CPL William Charles Merk

CPL William Charles Merk was born 13 Feb 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of the 3 sons born to Joseph Frank and Mary Elizabeth (Ems) Merk. His father was a an operator/motorman for the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) and reported a 1939 income of $4000 which was quite good for the time. At the same time William's 2 older brothers were working as bakery assistants and each reported 1939 incomes of $1100.

When William was drafted in January 1943 he had completed 3-years of high school and was working as a clerk. After his initial training he was sent to the European theater. On 7 Aug 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to M Company 116th Infantry where he was to serve as a machine gunner. CPL Merk was killed in action on 31 Aug 1944.

CPL Merk was repatriated and re-interred in the Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey.

William's brothers also served in the Army during the war.

PVT Robert Vastine Tennesen

courtesy of Dana

PVT Robert Vastine Tennesen was born 29 Sep 1924 in West Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. He was the 2nd of 5 children born to Thomas Edward and Agetha G. (Vastine) Tennesen. His father was working as a coal miner in 1930 and the family was living at 68 West Poplar Street in West Nanticoke, Pennsylvania which they rented at $15 a month from Agetha's brother. By 1940 they had moved next door to 70 West Poplar, a home that was valued at $2000 but Thomas was supporting his family on a reported 1939 income of $216. Robert only completed 2-years of high school. When he registered for the draft in 1942, he had moved to Burlington, New Jersey and gone to work for Materease Brothers or United Aero Products in Burlington. 

Robert was drafted in August 1943. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He was briefly hospitalized in January 1944 for a severe cold. He was hospitalized again in June 1944 for an ear infection. PVT Tennesen was killed in action on 27 Aug 1944 in the effort to drive the Germans out of the city of Brest, France.

PVT Tennesen was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey. 

We should note that Robert's date of birth and his unit of assignment on his headstone are incorrect both likely due to a clerical error but he might have been assigned to the 253rd Infantry before being assigned to the 116th. 

Robert's brother, Melvin Ray Tennesen, also served in the U.S. Army during WW2.

PVT William M. Holmes

PVT William M. Holmes was born 24 Jun 1922. After entering the Army he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He may have been assigned to the 69th Infantry at one time. PVT Holmes was killed in action on 5 Aug 1944. 

PVT Holmes was repatriated in 1949 and is buried in the Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey.

PVT Alex Bereski

PVT Alex Bereski was born 10 Mar 1917 in New Jersey. Alex was drafted in May 1942.  PVT Bereski was sent overseas and assigned to E Company 116th Infantry prior to D-Day.  He was wounded on 6 Jun 1944 and died of his wounds on 7 Jun 1944. 

PVT Bereski is buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey. 

PFC Edward Leo O'Toole

PFC Edward Leo O'Toole was born 28 Apr 1921 in Camden, New Jersey to John Aloysius and Frances Bert (Isaacs) O'Toole. Edward graduated from Camden Catholic High School in 1942. His father was working as a hotel clerk in 1930 but by 1940 had begun working in a shipyard as a pipefitter. The family was then living at 1152 Penn Avenue, next door to their address in 1930.

He was drafted 10 Jun 1942.  Assigned to Headquarters 2nd Batttalion 116th Infantry, PFC O'Toole was with the unit on D-Day and wounded on the 6th and died on the 7 Jun 1944. He is buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey as is his brother, John Joseph O'Toole who served in the U.S. Army Air Force in the war.