Alfred Leon Schellenger was the eldest surviving son born to parents, Clyde and Myrtle Pirkle Schellenger of Sparta, Randolph Co, Illinois. Apparently, Alfred L preferred to use his middle name as his first name as in all census data he appeared as Leon; only in his military records was he shown as Alfred L. He was named in honor of his maternal grandfather, Alfred M Pirkle (1873-1917). Leon was born in the state of Illinois, most probably in or near the town of Sparta in Randolph Co and lived there until he was about 17 years of age, when he is noted living in St. Louis, Missouri, as contained in the 1940 census. Leon's birth-year is believed to be 1922; however, the exact date of his birth remains unsourced (census data only).
On 27 Jan 1943, Leon enlisted in the US Army at Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, MO, (he's married at this time) and was subsequently assigned to the 345th IR, 87th ID as a Private. He spent his military service with that unit, until he was killed in action following the Allied Forces crossing of the Kyll River (2-3 Mar 1945), in western Germany. He was about 22 years of age at the time of his death.
For his ultimate sacrifice, Leon was awarded the Medal of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Leon married Opal May Peeler (1923-1996) circa 1942; the existence of any children they may have had remains unknown.
Leon's younger brother, Waldo E, was also a veteran of WWII and their father, Clyde, was a veteran of WWI.
Leon was a tenth generation descendant of Jacobus Schellinger (1625-1693) of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Jacobus was the Dutch immigrant who first brought his family's name to the New World circa 1650.
On 27 Jan 1943, Leon enlisted in the US Army at Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, MO, (he's married at this time) and was subsequently assigned to the 345th IR, 87th ID as a Private. He spent his military service with that unit, until he was killed in action following the Allied Forces crossing of the Kyll River (2-3 Mar 1945), in western Germany. He was about 22 years of age at the time of his death.
For his ultimate sacrifice, Leon was awarded the Medal of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Leon married Opal May Peeler (1923-1996) circa 1942; the existence of any children they may have had remains unknown.
Leon's younger brother, Waldo E, was also a veteran of WWII and their father, Clyde, was a veteran of WWI.
Leon was a tenth generation descendant of Jacobus Schellinger (1625-1693) of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Jacobus was the Dutch immigrant who first brought his family's name to the New World circa 1650.
Alfred Leon Schellenger was the eldest surviving son born to parents, Clyde and Myrtle Pirkle Schellenger of Sparta, Randolph Co, Illinois. Apparently, Alfred L preferred to use his middle name as his first name as in all census data he appeared as Leon; only in his military records was he shown as Alfred L. He was named in honor of his maternal grandfather, Alfred M Pirkle (1873-1917). Leon was born in the state of Illinois, most probably in or near the town of Sparta in Randolph Co and lived there until he was about 17 years of age, when he is noted living in St. Louis, Missouri, as contained in the 1940 census. Leon's birth-year is believed to be 1922; however, the exact date of his birth remains unsourced (census data only).
On 27 Jan 1943, Leon enlisted in the US Army at Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, MO, (he's married at this time) and was subsequently assigned to the 345th IR, 87th ID as a Private. He spent his military service with that unit, until he was killed in action following the Allied Forces crossing of the Kyll River (2-3 Mar 1945), in western Germany. He was about 22 years of age at the time of his death.
For his ultimate sacrifice, Leon was awarded the Medal of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Leon married Opal May Peeler (1923-1996) circa 1942; the existence of any children they may have had remains unknown.
Leon's younger brother, Waldo E, was also a veteran of WWII and their father, Clyde, was a veteran of WWI.
Leon was a tenth generation descendant of Jacobus Schellinger (1625-1693) of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Jacobus was the Dutch immigrant who first brought his family's name to the New World circa 1650.
On 27 Jan 1943, Leon enlisted in the US Army at Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, MO, (he's married at this time) and was subsequently assigned to the 345th IR, 87th ID as a Private. He spent his military service with that unit, until he was killed in action following the Allied Forces crossing of the Kyll River (2-3 Mar 1945), in western Germany. He was about 22 years of age at the time of his death.
For his ultimate sacrifice, Leon was awarded the Medal of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Leon married Opal May Peeler (1923-1996) circa 1942; the existence of any children they may have had remains unknown.
Leon's younger brother, Waldo E, was also a veteran of WWII and their father, Clyde, was a veteran of WWI.
Leon was a tenth generation descendant of Jacobus Schellinger (1625-1693) of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Jacobus was the Dutch immigrant who first brought his family's name to the New World circa 1650.
Inscription
Alfred L Schellenger
Pvt 345 Inf 87 Div
Missouri Mar 4 1945
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