Alex Penkala

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The grave of Penkala in Hamm, Luxembourg
The grave of Penkala in Hamm, Luxembourg

Pfc. Alex M. Penkala, Jr. (1924- January 10, 1945) fought in World War II as part of Company E ("Easy Company") of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, U.S. 101st Airborne Division.

Penkala was a native of Indiana. After training in Camp Toccoa, Georgia, Penkala made his first combat jump on the 6th of June, 1944 (D-Day) as part of Operation Chicago. In September 1944, he jumped into occupied Holland as part of Operation Market Garden, which eventually failed. After being pulled off the line, Easy Company returned to France, where they were transported to Bastogne, Belgium to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. Alex Penkala was killed in action, just outside the Belgian town of Foy, by fire from German artillery. His friend Warren "Skip" Muck was also killed in the same explosion (they were in the same foxhole at the time of the explosion).

Penkala is buried at the American cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg.

Alex Penkala was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Tim Matthews.

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