In the churchyard.

Plaque

A rectangular plaque mounted on a metal base commemorating Technical Sergeant Donald J. Mathy, who was Killed in Action near this spot on April 17, 1945. The plaque is written in English and German.

Sgt Donald Joseph Mathy served as a platoon sergeant with A Company, 353rd Infantry Regiment, 89th Infantry Division. He arrived in France in early 1945 and entered combat in Germany by March. On April 6, 1945, amid intense enemy fire, Mathy assumed command after his company commander was wounded, leading his men to safety and earning the Bronze Star for his actions. Shortly afterward, he toured the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp and participated in the discovery of the REIMAHG underground factory producing ME-262 jet fighters.

On April 17, 1945, Mathy was killed by a sniper in Greiz, Germany, while attempting to locate a river crossing. Initially interred in the Netherlands, his remains were brought home to Clifton, Illinois, in 1949. 

Source of information and photo: facebook/World War Pictures

IN MEMORY OF

T. SGT DONALD J. MATHY

UNITED STATES ARMY

89TH INFANTRY DIVISION

353RD INFANTRY REGIMENT

KILLED IN ACTION

NEAR THIS SPOT ON APRIL 17,1945.

HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR

FOR VALOR, COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE,

AND PURPLE HEART.

DONATED BY MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY

WITH GRATITUDE TO THE CITY OF GREIZ

_____________________________________

IN ERINNERUNG AN

T. SGT DONALD J. MATHY

ARMEE DER VEREINIGTEN STAATEN

89. INFANTERIE•DIVISION

353. INFANTERIE•REGIMENT

AM 17. APRIL 1945 IN DER NAHE DIESER

STELLE IM KAMPF GETÖTET.

ER ERHIELT DEN BRONZENEN STERN

FUR TAPFERKEIT. DAS

KAMPFINFANTERIEASZEICHEN

UND DAS VIOLETTE HERZ.

VON MITGLIEDERN SEINER FAMILIE AUS

DANKBARKEIT AN DIE STADT GREIZ GESPENDET.