World War II
US Army750th Tank Battalion
Service Number:
Born: May 5, 1919, Akron
Inducted: June 8, 1942, Fort Logan
Killed in action December 1, 1944 in Germany
Buried: Akron Cemetery
Purple Heart
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World War II US Army750th Tank Battalion Service Number: Born: May 5, 1919, Akron Inducted: June 8, 1942, Fort Logan Killed in action December 1, 1944 in Germany Buried: Akron Cemetery Purple Heart |
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Schenk of Akron.
Thursday December 21, 1944 The Akron News-Reporter
Pvt. John H. Schenk Jr., 25 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Schenk Sr., was killed in action in Germany on Friday, December 1.
After being inducted into the army on June 8, 1942, Pvt. Schenk was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he received his basic training. Later, he graduated from the Armored Forces School at Fort Knox, and was assigned to the 750th tank battalion.
From the Kentucky camp John was reassigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, from where, after receiving additional training in the armored forces, he was sent overseas during the forepart of September.
Landing with other American troop at a French port, he was assigned to the Second Allied Army and went into active duty almost immediately, first in France, then moving into Belgium. and finally into Germany, where he met his untimely death on the first day of December.
In addition to his parents, the young soldier is survived by two sisters, Mable, who is employed in Denver and Esther, a civil service employee in Washington, D. C., and two brothers, George, at home, and Robert, who is a senior in Akron High School this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Schenk have resided 16 miles south of Akron on Highway 63 for more than 30 years and there the family was born and raised.
Before going into the service, Pvt. Schenk was engaged in farming with his father and enjoyed the friendship of a wide circle of neighbors.
Thursday January 18, 1945 The Akron News-Reporter
Memorial Rites For John Schenk Held On Sunday
Soldier Who Died In Germany Honored At Impressive Service.Memorial services for Pvt. John H. Schenk Jr., who was killed in Germany while in the battle lines for his country December 1, 1944, were held at the Akron Presbyterian Church last Sunday afternoon.
The rites conduced by the German Congregational church, American Legion Post No. 66, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the War Dads organization, very impressively and fittingly paid tribute to the Washington county youth, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Schenk Sr., of south of Akron.
Colors were advanced by Roy Horn, George Lane and Don Johnson, all honorably discharged veterans of the present war.
John Harry Schenk Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. John Schenk Sr., was born May 5, 1919 at Akron, Colorado, and was killed on December 1, 1944. while in action against the enemy in Germany at the age of 25 years, 6 months and 26 days.
On August 10, 1919, he was baptized at Akron. On March 21, 1937, he was confirmed in the Congregational Zions Church in Sterling, Colorado, which faith he retained until he met his untimely death.
Pvt. Schenk was inducted into the army on June 8, 1942 at Fort Logan and received his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After graduating from the Armored Forces school there, he was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for additional training, after which he got his overseas shipping orders.
He was shipped overseas with an Armored Forces unit in September. After landing at a French port, the unit went into action almost immediately with the Allied Second Army against the enemy in France, Belgium and Germany. Pvt. Schenk was on constant active duty from that time until he met his death. He was driver of the command tank of his unit of the armored division at that time.
Besides his parents, the young soldier is survived by two sisters, Mable of Denver and Esther of Washington, D. C.; two brothers, George at home and Robert, a senior in Akron High School this year and many friends.
Prior to his induction into the armed service, John was farming with his father on their farm, 16 miles south of Akron, where he was born and raised.
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