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Personal info

Full name
BRAATZ, Elroy John
Date of birth
26 June 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
36842645
Rank
Private
Function
Rifleman
Unit
2nd Battalion,
513th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
17th Airborne Division,
313th Troop Carrier Group
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 March 1945
Place of death
1 mile northeast of Diersfordt, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
F 15 11

Immediate family

Members
John H. Braatz (father)
Lillian G. (Schultz) Braatz (mother)
Lauretta Braatz (sister)
Virginia Braatz (wife)

More information

Pvt Elroy J. Braatz was aboard a C-46 aircraft in Serial A-5, 313 TCCG, 9th TCC scheduled to drop by parachute into Drop Zone W. Due to a smokescreen and disorientation of the aircraft, his unit was dropped 2.5 miles northeast of the drop zone east of a railway line and 1.5 miles southwest of Hamminkeln, Germany. After landing, his unit fought its way to within 1 mile northeast of Diersfordt where he was killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / family trees, 17th Airborne Division Historical Report of Operation Varsity, Book: The Last Drop, March 24-25, 1945 by Stephen L. Wright

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Tamra Michelle Braatz