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name
WHITLEY, Eugene Debs - Date of
birth
19 August 1913 -
Age
31 -
Place of birth
Dunsmuir, Siskiyou County, California -
Hometown
Merced, Merced County, California -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39419676 -
Rank
Private -
Function
unknown -
Unit
Service Company,
743rd Tank Battalion,
Battalion Maintenance Platoon
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 November 1944 - Place of
death
Floes-Herzogenrath, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 20 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Hiram T. Whitley (father)
Catherine E. (Evans) Whitley (mother)
James R. Whitley (brother)
Orville M. Whitley (brother)
Walter Whitley (brother)
Greta M. Whitley (sister)
Mina J. Whitley (sister)
Lucille R. Whitley (sister)
Thomas M. Whitley (brother)
Virginia (Hollister) Whitley (wife)
More information
Pvt Eugene D. Whitley was employed by the United Concrete Pip Co. before he enlisted in Sacramento, California on 20 October 1943. He arrived in France on 19 September 1944 and joined his unit on 10 November 1944.His sister Lucille served as a nurse wit the rank of 1st Lieutenant and served in Northern Europe.
At 2.45 am, an enemy airplane dropped several bombs. A direct hit on one of the houses, occupied by Service Company, killing eight men, all members of the Battalion Maintenance Platoon. Seven of these men are buried at Margraten Cemetery, see in the "Related Soldiers" section below.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - family trees / Headstone and Interment Record, http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org - After Action Report 743rd Tank Battalion
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Family Collection - courtesy of Hans Wijnands