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name
ALEN, Paul Oliver - Date of
birth
30 May 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
Manhattan, New York County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
6877662 -
Rank
Private -
Function
unknown -
Unit
36th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized),
C Troop
-
Awards
Soldier's Medal,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
3 March 1945 - Place of
death
Heerlen, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 16 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Matilda Alen (mother)
Hilda Alen (sister)
Eno Alen (brother)
Anna Alen (sister)
Johanna Alen (wife)
More information
Pvt Paul O. Alen was employed by the Ford Motor Company before he volunteered for the Army of the United States in New York City on 18 May 1942.He was awarded the Soldier's Medal which is for heroism not involving actual conflict. The information provided was there was a barge with five soldiers working on it. It pulled away from its mooring throwing three of the men into the channel. Pvt Alen and the other soldier quickly removed their equipment and dove into the water after the struggling soldiers, none of whom could swim. All three were rescued.
Pvt Alen died of wounds in a field hospital in Heerlen.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1920/1930 census, www.findagrave.com, IDPF
Photo source: Peter Schouteten