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A letter of 18 April 1945 to Nellie Getz, from Eugene's Commanding officer, informed her of the details of Eugene's death. He was "killed shortly after he landed on the Drop Zone. He was on his way to an assembly point when he was hit by an enemy sniper who was in a nearby house." Eugene was described as an "outstanding soldier" and was "well liked" by his "many friends."
A first-hand account of the circumstances was contained in another letter, dated the 26th of July 1945. Eugene had "jumped with his platoon and landed safely by parachute in the vicinity of Wesel." As soon as the troopers had become unharnessed, they came under enemy fire. Eugene took up a position near the base of a tower of an electric power line, where he and a fellow trooper were fired upon by a German sniper. When they turned to locate him, the sniper fired a bullet, which "struck Eugene in the back, killing him instantly." According to the witness, Eugene Getz "died immediately without uttering a word or without suffering."

Eugene's father, William Bernard Getz, was Missing In Action at sea in January 1943.

Eugene's older brother, Cpl Allen Kingsley Getz was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Tarawa atol on 20 November 1943, while serving with the 1st Marine Division. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.