PVT August William Vetter

courtesy of PollysGranddaughter

PVT August William Vetter was born 6 Jul 1924 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the only child of August W. and Clara Marie (Hettinger) Vetter. His father was a fireman on the Wabash Railroad but died in 1928 of complications from strep throat. His mother re-married. August's step-father, Olando Lawrence Schnitzmeyer, was a foreman in a local quarry who reported a 1939 income of $2300. A pretty good income at the time, Olando was able to support a growing family which included August's 2 half-sisters born in 1937 and 1939. August found work in Omaha, Nebraska with Eaton's Metal Products which produced variety of tanks and pipes. 

August was drafted in late 1943 or early 1944. After completing his basic military training PVT Vetter was sent to the European theater and England. He was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 19 Jun 1944 to serve as a rifleman. It was during this time period that the regiment took in a large number of replacements after the losses of the first 2 weeks of combat in France. PVT Vetter then fought with G Company as the regiment participated in the battles at Saint-Lo, Vire, Brest, Aachen and Koslar. PVT Vetter was killed in action during operations to clear the west bank of the Roer River.

PVT Vetter was initially buried at Margraten Holland but repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Jefferson City National Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri.