Ernest Takkunen
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
TAKKUNEN, Ernest
Ernest Takkunen was born on January 25th 1920 to John Jacob & Minnie Maria [Rissanen] Takkunen in Orr, Minnesota.
Mr. Takkunen served in the Army during WWII with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
SSGT Takkunen was killed in action on March 2nd 1945, in Germany at the age of 25. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His remains were retuned and he is buried at Leiding Cemetery in Orr, Minnesota.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 318.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3
Ernest Takkunen (1920-1945) - Find A Grave Memorial
Sgt. Ernest Takkunen - LifeStory (ancestry.com)
The Distinguished Service Cross
U.S. Army Recipients - WWII
TAKKUNEN, ERNEST (KIA)
Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Ernest Takkunen, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2d Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 2 March 1945. Staff Sergeant Takkunen's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 2d Armored Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 482 (1945)
