WWII-KIA-EHRIE, John Thomas

NOTE: Sure wish we had a picture of Corporal Ehrie - anyone have one please send it our way

Source: Hillsboro Times __ 1945

Corporal John Thomas Ehrie, a step brother of Mrs. Homer Foxworthy of Hiilsboro was killed in action in Germany April 20 according to word received by his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Ehrie, of Whitesville, formerly of Mellott.

Corp. Ehrie was serving with Co A of the 171st Engineers Combat Battalion. He was employed as an electrician in Chicago at the time of his enlistment on August 17, 1943. He arrived overseas in England, early in Sept 1944 and has been in service in England, France, Belgium and Germany. The last letter his father received from him was dated March 10.

Corp. Ehrie was born in Waynetown on May 11, 1913, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ehrie. He is survived by his father and step mother, one son, John Ronald Ehrie of Frankfort; two brothers, Charles Ehrie of Lafayette and Tech Sgt Dennis B. Ehrie with the armed forces in the Philippines; six half sister and four half brothers and two step sisters, One step brother, Sgt. Donald H. Gott was killed in service 26 months ago.

--- transcribed by kbz

Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier 12 May 1945 (Sat) p 2

Cpl. John T. Ehrie, 31, former employee of the Tweedle Electric Motor Service, this city died in Germany April 20 according to word received by his mother, Mrs. DA Miller of Chicago. No particulars were given. Cpl. Ehrie was inducted into service from Clinton County in august 1943, and arrived overseas about 8 months ago. On Feb 25, 1945 he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal as a member of the 171^st Engineer Combat battalion. The citation was awarded for heroic action. While under intense enemy fire, as a combat entineer in the construction of infantry assault bridges, without hesitation he jumped into swift water of a river and succeeded in swimming to an overturned assault boat. His action prevented the boat from running into a foot bridge and knocked it out. He leaves a son, Ronald Ehrie who lives with his mother, now Mrs. Clyde Lamar in Frankfort also the corporal’s father, John Ehrie, Whitesville; his mother, Mrs. DA Miller Chicago; two brothers, T. SGt Dennis Ehrie in the Philippines and Charles Ehrie, Lafayette. – kbz

Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review - 28 April 1949 p11

Cpl. John Thomas Ehrie, native of Waynetown who was killed in action in Germany on April 20, was employed as an electrician in Chicago at the time of his enlistment Aug 17, 1943. Cpl. Ehrie had been overseas since early Sept 1944 serving with the 171st Engineering Company on the west front. Cpl. Ehrie, who would have been 32 May 13 was the son of John W. Ehrie of Whitesville. Mrs. Ehrie is his stepmother. Two brothers, six half sisters and two step sisters also survive together with his son, John Ronald Ehrie, of Frankfort. A step brother, Sgt Donald H. Gott was killed in service 26 months ago and a brother, Tech Sgt Dennis B. Ehrie is now with the armed forces in the Philippines.

Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 18 Apr 1949 p 1 typed by Walt W

The body of Corporal John Thomas Ehrie, who gave his life during World War II, will arrive in Waynetown, Tuesday, April 19. Cpl. Ehrie died April 20, 1945, of wounds he received while on guard duty in Germany. A combat engineer with the 171st engineers, Cpl. Ehrie entered the service Aug. 17, 1943. He was sent overseas in September, 1944, after training in Colorado and Tennessee. Before being sent into Germany he served in England, France, and Belgium. Cpl. Ehrie, who had a record of distinguished service, was awarded the Bronze Star Feb. 23, 1945. The citation stated that while helping build an infantry bridge over the Rhine river he kept an assault boat from overturning by jumping into the swift waters and fastening a rope to the boat. Cpl. Ehrie was born May 13, 1913, in Waynetown, the son of John W. and Gertrude Fritts Ehrie. His boyhood was spent on a farm near Mellott. After attending school in Mellott he went to Lafayette where he became an electrician. Later he went to Chicago where he was working as an electrician when he entered service. He married Hazel Howell, of Frankfort, in October, 1933. Surviving are the father, a stepmother, Mrs. John W. Ehrie, R. F. D. 4, Crawfordsville; a stepfather and mother, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Miller, of Chicago; a son, John Ronald Ehrie, of Frankfort; two brothers, Charles Ehrie, of Lafayette, and Dennie Ehrie, of Chicago; five half-brothers, six half-sisters, two step sisters, and several uncles and aunts. A step brother, Sgt. Donald H. Gott, was killed in Tunisia Feb. 15, 1943. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Grenard and Servies Funeral home in Waynetown. Rev. J. C. Keating, of St. Bernard's Catholic church, will officiate. Burial will be at Calvary cemetery in Crawfordsville with the Ladoga post of the American Legion to conduct military rites at the graveside. Friends may pay their respects at the funeral home.

Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 14 Mar 1944 p 1 typed by Walt W

Mellott, March 14— Mr. and Mrs. John Ehrie have recently been notified by officials at Washington, D. C., that their son, Sgt. Donald H. Gott, had been officially declared dead. This declaration was made by the Department of War, February 15, 1944, just one year from the date Sgt. Gott was reported missing in action in a battle in the vicinity of Sidi Bon Zid, Tunisia. He had landed in Ireland May 18, 1942, where he remained for six months. He then went to England where he remained for six weeks. Sgt. Gott landed in Africa December 24, 1942. The last letter received from him by his parents was written January 24, 1943. Sgt. Gott served with Company E First Armored Regiment. He enlisted in the service of his country August 7, 1940. He served 18 months in the United States, taking his training at Camp Knox, Ky., before going overseas. Born July 2, 1919 in Mellott, Sgt. Gott was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gott. His father died when he was a baby. He was educated in the Mellott school. He is survived by his mother and step-father; one sister, Mrs. Charles Junk of Crawfordsville; seven half-sisters, four half-brothers, and three step-brothers, two of which are serving in the U. S. Army. Sgt. Gott, it was understood, was engaged to Miss Mary C. French, of Louisville, Ky.

Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Mon 18 April 1949 p 18

Waynetown, April 18 – The body of cpl. John T. Ehrie will arrive here at 11:41 a.m. Tuesday over the Peoria & Eastern Railroad and his funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Grenard & Servies Funeral Home, Rev. Edward Keating of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Crawfordsville will officiate and burial will be Calvary Cemetery, Crawfordsville. Cpl. Ehrie, a native of Waynetown was a son of John Ehrie of Crawfordsville and Mrs. H Miller, Chicago. He was killed in Berlin, Germany, April 20, 1945. He went overseas in Sept 1944 serving with Co A 171^st Combat Engineers after having enlisted in Chicago Aug 17, 1943. He was married in 1933. Survivors besides his parents are a son, John R. Ehrie, Frankfort and two brothers, Charles Ehrie, Lafayette and Dennis Ehrie, Chicago. – kbz