In Memory of
Army T-5
Arlie Elwood Wirt
Parker, South Dakota
Turner County
October 9, 1920 -- April 16, 1945
Killed in Action near Schonberg, Germany

Arlie Elwood Wirt was born at Parker, South Dakota, on October 9, 1920, to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wirt.  Arlie graduated from Hurley High School in 1938. After he graduated high school, Arlie worked at the Morrel’s packing plant in Sioux Falls.

On September 15, 1942, Arlie entered the service at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Wirt completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he earned an expert badge with a sub-machinegun bar and marksmanship badge with a carbine rifle bar. 

Sent overseas on February 11, 1944, as part of Troop C, 85^th Cavalry, Reconnaissance Squadron, Army T-5 Arlie Elwood Wirt was killed in action near Schonberg, Germany, on April 16, 1945. T-5 Wirt was buried in an American Military Cemetery in Margarten, Holland, and his remains were later returned to America on November 19, 1948, and buried at the Parker cemetery.

T-5 Arlie Wirt’s military awards included the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Billy Myers, 8^th West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, November 20, 2000. Information for this entry was provided by Dale Wirt, Mandan, ND, brother of Army T-5 Arlie Wirt.