John R. Pletkin

Rank: Private, U.S. Army

Serial: 33332876

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: March 22, 1945

Buried at: New St. Mary's Cemetery, 515 West Browning Road, Bellmawr, New Jersey

Private John Pletkin was born on July 30, 1921 to Frank J. and Anna B. Pletkin, who both had been born in Lithuania. At the time of the 1930 census the Pletkin family was living in a rented house at 1228 East Montgomery Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. John Pletkin was the second child, coming between sisters Anna M. and Constance. The elder Pletkin was then working as a tailor. Before his Army service, John Pletkin made his home in Gloucester City, New Jersey, but still had ties to Philadelphia, where he was inducted on September 7, 1942. He had one year of high school and was single at the time he entered service.

Suffering from an eye problem, his eye was surgically removed during his service. He was killed when the car he was in was struck by two trains in Palo Alto, California on March 22, 1945. He was brought home and buried at New St. Mary's Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey, where he now rests beside his parents and sisters.

A Gloucester soldier and a woman companion were instantly killed early yesterday when the automobile in which they were riding was struck by two locomotives on the outskirts of Palo Alto, California.

The victims were Private John R. Pletkin, 24, of 406 Market Street, and Mrs. Deanne Shell, of Palo Alto.

Police of the western city said the car was first struck by a southbound engine and hurled 150 feet down the track. It was then picked up by the cowcatcher of a northbound train and carried back to the point of the original collision, police said.

Pletkin, who entered the service two and one-half years ago, was stationed at Dibble Hospital in Palo Alto and recently was home on a 40 day furlough.

When he entered the Army, Pletkin was hospitalized because of a defective eye. Since that time, he had allowed the Army surgeons to remove the eye for experimental purposes and research.