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Charles Edwin Gingrich Jr.

M/SGT in 3133rd Signal Service Co

ASN#33497612

Born 1913 in PA, Died 1974

County of residence at enlistment: Lancaster County, PA
Other residence(s): Columbia, PA
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: paymasters, payroll clerks, and timekeepers
College education before the war: 1 year
Notes: Rank changed from T/4 in GA Roster to  M/SGT per Army press release in 1946 (as published in newspaper)
Source: 3133rd Program, 15 Sept 1944; 3133rd roster from 10th Mountain Division Museum at Fort Drum

Charles Gingrich was born on December 2, 1913, in Ironville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

NOTE: As far as I can figure out from the geography, Ironville is part of West Hempfield Township which abuts Columbia. But Charles' paperwork seems to use Ironville and Columbia interchangeably. The communities are located in between the towns of Lancaster and York.

By 1930, his father was gone, and he and his mother were living with her parents.

In October, 1940, at the time he registered for the draft, Charles was working as paymaster for the Keeley Stove Company in Columbia.

He enlisted on January 15, 1943; his enlistment record reports that he had one year of college and was still employed as a paymaster. Five months later, at Camp Crowder, Missouri, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal; at the time he was a personnel clerk with a signal training battalion.

He headed overseas on March 1, 1945, and saw service in Italy with the 3133 Signal Service Company. By the time he finished his service, he had earned the rank of Master SGT. He returned from Europe on February 1, 1946, and was released from the Army a few days later.

After the war he returned to Columbia. He worked for the American Bank and Trust Company, and served as a Deputy Sheriff for Lancaster County. He was also a member of the American Legion, a member and 20-year treasurer of the Ironville Fire Company, a Mason, and choir director for many years at the Ironville United Methodist Church. Throughout the years he also performed as a soloist at many weddings held there and at other churches in the area.

He died on January 29, 1974 and is buried at the Ironville Methodist Church Cemetery. His mother died the following year and they share a headstone.

Sources:

1930 census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/52390711:6224?indiv=1&tid=&pid=&queryId=494682d625d62594a11fe45f5fd98dcb&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TYn12&_phstart=successSource

1940 draft registration

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2238&h=9246593&tid=&pid=&queryId=c5bf447ca0efa2c485258306350d68f8&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TYn7&_phstart=successSource

1942 enlistment record

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8939&h=5365940&tid=&pid=&queryId=c5bf447ca0efa2c485258306350d68f8&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TYn8&_phstart=successSource

1943 article in Lancaster New Era (PA) about his military service

https://www.newspapers.com/image/560823200/?terms=charles%2Be%2Bgingrich%2Bjr

1945 article in Lancaster New Era showing his arrival in Italy

https://www.newspapers.com/image/561124868/?terms=charles%2Be%2Bgingrich%2Bjr

1946 article in Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster PA) re his discharge from service; shows Master SGT rank

https://www.newspapers.com/image/558129234/?terms=charles%2Be%2Bgingrich%2Bjr

1950 Pennsylvania WW2 Veteran Compensation Files

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3147&h=479903&tid=&pid=&queryId=494682d625d62594a11fe45f5fd98dcb&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TYn3&_phstart=successSource

1973 article in Lancaster New Era (PA) re his service with Ironville Fire Co.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/562905674/?terms=charles%2Be%2Bgingrich%2Bjr

1974 Find a Grave record

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88315079/charles-e-gingrich

1974 VA death record

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2441&h=1449808&tid=&pid=&queryId=1b42af43e6243116ddada07f5db27a0d&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TYn16&_phstart=successSource

1974 obituary in York Dispatch (PA)

https://www.newspapers.com/image/614179551/?terms=charles%2Be%2Bgingrich%2Bjr

1974 Pennsylvania Veteran's Burial Card

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/584755:1967?indiv=1&tid=&pid=&queryId=1b42af43e6243116ddada07f5db27a0d&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TYn19&_phstart=successSource

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