The casketed remains of two Jackson county servicemen, both killed in France shortly after the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, were to arrive in the United States this week for re-burial under the Army program for returning servicemen who lost their lives in World War II.

The two are Pfc. George L. Choate, son of Lawrence Choate, Cora, Ill., and Pfc. Dean R. Wills, son of Clyde ills of Grand Tower.

Both were originally buried in the "D-Day" military cemetery at Blosville, Normandy. Next-of-kin have been notified of the arrival.

Dean R. Wills ...

George L. Choate, 23, who was better known as "Tony" to his friends, had been a resident of Cora all of his life. He attended the Gorham High School and graduated with the class of 1940. He worked in a Monsanto Chemical Co. plant in St. Louis after graduation.

Choate was a member of a paratroop division and was killed June 21, 1944, in operations around the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

[The Daily Independent (Murphysboro, Illinois), Saturday, March 29, 1948]

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Relatives at Cora have announced that funeral services for Pfc. George L. Choate, who was 23 when he was killed at Normandy, France, in 1944, will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Friday, April 23.

Pfc. Choate was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larence [sic] Choate of Cora. He was graduated from Gorham Community High School. His remains are being shipped from France.

Besides the parents, survivors include five brothers and two sisters.

[The Daily Independent (Murphysboro, Illinois), Saturday, April 17, 1948]

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(courtesy Eric Kreft)

Grave marker for Pfc George L Choate at Plot 80, Grave 94 in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.

Pfc Choate was killed in action on June 21, 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart.