First Lieutenant David Chrystall (0-452872), born in 1918, who served in the 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion, was killed in action in Belgium on January 4, 1945. His name appeared in a Casualty List published on March 8 of that year, while his obituary – transcribed below – appeared in the Times a little over one year later: On January 6, 1946.
He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery, in Luxembourg, at Plot E, Row 8, Grave 41.
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Officer Lost in Action With Airborne Infantry
The War Department has notified Maurice M. Chrystall of 311 East Seventy-Second Street, that his son, Lieut. David Chrystall of the airborne infantry, was killed in action in Belgium early in January. He was 27 years old.
Born in New York City, he attended public schools in Paterson, N.J., and was graduated from Cornell University. He enlisted in the Army in December, 1940, and attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga. He later attended the Advanced Infantry School at Fort Benning and was promoted to a first lieutenancy.
In addition to his father he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Claire Seckler of Brooklyn.
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An image (from Apartments.com) of the building where the Chrystall family resided: 311 East 72nd Street, in New York City..
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Some other Jewish military casualties on Thursday, January 4, 1945…
Killed in Action
– .ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. –
Brafman, Arthur A., PFC, 42134385, Purple Heart, Killed in France
United States Army, 70th Infantry Division, 275th Infantry Regiment, C Company
Mr. Samuel Brafman (father [12/26/50]), 128 Bay 28th St., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Born 1926
New Montefiore Cemetery, West Babylon, N.Y. – Society Bayview Nemo B.A., Block 11, Row 16, Section 3, Grave 1R; Buried 1/10/49
American Jews in World War Two – 282
Cooperstein, Abraham, Pvt., 32231143, Purple Heart, Killed on Leyte Island
United States Army, 242nd Engineer Combat Battalion
Mrs. Yetta Cooperstein (mother), 245 Kosciusko St., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines – Plot B, Row 13, Grave 101
American Jews in World War Two – 294
Fishman, Stanley C., Sgt., 11138290, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Killed in Luxembourg
United States Army, 26th Infantry Division, 104th Infantry Regiment
Mr. Selig Fishman (father), 11 Colony Road, New Haven, Ct.
Born 7/30/25
Congregation B’Nai Jacob Cemetery, New Haven, Ct. – Plot AG4
The American Hebrew 3/30/45
American Jews in World War Two – 63
Haffits, Joseph H., S/Sgt., 17066957, Purple Heart
United States Army, 4th Infantry Division, 8th Infantry Regiment
Mrs. Bertha Haffits (mother), 2603 Court St., Sioux City, Ia.
Born 1920
Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg – Plot E, Row 2, Grave 45
American Jews in World War Two – 126
Hoffman, Joseph, S/Sgt., 32894589, Purple Heart
United States Army, 45th Infantry Division, 179th Infantry Regiment
Mr. Abraham Hoffman (father), 2102 Daly Ave., New York, N.Y.
Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France – Plot D, Row 6, Grave 18
Casualty List 3/1/45
American Jews in World War Two – 346
Jachman, Isadore Siegfried, S/Sgt., 13136814, Medal of Honor, Purple Heart
United States Army, 17th Airborne Division, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, B Company
Mr. Leo Jachman (father), 2005 Whitter Ave., Baltimore, Md.
Born Berlin, Germany, 12/14/22
Hebrew Mount Carmel Cemetery, Adath Israel Anshe Sfarad Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.
American Jews in World War Two – 140
Images of Staff Sergeant Jachman’s matzeva can be found at his biographical profile at FindAGrave.com.
Leshne, Jerome, PFC, 32974066, Purple Heart
United States Army, 26th Infantry Division
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham and Lillian Leshne (parents), Seymour Leshne (brother), 1500 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Mr. Robert Lippin (“foxhole buddy”)
Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, N.Y.; Buried 8/22/48
Casualty List 3/13/45
The New York Times Obituary Page 8/22/48
American Jews in World War Two – 375
Wounded in Action
Erlick, Samuel, PFC, 13185920, BSM, Purple Heart, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
United States Army, 26th Infantry Division, 104th Infantry Regiment, K Company
Also wounded 11/10/44
Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Eva (Borosh) Erlick (parents), 709 Hoffman St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Born Philadelphia, Pa., 6/24/24
American Jews in World War Two – Not listed
Silver, Alvin S., Pvt., 33577617, Purple Heart, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Wounded in Germany (Also wounded 3/28/45)
United States Army
Mrs. Rhoda Mae Silver (wife); Barbara Ann and Michael David (daughter and son), 1133 Cobbs St., Drexel Hill, Pa.
Mrs. Rose Bass (mother), 5701 Lebanon Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.
Born Philadelphia, Pa., 7/28/23
The Jewish Exponent (Philadelphia) 5/4/45
Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Record 4/21/45
American Jews in World War Two – 552
Prisoners of War
Cohen, Melvin, Pvt., 11047725, Purple Heart
United States Army, 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion
POW at Stalag 4B (Muhlberg)
Mrs. Lena Cohen (mother), 32 Coleman Road, Arlington, Ma.
Casualty List (Liberated POW) 6/13/45
American Jews in World War Two – 154
Goldberg, Melvin I., Pvt., 12220289, Purple Heart
United States Army, 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion
POW at Stalag 4B (Muhlberg) (German POW # 98655)
Mr. Benjamin Goldberg (father), 58 Manhattan Ave., New York, N.Y.
Casualty List (Liberated POW) 6/20/45
American Jews in World War Two – 325
References
Dublin, Louis I., and Kohs, Samuel C., American Jews in World War II – The Story of 550,000 Fighters for Freedom, The Dial Press, New York, N.Y., 1947.
Email correspondence with Samuel Erlick, 2004-2006