PVT Herbert LaVerne Messerman

courtesy of Mona Anderson

PVT Herbert LaVerne Messerman was born 15 Apr 1918 in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. He was the 4th of the 6 children born to Joseph Andrew and Louise Fredericka (Murschel) Messerman. His father worked for the railroad and in a steel mill. Herbert married Pauline E. Havice in early 1941 and they would have a son who died soon after birth in December 1941.

Herbert was drafted in September 1943. After his initial training he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 16 Jun 1944. PVT Messerman was killed in action, reportedly by friendly fire on 13 Jul 1944.

PVT Messerman was repatriated and re-interred in Lind Memorial Cemetery in Lewistown, Pennsylvania.

Sister Beatrice's husband, Donald Grumbine, was a pilot with the 599th Bomber Squadron ultimately serving from 1944 to 1952.  His wife's brother, Theodore Martin Havice, was killed in Germany in 1945 in service with D Battery 131st AAA Battalion.