PVT Joseph John Planster was born 30 Apr 1907 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the first of the 6 children of Joseph and Agatha (Meskinis) Planster. Both parents were natives of Lithuania. His father's original surname was Plokstis and it is unclear when the family actually changed to Planster but it seems to be about 1940-1941. Father Joseph worked in various factories to support his family and diedof a heart attack in 1936 at the age of 60. After his death the family moved to 252 North Lawrence Street in Philadelphia and were living there in 1940. In 1940, Joseph was working as a Bell Captain at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel and registered for the draft under the name "Planster".
Joseph was drafted in October 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to England and the replacement depot and then transferred to B Company 116th Infantry on 16 Jun 1944. PVT Planster was killed in action on 29 Jun 1944.
PVT Planster rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.
Joseph's only brother, John Joseph Planster, served as a SGT in the 385th Infantry and was killed in action somewhere in the vicinity of Giessen, Germany on 5 Apr 1945. John Joseph is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. The brothers 2 youngest sisters were affiliate members of the Augustinian Order and lived in the home at 252 North Lawrence until December 2018.
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