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Personal info

Full name
FRIESEMA, John Jacob "Sonny"
Date of birth
10 March 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Sturtevant, Racine County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
36813847
Rank
Private First Class
Function
Rifleman
Unit
A Company,
49th Armored Infantry Battalion,
8th Armored Division,
1st Platoon
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
5 March 1945
Place of death
Rheinberg, Wesel, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
M 4 1

Immediate family

Members
Jacob Friesema (father)
Mamie (Dykstra) Friesema (mother)
Clara Friesema (sister)
Raymond Friesema (brother)
Jacob Friesema (brother)

More information

Pfc John J. Friesema attended McKinley Junior High School and Horlick High School. Following his graduation he was employed at the Charles Tree Tool & Die Works in Racine, Wisconsin as a machinist helper.

He enlisted on 3 April 1943.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, John T. Gerlosky, Fam. Eggink, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1910-1940 Census / Family Trees / 8th Armored Division "Thundering Herd" Unit History

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Fam. Eggink