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| Pfc. Kermit Becker served in the 34th Infantry Division while his brother Pvt. Eugene Becker served in the 85th Infantry Division. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94876802/kermit-becker https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94876236/eugene-walter-becker |
Kermit Becker never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 20, 1918 in West Virginia. His parents Arnold and Ada were also both born in West Virginia. His father worked as a farmer and later as a watchman. Kermit had three older sisters and two older brothers. By 1940 Kermit had completed eight years of schooling and was employed as a fire worker while living at home. Within the next year he married Ruth Lee Cade.
He was drafted into the US Army on June 5, 1941. Kermit became a private first class in the 34th Military Police Company attached to the 34th Infantry Division. His father Arnold died in 1942.
On September 4, 1943, while acting in his capacity as a military policeman, he died from a fractured skull as a result of an Arab riot in North Africa.
Brother Eugene, six years his senior, was drafted October 20, 1943, no doubt shortly after hearing of Kermit's death. Kermit became a private in Company A, 1st Battalion, 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division. He also left a wife behind -- Freida Elizabeth Cade (a sister of Kermit's wife Ruth?). They had two children who both died in infancy, one year apart. Eugene's unit was sent to Italy and moved to the front lines in April 1944. He was given leave to visit Kermit's grave in Oran.
On September 13, 1944, the 338th IR attacked the mountain defenses known as the Gothic Line. Pvt. Becker was killed in action two days later.
Kermit and Eugene are buried at Maysville Cemetery in Maysville, West Virginia.
Last year on this date I profiled Charles McCoy, 90th Infantry Division. You can read about Charles here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Eugene was my grandfather. He and Frieda's son, Kermit, is my Dad. Frieda and RuthLee were sisters. Frieda did not remarry. She died of breast cancer when my Dad was a teen. He lived with his Uncle Fred Becker (caretaker at Stony River Dam) some, and his Aunt Lannie (Yolanda Cade Chapman), another sister of Frieda and RuthLee.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your comment and adding more details about Private Becker. If you would like to see more stores like this, please see www.storiesbehindthestars.org.
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