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bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Roster > Roster Records > Roster-P, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 30 Jan 2023.
​Records for Big Pigeon's Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster  - part 13/17, P, 35 names.
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† ​Pagh, Amos Christian, SN O-1325790, US Army, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 1 May ’20 Coulter, Franklin Co.; s/o Hans Pagh & Hilma K. Larsen; family moved to Co. Bluffs in early 1920s, to Omaha in 1936, and eventually to North Hollywood, CA; entered service 21 Mar 1942 from Omaha; bur. Epinal American Cem., Dinozé, Lorraine, France.
  • 397th Inf. Regt., 100th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 14 Nov 1944, Raon L’Etape, SE of Baccarat, Vosges, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine & Alsace 1944 > Lorraine/Seventh Army.
  • Notes: posthumous Silver Star.
 
​† Parker, Arlo Berry, SN 37-195-236, US Army Air Force, Webster Co.
  • b. 16 Jun 1909 Co. Bluffs; s/o Arlo L. Parker & Mary A Cuffe; m. Eleanor D. Reardon 1936 in Webster Co.; entered service 19 May 1942 from Ft. Dodge, Webster Co.; bur. Mem. Park Cem., Ft. Dodge. 
  • 43rd Bomb. Gp., Fifth Air Force; DNB 7 Jun 1945, 249th General Hosp., Ft. Stotsenburg, Luzon, Philippines, cerebral hemorrhage; WWII-Japan > The Pacific Base Areas.
 
​† Parks, George Harvey, SN O-751951, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 19 Sep 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Harvey Parks & Anna B. Woodruff of Co. Bluffs; entered service from Co. Bluffs; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 717 Bomb. Sqdn., 449 Bomb. Gp., Fifteenth Air Force, based at Grottaglie, near Taranto, Apulia, Italy; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #42-52136 Superstitious Al-o-ysious bombardier; KIA 2 Apr 1944 near Windischgarsten, S of Steyr, Austria; collision with two other B-24s, Peerless Clipper and Miss Behavin; no survivors from crew of ten; The MTO > MTO Air War.
 
​† Patton, John A., SN 37-463-856, US Army, Page Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 10 Jul 1922 Fremont Co.; s/o George H. Patton (d. 1941) & Emma L. Kelly; raised in rural Page Co.; entered service 14 Nov 1942 from Box 205, Coin, Page Co., service credited to Los Angeles Co., CA; bur. Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, Belgium.
  • Co. F, 504th Parachute Inf. Regt., 82nd Airborne Div., XVIII Airborne Corps, attached to First Army; KIA 2 Feb 1945, Siegfried Line, near Udenbreth SE of Monschau, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; The ETO > Siegfried Line 1945 > First US Effort.
 
​† Paulsen, Laverne Henry, SN 37-445-364, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Dec 1921 rural Avoca, Pott Co.; s/o Alfred G. Paulsen & Minnie K. Russmann of rural Avoca; entered service 27 Nov 1942 from Hancock, Pott. Co.; bur. Graceland Cem., Avoca.
  • Recon. Co., 66th Armored Regt., 2nd Armored Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 29 Jul 1944 S of St. Lo, Normandy, France; The ETO > Liberation > Operation Cobra.
​
† Paulsen, Vernon Nels, SN O-1308538, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 12 May 1915 Jacksonville, Shelby Co.; s/o Nels Peter Paulsen & Dora K. Christensen (d. 1940), both b. Denmark; school teacher living in Harlan, Shelby Co. in 1940; entered service Jun 1941 from Rt. 2, Harlan; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • Co. H, 324th Inf. Regt., 44th Inf. Div., XV Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 8 Dec 1944 approaching Maginot Line, near Siersthal, W of Bitche, NE France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine & Alsace 1944 > Alsace/Seventh Army.
  • Note: The German Wehrmacht used French Maginot Line fortifications around Metz and near Bitche in Lorraine and Alsace to stymie the advancing US Third and Seventh Armies.

† Paulson, Ralph Loyd, SN 428145, US Marine Corps, Story Co.
  • b. 1923 Ames, Story Co.; s/o Melvin B. Paulson & Louise C. Petersen of Ames (mother from Neola Twp.); entered service 21 Jul 1942 from Ames; bur. Nat’l Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI.
  • Co. E, 6th Marine Regt., 2nd Marine Div.; KIA 27 Nov 1943 Buariki Is., Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Is.; Battle of Tarawa - Central Pacific > Gilbert Islands.
  • Family History Notes: nephew of RAC's uncle Louis Petersen; died w/ Max Rommel of Pott. & Fremont Cos.
 
