World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Donald G. Pratt
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: SERGEANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY FEBRUARY 20, 1942 AT FORT MACARTHUR, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 513TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 17TH AIRBORNE ‘GOLDEN TALONS’ DIVISION. ON MARCH 24, 1945 HE PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION VARSITY, THE LAST FULL SCALE AIRBORNE DROP OF WWII AND JUMPED INTO THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE DIERSFORDTER FOREST IN THE VICINITY OF WESEL, GERMANY. HE DIED IN A NON BATTLE INCIDENT, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1945 THE DAY, WHEN ACTIVE CONTACT WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES HAD CEASED AND WAS PERFORMING GOVERNMENT DUTIES. HE IS BURIED IN THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY, MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS.