SSG George Cheran

SSG George Cheran was born on 13 May 1913 in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania. He was the second of three sons born to John and Maria (Eckert) Cheran. His parents were both immigrants from that part of eastern Europe then known as Galacia. George's father was a miner who died of influenza in 1919. George's mother remarried and the three brothers were raised by their step-father Rada Suica whowas also a miner. The family would soon have another three children. Although his education never progressed past grammar school (the eighth grade) in 1940 George was working as a music teacher and he was still living in his step-father's home along with four of his siblings.

George was drafted into the army in June 1941, sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland for training and was assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He was with the unit during all its training leading up to the D-Day landings on 6 Jun 1944 having already been promoted to SSG by that time. SSG Cheran continued to served with M Company until killed in action on 20 Nov 1944.

SSG Cheran now rests in the Netherlands American Cemetery.