Last Rites Held for Cpl. Draeger Funeral services for Cpl. Arthur Fred Draeger, whose body was returned from the D-day cemetery, St. Laurene-sur-Mer at Blosville, France [sic], were conducted Thursday afternoon from the Chelsea Baptist Church. Burial was in Chelsea cemetery. The Rev. L. C. Robbins of Claremore, former Chelsea pastor, officiated, assisted by the Rev. A. A. Brady. Pallbearers and the honor guard were members of the Milam-Stanley American Legion post.

Recipient of a presidential citation for conspicuous gallantry in action during the D-day offensive, Draeger, a paratrooper, was killed in action June 21, 1944. He was 21 years old.

Survivors include the parents, Mrs. and Mrs. William W. Draeger; two sisters, Mrs. Orville H. Huston and Edith Bunton of Kiefer, and four brothers, Billy Gene of Chelsea, Henry of Venice, LA and Charles and Harold of Sapulpa.

(Claremore Progress, 02 May 1948)

(courtesy of Diane Voegeli)

Grave market for Arthur F. Draeger in the Chelsea Cemetery, Chelsea (Rogers county), Oklahoma.

Arthur enlisted in Tulsa, OK on 13 October 1942 and volunteered for parachutist duty. He was assigned to the 508th PIR which was just being activated at Camp Blanding, FL.

Pvt Draeger was assigned to the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion.  A standout recruit, he was promoted to Cpl within a year.