David M. Kelchner
Rank: Private, U.S. Army
Serial: 32957397
Unit: 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
Entered service from: New Jersey
Born:
Died:
Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Presidential Citation, Belgium’s Fourragère
Buried: Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Biography
Private David M. Kelchner of Haddonfield, New Jersey.
Private David M. Kelchner was born on June 14, 1925, to William I. and Grace Kelchner. His grandfather, Dr. William I. Kelchner Sr., was a prominent doctor in Camden, New Jersey, for many years. In 1930, William Kelchner Jr. worked as a lumber salesman, and the family lived at 28 Evergreen Avenue in Haddonfield. They later moved to 134 Lansdowne Avenue in Haddonfield. David Kelchner was a 1943 graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School, where he played football.
On September 9, 1943, he was accepted for military service and placed in the enlisted reserve until September 24, when he, along with many others including Robert A. Caldwell of Laurel Springs and Joseph Czempkawski of Delaware Township (Cherry Hill), entered service. He was sent overseas on July 1, 1944. He had been wounded in Holland on October 2, 1944, and had returned to combat shortly thereafter.
Private David Kelchner was killed in action while serving in Germany on February 2, 1945, during fighting along the Siegfried Line.
Private Kelchner was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William I. Kelchner. He was brought home to New Jersey in December of 1947, and was buried at Locustwood Memorial Park in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill), New Jersey, on December 16, 1947.
Grammar School Classmates
David Kelchner and Robert K. Pimm were grammar school classmates in Haddonfield who both died while serving with the United States Army during World War II.
Photograph courtesy of Bonnie Errickson. Her mother, Betty Ann McConnell (top row left), was a classmate of the two boys. Her father was Camden Courier-Post columnist Dan McConnell.
Military Rites Set For Pvt. Kelchner
Camden Courier-Post —
Full military honors will be given tomorrow on the arrival in Haddonfield of the body of Pvt. David M. Kelchner, killed Feb. 2, 1945, in the Battle of the Siegfried line.
The body will lie in state at the funeral home of James Stretch, Kings Highway West, until burial later this week.
The war hero was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William I. Kelchner, of 134 Lansdowne avenue, Haddonfield. He was graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High school in 1943 and shortly thereafter was inducted into the army at Ft. Dix.
Private Kelchner went overseas in June, 1944, and was attached to the 325th Glider Infantry of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. He was wounded in the airborne invasion of Holland Oct. 2, 1944, but recovered and later fought in the Battle of the Bulge prior to meeting his death in Germany.
Young Kelchner was awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Citation and Belgium’s Medal Fourrageire.
The Rev. Bryant M. Kirkland, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, will officiate at the services to be announced later, while the Haddonfield post, American Legion, will be in charge of the ceremonies at the grave in Locustwood cemetery, Erlton.
Grave
Grave marker of Private David M. Kelchner at Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.