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name
VAN SLYKE, Kenneth Edward - Date of
birth
18 April 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Sioux Falls, Lincoln County, South Dakota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1999989 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Platoon Commander -
Unit
3rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized),
F Company
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
16 March 1945 - Place of
death
Riol, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert N. Van Slyke (father)
Catherine F. (Downs ) Van Slyke (mother)
Charles J. Van Slyke (brother)
Mary K. Van SLyke (sister)
Robert D. Van Slyke (brother)
William E. Van Slyke (brother)
Newton Van SLyke (brother)
Mildred B. (Alexander) Van Slyke (wife)
Kenneth E. Van Slyke Jr. (son)
Katherine Van SLyke (daughter)
More information
Kenneth E. Van Slyke attended Augustana College and worked for the city recreation center.He joined the Regular Army in February 1936 and was discharged in February 1940. He reenlisted on 11 February 1941 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
He was reported wounded in action in January 1945 for which he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal a first time.
Lt Van Slyke was riding in a M-24 light tank during an attack northeast of Riol, Germany. The tank was the lead tank when it took a direct hit from an enemy shell. The shell hit the front shield of the tank and penetrated the turret at the gunners position, passing through the radio and going completely through the tank. 2nd Lt Van Slyke and Pfc Henry Melnick were killed instantly. T/4 Sam A. Marino, T/5 Robert A. Harmon, and Pfc Marion C. Sarver escaped without injury. The tank continued to take hits and was set on fire. Further investigation the next day revealed fire had consumed the bodies and there were no recoverable remains.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com - Clinton Alexander, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Schmidt Family Tree, www.findagrave.com - Vicky Van Slyke
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Teresia Johnson, www.newspapers.com - Argus Leader, 1 April 1945