Howard E. Appley, Jr.

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HOWARD E. APPLEY JR. was killed in action on April 2, 1943. He was survived by an aunt, Mrs. Mary Valdez, of 6881 Woodland Avenue, Pennsauken NJ, and sister, Stella Appley. 

Howard Appley Jr. was born in Camden NJ in 1917 to Howard and Martha Regler Appley, His father, Howard Appley was born in Camden in 1897. His grandfather, Camillus V. Appley, served for over 20 years as a Camden police officer. The family was living with Howard Harris, a brother of of Mrs. Appley, at 932 South 6th Street in Camden at the time of the 1920 census, and Howard Appley Sr. was working as a dye man in a factory. The family included brother Lorenzo, who was born in 1919. 

According to the city directories, Howard and Martha Appley lived at 565 Girard Place in Camden between 1922 and 1925, but are not listed in these directories after that date. Howard Appley Sr., was working as a chauffer, which in the language of the day, meant he could as well have been driving a taxicab, truck, or bus. By 1930 Howard Jr.'s sister Stella was living with Aunt Mary Valdez, it can be assumed that his parents marriage broke up or, as Martha Regler Appley died in Philadelphia in 1937, that Howard Appley Sr. may have passed or have been unable to support his family. At the time of the 1930 Census, Howard Appley was a 12 year old boy at St. Michael's Orphanage and Industrial Home in Hopewell Township, Mercer County, NJ. Also there were brothers Lorenzo, 10, and Harold, 8. What became of Harold Appley Sr. is not know as of this writing. He did not register for the draft in April of 1942, so it is likely that he had passed away.

When Private Appley's death was reported in the Camden Courier-Post on June 1, 1943 it was noted that he listed his next of kin as his Aunt Mary Valdez. Howard Appley attended high school for one year before entering the work force.

Private Appley was inducted in the Army on January 22, 1941. He was single at the time of his induction. He was killed in action while serving with the 9th Infantry Division during the first few days of the assault in the El Guettar in southern Tunisia.