Cpl. Eugene V. Call         

 

Mil# 31040198

Enlisted: 17 March 1942, Manchester, NH

C. Company 643rd TD BN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 19 March 1912     Place: Cabool, Texas County, MO

Died:  2 March 1945        Place:  Kapellen/Hemmerden, Germany

Temporarily Buried: 5 March 1945   Place: American Military Cemetery Margraten, The Netherlands

Location: Plot: T Row: 5 Grave: 105

 

Final Burial: 4 December 1948  Place: Henniker Cemetery, Henniker, NH  

 

Wife: Virginia E. Call (Bettinson)  Married: 20 August 1942

Son: David Call    Daughter: Virginia Daigle (Call)

 

Father: Will Call   Mother: Mabel Call (Boutell)

 

 

Awards

 

Purple Heart

    

 

                                                                                   

 

 

 

2 March 1945

2nd platoon of C-Company was ambushed near Kapellen/Hemmerden, Germany.

Losing most of their equipment and 38 men killed, wounded or missing. Eugene was killed in Action.

 

Several Soldiers of C-Comp 643rd TD BN  took shelter in the factory to the left of the burning vehicles in the picture. There were also German civilians and

soldiers in the basement of the factory. The C-Company medics had some medical supplies that they shared with the Germans and our men were sure the Germans

would have killed them if they hadn't shared the medicine with the Germans. There was a very near neighboring village called Hemmerden and the Battalion

history says the action took place at kapellen.   

 

Eugene's death announcement

Eugene's reburiel announcement

 

Date/Location unknown

Gasmask Training

Relax time

 

 

Amos Avery and Eugene

(Both came from New Hampshire)

 

A letter home from Eugene Call to his brother Will Call Jr.

Somewhere in Germany

2-26-'45

 

Dear Bill, 

How is everything going with you. I'm sorry to hear that you have been changed into the infantry. How do you like it so far. I bet you don't. Do you like Texas any better now. I hope they don't send you over seas but it dont look so good. It has been pretty good weather over here and the snow has been gone for some time. We've had it quite easy this month but don't expect it as good in the future. I owe Hazel and Dad a letter and about everybody else. I guess they have had lots of snow this winter. The war new's looks

a little better now. I bet Gene is some boy now. Hazel says he is all over the place.

I suppose you are training hard everyday and getting plenty of walking. The towns over here are all shot to hell and I don't mean maybe. Write and let me know what you applied to do.

Lots of love, Gene

 

Mark Morris additional info included with picture.

I find almost heartbreaking if you look at the date it was just like 4 days before his death (March 2nd) to his younger brother Will Call JR. He was already gone by the time his brother even got the letter I'm sure.

 

 

 

 

   

 

Eugene and Virginia (1943)

  

Eugene with Mom & Dad (1943)

 

                                                                               Eugene's Purple Heart

 

 

 

 

Telegram that notifies that Eugene was Killed in Action
Article in Washinton Top News. By Kathy McCormack.

Return of Purple Heart from WWII turns up missing family

CONCORD, N.H. A Purple Heart awarded to a soldier from New Hampshire killed in World War II's Battle of the Bulge that turned up recently after a woman's death has brought together two branches of a family that never knew of the other's existence. Eugene Victor Call, a U.S. Army technician, was killed March 2, 1945, with seven other platoon members near Kapellen, Germany, at 32. He was assigned to the 2nd Platoon, Company C, 643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 83rd Infantry Division.Recently, the Vermont group Purple Hearts Reunited got a call from Rick Daigle in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Daigle's wife had died, and among her possessions were Call's Purple Heart, other medals, a pocket knife, razor and family photos.It turned out her mother had been married to Call at the time of his death. A military veteran himself, Daigle wanted to make sure they got back to family.The search led to a namesake great-nephew in Newport, New Hampshire, and to grandchildren in California.Ceremonies honoring Call are planned in Newport on Monday and California on Thursday.In Newport, Eugene Victor Call Jr., 49, knew he had a great-uncle who died in the service."I knew I was named after him, but other than that, nobody really said too much," said Call, a truck driver. His father also had the same name.One thing he didn't know was that his great-uncle had a young son who was taken to California at 8. That son, David Eugene, lost contact with the family and died in 2004. He left three sons and a daughter.One of those sons, Mark Morris in San Diego, was floored when he heard about the medals and the family connection."This week's been quite a roller coaster ride," he said. "It's been almost 71 years since he died, but I'm almost reliving it - it's almost brand-new to me."Morris said his father had no memories of his dad."He, of course, mentioned him through the years, and he always kind of wanted to find family back there, and he tried a few times, just to no luck," Morris said.Morris, 52, a carpenter, said that since he was contacted about the medals, he has spoken to Call in Newport and to other relatives on Facebook. They shared some old photos of his grandfather. Morris just wishes his father were still alive to see them."I'm loving getting the medals," he said, "but just finding out about all the family is awesome."
 

 

 

 

Eugene's Temp. Grave on AMC The Netherlands, Margraten.

Woman in picture is unfortunately still unknown but search has started

 

 

Eugene's grave marker at Henniker Cemetery, Henniker, NH

 

 I visited Eugene and Virginia's grave. May 17th, 2016

 

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