Pvt. George Joseph Keys, 20, was killed in action in France Nov. 8, according to a telegram from the war department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Keys. Pvt. Keys was born in Springfield Dec. 25, 1923, and lived here until he entered the army July 10, 1943. He was a former Feitshans High school student.
Following his induction, he received his training with the 248th engineer combat battalion at Camp Bowie, Texas and was sent to England July 6, 1944.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, are one sister, Mrs. Helen Jacoby; brothers, 1st Sgt. Jerome Keys, who is stationed in Panama, and T/Sgt. Earl Keys, who is stationed in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-23-1944, p. 9
~~~~~~~
Memorial services for Pvt. George Joseph Keys, who was killed in action in France Nov. 8, will be held tomorrow in the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-26-1944, p. 4
~~~~~~~
Funeral services for Pvt. George J. Keys, 20, who died Nov. 8, 1944, in France, will be held Monday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and burial will be in Roselawn cemetery. American Legion post 32 will conduct military rites at the grave.
Pvt. Keys received his training with the 248th engineers combat battalion and was sent overseas to England July 6, 1944. There he was assigned to General Patton's army and crossed to the continent with the invasion of France. On Nov. 8, while his companions were trying to cross the Seille river, the company ran out of ammunition and Keys volunteered to cross the river in a rubber boat for more ammunition. When half way across, the Germans opened fire on the boat. Keys and his companion jumped into the river and tried to paddle the boat across with their hands but the current was so swift it pulled the boat out of Key's hands. Because of his heavy clothing, Keys was unable to get to shore and drifted down stream. His body was not recovered until April 15, 1945.
He received four major battle stars and the Purple Heart.
The remains will arrive today in Springfield and will be received by the Kirlin & Egan funeral home.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 12-17-1948, p. 43
Following his induction, he received his training with the 248th engineer combat battalion at Camp Bowie, Texas and was sent to England July 6, 1944.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, are one sister, Mrs. Helen Jacoby; brothers, 1st Sgt. Jerome Keys, who is stationed in Panama, and T/Sgt. Earl Keys, who is stationed in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-23-1944, p. 9
~~~~~~~
Memorial services for Pvt. George Joseph Keys, who was killed in action in France Nov. 8, will be held tomorrow in the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-26-1944, p. 4
~~~~~~~
Funeral services for Pvt. George J. Keys, 20, who died Nov. 8, 1944, in France, will be held Monday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and burial will be in Roselawn cemetery. American Legion post 32 will conduct military rites at the grave.
Pvt. Keys received his training with the 248th engineers combat battalion and was sent overseas to England July 6, 1944. There he was assigned to General Patton's army and crossed to the continent with the invasion of France. On Nov. 8, while his companions were trying to cross the Seille river, the company ran out of ammunition and Keys volunteered to cross the river in a rubber boat for more ammunition. When half way across, the Germans opened fire on the boat. Keys and his companion jumped into the river and tried to paddle the boat across with their hands but the current was so swift it pulled the boat out of Key's hands. Because of his heavy clothing, Keys was unable to get to shore and drifted down stream. His body was not recovered until April 15, 1945.
He received four major battle stars and the Purple Heart.
The remains will arrive today in Springfield and will be received by the Kirlin & Egan funeral home.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 12-17-1948, p. 43
Pvt. George Joseph Keys, 20, was killed in action in France Nov. 8, according to a telegram from the war department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Keys. Pvt. Keys was born in Springfield Dec. 25, 1923, and lived here until he entered the army July 10, 1943. He was a former Feitshans High school student.
Following his induction, he received his training with the 248th engineer combat battalion at Camp Bowie, Texas and was sent to England July 6, 1944.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, are one sister, Mrs. Helen Jacoby; brothers, 1st Sgt. Jerome Keys, who is stationed in Panama, and T/Sgt. Earl Keys, who is stationed in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-23-1944, p. 9
~~~~~~~
Memorial services for Pvt. George Joseph Keys, who was killed in action in France Nov. 8, will be held tomorrow in the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-26-1944, p. 4
~~~~~~~
Funeral services for Pvt. George J. Keys, 20, who died Nov. 8, 1944, in France, will be held Monday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and burial will be in Roselawn cemetery. American Legion post 32 will conduct military rites at the grave.
Pvt. Keys received his training with the 248th engineers combat battalion and was sent overseas to England July 6, 1944. There he was assigned to General Patton's army and crossed to the continent with the invasion of France. On Nov. 8, while his companions were trying to cross the Seille river, the company ran out of ammunition and Keys volunteered to cross the river in a rubber boat for more ammunition. When half way across, the Germans opened fire on the boat. Keys and his companion jumped into the river and tried to paddle the boat across with their hands but the current was so swift it pulled the boat out of Key's hands. Because of his heavy clothing, Keys was unable to get to shore and drifted down stream. His body was not recovered until April 15, 1945.
He received four major battle stars and the Purple Heart.
The remains will arrive today in Springfield and will be received by the Kirlin & Egan funeral home.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 12-17-1948, p. 43
Following his induction, he received his training with the 248th engineer combat battalion at Camp Bowie, Texas and was sent to England July 6, 1944.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, are one sister, Mrs. Helen Jacoby; brothers, 1st Sgt. Jerome Keys, who is stationed in Panama, and T/Sgt. Earl Keys, who is stationed in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-23-1944, p. 9
~~~~~~~
Memorial services for Pvt. George Joseph Keys, who was killed in action in France Nov. 8, will be held tomorrow in the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 11-26-1944, p. 4
~~~~~~~
Funeral services for Pvt. George J. Keys, 20, who died Nov. 8, 1944, in France, will be held Monday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and burial will be in Roselawn cemetery. American Legion post 32 will conduct military rites at the grave.
Pvt. Keys received his training with the 248th engineers combat battalion and was sent overseas to England July 6, 1944. There he was assigned to General Patton's army and crossed to the continent with the invasion of France. On Nov. 8, while his companions were trying to cross the Seille river, the company ran out of ammunition and Keys volunteered to cross the river in a rubber boat for more ammunition. When half way across, the Germans opened fire on the boat. Keys and his companion jumped into the river and tried to paddle the boat across with their hands but the current was so swift it pulled the boat out of Key's hands. Because of his heavy clothing, Keys was unable to get to shore and drifted down stream. His body was not recovered until April 15, 1945.
He received four major battle stars and the Purple Heart.
The remains will arrive today in Springfield and will be received by the Kirlin & Egan funeral home.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 12-17-1948, p. 43
Family Members
Parents
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