† Pearce, Lawrence Gilbert, SN 37-189-235, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 8 Apr 1920 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Carl A. Pearce & June E. Hull; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. B, 137th Inf. Regt., 35th Inf. Div., XIX Corps, First Army; KIA 18 Jul 1944 near St. Lo, Normandy, France; The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy July 1944.

† Pedersen, Oscar Holst (served as Holst, Oscar), SN 37-126-291, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 4 Apr 1914 Herning, Midtjylland, Denmark; s/o Jens Holst Pedersen & Elsie Marie Jensen; immigrated to Co. Bluffs; b/o Henry H. Peterson of Co. Bluffs; bur. Herning Kirkegaard, Denmark.
  • Battery B, 320th Glider FA Bn., 82nd Airborne Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 18 Jun 1944, near Douve River W of Ste. Mere-Eglise, Normandy, France; The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy June 1944.

† Pedersen, Roy Marion Jr., SN O-2071822, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 19 Aug 1923 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o Roy M. Pedersen & Zola G. McFarland of Lincoln Twp. & Avoca, Pott. Co.; entered service 16 Feb 1943 from rural Avoca; bur. Atlantic Cem.
  • 866th Bomb. Sqdn., 494th Bomb. Gp., Seventh Air Force, based at Yontan, Okinawa; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #44-40680 Lonesome Lady navigator w/ pilot Thomas C. Cartwright; KIA 28 Jul 1945, over Kure Harbor, Kyushu, Japan; plane shot down by flak on mission against Battleship Haruna; Japan US Air Force War w/ Japan > Seventh Air Force.​
  • Notes: of the crew of ten, Roy M. Pedersen's body was found on nearby land; two, including the pilot, survived as POWs; seven died as POWs 6 Aug 1945 from the Hiroshima atomic bomb. This story is documented in the book, A Date with the Lonesome Lady: A Hiroshima POW Returns, by Thomas C. Cartwright.
 
† Pedersen, Silas Clyde, SN O-1019087, US Army, Audubon & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 20 Jan 1920 Elk Horn, Shelby Co., IA; s/o Soren C. Pedersen (d. 1938) & Meta M. Gregersen; family moved to Audubon, Audubon Co. in early 1920s & to Kimballton, Audubon Co. in late 1920s; entered service 7 Jan 1942 from Kimballton, service credited to Audubon Co.; m. Barbara M. Swanson of Nebraska 1943, one child; bur. Epinal American Cem., Lorraine, France.
  • 191st Tank Bn., attached to 45th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 5 Oct 1944 probably NE of Epinal near Rambervillers, Vosges, France during Seventh Army's advance eastward into the Vosges foothills; The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine & Alsace 1944 > Lorraine/Seventh Army.
  • Notes: Silver Star recipient.

† Penewit, Gordon R., SN 20-706-207, US Army, Mills & Pott. Cos.
  • b. 29 Sep 1923 Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA; came to Carson, Pott. Co. w/ mother at age 2; orphaned at an early age, raised by grandmother Phebe Wilson & aunt Carrie E. Stone at Carson; moved w/ Aunt Carrie to Glenwood, Mills Co. in early 1930s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Glenwood; bur. Carson Cem.
  • Co. I, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; detached to British 6th Commando Battalion; KIA 22 Nov 1942, Souk Ahras, NE Algeria; The MTO > North Africa > Race to Tunis.
   
† Peterson, Charles William, SN 37-651-229, US Army Air Force, Shelby Co.
  • b. 8 Nov 1920 Woodbine, Harrison Co.; s/o Willie Peterson & Edna L. McGee; entered service 26 Dec 1942 from Woodbine; bur. Woodbine Cem.
  • 49th Bomb. Wing, Fifteenth Air Force; based at Castelluccia,15 km S of Foggia, Italy; invalided to Bruns General Hosp., Santa Fe, NM Apr 1945; DNB in hospital 24 Sep 1945, tuberculosis.

