Anti-Tank Co 417th Regt Vet. Born in Sweden...Returned to Fight in the ETO!

PFC Kurt E. G-R-E-E-N was born in Sweden in 1912. In the 1930's he immigrated to the United States and set up shop as a machine shop worker in New York City, He was Jewish and I'm sure that the situation of his people halfway around the globe weighed heavy on his mind. Before gaining his citizenship, he decided to enlisted in the Army, raising his right hand on 08 Aug 1942. After basic infantry training he was assigned to the HQ Platoon, Anti-Tank Company, 417th Regiment, in the 76th Division. Traveling overseas Thanksgiving Day 1944 on the SS Marine Raven, AT/417 landed in Le Harve, France in January of 1945 after a brief stay in Bournemouth, England.

The 417th would receive it's baptism by fire in the town of Echternach, Luxembourg in the first week of February crossing the swollen Sauer River into the Siegfried Line near Trier, Germany. The assault started at 0200 hrs on the morning of the 7th, and continued until the river was bridged by 76th Div Engineers on 11 February.

PFC G-R-E-E-N was one of the first members in the 417th to be awarded the CIB and served in three campaigns in the ETO until the night of 20 March 1945. On this date in the town of Kisselbach, Germany (located on the banks of the Rhine River), he was on a late  reconnaissance patrol speeding down a road near the river that was originally assessed to be safe when enemy machine gun fire suddenly ripped through the air and into the Jeep. PFC G-R-E-E-N was hit and another man was KIA. The S-2 Lieutenant was able to drive him to an aid station and he was med-evac'd. He returned to his unit right after V-E Day and stayed with the 417th until the 76th was disbanded in August of 1945. He was then assigned to Service Company, 355th Regiment, 89th Infantry Division and returned home to New York City on 19 Dec 1945.

Kurt would spend his later days living in New Jersey and passed away on 23 Mar 1999.

Thank you for looking! This is my first Anti-Tank grunt's uniform and feel honored to add it to the collection.