Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
ROOT, Rodney Ralph - Date of
birth
22 June 1922 -
Age
22 -
Place of birth
Medford Township, Steele County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Woodville, Waseca County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37443516 -
Rank
Technician Fourth Grade -
Function
Tank Driver -
Unit
A Company,
43rd Tank Battalion,
12th Armored Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
4 February 1945 - Place of
death
Outside of Hattstatt, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 40 | 24 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William F. Root (father)
Frances N. (Lee) Root (mother)
Hollis H. Root (brother)
Harold W. Root (brother)
Leighton L. Root (brother)
Irva B. (Stabnow) Root (wife)
D. Root (son)
More information
T/4 Rodney R. Root was employed at the E. F. Johnson Radio Company before he enlisted.A Company engaged anti-tank guns outside the town. Two tanks were knocked out, setting them on fire and resulting in the death of three crew members.
T/4 Root was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for an heroic action on 16 January 1945 when he climbed on a burning tank in an effort to save an injured crew.
T/4 Root is remembered at Riverside Cemetery in Medford, Steele County, Minnesota with a memorial marker.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – Daron Heslop, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Lynette’s Family Tree, www.12tharmoredmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Andy / Vern B