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Personal info

Full name
BLACK, Howard Thompson "Blackie"
Date of birth
12 October 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hometown
New Castle County, Delaware

Military service

Service number
32488166
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
HQ Company,
513th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
17th Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 March 1945
Place of death
East of Wesel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
E 3 6

Immediate family

Members
Joseph H. Black (father)
Cornelia M. (Thompson) Black (mother)
Richard J. Black (brother)
Ethel Black (sister)

More information

Pfc Howard T. Black graduated from Pierre S. DuPont High School, class of 1941 and had been employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

He enlisted in Camden, New Jersey on 20 January 1943. After entering the Army he had paratroop training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He received special "pathfinder" training in England after he was sent overseas in August 1944.

He died of wounds, sustained during his jump two days earlier. The action in which he lost his life was the first battle.

His last letter was written 23 March.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Tom Verheijden, Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, http://delaware.contentdm.oclc.org, www.newspapers.com - The News Journal

Photo source: Tom Verheijden, www.findagrave.com, www.ww2-airborne.us, http://delaware.contentdm.oclc.org