David Oglensky was born on December 26, 1914, in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was the son of Sam Oglensky and Rose Seigel Oglensky. He graduated from Freehold High School and Hebrew School before attending the University of California. He enlisted in Camden, New Jersey, on July 30, 1942, and before his military service, he was a part-owner and manager of the Lincoln Auto Store. After completing training at the Armored Force Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox, he was commissioned as a lieutenant. 1Lt Oglensky served in the United States Army with the 740th Tank Battalion in World War II. Known as the “Daredevil Tankers”, the 740th was a separate battalion that fought from Utah Beach all the way to the Baltic Sea in support of various divisions of the US war effort.

1Lt Oglensky was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action on December 20, 1944, in Belgium. During the engagement, he led a platoon of tanks in an attack against enemy forces. When his tank was heavily damaged and its gun disabled, he evacuated his crew but returned to position the tank as a roadblock. He then assumed command of another tank and continued engaging the enemy until it too was knocked out.

On February 25, 1945, despite his objections, his platoon was ordered to advance across an open field between Düren and Girbelsrath. The movement resulted in three tanks being destroyed by enemy 88mm fire. Oglensky’s body was never recovered. His name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. He also has a cenotaph in the Freehold Hebrew Cemetery, Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Armor) David Oglensky (ASN: 0-1016415), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 740th Tank Battalion, in action in Germany on 20 December 1944. Lieutenant Oglensky distinguished himself by leading a platoon of tanks in an attack against the enemy. His tank was hit to such an extent that his gun was put out of action. After evacuating the crew he re-entered the tank and placed it across the road as a block. Taking over command of the tank immediately behind this roadblock, he continued to fire at the enemy until the second tank was also knocked out of action by enemy fire. The inspiring fortitude, courage and outstanding devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Oglensky reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the traditions of the armed forces.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, weremember.abmc.gov, valor.militarytimes.com