Date of birth:

May 3rd, 1920 (Racine/Wisconsin, United States)

Service number:

36 228 218

Nationality:

American

Staff Sergeant Emory T. Scheckler Jr. was born May 3, 1920, in Racine, WI, the son of Emory R. and Helen (née Thompsen) Scheckler Sr.; he had two brothers, Donald and Richard, and four sisters, Hazel, Esther, Alice and Lois.
Emory Scheckler Jr. remained in school until the 8th grade when, in 1935, he went to help his father, Emory Sr. full-time on the vegetable farm in Berryville (later Somers township in Kenosha) with such duties as tilling the land, planting, operating the irrigation systems, harvesting the crops and transporting the produce by truck to market; in addition, he performed all minor repairs on the farm machinery and equipment.

He entered military service on November 12, 1941 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois and married Dorothy M. Pflugrad the same year. Emory T. Scheckler attained the rank of Staff Sergeant within Company F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment and spent time in Europe from April 18, 1942 to April 11, 1945. On June 23, 1945, he was honorably discharged.

After his discharge from military service in 1945, Emory and Dorothy later had two daughters, Carol and Susan.

Sgt. Emory Scheckler's ancestors emigrated to the U.S. from Württemberg, Germany and it would be in close proximity to this community that he would receive both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.

Emory and Dorothy would remain married until Emory passed away in 2002, by which time they would have three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A farmer and lifelong Lutheran, he retired from farming in 1982 and began leasing his farmland to a family member. His hobbies were enjoying the outdoors, hiking for exercise, history and World War II memorabilia; he was a very successful stock market investor.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Company F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division "Red Diamonds", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

May 26th, 1945

Citation:
"For gallantry in action during the period 7 to 10 February 1945, near Echternach, Luxemburg. After crossing the Souer river, Sergeant Scheckler assumed command of the platoon when the platoon leader became a casualty. He organized his platoon and led them forward through enemy minefields to a point where they could establish a defence and secure the bridgehead. Having located remnants of another platoon in want of leadership, Sergeant Scheckler consolidated the two units and organized them into defensive positions. Disregarding personal safety and exposed to enemy fire, he continually checked positions and directed fire on the enemy positions. His capable and intrepid leadership reflects great credit upon himself and our armed forces."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Company F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division "Red Diamonds", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

May 26th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded with silver campagin star for the campaigns "NORMANDY", "NORTHERN FRANCE", "ARDENNES", "RHINELAND" and "CENTRAL EUROPE".

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)