Charles J. LaFrance

Private Charles J LaFrance in civilian clothes sitting photo

World War II (WWII)
-
Fallen

Maryville Township, ND


County:
Rolette

Date of Loss:

Military Service:
    Rank:
    Private
    Branch of Service:
    Army
    Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
    F Company
    Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:
    Second Battalion
    Regiment / Group / Brigade:
    502nd Parachute Infantry
    Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:
    101st Airborne Division
    Conflicts Served:
    World War II (WWII)

Circumstances:

Killed in action during Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands.

Biography:

LA FRANCE, Charles Joseph, Service number: 37558780, Age: 29 Born: 11 January 1915, Maryville, Rolette County, North Dakota. 

Hometown: St. John, Rolette County, North Dakota. 

Family: Canute La France (father), Justine M. (Lattergrass) La France (mother), Maurice J. La France (brother), Marie I. La France (sister), Bertha M. La France (sister), John La France (brother), William J. La France (brother), Theresa L. La France (sister), Ella La France (sister). 

Rank: Private, Function: Not available. 
Regiment: 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, Battalion: 2nd Battalion 
Division Transport: 101st Airborne Division 
Company: F Company 

Date of death: 19 September 1944 
Status: KIA.  Place of death: Near Best, Holland 
Awards: Purple Heart 
Grave number: Plot L, Row 14, Grave 17. Cemetery: American War Cemetery Margraten 

Biography: Pvt La France's unit was surrounded and almost wiped out during Operation Market Garden. His younger brother Pvt William J. La France was KIA in the Korean War, 1951. In 2015, after 64 years, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action. 

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Gerald Thibert (nephew) , www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com Photo source: www.ancestry.com