He resided in Washington County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on March 14, 1944 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as an inspector and also as Married.
On March 7th, the 35th Division was fighting on the outskirts of Ossenberg while absorbing all types of intense enemy fire. The road from Rheinberg to Ossenberg gave the 137th Infantry Regiment the strongest opposition encountered during this operation and was dubbed "88 Alley".
The enemy was determined to hold Ossenberg in order to keep their positions west of the Rhine River and the Wesel.
On March 9th, the 2nd Battalion was mopping up the remaining enemy resistance in Ossenberg.
Howard was hit by shell fragments during the sharp enemy counterattack on Ossenberg. Although wounded himself, he made his way to a wounded comrade who was hit by enemy fire, 50 yards away. As he carried his comrade to cover, another enemy artillery shell exploted close to him which resulted in the instant dead of PFC Keplinger.
Howard was "Killed In Action" near Ossenberg, Germany during the war.
He was awarded the "Silver Star" and the Purple Heart.
Service # 33845493
He also has a "Cenotaph" in the Rest Haven Cemetery, Hagerstown, Maryland.
"Click Here" for that record.
His brother, Sgt Rudolph L Keplinger, also "Died Of Wounds" during the war and was also awarded the "Silver Star".
Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
Special Thanks to:
Dwight "Andy" Anderson for the exact description of Howard's death on this day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He resided in Washington County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on March 14, 1944 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as an inspector and also as Married.
On March 7th, the 35th Division was fighting on the outskirts of Ossenberg while absorbing all types of intense enemy fire. The road from Rheinberg to Ossenberg gave the 137th Infantry Regiment the strongest opposition encountered during this operation and was dubbed "88 Alley".
The enemy was determined to hold Ossenberg in order to keep their positions west of the Rhine River and the Wesel.
On March 9th, the 2nd Battalion was mopping up the remaining enemy resistance in Ossenberg.
Howard was hit by shell fragments during the sharp enemy counterattack on Ossenberg. Although wounded himself, he made his way to a wounded comrade who was hit by enemy fire, 50 yards away. As he carried his comrade to cover, another enemy artillery shell exploted close to him which resulted in the instant dead of PFC Keplinger.
Howard was "Killed In Action" near Ossenberg, Germany during the war.
He was awarded the "Silver Star" and the Purple Heart.
Service # 33845493
He also has a "Cenotaph" in the Rest Haven Cemetery, Hagerstown, Maryland.
"Click Here" for that record.
His brother, Sgt Rudolph L Keplinger, also "Died Of Wounds" during the war and was also awarded the "Silver Star".
Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
Special Thanks to:
Dwight "Andy" Anderson for the exact description of Howard's death on this day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Members
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John Edward Keplinger
1909–1956
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Paul Leroy "Kepy" Keplinger Sr
1911–1980
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Ruby Irene Keplinger Huff
1913–2006
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Charles Albert "Ab" Keplinger
1915–1999
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Ethel Louise Keplinger Geaslen
1917–2003
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PFC Howard Donald Keplinger
1919–1945
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Sgt Rudolph L Keplinger
1922–1945
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Sgt Rudolph L Keplinger
1922–1945
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Herschel Leon Keplinger
1927–2002
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