William G. Warcken

William George Warcken was born on September 14, 1921, in LaMoure, LaMoure County, North Dakota to George Warken and Mary Wirth. He entered the United States Army on February 16, 1942. 

William "Bill" and Henry "Hank" Warcken, identical twins were inseparable, often dressing alike, and loved using their remarkable resemblance to plan pranks on people. The only person who could always tell them apart was their mother. During WWII, the two brothers joined the United States Army, and both served their beloved country with the 56th Engineer Battalion, 11th Armored Division. On the evening of January 12, 1945, (during the Battle of the Bulge), they were near Bertogne in Belgium. Snow was falling, and the ground was frozen, so they were unable to dig a foxhole. Exhausted after a long and grueling day, Bill and Hank ended up sleeping in the back of a truck. The next morning, the twin brothers were still asleep when a German artillery shell hit their truck. Critically wounded, Hank died a few hours later, and Bill died of his wounds four days later, on January 17, 1945.

Technician 5th Grade Warcken was killed in action in Bertogne, Arrondissement de Bastogne, Luxembourg, Belgium and is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avoid Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France, Plot D, Row 44, Grave 13. He received Purple Heart award.

Source: Ancestry/Find a Grave