Jim J. Forster - 298th Engineer Combat Battalion, WWII, WW2

Jim J. Forster

Transcription Note: In 1975 Reunion Roster and in the Max Kolpas bio the surname is spelled FOSTER but in the Journal entries it is spelled FORSTER

Source: Excerpt from the bio of Max Kolpas
This one single story reminded me of a construction trailer. It had windows. It had a door. It had railings. It had several steps going on up to the door, but the thing that made me leery of it, because I had already passed it, was it had all clean, white gravel leading to the stairs. And then I heard this one man talk to Jim Foster, hollering at him, and he was saying, "Bosch! Bosch!" meaning German. And Jim was sort of hepped up on it, and he took a dash for that house which had the windows closed and everything, curtains down. And as he approached the gravel, he stepped on an S-mine. That S-mine just killed him instantly. Incidentally, I went back to this family in Appleton, Wisconsin. I told them that he was killed instantly and there was no suffering or anything as such.

Schrapnellmine 35 bounding mine S–Mine
Leaping anti-personnel mine developed in 1930. When triggered, explosive charge is projected about 1-meter off the ground. Nick named the Bouncing Betty.
~MORE~

Source: WWII Memoiral
PVT Jim J. Forster
ID: 36812941
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Hometown: Outgamie County, WI
Status: Killed In Action

Source: National Archives
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 36812941
NAME FORSTER JIM J
RESIDENCE: STATE WISCONSIN
RESIDENCE: COUNTY OUTGAMIE
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
DATE OF ENLISTMENT 31 Mar 43
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION Private
TERM OF ENLISTMENT Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
NATIVITY 63 WISCONSIN
YEAR OF BIRTH 24
EDUCATION 4 years of high school
MARITAL STATUS Single, without dependents

Listed in the June 1944 Journal
Event: 1031, 1350 June 27/44
Co �B� detail de-booby trapping German Hq in Barfleur set off S-Mine, killing Pvt Jim J. Forster, and injuring 5 others

Listed in the 298th Journal June 1944
1031 1600 June 27/44 Co �B� detail de-booby trapping German Hq in Barfleur set off S-Mine, killing Pvt Jim J. Forster, and injuring 5 others

Photo and additional information provided by grand-nephew Michael Grippe:
Residence at the start of the War: Appleton, WI Serial Number 36812941 KIA � 6/28/44

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