Son of Vernon Etzler & Ethel Irene Warner Etzler.

Vernon served as a Private First Class in the 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Infantry Division, U.S. Army during World War II.

He resided in Carroll County, Maryland prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on November 25, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being a farmer and also as being Single, without dependents.

Vernon was "Killed In Action" near the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp in Germany during the war.

He was awarded the "Bronze Star" and Purple Heart.

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

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News Articles:
Frederick, MD:

The News, Frederick, MD, June 8, 1944

PVT. VERNON L. ETZLER, 21 of Union Bridge, is a truck driver with a Flying Fortress squadron of the Eight AAF in England. He is shown at the wheel of a refueling truck, at the airfield. Pct. Etzler is the son of Vernon Etzler, Union Bridge. He was in the shipping department of Crown Cork and Seal Company, Baltimore when he entered the AAF
November 25, 1942.

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The News, Frederick, MD, May 2, 1945
Pfc. Vernon L. Etzler, of near Libertytown, has been killed in action in Germany, his sister, Mrs. John Wolfe, of the same address, was advised by the War Department Tuesday. The message said only that Pfc. Etzler was killed April 8 and that any further information would be sent to his sister.

Pfc. Etzler, son of Vernon Etzler, of near Mt. Pleasant, was an infantryman transferring from the Army Air Forces. He entered service November 25, 1942, and after basic training went to England where he was a truck driver with a Flying Fortress squadron of the Eight AAF. Some months ago, he transferred to the infantry and entered combat some time later.

He wrote home only infrequently and little had been heard from him by relatives for some time. Pfc. Etzler was employed in the shipping department of the Crown Cork and Seal Company, Baltimore, prior to entering service. He attended Dickerson school when his family lived in that section and they later moved to near Libertytown, with a Union Bridge address.

The soldier was unmarried and is survived by two brothers, both in service, in addition to his father and sister. One brother, Pvt. Kenneth Etzler, an infantryman, entered the Valley Forge General Hospital at Phoenixville, Pa., early in April from overseas for further treatment of a shrapnel wound received in action in Luxembourg. His injuries are reported to include a fractured jaw. The other brother is Pvt. Thomas Etzler, last reported in action in Germany. He is also an infantryman.

( News Article provided by: Cari )