† Peterson, Harlan Howard Luther, SN O-790-955, US Army Air Force, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 10 Nov 1920 rural Stanton, Scott Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o Luther C. Peterson & Hilda E. Lundberg; entered service 15 Oct 1941/19 Jan 1942 from Rt. 1, Stanton; m. Jean L. Hilbert 1942 in Omaha.
  • 500th Bomb. Sqdn., 345th Bomb. Gp., Fifth Air Force; based at 7 Mile Drome, near Port Moresby but staging at Dobodura, New Guinea; North American B-25D-1 Mitchell Sorry Satchul #41-30056 pilot; KIA 18 Oct 1943 after skip bombing & strafing attack on Japanese ship at Rabaul, New Britain; unescorted flight of three B-25s attacked by multiple Japanese aircraft, Sorry Satchul and SNAFU shot down, Tondelayo survived; crew of six all killed; US Air Force War w/ Japan > Fifth Air Force; BNR.
  • Notes: The three bomber crews are credited with shooting down multiple Japanese aircraft, and all crew members received Silver Stars.

† Peterson, Harry Earl, SN 37-138-626, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 6 Nov 1908 Hazelton, Emmons Co., ND; s/o William A. Peterson & Dora C. Sergent; lived in Pott. Co.; m. Carrie I. Moore 1927 (div. 1941), three children; m. Opal M. Payne 1941 in Missouri; bur. Garner Twp. Cem., Pott. Co.
  • 357th Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div., XV Corps, Third Army; KIA 3 Aug 1944 near Avranches, Normandy, France; The ETO > Liberation > Normandy.
 
† Peterson, Jack, SN 321-78-55, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • b. 5 Jun 1924 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Harlan Peterson & Ethalyn A. Weimer of Harlan; entered service 22 Jun 1942 from Harlan.
  • Destroyer USS Brownson (DD-518); DNB 6 Apr 1943, Atlantic Ocean; lost overboard; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.
 
† Petrus, Richard Marvin, SN 17-148-212, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Jul 1925 Memphis, Shelby Co., TN; s/o John B. Petrus Sr. & Lyda L. Moore; family moved to Co. Bluffs ~ 1930; entered service 3 Feb 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 706th Bomb. Sqdn., 466 Bomb. Gp., Eighth Air Force, based at Bungay/Flixton, Suffolk, England; Consolidated B-24 Liberator #42-50790 tail gunner; KIA 11 Apr 1945 SW of Bungay/Flixton; two returning bombers collided, no survivors; The ETO > ETO Air War.
 
† Pettie, Vernon Gerard, SN 648-57-95, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 8 Jul 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Sidney R. Pettie & Blanche A. Kinney; m. Clara M. Klausmeier 1943 in Omaha, one child; entered service 19 Oct 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Ft. Snelling Nat’l Cem., Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.
  • Fleet Hospital #114, Leyte Gulf, Manicani Is., Guinan, Samar, Philippines; DNB 8 Apr 1945, Samar, drowning; WWII-Japan > The Pacific Base Areas.
 
† Phillips, George Donald, SN 37-194-330, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Jefferson Cos.
  • b. 11 Oct 1906 rural Oakland, Pott. Co.; s/o James E. Phillips & Kate B. Anderson, Oakland natives; raised in rural Pott. Co.; m. Eunice Williamson 1929; living in Wright Twp., Pott. Co. 1930; moved to Fairfield, Jefferson Co. early 1930s; div. 1939; m. Marcene M. Duggan 1942; entered service 6 May 1942 from Fairfield; bur. North Africa American Cem., Carthage, Tunisia.
  • 91st Fighter Sqdn., 81st Fighter Gp., Twelfth Air Force, based at Monastir Airfield, SE of Sousse, 100 miles S of Tunis, Tunisia; group flying Bell P-39 Airacobras; DNB 11 Jul 1943 in hospital, Sfax, Tunisia from rifle bullet in head; The MTO > North Africa > Tunisia.
 
† ​Phinney, Russell Dayton Jr., SN 20-704-300, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 1 Sep 1921 Fort Dodge, Webster Co.; s/o Russell D. Phinney Sr. & Lillian M. Jones; raised in Co. Bluffs; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Co. Bluffs; bur. North Africa American Cem., Carthage, Tunisia.
  • 168th Inf. Regt. Band, 34th Inf. Div., II Corps; KIA 18 Feb 1943, Djebel Ksaira, SE of Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia, North Africa;  Battle of Sidi Bou Zid - The MTO > North Africa > Tunisia.
 
