WWII Fallen
Buried Where
Abraham Lincoln Gave
Gettysburg Address
When President Abraham Lincoln gave his historic Gettysburg Address 160 years ago, he could not image that his words would apply to men buried 80 years after the Civil War ended.
​
"We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live."
​
These 497 fallen heroes are from 17 different states and 57 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. It includes men who served in the Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, and Marines.
Among the WWII fallen buried here are black servicemen, such as 16 year old Walter Smith, who "gave the last full measure of devotion," and who are now forever linked to the location where the Great Emancipator gave his most famous address.
​
"We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Now, thanks to the efforts of more than two dozen volunteers, anyone visiting Gettysburg National Cemetery can use their smartphone to read the stories of all of these fallen heroes.
Read some of these stories here:
S1C Joseph L. Coradetti
Story by Sheree Dowdle, Pennsylvania
Parents from Italy. Killed when minelayer USS Terror was hit by a kamikaze plane. Read full story here.
SSG Martin G. Egler
Story by Katherine Genung, West Virginia
Parents were from Austria. He became a B-24 Liberator nose turret gunner. Survived a crash landing in the North Sea in September 1944. Killed in March 1945 after load flare gun fired in plane. He had completed all required hours to return home. Read his story here.
PVT Michael Prisaznik
Story by Jack Oberholtzer, Pennsylvania
Father from Russia. Mike had a grammar school education and married young. He was hospitalized three times but returned to his unit each time. He was killed in northeastern France in January 1945. Read full story here.
PFC Kenard R. Schrock
Story by Paul deGategno, Pennsylvania
Kenard had a grammar school education and worked the mines before he was inducted into the army. Killed when his unit was crossing the Moselle River. See full story here.
PFC Warren R. Wartluft
Story by Sharon Dittmer, Missouri
One of eight siblings. Worked at safe and lock business. Wounded in Normandy but returned to action. Killed in October 1944 in Foret de Parroy. Reportedly earned Silver Star and Bronze Star. Read full story here.
PFC Max Yancy
Story by Gary Smith, Colorado
Father from Czechoslovakia. Max worked for a coal company. Served in a tank destroyer unit. Landed in Normandy a few days after D-Day. Killed in September 1944 near Nancy, France. See full story here.
All of the Gettysburg fallen stories can be found on Fold3.
See here.
Download the Find A Grave smartphone app to read these stories at gravesites
Thanks to our
volunteer story writers
Kathy Harmon, Pennsylvania
Project Director
​
Paul Albert, Colorado
Norene Allen, Kansas
Rich Appenzeller, Pennsylvania
Mike Appleby
Kate Baker, New Jersey
Pam Baker, Alabama
Steve Booth, Utah
Jack Chisum, Arizona
Anna Cross, Minnesota
Paul deGategno, Pennsylvania
Sharon Dittmer, Missouri
Sheree Dowdle, Pennsylvania
Katherine Genung, West Virginia
Susan Gould, Tennessee
​
Mary Hanjes, Georgia
Kathy Harmon, Pennsylvania
John Haskins, Texas
Tom La Padula, New York
Paul Larkin
Kevin McIntire, California
Red Mulvanny, California
Jack Oberholtzer, Pennsylvania
Doria Owen, Maryland
Sophia Shapiro, Utah
Elizabeth Shaw, South Carolina
Gary Smith, Colorado
Terry Toohig, Pennsylvania
Donna Wheelehan, California
​
​
Spreadsheet researcher:
Gloria Carbaugh, Colorado