Harold Stanley Becklund

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.
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each Soldier who distinguishes himself or herself from among his or her fellow Soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
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.
 **It is likely but unconfirmed that TEC5 Becklund was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
No   Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
Yes  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes  Grave Marker Photo(s)
No   National Archives Database,
Yes Official Regiment or Division After Action Report
Yes   Photo of veteran
No   Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records

WWII Draft Card Data
Harold Stanley Becklund
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 24
Birth Date: June 10, 1916  -  Birth Place: Tacoma, Washington
Residence Place: Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington
Registration Date: October 16, 1940  -  Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Andrew Peterson
Weight: 235, Height: 6' 2"
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue   -  Hair Color: Blonde
Next of Kin: Tillie Becklund
Members of Household: Harold Stanley Becklund, Self
Tillie Becklund, Mother

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Updates provided by Robert W. in italics:
Name: Harold S. Becklund
(Name not listed on Hospital Record, ID made by Service Number only)
Rank: Enlisted Man
Admission Age: Not Listed
Birth Date: Not Listed
Admission Date: July 1944
Discharge Date: July 1944
Military Branch: Armed Forces (not Elsewhere Classified)
Diagnosis:
  Causative Agent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified;
Type of Injury: Casualty, battle
Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
Type of Discharge: Died
Service Number: 39383351

Note 1: The death location, "In Airel France" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of TEC5 Becklund, this location was verified on:

A. As found on a photo from BillionGraves.com, his headstone identifies his assigned unit as the 3rd Army.

B. At the time TEC5 Becklund was Killed In Action the 3rd Army was conducting combat operations in France, and on July 31, 1944 he was at a bridge in Airel France.

C. Hospital Admission Records indicate that TEC5 Becklund died in July 1944. The initial details only identify that his death was "In the line of duty". Updates from The 3rd Armored Division History Foundation (Landing in Normandy) provided by Robert W. indicate that TEC5 Becklund died of artillery shell fragments and/or blast concussion injuries.

D. Further information on the 3rd Army can be found at the Wikipedia sites Third United States Army.

A more specific location was provided by a family friend, Robert W. While defending a bridge at Airel, France near Normandy:
"One shell burst killed Sergeant Elwood Potts of Bordentown, New Jersey, along with Harold S. Becklund and James G. Chelemengos, while Captain James L. Keoun of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, was stunned."

Anyone with additional information is also 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) - No Records Found

 Do you have comments, questions, corrections or updates about TEC5 Harold Becklund? 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.
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