SSG Jean Herbert Painter

courtesy of LAB

SSG Jean Herbert Painter was born 23 Jan 1915 in High Park, Pennsylvania. He was the first of the 2 sons born to Herbert Cleveland and Rose (Yurt) Painter. His father worked for a glass manufacturer in Hempfield, Pennsylvania for many decades. He was eventually able to buy a home on Baughman Avenue in Hempfield that was valued at $2000 in 1940. Jean and his younger brother Edward worked at the same works by 1940. Their father reported a 1939 income of $1275, Jean earned $372 and Edward $20 but Edward had been unemployed for 13 weeks.

Jean registered for the draft in 1940 but wasn't drafted until January 1944. After completing his basic training he was sent to Europe and soon assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. Jean was promoted from PVT to SSG on 1 Nov 1944. He must have demonstrated strong leadership skills for this to have been done. Initially reported missing, SSG Painter had been killed in action on 3 Dec 1944.

SSG Painter was repatriated and re-interred in the Brush Creek Cemetery in Irwin, Pennsylvania and rests there with his immediate family.

Younger brother, Edward Glenn Painter, was drafted in 1942 and served in the Army until 1945.