A portrait of Blair A. Schoffstall (1928-1951), of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, who was killed in action in North Korea, June 27, 1951.
Display case mementos – Purple Heart and news article.
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Additional news articles below.
From the West Schuylkill Herald, 24 August 1951:
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schoffstall, of Gratz, received word that their son, Pfc. Blair Schoffstall, was killed in action in Korea on June 27 just seven days after he arrived in Korea, having landed at that place on June 30.
Pfc. Schoffstall entered the service on the 18th of December, 1950, and was assigned to the U. S. Infantry. Before entering the service he was employed by the Swab Wagon Works in Elizabethville.
From the Pottsville Republican, August 27, 1951:
GRATZ SOLDIER DEAD IN ACTION IN KOREA
Pfc. Blair Schoffstall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schoffstall, of Gratz, was killed in action in Korea on June 27, according to word received by his parents. He met death one week after his arrival in that country.
From the Daily Item, Sunbury, August 24, 1951:
KILLED AFTER 7 DAYS IN KOREA
Pfc. Blair Schoffstall, 23, Gratz Met Death June 27, Parents Told
Private First Class Blair A. Schoffstall, U. S. Army, was killed in action June 27, seven days after he landed in Korea, according to a message received from the Department of Defense by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Schoffstall, of Gratz.
The 23 year old soldier had been in Japna one week before being assigned to combat duty. In his last letter to his parents dated June 20, he told of having arrived in Korea that day. He was attached to the 19th Infantry Division.
Pfc. Schoffstall entered service in December, 1950, and trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He left for overseas early in June. He attended Gratz High School.
In addition to his parents he is survived by two brothers, Cpl. Charles Schoffstall, with the Army stationed at Staten Island, New York, and Benny Schoffstall, at home; and two sisters, Ethel Schoffstall and Joanne Schoffstall, at home.
From the Elizabethville Echo, November 22, 1951:
BODY OF GRATZ VETERAN BEING RETURNED TO U.S.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Schoffstall of Gratz have been advised by the War Department that the body of their son, Pfc. Blair A. Schoffstall is being returned to the United States for burial.
Pfc. Schoffstall was reported killed in Korea June 27, 1951.
From the West Schuylkill Herald, November 23, 1951:
BODY ENROUTE HOME
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Schoffstall , of Gratz, received a telegram from the War Department, Friday, stating that the body of their son, Pfc. Blair A. Schoffstall, who was killed in action June 27, 1951, was enroute home.
From the Elizabethville Echo, December 6, 1951:
FUNERAL FOR GRATZ VETERAN SUNDAY
Funeral services for Pfc. Blair Schoffstall, age 23 years, who was killed in Korea in June, will be held from his parents’ home in Gratz, Sunday afternoon, at 2:00 o’clock, with further services in Simeon’s Lutheran and Reformed Church.
Rev. Earl R. Marks, pastor of the Lykens Valley Reformed Charge, and Rev. W. Z. Artz, pastor of the Lykens Valley Lutheran Parish, will officiate, and interment will be in the Gratz Cemetery. Members of the Gratz American legion Post will conduct military rites.
Friends may call at the residence Saturday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 o’clock.
Pfc. Schoffstall was a son of Charles Schoffstall and Susan [Dietrich] Schoffstall, and was a native of Gratz. He was a member of Simeon’s Reformed Church, and of the Gratz Fire Company, and had served as assistant scoutmaster of the Gratz Boy Scout Troop. He was employed by the Swab Wagon Company, Elizabethville, prior to entering the army in December 15, 1950.
Pfc. Schoffstall was killed while on patrol duty in Korea June 17, 1951.
Survivors are his parents, two brothers, Sgt. Charles Schoffstall, stationed with the Army at Fort Wadsworth, New York; Benjamin Schoffstall, at home; two sisters, Mrs. Dallas Williams of Dauphin and Miss Joanne Schoffstall of Harrisburg, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Edward Dietrich, of Gratz.
From the Lykens Standard, December 7, 1951:
FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD SUNDAY FOR KOREAN WAR VICTIM
Military funeral services will be held on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock for Pfc. Blair A. Schoffstall, 23, of Gratz, who was killed while on patrol duty in Korean on June 27, 1951.
Schoffstall was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schoffstall of Gratz, his mother being the former Susan Deitrich. He entered the service on December 15, 1950, was transferred to the infantry and sent overseas in May of 1951. Seventeen days after his arrival overseas he was killed in action.
Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers, Sgt. Charles Schoffstall Jr., of Fort Wadsworth, New York; Benny Schoffstall at home; two sisters, Mrs. Dallas Williams, of Dauphin; Miss Joanne Schoffstall, of Harrisburg and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Edward Deitrich, of Gratz.
The military arrangements were in charg of the Gratz Legion and the church services were conducted by the Revs. Earl Marks and W. Z. Artz. Burial was made in the Gratz Cemetery.
Pfc. Schoffstall was a member of the Gratz Reformed Church, and the Gratz Fire Company. He was also a fire warden and an assistant scoutmaster previous to his entry in the military services. In civilian life he was an employee of the Swab Wagon Company, Elizabethville.
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News articles from Newspaper.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.