox & Ida Belle Viola Clark of Omaha; m. Phyllis R. Leamer of Co. Bluffs 1943; bur. Westlawn-Hillcrest Cem., Omaha.
  • 16th Combat Camera Unit, based at Kumning, China; on this mission flying with 11th Bomb. Sqdn., 341st Bomb. Gp., 14th AF, based at Yangkai 33 M NE of  Kumning, China; North American B- 25 Mitchell #_____ w/ pilot John J. Wise, co-pilot Buster P. Meadows; KIA 18 Jan 1945 Chihkiang, Hunan Province, China; after bombing Puchi railroad bridge NW of Chungking, plane overshot runway when landing at staging base at Chihkiang ~ 300 M SE of Chungking; three dead, four survivors; China-Burma-India Theater > China.

† Cox, Leslie, SN 37-197-965, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Sep 1915 Yell Twp., rural Ogden, Boone Co.; s/o Frederick S. Cox (d. 1929) & Fanny McGee (d. 1926); came to Co. Bluffs ~ 1941 & lived w/ brother Fred Cox; entered service 4 Jun 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Rose Hill Cem., Boone.
  • Co. K, 30th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div.; KIA 26 Oct 1943, near Pietravairano, SE of Cassino & NW of Caserta, Italy; Italian Mainland > To the Gustav Line.

† Crawford, George Almon, SN 320-36-81, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • b. 31 Jan 1901 New Market, Taylor Co.; s/o Wilbur C. Crawford (d. 1940) & Susie Eyre (div.); ss/o William D. Arthur; b/o Gladys Knierim of rural Dunlap, Harrison Co.; pre-WW II service.​
  • ​Escort Carrier USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73); KIA 25 Oct 1944 off Samar, Philippines; Gambier Bay sunk by Japanese shells, ~147 dead; Battle off Samar - Philippines Liberated > Battle of Leyte Gulf; BNR.

† Crawford, William Frank Jr., SN 620-07-89, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • b. 28 Mar 1920 Anita, Cass Co.; s/o William F. Crawford Sr. & Daisy C. Jenkins; entered service 13 Oct 1941 from Anita.
  • Destroyer USS Barton (DD 599) ; KIA 13 Nov 1942 Ironbound Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Barton sunk by two Japanese Long Lance torpedoes; 164 died, 68 survived; first phase of Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Crockett, Oliver Eldon, SN 37-490-415, US Army, Pott. Co. & Gentry Co., MO
  • b. 24 Oct 1922 Gentry Co., MO; s/o Oliver M. Crockett & Stella B. Kier; raised in Gentry Co.; lived in Co. Bluffs as young adult; entered service Feb 1944 from Gentry Co.; bur. Brittany American Cem., St.-James, Normandy, France.
  • 23rd Inf. Regt., 2nd Inf. Div.; KIA 11 Sep 1944 near Brest, Brittany, France; Battle of Brittany - France Liberated > Northern France.

† Crose, James Harvey, SN 37-470-848, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Sep 1923 Omaha; s/o Arthur J. Crose & Katherine A. Fisher of Omaha & Co. Bluffs; entered service 29 Jan 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 498th Bomber Sqdn., 345th Bomb. Gp., Fifth Air Force; on Liberty Ship SS Thomas Nelson; KIA 12 Nov 1944, Dulag Harbor, Leyte Gulf, Philippines; kamikaze attack, Thomas Nelson survived; 136 died of whom 133 were USAAF; US Air Force War w/ Japan > Fifth Air Force.

​† Curry, Jack Benton, SN 98652, US Merchant Marine, Pott. Co.
  • b. ~1917 New Mexico; s/o Arthur B. Curry (d. 1933) & Ada Montgomery (d. 1940); family moved to Omaha bef. 1920 and to Co. Bluffs bef. 1925.
  • Tanker Pan Massachusetts fireman/wiper; KIA 19 Feb 1942, off Cape Canaveral, FL; Pan Massachusetts torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128; 20 dead, 18 survivors; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.

† Cutler, Donald Lee, SN 39-603-009, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Nov 1917 Shenandoah, Page Co.; s/o George N. Cutler & Myrtle M. Dodge (div.) of Shenandoah & other locations; ss/o Harry C. Baxter of Co. Bluffs; enlisted 1 Oct 1941 from Big Horn Co., MT;  bur. Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, Lorraine, France.
  • Co. E, 254th Inf. Regt., 63rd Inf. Div., Seventh Army; KIA 8 Apr 1945 near Weißbach, SW of Würzburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Central Europe > Central Germany.