Theodor Hermann Bachenheimer

http://ww2gravestone.com/people/bachenheimer-theodore-ted-h/

Died in World War 2 - was in the 504 Parachute Co. of the 82nd airborne; jumped into Africa and at Anzio Beach before being sent to England prior to D Day. Helped organize the Dutch Resistance at the time he was killed in action. He was posthumously received two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star.

Born East of Hannover in Braunschweig. His father was Jewish while his mother was of German ancestry

They left Germany in 1933 and arrived in the US - Hollywood, CA - in 1934

Ted volunteered for the Army Paratroops in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbour

He joined the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment after his training, which was attached

to the 82nd Airborne Division in August 1942

Took part in the invasion of Sicily and later in the battles of Salerno and Anzio - Italy mainland -

He became a legend due his reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines

and received the Silver Cross for these actions

In Operation Market Garden he landed 17 Sep 1944 near Grave, The Netherlands

One day later he was already alone in German occupied Nijmegen and late afternoon he made contact

with the local resistance headquarters. On request of the Dutch he became the new leader

and therefore called "The G.I. GENERAL"

In the night of October 16 he was captured by the Germans while on a mission "Windmill" with the British Captain Peter Baker of IS-9 and send to Tiel

The next day, all captured were brought to a village near 's-Hertogenbosh and questioned for hours

On Oct 18 both were transfered to a POW camp in Culemborg, from here they were marching to the next POW-camp in Amersfoort. Oct 21st they were transfered by train to Fallingbostel, Germany Between Harderwijk and Nunspeet he did escape with three British paratroopers

The next day he was captured again by the Germans. That evening, around nine o'clock, two shots were heard by people living along the Eperweg. Next morning they found a body along the road It was PFC - Private First Class - Theodore Herman Bachenheimer

Buried 29 Oct 1944 at Oldebroek General Cemetery "Ekelenburg"

April 1946 reinterred - American Military Cemetery -

Neuville-en-Condroz - Grave J-11-275 - near Liege, Belgium

Headstone - PFC Theodore Herman Bachenmeier

In 1949 he was brought to his final resting place - Beth Olam Jewish Cemetery in Hollywood, CA

and buried next to his parents in Grave No. 81

The memorial in 't Harde was placed after the war at the spot were he was executed by the SS - Oct 22 1944

Mid 80's when they became aware of his Jewish background the "Star of David" was placed at his memorial

Source: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/7191/jack-edward-gibbs.htm