August H. Baab

Private First Class • U.S. Army • Serial 32243074

34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division

Entered service from New Jersey • Died April 3, 1945

Buried at Manila American Cemetery, Plot F Row 15 Grave 83, Manila, Philippines

Awards: Purple Heart

Private First Class August H. Baab was the second son of Ludwig and Augusta Baab. The Baabs had both come to America in 1913 with their first son Ludwig Jr. Ludwig Sr. was a butcher by trade, and had come from Bavaria; Augusta was from Cologne and young Ludwig had been born in Düsseldorf in 1907. August Baab was born in Pennsylvania in 1919. When the census was taken at the end of January 1920, the family was living at 1707 North Mascher Street in Philadelphia PA.

By 1930, the family had bought a property on Egg Harbor Avenue in the borough of Lindenwold NJ. Ludwig Jr. had moved out on his own. The family later moved to a home at 58 Walnut Avenue, Lindenwold NJ. August Baab stayed in school through the 8th grade. He later worked as a clerk.

August Baab was inducted into the Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey on February 27, 1942. He was sent to train at Fort Lewis WA. While in training, he appeared in the movie “This Is the Army.” The movie starred, among others, Ronald Reagan, Kate Smith, and a large number of other Hollywood actors, soldiers, and sailors. In November of 1943 he was stationed at Fort Benning GA and underwent parachute training. The Camden Courier-Post ran a story about Private Baab’s service activities on November 9, 1943. As of that writing he had married, and was the father of a four-month-old son.

He was later attached to the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. August Baab was killed in action while serving in the Philippine Islands on April 3, 1945. He was survived by his wife Georgette, his son, and his parents, all of 58 Walnut Avenue, Lindenwold NJ.