PFC. Kenard Ruben Schrock
US Army H Coy. 317th Infantry Regiment
from:Marsteller, PA
(d.17th Sep 1944)
P.F.C. Kenard Schrock of 80th Infantry Division, 317th Infantry Regiment, Company H served in the machine gunner Platoon. He used a 30.cal. Heavy Machine on a tripod. He was killed in action and his family would like to hear from anyone who may remember him, or may have photos of him.
P.F.C. Schrock is mentioned in Andy Adkins book, "You Can't Get Much Closer Than This": "We started digging our OP a little deeper. Another Lieutenant from Company F had been sent up to replace the one who had been hit. Lieutenant Lou Cox wasn't getting along too well. A shell had landed in a fox hole along side the 3 of his men. P.F.C. John W Meyers was blown to pieces, P.F.C. Johnny Piko was blown back by the blast but was not killed, and P.F.C. Kenard R Schrock had both his legs blown off. P.F.C. Schrock lay there by his machine gun whimpering and quivering. There was absolutely nothing we could do for him. Captain Farrell took off his rain coat and placed it over PFC Schlock's quivering body. The machine gunner died a few minutes later."
Hill 351 is just west of Morey, France, and east of the Moselle River. There were a lot of men who died on that hill, and there is reason to believe that some may have died from friendly artillery fire. The Germans had taken hold of an American radio, and some believed that they managed to call in an American artillery strike on American positions. A few years ago, the remains of another 317th Infantryman, P.F.C. Robert Horner were discovered before being returned to the U.S. for final internment.
