Pfc. Marvin Grover Harders Jr. was born in Berkeley, Illinois, on August 22, 1922, to Marvin G. Harders Sr. and Ethel Hagerlin-Harders, and had two sisers and two brothers. He lived on Electric Avenue in Berkeley and graduated from Sunnyside School and then Proviso Township High School, Maywood, Illinois, in 1941. His family, at some point, moved to 1542 North Long Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
On June 22, 1942, he registered with Selective Service and named his mother as his contact person. He also indicated he was unemployed. On November 13, 1942, he was drafted into the Army. It not known where he did his basic training, but it is known he trained at Camp Swift, Texas. He was assigned to Company G, 405th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division.
The 102nd arrived in France on September 23, 1944, and trained before being sent to the the German-Netherlands border on October 26th. On November 29th, the Division drove to the river and went through Welz, Flossdorf, and Linnich. The soldiers patrolled along the Roer, from December 4th to 19th. On December 22nd, the Division was attached to the British 21st Army Group. What is known is that on December 22, 1944, Pfc. Marvin G. Harders was killed in Action when he was hit by shrapnel during a German advance. Two days later, December 24th, he was buried at the United States Military Cemetery, Margraten, Holland, in Plot J, Row 9. Grave 222. It is not known if his parents ever were told he was missing in action, but it is known on January 4, 1945, his death had been confirmed. His parents had a memorial service for him on May 20, 1945, at the Austin Lutheran Church in Chicago.
His father received a letter, dated October 14, 1946, informing him of the location of Marvin’s remains in the cemetery. He was also informed that in the future he would receive a letter providing him with information on his options for Marvin’s final burial. The letter, dated November 28, 1947, arrived asking him to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where he wanted his son buried. He was asked to fill-out the form and return the form to the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC. The form was received by the OQMG on December 15th, and indicated his parents wanted Marvin to be buried in an American Military Cemetery.
It is not known if his casket was moved to a new grave or the military simply changed its system for identifying the location of graves, but another letter was sent to his father with information on where Marvin’s grave was located in the cemetery.
Pfc Marvin G. Harders, ASN 36 623 823
Plot A, Row 19, Grave 14
Headstone: Cross
Margraten U. S. Military Cemetery
Mrs. Alma Henson
1302 North 11th Avenue
Melrose Park, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Henson:
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved one have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of cemetery.
While interments are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may rest assured that the final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
THOMAS B. LARKIN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
