David M. Kelchner

PRIVATE DAVID KELCHNER was born on June 14, 1925 to William I. and Grace Kelchner. His grandfather, Dr. William I. Kelchner Sr., was a prominent doctor in Camden NJ for many years. In 1930 William Kelchner Jr. worked as a lumber salesman, and the family lived at 28 Evergreen Avenue in Haddonfield NJ. They later moved to 134 Lansdowne Avenue in Haddonfield. David Kelchner was a 1943 graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High school, where he played football. 

The Camden Courier-Post reported on September 9, 1943 that he had been accepted for military service and placed in the enlisted reserve until September 24, when he, along with many others including Robert A. Caldwell of Laurel Springs, and Joseph Czempkawski of Delaware Township (Cherry Hill). David Kelchner was sent overseas on July 1, 1944. He had been wounded in Holland on October 2, 1944, and had returned to combat shortly thereafter. 

Private David Kelchner was killed in action in while serving in Germany on February 2, 1945 during fighting along the Siegfried Line.

Private Kelchner was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William I. Kelchner. He was brought home to New Jersey in the December of 1947, and was buried at Locustwood Memorial Park in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill) NJ on December 16, 1947.

Week of
December 11, 1947

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December 15, 1947

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