Harry Kenneth Draper

T/SGT in 3133rd Signal Service Co
ASN#31373329
Born 1919 in NH, Died 1982
County of residence at enlistment: Hillsborough County, NH
Other residence(s): Wilton, NH; Milford, NH
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: skilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehicles
Harry Draper was born on December 9, 1919 in Wilton, NH, the oldest of three children. His father was a "garageman" in an automotive garage; later he owned his own garage and still later became a Chevrolet dealer.
Harry graduated from high school in 1940 and went to work for his father as an auto mechanic. He married Barbara Kendall on June 29, 1941 and registered for the draft three days later. He recorded his place of employment as Draper Chevrolet in Milford, NH.
He enlisted on June 17, 1943 and was eventually assigned to the 3133 Signal Service Company, traveling to Italy with the unit near the end of the war. He was discharged from the Army on March 9, 1946 with the rank of T/SGT and returned to Milford. He and Barbara became the parents of two sons, David and Richard, over the next four years.
He eventually became the owner of Draper Chevrolet, a family business for 46 years. He was also very active in his community. Over the years he served as secretary and later VP of the Milford Civic Club; junior warden, Worshipful Master, and later treasurer of the Benevolent Lodge of Milford; Milford chair of the United Defense Fund; director and later VP of the Milford Rotary; director of the Milford Branch of the Red Cross; and treasurer of the Amherst Golf Association. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Milford, and served as a church trustee for 13 years. He was also a member of the American Legion and the VFW, and served on the Milford town budget committee.
Harry died on December 2, 1982 in Nashua, NH and is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Milford, NH.
Sources:
1920 census
1930 census
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/records/5245233?tid=45517976&pid=6842197015&ssrc=pt
1940 census
1941 marriage record
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5241/records/31241?tid=45517976&pid=6842197015&ssrc=pt
1941 draft card
1943 enlistment record
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8939/records/4674764?tid=45517976&pid=6842197015&ssrc=pt
1950 census
1953 article in the Nashua Telegraph (NH) about his community work
https://www.newspapers.com/image/74740687/?match=1&terms=harry%20k%20draper
1955 article in the New Hampshire Sunday News about his community work
1960 article in the Nashua Telegraph (NH) about his community work
https://www.newspapers.com/image/74734806/?match=1&terms=harry%20k%20draper
1960 article in the Nashua Telegraph (NH) about his Masonic involvement
https://www.newspapers.com/image/74734947/?match=1&terms=harry%20k%20draper
1972 article in the Nashua Telegraph (NH) about his golfing
https://www.newspapers.com/image/75168929/?match=1&terms=harry%20k%20draper
1977 article in the Nashua Telegraph (NH) about his Masonic involvement
https://www.newspapers.com/image/75217413/?match=1&terms=harry%20k%20draper
1982 VA death record
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2441/records/191965?tid=45517976&pid=6842197015&ssrc=pt
1982 US headstone application for military veterans
1982 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100810438/harry-kenneth-draper
1982 obituary in the Manchester Union Leader (NH)