George Wesley Bletz, born on September 28, 1922 was the eldest of three boys living in a small town called Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and lost his father, William Brader Bletz, from diphtheria at an early age. He and his brothers were sent off to work on tobacco farms, since their mother Elizabeth Mae Koch couldn't afford to take care of all of them by herself.
As soon as World War II began, he left to fight for his country in the US Army, hoping to fulfill the family's patriotic duty and spare his two younger brothers from going also. However all three ended up serving in the war and George lost his younger brother on D-Day in Nomandy. George was only thirty miles away, when his brother Fred was KIA and fell to his death on the beach. He found out weeks later. George was a Medic in the Army, putting himself in danger many times to rescue those who were injured or killed. He was shot himself and received several purple hearts for his service. He served several tours of duty all over Europe and Iceland.
Upon returning home to Pennsyslvania he married and started his family of two girls and two boys. After the birth of the first three children, the steel mills of Pennsylvania were closing, and he was laid off, so he uprooted the family and moved them all to New York State where the job market was more promising.
After a disappointing beginning, he found several jobs, was able to save enough to buy a small home in upstate New York. George worked mostly in a chemical plant, working as a kettle operator and crane operator, but had several jobs all his life, working very hard to provide for his family.
He started a VFW Post after returning from the war and was an active member for years. When his boys got older he became a Webelos leader and then Troop leader for Latham, NY Troop 66 for many years. His troop was active in camping, hiking, and outdoor activities. He initiated community service projects to help the neighborhood like fundraising and shoveling out fire hydrants.
George was a deacon and trustee at the Latham Community Baptist Church. He cleaned the church with his family as a service every week for years. George's passion was fishing and hunting with his family and friends in his spare time.
He loved taking his wife Pearl on Caribbean cruises when they retired. He died of lung cancer died on April 5,2002 and was buried in Memory's Garden, Colonie, NY.
As soon as World War II began, he left to fight for his country in the US Army, hoping to fulfill the family's patriotic duty and spare his two younger brothers from going also. However all three ended up serving in the war and George lost his younger brother on D-Day in Nomandy. George was only thirty miles away, when his brother Fred was KIA and fell to his death on the beach. He found out weeks later. George was a Medic in the Army, putting himself in danger many times to rescue those who were injured or killed. He was shot himself and received several purple hearts for his service. He served several tours of duty all over Europe and Iceland.
Upon returning home to Pennsyslvania he married and started his family of two girls and two boys. After the birth of the first three children, the steel mills of Pennsylvania were closing, and he was laid off, so he uprooted the family and moved them all to New York State where the job market was more promising.
After a disappointing beginning, he found several jobs, was able to save enough to buy a small home in upstate New York. George worked mostly in a chemical plant, working as a kettle operator and crane operator, but had several jobs all his life, working very hard to provide for his family.
He started a VFW Post after returning from the war and was an active member for years. When his boys got older he became a Webelos leader and then Troop leader for Latham, NY Troop 66 for many years. His troop was active in camping, hiking, and outdoor activities. He initiated community service projects to help the neighborhood like fundraising and shoveling out fire hydrants.
George was a deacon and trustee at the Latham Community Baptist Church. He cleaned the church with his family as a service every week for years. George's passion was fishing and hunting with his family and friends in his spare time.
He loved taking his wife Pearl on Caribbean cruises when they retired. He died of lung cancer died on April 5,2002 and was buried in Memory's Garden, Colonie, NY.
George Wesley Bletz, born on September 28, 1922 was the eldest of three boys living in a small town called Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and lost his father, William Brader Bletz, from diphtheria at an early age. He and his brothers were sent off to work on tobacco farms, since their mother Elizabeth Mae Koch couldn't afford to take care of all of them by herself.
As soon as World War II began, he left to fight for his country in the US Army, hoping to fulfill the family's patriotic duty and spare his two younger brothers from going also. However all three ended up serving in the war and George lost his younger brother on D-Day in Nomandy. George was only thirty miles away, when his brother Fred was KIA and fell to his death on the beach. He found out weeks later. George was a Medic in the Army, putting himself in danger many times to rescue those who were injured or killed. He was shot himself and received several purple hearts for his service. He served several tours of duty all over Europe and Iceland.
Upon returning home to Pennsyslvania he married and started his family of two girls and two boys. After the birth of the first three children, the steel mills of Pennsylvania were closing, and he was laid off, so he uprooted the family and moved them all to New York State where the job market was more promising.
After a disappointing beginning, he found several jobs, was able to save enough to buy a small home in upstate New York. George worked mostly in a chemical plant, working as a kettle operator and crane operator, but had several jobs all his life, working very hard to provide for his family.
He started a VFW Post after returning from the war and was an active member for years. When his boys got older he became a Webelos leader and then Troop leader for Latham, NY Troop 66 for many years. His troop was active in camping, hiking, and outdoor activities. He initiated community service projects to help the neighborhood like fundraising and shoveling out fire hydrants.
George was a deacon and trustee at the Latham Community Baptist Church. He cleaned the church with his family as a service every week for years. George's passion was fishing and hunting with his family and friends in his spare time.
He loved taking his wife Pearl on Caribbean cruises when they retired. He died of lung cancer died on April 5,2002 and was buried in Memory's Garden, Colonie, NY.
As soon as World War II began, he left to fight for his country in the US Army, hoping to fulfill the family's patriotic duty and spare his two younger brothers from going also. However all three ended up serving in the war and George lost his younger brother on D-Day in Nomandy. George was only thirty miles away, when his brother Fred was KIA and fell to his death on the beach. He found out weeks later. George was a Medic in the Army, putting himself in danger many times to rescue those who were injured or killed. He was shot himself and received several purple hearts for his service. He served several tours of duty all over Europe and Iceland.
Upon returning home to Pennsyslvania he married and started his family of two girls and two boys. After the birth of the first three children, the steel mills of Pennsylvania were closing, and he was laid off, so he uprooted the family and moved them all to New York State where the job market was more promising.
After a disappointing beginning, he found several jobs, was able to save enough to buy a small home in upstate New York. George worked mostly in a chemical plant, working as a kettle operator and crane operator, but had several jobs all his life, working very hard to provide for his family.
He started a VFW Post after returning from the war and was an active member for years. When his boys got older he became a Webelos leader and then Troop leader for Latham, NY Troop 66 for many years. His troop was active in camping, hiking, and outdoor activities. He initiated community service projects to help the neighborhood like fundraising and shoveling out fire hydrants.
George was a deacon and trustee at the Latham Community Baptist Church. He cleaned the church with his family as a service every week for years. George's passion was fishing and hunting with his family and friends in his spare time.
He loved taking his wife Pearl on Caribbean cruises when they retired. He died of lung cancer died on April 5,2002 and was buried in Memory's Garden, Colonie, NY.
Inscription
George W Bletz
PFC US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
Sep 28 1922 - Apr 5 2002
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