† ​Pierce, Robert Clark, SN 6-825-221, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Dec 1913 Co. Bluffs; s/o Charles Pierce & Winnie L. Rude of Co. Bluffs; entered service 14 Dec 1933 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 7th Material Sqdn., 19th Bomb. Gp., Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 22 Nov 1942, Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines; beriberi; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR.
 
† ​Plagge, Harold W., SN O-1006609, US Army, Lake Co., IL
  • b. 1 Nov 1915 Barrington, Cook & Lake Cos., IL; s/o Walter B. Plagge & Anna Listhartke; entered service 6 May 1942 from Lake Co., IL, service credited to Cook Co.; m. Eloise G. Gregg of rural Oakland, Pott. Co.; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • Co. C, 746th Tank Bn., supporting the 82nd Airborne Div. VII Corps, First Army; DOW 9 Jun 1944 near Ste.-Mere Eglise, Normandy, France; The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy, June 1944.
  • Notes: posthumous Silver Star.
 
† Platt, Donald Aris, SN 37-193-185, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 20 Jun 1920 Warsaw, Benton Co., MO; s/o Grant Platt & Columbia M. Kidwell; family moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in 1928; m. Dorothy M. Lantz, one child; entered service 28 Apr 1942 from Rt. 1, Red Oak; bur. Ardennes American Cem., Liege, Belgium.
  • 67th Armored Regt., 2nd Armored Div., XIX Corps, First Army; KIA 6 Oct 1944, probably near Wurm River, N of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; The ETO > War of Attrition > Rhineland 1944 > Aachen.

† Plummer, Kenneth Frank, SN 37-680-558, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Jan 1925 rural Loveland, Boomer Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Frank W. Plummer & Hazel E. Jacobsen of Boomer Twp.; family moved to Co. Bluffs in 1940 and later to Omaha; entered service 16 Nov 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, Belgium.
  • 424 Inf. Regt., 106 Inf. Div., XVIII Corps, First Army; KIA 28 Dec 1944 near Manhay, W of St. Vith, Belgium; The ETO > Ardennes/The Bulge > The Bulge Contained.
  • Notes: When the German Ardennes Counteroffensive began on 16 Dec 1944, the 424th Inf. Regt. was at Winterspelt, Rhineland-Palatine, Germany, near the Belgian border. The other two 106th Inf. Div. regiments, the 422nd and 423rd, were in the Schnee Eifel to the north and were encircled and surrendered on 19 Dec. Meanwhile, the 424th had withdrawn from Winterspelt NW across the Our River to St. Vith, Belgium, where it was attached to the 7th Armored Division and joined the defense of St. Vith. Around 21 Dec, the 424th joined the American withdrawal from St. Vith further west to Manhay.

† Pogge, George Hubert, SN O-718974, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 1 Feb 1923 rural Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o Hubert J. Pogge & Violet M. Sexton of Co. Bluffs; entered service 22 Feb 1943 from Rt. 2, Co. Bluffs; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 714th Bomb. Sqdn., 448th Bomb. Gp., Eighth Air Force, based at Seething, Norfolk, England; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #42-95134 Lady Margaret navigator w/ pilot Francis Bodkin; KIA 26 Aug 1944 en route to Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany; plane brought down by flak 7 miles W of Ludwigshafen; six died, four survived; The ETO > ETO Air War.
 
† ​Points, Leslie Ronald, SN 32-300-054, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Dec 1919 Honey Creek, Rockford Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o John C. Points & Maude C. Spencer (d. 1942) of Honey Creek; entered service 4 May 1942 from Bergen Co., NJ; bur. Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, Lorraine, France.
  • 313th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div., XV Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 29 Sep 1944, Forêt de Parroy, E of Nancy, Lorraine, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine & Alsace 1944 > Lorraine/Seventh Army.
 
