Name:
Lewis W. Conklin
Rank:
Corporal
Serial Number:
32808706
Unit:
97th Reconnaissance Troop, 97th Infantry Division
Date of Death:
1945-04-25
State:
New York
Cemetery:
Lorraine American Cemetery, St Avold, France
Plot:
A
Row:
32
Grave:
10
Decoration:
Silver Star, Purple Heart
Comments:
Awarded the Silver Star posthumously: On 25 April 1945, near Thonbrunn, Czechoslovakia, Corporal Conklin volunteered to guide a patrol being sent to rescue a wounded man from an area known to be under heavy enemy small arms and rocket fire from concealed positions. As the patrol approached the point where the casualty lay, Corporal Conklin observed an enemy soldier approaching but soon lost contact because of the heavily wooded terrain. In order to locate the enemy position, Corporal Conklin fearlessly and courageously exposed himself to enemy fire and was fired upon and killed after he located the enemy position and endeavored to point it out to his patrol leader.