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name
WACHTLER, Elmer John - Date of
birth
16 July 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska -
Hometown
Decatur, Douglas County, Nebraska
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37736783 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Squad Leader -
Unit
K Company,
3rd Battalion,
134th Infantry Regiment,
35th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
5 January 1945 - Place of
death
Lutrebois, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 11 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George Wachtler (father)
Mary (Schmidt) Wachtler (mother)
Helen Wachtler (sister)
George W. Wachtler (brother)
Edward J. Wachtler (brother)
Marguerite Wachtler (sister)
Harold Wachtler (brother)
William A. Wachtler (brother)
Mary M. (Hoover) Wachtler (wife)
Jimmy Wachtler (son)
More information
The Wachtler brothers were one of the greatest baseball playing families in Omaha sandlot history. But Word War II would ruin their dreams of playing in the mojors and end the life of a fine pitcher.In the fall of 1944, S/Sgt Elmer Wachtler arrived in Europe as a replacement.
His brother William also served in Europe.
On the picture Elmer Wachtler on the right and his brother William (Billy) Wachtler.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - 1920 Census / Robin's Adamson-Schmidt Family Tree, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.newspapers.com - Waterloo Daily Courier - 4 May 1945 / The Nebraska State Journal - 3 April 1945, www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com, http://www;coulthart.com/134
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com, www.newspapers.com - The Decatur Herald