According to word received here, two former Blair countians were killed in action and one Altoona resident is missing.

Dead: Cpl Joseph Ensminger, son of Rev. and Mrs. J. D. Ensminger, the former pastor of Lakemont Church of God seven years ago was killed in action in Luxembourg January 24.
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   Members of the Lakemont Church of God learned at church services Sunday that Cpl Joseph Ensminger, son of Rev. J. D. Ensminger, a former pastor of that church, has been killed in action in Belgium January 25.
   Rev. Ensminger is now pastor at Windsor, York county, having left the Lakemont church seven years ago ...
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[Altoona Tribune, Altoona, PA Feb 13, 1945, pgs 1 and 10]

Rites Planned For Windsor Soldier Killed In Belgium Windsor

   The body of Pvt.. Joseph Joseph D. Ensminger, who was killed in Belgium, Jan. 25, 1945. will arrive in York this afternoon at 3:23 p. m. escorted by Corp. James W. Geiger.
   Pvt. Ensminger, who was 19 years old at the time of his death, was the son of Rev. Joseph D. and Mrs. Maude R. Smith Ensminger, Windsor. He is the first soldier to be brought home in this area.
   Pvt. Ensminger received his basic training of the Tank Destroyer's Division at Camp Hood, Texas. Later he was transferred to the 71st Division at Camp Carson, Carson, Colo. He sailed June 21 on the Queen Elizabeth and landed in Glasgow. Scotland, June 26. From there he went to Abberly Hall, England, where he took paratroop training and was assigned to the 508th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airbourne Division as a paratrooper. His first major jump was made in Holland. He finally went to Germany in the Battle of the Bulge and was killed in action in this battle along the borderline in Belgium.
   Besides his parents he is survived by one brother, Gerald H. Ensminger, at home. The funeral will be held at the Burg Funeral home, Red Lion, Wednesday at 1:30 p. m. Rev. C. H. Lefever, pastor of a Lancaster Church of God. and. Rev. R. H. Darhl, pastor of the Landisville Church of God, will officiate. Interment will be made in the Marysville Church of God cemetery. cemetery.

[The Gazette and Daily, York, PA, 08 December, 1947, pg 10]

 

[left] Grave registration record for for Pvt Joseph D. Ensminger, Jr. in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Marysville (Perry county), Pennsylvania.

[center] Application for a grave marker to be installed for Pvt Ensminger

[right] Application for WWII Compensation To Be Used in Case of Death In Service as filed by parents of Pvt Ensminger.  They received $500.00

Joseph enlisted in the Army at Harrisburg PA on 24 July 1943.  Pvt Ensminger was assigned to Company F and was killed in action on 25 January 1945.