Chester F. Harple was born on October 19, 1924, in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, to Mr. And Mrs. Nathan D. Harple of R. D. 1 , Downingtown. Aside from his parents, he was survived by a brother Robert, Seaman Second Class, who was on duty somewhere in the South Pacific. His grandparents were Mrs. Etta Harple, Downingtown, and Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Thomas, of Glen Moore, PA. Previous to being called for service. Pvt. Harple had been employed by William M. Lloyd, near Downingtown. He was a graduate of Downingtown High School and was a backfield star on the football team during the 1941-42 seasons. He was injured during the 1943 season. He also participated in track and baseball athletics. Chester was better known as “Chet”. He was engaged to marry Miss Rachel Reber, of Glen Moore, PA.

Chet was inducted into the Army on March 6, 1944. He trained in Florida and went overseas on August 8, 1944. He observed his 20^th birthday in Holland, and fought in France and Belgium prior to the campaign in Holland. Pvt. Harple was a member of the 48th Infantry Battalion, 7^th Armored Division. Up until his last letter on Oct. 22, 1944, he had written regularly to his family of his army experiences. This hero was reported missing in November, 1944, but his parents received a later War Department telegram that he had been killed in action in Holland on October 24, 1944. Mr. And Mrs. Harple had been hoping that he would be located or perhaps found in a prison camp, but this later message blasted all their hopes.

Pvt. Chester F. Harple was buried overseas in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. This hero’s grave site location is identified as Plot E, Row 5, Grave 65. This Cemetery and Memorial covers 57 acres and rests 7989 American military dead. The Cemetery possesses great military historic significance as it accommodated the fallen Americans of two major efforts - one is the U.S. Army’s drive in September, 1944 through northern France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg into Germany - and the second covering the Battle of the Bulge.