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Personal info

Full name
YATES, Chester Rufus
Date of birth
9 June 1916
Age
28
Place of birth
Fulton, Fulton County, Kentucky
Hometown
Kane County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
35719864
Rank
Technician Fourth Grade
Function
unknown
Unit
M Company,
3rd Battalion,
313th Infantry Regiment,
79th Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Died non-Battle
Date of death
8 May 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Unna, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
C 5 26

Immediate family

Members
Clayton S. Yates (father)
Bertha A. (Hicks) Yates (mother)
Walter Irvine (half brother)
Ruben L. Ring (half brother)
Robert E. Ring (half brother)
Rubena M. Yates (half sister)
William F. Ring (half brother)
Josephine L. Ring (half sister)
Harold L. Ring (half brother)
Fred J. Ring (half brother)
Bessie M. (Morrow) Yates (wife)
Jimmy E. Yates (son)
Nina C. Yates (daughter)
Lavern C. Yates (son)

More information

T/4 Chester R. Yates enlisted in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana on 14 December 1942.

On the 8 May 1945 while on security duty in the Dortmund area of Germany, he was invited to join Russian soldiers for a celebratory drink to toast the end of hostilities. This toast to victory and freedom tragically ended the life of Chester Yates, his buddies Pvr Gilbert Bush, Sgt Frederic Sierks and a number of the Russians.

Source of information: André Koch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record,
www.ancestry.com - Family Trees / California Death Index / 79th Infantry Division “Cross of Lorraine” Unit History, www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Norma Brubaker