World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John W. Ell
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY AUGUST 27, 1941 AT CAMP LEE, VIRGINIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, 2ND PLATOON, HOTEL COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1944 DURING THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN IN THE VICINITY OF EINDHOVEN, HOLLAND BY A GERMAN TANK ARTILLERY SHELL. HE IS BURIED IN THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE OF 1940 AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.