Fenstermaker Carl Luther “Dutchy”.

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Fenstermaker Carl Luther “Dutchy”, born 01-02-1923, in Weisenberg, Pennsylvania.   to Charles William Fenstermaker (1891–1924. Carl had two brothers, Vernon Charles Fenstermaker (1920–2017) and Robert Franklin Fenstermaker (1924–2021)   His family was of “Pennsylvanian Dutch” heritage, a nickname for those of German (Deutsch) heritage, and he grew up fluent in German. Carl enlisted in the Army with his two childhood friends Forrest Leroy “Goody” Guth

 and Roderick George “Rod” Strohl  on 08-08-1942, and they all volunteered for the paratroopers. They were sent to Camp Toccoa and placed in 3rd platoon,  Easy Company, 506th PIR. of the 101 Airborne Division While in England, where the unit were training for D-Day, Carl volunteered for the Pathfinders. The Pathfinders were specially trained paratroopers who would jump into the designated area just before the main troop, and set up the Drop Zones and beacons for the aircraft and fellow paratroopers. On D-Day the pathfinders took off for Normandy approximately an hour before the main body of about 20,000 partaroopers. Unfortunately, while flying over the English Channel the C-47 that Carl’s stick was in (along with fellow Easy Company member Red Wright) had to ditch in the ocean. They were rescued by the HMS Tartar a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy but as Carl had yelled out to the crew in German, they were all held in custody on the ship until their identities could be verified. Carl also jumped as a Pathfinder into my country The Netherlands for Operation Market Garden, a Bridge too Far, on 17-09-1944, and into Bastogne for the resupply drop in December, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II. It took place in the Ardennes region of Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, from 16-12-1944, to 25-01-1945. The German offensive aimed to split the Allied forces and recapture the port of Antwerp, but it ultimately failed. The battle is notable for its intensity, the brutal winter conditions, and the significant losses on both sides.  Carl fought with Easy to the end of the war and the 506 Company were the first in Hitler’s Berghof.     and Dutchy iwas honorably discharged in January, 1946 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, holding the rank of Sergeant. He then reenlisted to serve in the military police.

Death and burial ground of Fenstermaker Carl Luther “Dutchy”.

After the war Carl on 28-06-1947 married Monica M, born Lipovsky Weaver Fenstermaker (1924–2007) and worked as a salesman and tax collector. Carl passed on 30-06-1988, in the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center. just 2 days after his 42nd wedding anniversary, at the age of just 65.Currahee, Dutchy and is buried at the Ziegels Union Cemetery Breinigsville, Lehigh County,  9990 Ziegels Church Rd, Breinigsville, PA 18031, Pennsylvania, United States.

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