From collection Member List
From the 99 Lives Project (99 Lives (knox.edu))
DONALD CLARE MARK BRACKER
DONALD CLARE MARK BRACKER
BIRTH DATE
23 Feb 1922
BIRTH LOCATION
Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, USA
FATHER
Emil Mark Diederich Bracker, insurance
MOTHER
Ada May Dinkleman Bracker
SIBLINGS
Robert William Bracker, Charlotte E Bracker, Marjorie H Bracker
HIGH SCHOOL
Galesburg HS
HIGH SCHOOL LOCATION
Galesburg, Illinois
HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Band, orchestra, basketball, school paper
HOMETOWN
Galesburg, Knox County
HOME STATE
Illinois
ENTERED KNOX
1940
CLASS YEAR
1944
MAJOR
Economics
SPORTS
Basketball, Intramurals
HONORED
Don C M Bracker Memorial is awarded to the Knox senior voted most valuable to his team by the basketball squad. Established in 1974 by a gift from Emil M D Bracker in memory of his son, class of 1944. Don C M Bracker Award is awarded to a senior music major on the basis of leadership, character, and service to the band or orchestra. Established in 1985 by Ada May Bracker in memory of her son, class of 1944.
ACTIVITIES
Reserve Officers' Training Corps; Scabbard and Blade; band; orchestra; The Knox Student
FRATERNITY
Phi Gamma Delta
ENLISTMENT DATE
23 May 1942
ENLISTMENT LOCATION
Galesburg, Illinois
ENLISTMENT NUMBER
16-102-117
WAR / CONFLICT
World War II
MILITARY SERVICE
US Army Reserve
SERIAL NUMBER
O-547 670
RANK
First Lieutenant
UNIT
Company A, 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division "Lightning"
CASUALTY DATA
KIA / Killed In Action - just days before the Battle of the Bulge
DATE OF DEATH
13 Dec 1944
AGE AT DEATH
22
LOCATION OF DEATH
Vicinity of Paustenbach, Germany
BURIAL
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium
PLOT LOCATION
Plot A, row 12, grave 6
CIVILIAN CENOTAPH
Family monument, section A-5, lot 74 1/2; Erie Cemetery, Erie, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA
FIND A GRAVE
AWARDS
Silver Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
CITATION
Silver Star commendation: "1st Lt Don C M Bracker … for gallantry in action. As Company A advanced on its objective, 1st Lt Bracker was in command of the lead platoon. The forward elements of the platoon suddenly received fire from the front. Total darkness and a ground fog held visibility to a minimum. 1st Lt Bracker immediately moved forward and located the enemy machine gun. He ordered his platoon to resume its advance while he attempted to destroy the enemy position. As he closed in on the position, he was mortally wounded. His gallantry was in accordance with the highest military traditions."
REMARKS
386 Jefferson Street; Galesburg, Illinois
