Eugene W. Britton

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded to Service members serving outside the Continental United States in the American Theater for at least 30 days between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946, or who served during that period for an aggregate period of 1 year in the Continental United States.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Awarded for military service for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
 Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes ABMC Form 1, Headstone Inscription And Interment Record
Yes American Battle Monuments Commission website listing, PVT Britton, on this page
Yes Enlistment Records National Archives Database, on this page
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Grave and Memorial Marker Photos, Find A Grave
No Official Regiment or Division After Action Report
No  Photo of veteran
Yes United States Federal Census, 1920-Yes, 1930-Yes, 1940-
No  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data PVT Britton, on this page
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records, Hospital Records, on this page

ABMC Records:
Eugene W. Britton
World War II
Service #39476705
Rank, Private, U.S. Army
Unit, 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division
Entered Service From, Washington
Date of Death, April 13, 1945
Buried Plot A, Row 15, Grave 26
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands
Awards: Purple Heart

WWII Draft Card Data
Eugene W. Britton
White, Male, Age: 24
Birth Date: September 17, 1916
Birth Place: Solomon, Kansas
Residence Place: Clarkson, Asotin County, Washington
Registration Date: October 16, 1940
Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Safeway Stores
Height: 5' 11", Weight: 150
Eye Color: Gray , Hair Color: Brown
Complexion: Light
Next of Kin: C. O. Britton
Members of Household: Eugene W. Britton, Self
C. O. Britton, Mother

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Eugene W. Britton,
Service Number: 39476705
Rank: Enlisted Man (includes Aviation Cadet or Student)
Admission Age: 29
Birth Date: About 1916
Admission Date: April 1945
Admission Place: European Area
Discharge Date: April 1945
Discharge Place: Not in Medical Installation Prior to Death
Military Branch: Infantry, General or Unspecified
Diagnosis: Killed in action
Causative Agent: None or Unknown
Injury Type 1: Casualty, battle
Injury Type 2: All battle casualties, and all battle injuries not intentionally inflicted by self or another person
Length of service: No Entry-Not Listed
Notes: Cases reported by AGO only, except death in German or Japanese prison (Officially Declared Dead or Unmatched Reports of Death)

Note 1, Death Location: "In Germany" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PVT Britton, this location was estimated on:

A. The American Battle Monuments Commission website identifies his assigned unit as the 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division, date of death as April 13, 1945 and that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

B. His ABMC Form 1, Headstone Inscription And Interment Record, identifies his assigned unit as the 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division, date of death as April 13, 1945, Temporary Cemetery as 4650 and Next of Kin as Mrs. Marie Britton (wife), 14th and Chestnut, Clarkston Washington.

C. At the time PVT Britton was Killed In Action the 104th Infantry Division was conducting combat operations in central Germany during March and April 1945.

D. Hospital Admission Records indicate that PVT Britton was "Not in Medical Installation Prior to Death" and post mortem examination only recorded that his death was a "Battle casualty".

E. Further information on the history and service of the 104th Infantry Division can be found at the Wikipedia website 104th Infantry Division, History-WWII.

Anyone with additional information or a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)

 Do you have comments, questions, corrections or updates about PVT Eugene Britton? With Military Honors would like to hear from you. To submit a picture, leave a comment or add any relevant military or family information to honor this veteran, send an email to nick@withmilitaryhonors.com.
 Your information will be reviewed and posted as soon as it can be processed.