James O Marquardt - 298th Engineer Combat Battalion, WWII, WW2

James O Marquardt

Source: Find A Grave
PFC James O Marquardt
BIRTH 17 Aug 1924, Neenah, Winnebago County, Wisconsin
DEATH 7 Aug 1944 (aged 19), France
BURIAL Ogdensburg Cemetery, Lot 30, Space #1, Ogdensburg, Waupaca County, Wisconsin
MILITARY PFC Co. C 298th Engineer Combat Battalion US Army
MEMORIAL ID 142045656
Dear Mrs Marquardt,
It is with sincere regret that I am writing this letter in regard to the death of your son, Private First Class James O. Marquardt.
James was killed in action 7 August 1944, in France while he was acting as a road guide for a motor movement. This motor column met strong resistance and in the ensuing encounter James became a fatality.
I am sorry that the information regarding your son's death is so scanty, but the incident took place in the early hours of 7 August 1944 and the action was scattered over quite some territory.
Your son James was buried in an American cemetery in France and a Protestant Chaplain was on hand to officiate at the burial.
There is little that I can say or do to condone, in any way, the loss of your son, except that James' service while with this organization was of the highest type and his passing is mourned by all who knew him.
Sincerely yours,
Ray R. Liedike

Listed in the 298th Journal August 1944
C Co MISSING Pfc James O Marquardt

STATEMENT OF 2D LT CREIGHTON F. LAWSON
We were leading the convoy on Route GC 47 on the morning of 7 August 1944 at approximately 0400 hours. On approaching the junction of GC 46 and GC 47 we noticed a jeep and several men at the intersection. At first we thought they were friendly troops and drove within 100 feet of the intersection when some of the men we had observed commenced talking in a loud tone of voice which was evidently German. Lt Silva, our company commander, ordered us to get out of the command car in which we were riding and move to the rear. We all left the command car and threw ourselves into the ditch and started moving to the rear of the convoy. At the same time the enemy opened up with machine-gun fire and what was thought to be 20mm fire. The kitchen truck which was immediately behind our command car and the air compressor, which was the 4th vehicle to our rear, were riddled with enemy fire. There was no chance to get these vehicles out of the trap since we were surrounded on 3 sides by the enemy, who had an armored vehicle immediately in front and slightly to the side of us. The driver and occupants riding in the front of the kitchen truck left the vehicle, and it is not known whether the 6 cooks riding in the rear of the truck were able to get out or not. This part of the company moved back and met the rest of the convoy approximately 3/4 Mi to the rear where a rear guard was formed while the rest of the vehicles were moved out of the area to join the rest of the Battalion. The entire unit then moved to the vicinity of Chevreville, France, arriving 7 August 1944, at 0530 hours.

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