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| Robert Craanen was a company commander in the 5th Infantry Division. Green Bay Press-Gazette, May 5, 1948 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88935688/robert-g.-craanen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Infantry_Division_(United_States) |
Robert G. Craanen never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on October 9, 1918 in Wisconsin. His parents George and Genevieve were also both born in Wisconsin. His father worked as a machinist. Robert had three younger brothers. By 1940 Robert had graduated from St. Norbert College (where he had played guard on the football team).
He enlisted in the army on July 5, 1940. He rose to the rank of captain and commanding officer of the Headquarter Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division.
After the war started Lt. Craanen's unit was assigned to defend Iceland for 18 months where he was promoted to Captain. It was next set to Ireland and England for training to fight the Germans in France. The 5th ID arrived in Normandy a month after D-Day.
During the breakout from Normandy, the 5th ID advanced as far as the Seine River at Montereau. Captain Craanen was killed two days later on August 26, 1944 in Brey, France.
His grave is at Allouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Last year on this date I profiled August Scheidt, USS Daly. You can read about August 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
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