SGT Frederick W. Grethel
We honor and remember SGT Frederick William Grethel of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 401st GIR, 101st Airborne Division. 🦅
Sergeant (SGT) Frederick William “Fred” Grethel of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Syracuse County, New York, to Fred and Mary E. (Mellen) Grethel on April 7, 1922. He had one younger brother, Henry E. Grethel, and three older sisters, Leona, Carolyn E., and Anna Mae Grethel.
His brother Henry is a famous American fashion designer, merchandiser, and marketer, known for his American sportswear collection, but he also spent many years designing shirts for Lanvin, Pierre Cardin, and Christian Dior.
Fred registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, in his hometown. He entered the U.S. Army in Rochester, New York, on September 29, 1942. The next month, on October 5, he was assigned to Charlie Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Fred was trained to become a glider pilot.
He was engaged to a woman named Evelyn, but while he was training for the invasion, she sent him a “Dear John” letter, which devastated Fred, who was madly in love with her. Apparently, she later reconsidered her decision, but did not have an opportunity to contact him again before he was killed.
SGT Grethel died in combat while fighting the Germans in Normandy with the 401st. The book, Fighting with the Screaming Eagles, written by SGT Robert M. Bowen from Charlie Co., describes briefly what happened on the day he was killed in action:
“A sniper had killed Fred Grethel as he carelessly exposed himself.”
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
His sister Leona wrote a small article in June 1954, remembering her brother Fred at the time when Henry graduated from Syracuse University.
“There’s a dull ache on my left side where the heart holds sway, and I guess the reason for it is two-fold. First, I can’t be there in person [at Henry’s graduation], and secondly, because my war hero brother can’t be there, either. He always said that he hoped that Hank [Henry] would have sense enough to get as much education as was possible, and I know that he’ll be proud as punch if, wherever he is, he is aware of his brother’s accomplishments.”
SGT Fred Grethel died at the age of 22 on June 19, 1944. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal. On July 5, his parents received a letter from France, dated June 17, stating that he was well and urging his parents not to worry about him. The next day, the terrible news of his death reached them through a telegram from the War Department.
SGT Grethel was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery Sainte-Mère-Église #1 at Plot N, Row 8, Grave 160, on June 20, 1944. On March 11, 1948, he was disinterred and prepared for a final reburial. On February 23, 1949, SGT Grethel was reburied in Normandy, France, where he rests eternally in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Plot F, Row 16, Grave 29.
May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Fred.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Sources:
FindaGrave
Family Search
Ancestry
IDPF
Wikipedia
Fighting with the Screaming Eagles by Robert Bowen
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