SGT George J. Repko
Sergeant (SGT) George Joseph Repko Jr. of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Sheppton, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to George J. and Mary A. (Vozar) Repko on September 30, 1920. George had one brother, John T., and four sisters, Mary T. (Repko) Homanick, Anne K. (Repko) Solomon, Rita R. (Repko) Nezelek, and Florence Repko.
George attended the Johnson City High School in New York state, graduating in the summer of 1939. He was a letterman on the high school football team.
George enlisted in the U.S. Army in Binghamton, Broome County, New York, on October 15, 1940. He first joined the National Guard and served with Company E of the 10th Infantry Regiment at Binghamton, but left New York for infantry training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He also received infantry training in Hawaii for eighteen months and ski troops training at Camp Hale, Colorado, before joining the paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia.
SGT George Repko went overseas in May 1944 and was assigned to Fox, 502, on July 25, 1944. He jumped into the Netherlands on September 17, 1944, and was killed in action during the second day of combat at the town of Best.
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
Source: Find a Grave c/o Des Philippet
SGT George Repko died at the age of 23 on September 19, 1944. He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Son, the Netherlands, at Plot A, Row 6, Grave 101. On June 18, 1948, he was disinterred, and in April 1949, he was reburied at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, at Plot L, Row 11, Grave 19. May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, George.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Sources:
Family Search
Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York); Thursday, October 5, 1944