2nd Lt. Henry Schneider Jr.
Born: 25 November 1919 – Maywood, Illinois
Parents: Henry Schneider Sr. & Sophie Schander-Schneider
Siblings: 3 sisters, 2 brothers
Home:
– 317 South Twenty-Fifth Avenue – Bellwood, Illinois
Education:
– St. John Lutheran School
– Proviso Township High School
– Class of 1937
– left after two years
Employed: Polar Sturges – Bellwood, Illinois
Selective Service Registration: 1 February 1941
Contact Person: Henry Schneider – father
Inducted:
– U.S. Army
– 17 February 1941
– entered as an enlisted man
– rose in rank to Staff Sergeant
– battlefield commission
– outstanding courage and leadership
Serial Number: O&2006500
Training:
– Unknown
Unit: 712th Tank Battalion, 3rd Army
– brother also served in the 3rd Army
Overseas Duty:
– left United States – March 1944
– landed in France – 27 June 1944
– Omaha Beach
Attached to:
– 82nd Airborne
– 8th Infantry Division
– 90th Infantry Division
– fought with this division for the remainder of the war
Engagements:
– Battle of Le Mans, France – 28 June 1944
– Close of Falaise Pocket, France – August 1944
– Tank battle near Landres, France – 8 September 1944
– Battle of Maizi-res-Les-Metz, France – October 1944
– Metz Offensive, Germany – November 1944
– Battle of the Bulge – Deployed to Rippweiler, Luxembourg – 7 January 1945
– elimination of German units west of Rhine River – March 1945
Killed in Action:
– 20 March 1945
– hit by fire from a German sniper
Memorial Service:
– Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Bellwood, Illinois
– 6 May 1945
Buried:
– Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France
– Plot: E Row: 10 Grave: 26
Medals:
– Purple Heart
– Bronze Star