PFC David Calvin Mehring

PFC David Calvin Mehring was born in Littlestown, Pennsylvania on 25 Oct 1921. He was the 4th of 5 children born the Charles D. and Mary Catherine (Sheely) Mehring. His father had worked for many years as a painter of automobiles in a local factory but died at the age of 52 in 1930 when David was only 8-years old.  The family lived in a home they owned at 147 Lumber Street in Littlestown which was valued at $1800 in 1940. The family was then supported by the oldest child, Beatrice, who worked as a nurse and the 2nd child, Edgar, who worked in a silk mill. Even then 16-year old Walter, the 3rd child, worked as a packer in a rope mill. David played baseball for Littlestown High School and graduated in 1939. The family attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church. By 1940, Mary, David and youngest-brother William were still being supported by Edgar and Walter who reported a combined 1939 income of $1324. But David and William were also contributing to the family income, reporting 1939 incomes of $125 and $48 respectively. David was working at the Mechanicsburg Naval Depot before he entered the service.

David was drafted in December 1942. He was trained at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi and Camp Maxey, Texas and participated in a 12-weeks long maneuvers near Shreveport, Louisiana. He had a 14-day furlough in January 1944 and was then assigned to Fort Meade,  Maryland before receiving orders for embarkation. He was able to visit his mother on 25 Mar 1944 before boarding the ship for England. PFC Mehring was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 13 Jun 1944 where he reportedly served as a machinegunner. He was killed in action on 17 Jun 1944.

PFC Mehring was repatriated and re-interred in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Littlestown, Pennsylvania.

Brother, Walter Sheely Mehring, served as a PFC in the US Army Signal Corps in Africa, Sicily and Corsica during WW2 and brother William Russell Mehring was an aviation cadet in Childress, Texas when David died.