† ​Pokett, John Frederick "Jack", SN 37-485-635, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 28 May 1925 Dunlap, Harrison Co.; s/o Donald C. Pokett Sr. & Helen M. Shaffer; family lived in various locations returning to Harrison Co. 1930; parents div., mother m. Clarence D. Bauer 1938 & moved children to Nebraska; entered service 4 Oct 1943 from Harrison Co.; bur. Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap.
  • Co. C, 386th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div.; DOW 10 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† ​Porter, Harry Edward, SN 620-75-00, US Naval Aviation, Cass Co.
  • b. 3 Oct 1924 Lewis, Cass Co.; s/o James C. Porter & Ethel M. Livingston; entered service 22 Jul 1942 from Lewis.
  • Naval Air Patrol Bomb. Sqdn. VPB 153, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii Territory; Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon BuNo 37101 radioman; KIA 8 May 1945 Kaneohe Bay; plane crashed shortly after takeoff on antisubmarine training patrol, all six died; WWII-Japan > The Pacific Bases; BNR.
 
† Porter, John L. Jr., SN 39-125-170, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 30 Nov 1924, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX; s/o John L. Porter Sr. & Nellie F. Lacy (div.); lived in Co. Bluffs w/ gf Amby Lacy, service credited to Pott. Co.; bur. Golden Gate Nat’l Cem., San Bruno, San Mateo Co., CA.
  • 187th Airborne Regt., 11th Airborne Div.; WIA New Guinea ~Jun 1944; DOW 25 Oct 1944, San Mateo Co., CA; S & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea - Lae to Madang.
 
† Powell, Oliver Preston Jr., SN 37-420-870, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 2 Sep 1921 Mondamin, Harrison Co.; s/o Oliver P. Powell Sr. (d. 1929) & Rilla A. Holley who were born, raised & married in Indiana; entered service 5 Jun 1942 from Mondamin; bur. Oak Grove Cem., Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.
  • 38th Inf. Regt., 2nd Inf. Div., VIII Corps, Ninth Army; KIA 9 Sep 1944, near Brest, Brittany, France; The ETO > Liberation > Brittany.
 
† Pratt, Leonard Earl, SN 37-465-244, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 8 Aug 1920 Crescent, Pott. Co.; s/o Clair Pratt & Maud A. Butler of Crescent & Co. Bluffs; entered service 20 Nov 1942 from Crescent;  bur. Crescent Cem.
  • 8th Inf. Regt., 4th Inf. Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 10 Jul 1944, near Periers, NW of St. Lo, Normandy, France; The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy July 1944.
 
† Profeda, Louis Anthony, SN 37-139-285, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Sep 1916, Co, Bluffs; s/o Anthony Profeda & Marie Triana who married in Sicily & came to Co. Bluffs ~ 1915; entered service 7 Jan 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. M, 128th Inf. Regt., 32nd Inf. Div.; KIA 22 Nov 1942 near Buna, Papua, New Guinea; Buna Campaign - South & SW Pacific > SE New Guinea - Papua.
 
† Pryor, William Dale, US Merchant Marine, Pott. Co.
  • b. 24 Sep 1925 Altoona, Polk Co.; s/o Harry C. Pryor & Jennie M. Williams; family moved to Avoca, Pott. Co. ~1939; bur. Old Altoona Cem.
  • trainee at US Maritime Service Training Station, Brooklyn, NY in 1943; d. 12 Oct 1944 Avoca, Pott. Co., sepsis.
 
† Punteney, Charles Edward, served at Puntney, Charles E, SN 37-699-132, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Jan 1913 Vermillion, Marshall Co., KS; s/o Frank M. Punteney & Clarissa I. Smith of Frankfort, Marshall Co. who lived in Co. Bluffs in the 1930s; m. Dorothy L. Bownes of Co. Bluffs 1930; lived in Co. Bluffs, six children; entered service 26 Jun 1944 from Treynor, Pott. Co.; bur. Netherlands American Cem., Margraten, Netherlands.
  • 33rd Armored Regt., 3rd Armored Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 26 Mar 1945 near Altenkirchen, E of Bonn, Germany; The ETO > Central Europe > Beyond the Rhine.
 
† Putnam, Robert Edward, served as Putman, Robert E, SN O-1318929, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 6 Oct 1921 Avoca, Pott. Co.; s/o Ernest W. Putnam & Marie W. Greve of Avoca; entered service 12 Nov 1942 at Des Moines; bur. Graceland Cem., Avoca.
  • Co. G, 359th Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div., XII Corps, Third Army; DNB 20 Nov 1945, Sulzbach, E of Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany; handgun accident; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.