Edward Kasper

PRIVATE EDWARD KASPER was born Edward Kasperowicz to Vincent and Estella Kasperowicz. The family belonged to the traditionally Polish-American St. Joseph Parish of Camden NJ, although by the time of the war they had moved to 855 Oaklyn Avenue in Runnemede NJ. He had served in the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to entering the Army prior to 1942.

Private Kasper trained as a radio operator. He served with Company I of 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division. The 44th Infantry Division landed in France via Cherbourg, 15 September 1944, and trained for a month before entering combat, October 18, 1944, when it relieved the 79th Division in the vicinity of Foret de Parroy, east of Luneville, France, to take part in the Seventh Army drive to secure several passes in the Vosges Mountains. Within 6 days, the Division was hit by a heavy German counterattack, on October 25 and 26th. The attack was repulsed and the 44th continued its active defense.

Edward Kasper was wounded on October 27, 1944. He died of his wounds on October 29^th. His death was reported in the November 27, 1944 edition of the Camden Courier-Post.

After the war his body was brought home and buried in St. Joseph Cemetery in Gloucester Township NJ. Besides his parents, he was survived by his brother Henry, and his sister, Mrs. Helen Thurman, all of Runnemede NJ. Both Henry and Helen had served in the Navy during the war.

Edward Kasper is memorialized on the plaque at St. Joseph Church, 10th & Liberty Street in Camden NJ, and on the monument at Park Drive & Route 130 in Pennsauken NJ as Edward Kasprowicz. He is memorialized on the Runnemede NJ War Memorial as Edward Kasper.

May 19, 1948