Pfc George Frank Caldwell

Familial History

Pfc George Frank Caldwell was born 15 April 1920 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona to Clara Amelia Earnest and Charles George Caldwell. The US WWII Hospital Admission Card indicated he was killed in action 4 April 1945. The cause and location were not reported. His Memorial in Find a Grave stated he was killed during the combat operations in the Carabello Mountains. Luzon, Philippine Islands. The NARA indicated he resided in Tempe, Maricopa County, Arizona prior to the war.

George married Olene Katherine Ater on 6 April 1940 in Florence, Pinal County, Arizona. She was born on 11 February 1925 in Tempe, Arizona to Agnes Bertha and Lester Earl Ater. Olene passed away on 28 June 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. She was buried in the Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona. Her Memorial # was 196201661.

Their union produced one daughter named Susan Agnes Caldwell. She was born 2 December 1940, and her death data was not reported.

Clara Amelia Earnest was born on 18 January 1887 in Walworth County, Wisconsin to Ruth E. and Charles D. Earnest. She passed away during July 1973 in Maricopa County, Arizona and laid to rest next to Charles. Her Memorial # was 68468411.

Charles George Caldwell was born on 20 August 1871 in Pennsylvania to Elizabeth Matthews and William Herbert Caldwell. He died 25 April 1959 in Phoenix and was interred in the Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona. His Memorial # was 68468268. Charles married Clara on 16 October 1912 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Caldwell union produced 5 children composed of 3 daughters and 2 sons. Their names are listed chronologically with corresponding birth and death dates: Ruth Mary Caldwell Bucklin (16 June 1913-9 March 1993); Grace Amelia Caldwell Williams (27 January 1915-24 May 2005); William Aaron “Bill” Caldwell (31 March 1917-4 August 2005); Pfc George Frank Caldwell; and Myrna May Caldwell Gentry (19 June 1923-4 May 2011).

Service History:

Pfc George Frank Caldwell registered for the draft 1 July 1941 in Tempe, Maricopa County, Arizona. He was unemployed but had worked as an aircraft assemblyman, had brown hair, and gray eyes. Mr. C.G. Caldwell signed as the next of kin.

He enlisted in the US Army Infantry on 9 September 1942 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. George had completed 3 years of high school, was working in the sheet medal industry, divorced, and had one daughter.

He was assigned to Company K, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. His Service Number was 19106696.

Pfc George Frank Caldwell was interred in the Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. His Memorial # was 68468444. His father signed the US Headstone Application Form on 29 July 1948 and the headstone was delivered to the cemetery on 4 October 1948.

Commendations:

Purple Heart

Stories Behind the Stars:

Thank you, Pfc George Frank Caldwell of the US Army, for your sacrifice and service to our country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’ s name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author. Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by”.

The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is jchisum@q.com.

Resources:

George F Caldwell (1920-1945) - Find a Grave Memorial

George F Caldwell : Private First Class from Arizona, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)