Earl was the son of the late Alice and Earl Buchanan-Propst of Morgantown WV (Canyon Community) He entered the United States Army from West Virginia on October 16, 1941.
Earl was a Staff Sergeant during World War II. He served as an Assistant radar operator (Radar Observer) and a gunner aboard the B-24 tail # 42-50279; the plane was nicknamed "ENVY OF EM ALL". Tragically; while on combat mission in 1944 Over Schwabische Hall Germany, the plane was hit by enemy fire and Earl was seriously burned. According to crew members Earl went into shock and was unable to parachute from the plane due to his injuries. At some point the plane exploded and Earl was ejected out. It is not known if Earl died from his injuries or if he died when the plane exploded. This was September 13, 1944, he was 21 years old. Initially Earl was declared MIA "Missing in Action" when he was thought to be "Theo Probst" and buried in an isolated grave in Rudesheim Germany. 1 year and 1 day later the identification mistake was discovered and SSGT Earl Propst was finally declared KIA "Killed in Action" and moved to the American Military Cemetery in France. This has been his resting place ever since.
It's never really been clear as to why Alice and Earl decided to leave their beloved son in France; perhaps it was simply too painful for them. It is also unclear if they really knew the tragic details on how he actually died and how he suffered that day. When family member Betty Propst-Nabors was ask what she remembered about him she said "he was our big brother and he built us kids a tree house"!
The "ENVY OF 'EM ALL" crew
2nd/Lt. Albert E. Joynt Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Edward J. Taylor Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Homer H. Phipps Jr. Navigator POW
2nd/Lt. Bruce F. Forsberg Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Roy A. Smith Jr. Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Odis L. Apple Jr. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. L. G. Floyd Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles L. Hester Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Earl J. Propst Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles E. Vavra Gunner KIA
Like so many of our soldiers during that era this man was truly a hero in every way!
Earl was a Staff Sergeant during World War II. He served as an Assistant radar operator (Radar Observer) and a gunner aboard the B-24 tail # 42-50279; the plane was nicknamed "ENVY OF EM ALL". Tragically; while on combat mission in 1944 Over Schwabische Hall Germany, the plane was hit by enemy fire and Earl was seriously burned. According to crew members Earl went into shock and was unable to parachute from the plane due to his injuries. At some point the plane exploded and Earl was ejected out. It is not known if Earl died from his injuries or if he died when the plane exploded. This was September 13, 1944, he was 21 years old. Initially Earl was declared MIA "Missing in Action" when he was thought to be "Theo Probst" and buried in an isolated grave in Rudesheim Germany. 1 year and 1 day later the identification mistake was discovered and SSGT Earl Propst was finally declared KIA "Killed in Action" and moved to the American Military Cemetery in France. This has been his resting place ever since.
It's never really been clear as to why Alice and Earl decided to leave their beloved son in France; perhaps it was simply too painful for them. It is also unclear if they really knew the tragic details on how he actually died and how he suffered that day. When family member Betty Propst-Nabors was ask what she remembered about him she said "he was our big brother and he built us kids a tree house"!
The "ENVY OF 'EM ALL" crew
2nd/Lt. Albert E. Joynt Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Edward J. Taylor Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Homer H. Phipps Jr. Navigator POW
2nd/Lt. Bruce F. Forsberg Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Roy A. Smith Jr. Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Odis L. Apple Jr. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. L. G. Floyd Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles L. Hester Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Earl J. Propst Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles E. Vavra Gunner KIA
Like so many of our soldiers during that era this man was truly a hero in every way!
Earl was the son of the late Alice and Earl Buchanan-Propst of Morgantown WV (Canyon Community) He entered the United States Army from West Virginia on October 16, 1941.
Earl was a Staff Sergeant during World War II. He served as an Assistant radar operator (Radar Observer) and a gunner aboard the B-24 tail # 42-50279; the plane was nicknamed "ENVY OF EM ALL". Tragically; while on combat mission in 1944 Over Schwabische Hall Germany, the plane was hit by enemy fire and Earl was seriously burned. According to crew members Earl went into shock and was unable to parachute from the plane due to his injuries. At some point the plane exploded and Earl was ejected out. It is not known if Earl died from his injuries or if he died when the plane exploded. This was September 13, 1944, he was 21 years old. Initially Earl was declared MIA "Missing in Action" when he was thought to be "Theo Probst" and buried in an isolated grave in Rudesheim Germany. 1 year and 1 day later the identification mistake was discovered and SSGT Earl Propst was finally declared KIA "Killed in Action" and moved to the American Military Cemetery in France. This has been his resting place ever since.
It's never really been clear as to why Alice and Earl decided to leave their beloved son in France; perhaps it was simply too painful for them. It is also unclear if they really knew the tragic details on how he actually died and how he suffered that day. When family member Betty Propst-Nabors was ask what she remembered about him she said "he was our big brother and he built us kids a tree house"!
The "ENVY OF 'EM ALL" crew
2nd/Lt. Albert E. Joynt Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Edward J. Taylor Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Homer H. Phipps Jr. Navigator POW
2nd/Lt. Bruce F. Forsberg Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Roy A. Smith Jr. Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Odis L. Apple Jr. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. L. G. Floyd Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles L. Hester Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Earl J. Propst Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles E. Vavra Gunner KIA
Like so many of our soldiers during that era this man was truly a hero in every way!
Earl was a Staff Sergeant during World War II. He served as an Assistant radar operator (Radar Observer) and a gunner aboard the B-24 tail # 42-50279; the plane was nicknamed "ENVY OF EM ALL". Tragically; while on combat mission in 1944 Over Schwabische Hall Germany, the plane was hit by enemy fire and Earl was seriously burned. According to crew members Earl went into shock and was unable to parachute from the plane due to his injuries. At some point the plane exploded and Earl was ejected out. It is not known if Earl died from his injuries or if he died when the plane exploded. This was September 13, 1944, he was 21 years old. Initially Earl was declared MIA "Missing in Action" when he was thought to be "Theo Probst" and buried in an isolated grave in Rudesheim Germany. 1 year and 1 day later the identification mistake was discovered and SSGT Earl Propst was finally declared KIA "Killed in Action" and moved to the American Military Cemetery in France. This has been his resting place ever since.
It's never really been clear as to why Alice and Earl decided to leave their beloved son in France; perhaps it was simply too painful for them. It is also unclear if they really knew the tragic details on how he actually died and how he suffered that day. When family member Betty Propst-Nabors was ask what she remembered about him she said "he was our big brother and he built us kids a tree house"!
The "ENVY OF 'EM ALL" crew
2nd/Lt. Albert E. Joynt Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Edward J. Taylor Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Homer H. Phipps Jr. Navigator POW
2nd/Lt. Bruce F. Forsberg Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Roy A. Smith Jr. Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Odis L. Apple Jr. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. L. G. Floyd Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles L. Hester Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Earl J. Propst Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Charles E. Vavra Gunner KIA
Like so many of our soldiers during that era this man was truly a hero in every way!
Inscription
SGT Earl J. Propst
576 Bomb SQ
392 Bomb CP
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from West Virginia-PURPLE HEART METAL for wounds previously received, Purple Heart for wounds resulting in death-Citation of Honor
