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Skala, Peter H. (01326224): Difference between revisions
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|surname=Skala | |surname=Skala | ||
|first=Peter | |first=Peter | ||
|middle= | |middle=Hans | ||
|class_section=5A | |class_section=5A | ||
|class_rank=Pvt | |class_rank=Pvt | ||
|birth_year=1924 | |birth_year=1924 | ||
|death_year=2017 | |death_year=2017 | ||
|nativity= | |nativity=Austria | ||
|religion= | |religion=Protestant | ||
|ipw_ge=101 | |ipw_ge=101 | ||
|overseas=Y | |overseas=Y | ||
|rank_final= | |rank_final=First Lieutenant | ||
|certificate=3548 | |certificate=3548 | ||
|confidence=medium | |confidence=medium | ||
|class_number=10 | |class_number=10 | ||
|class_display=10 | |class_display=10 | ||
|awards=Silver Star | |awards=Silver Star; Purple Heart; French Legion of Honor | ||
|awards_grid=Silver Star | |awards_grid=Silver Star;;Purple Heart;;French Legion of Honor | ||
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.png | |awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Legion_Honneur_Chevalier.png | ||
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.png | |awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Legion_Honneur_Chevalier.png | ||
|awards_extra=Listed in [[By The Numbers/Awards]] (from ''Ritchie Boy Secrets'' by Beverley Driver Eddy). | |awards_extra=Listed in [[By The Numbers/Awards]] (from ''Ritchie Boy Secrets'' by Beverley Driver Eddy). | ||
|death_place=London, England | |||
|death_date=3 April 2017 | |||
|birth_place=Austria | |||
|birth_date=3 September 1924 | |||
}} | }} | ||
<div class="soldier-lead"> | <div class="soldier-lead"> | ||
'''Peter H. Skala''' (1924 | '''[[Skala, Peter H. (01326224)|Peter Hans Skala]]''' (1924 – 3 April 2017) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 10 and served with IPW Team 101. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Peter Hans Skala was born on 3 September 1924 in Austria. His family fled after Kristallnacht in 1938. While a student at Queens College he enlisted in the Army on 5 April 1943 and graduated from Camp Ritchie with Class 10 as an interrogator (IPW Team 101). | |||
Assigned to the 95th Infantry Division in France, Skala used German-language skills to persuade enemy soldiers to surrender. During the capture of Metz in October 1944 he earned the Silver Star for gallantry; he also received the Purple Heart. He later received the French Legion of Honor (2014). | |||
After the war Skala earned B.A. (1947) and M.A. (1949) degrees at Yale and worked in international marketing and executive search, including Boyden International posts in Brussels and London. He died in London on 3 April 2017. | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
* Silver Star; Legion of Honor | * Silver Star; Legion of Honor | ||
* | * Fixed malformed live birth_place/death_place strings. Purple Heart added from the packet alongside the existing Silver Star and Legion of Honor display. City of birth within Austria is not asserted. | ||
== Technical record == | == Technical record == | ||
| Line 54: | Line 59: | ||
| row_source || both | | row_source || both | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 3 September 1924 — Born in Austria. | |||
* 1938 — Family fled Austria after Kristallnacht. | |||
* 5 April 1943 — Enlisted while a student at Queens College. | |||
* 1943–1944 — Graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 10); assigned to IPW Team 101 with the 95th Infantry Division. | |||
* October 1944 — Awarded the Silver Star for gallantry at Metz. | |||
* 1947 — Received a B.A. from Yale. | |||
* 1949 — Received an M.A. from Yale. | |||
* 2014 — Received the French Legion of Honor. | |||
* 3 April 2017 — Died in London, England. | |||
</div> | |||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
* Camp Ritchie | * Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Peter H. Skala for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; selected non-private findings) | ||
* RB Archive biographical note for 1LT Peter Hans Skala (Class 10; Yale; Purple Heart; Silver Star; French Legion d’Honneur 2014) | |||
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data | |||
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records | |||
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present) | * NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present) | ||
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present) | * 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present) | ||
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-27 (1 post) | |||
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Peter H. Skala for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 2 source documents reviewed) | |||
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Skala, Peter H. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 2 source files: PETER SKALA (2020).doc, PETER SKALA.doc) | |||
Latest revision as of 23:23, 16 September 2026
| Peter Hans Skala | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 September 1924 Austria |
| Died | 3 April 2017 London, England |
| Nativity | Austria |
| Religion | Protestant |
| Awards | Silver Star; Purple Heart; French Legion of Honor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 01326224 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Rank at Ritchie | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 10 (23 July – 20 September 1943) |
| Section | 5A |
| Team | IPW 101 |
Awards and honors
|
|
|
| Silver Star | Purple Heart | French Legion of Honor |
- Listed in By The Numbers/Awards (from Ritchie Boy Secrets by Beverley Driver Eddy).
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Peter Hans Skala (1924 – 3 April 2017) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 10 and served with IPW Team 101.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Peter Hans Skala was born on 3 September 1924 in Austria. His family fled after Kristallnacht in 1938. While a student at Queens College he enlisted in the Army on 5 April 1943 and graduated from Camp Ritchie with Class 10 as an interrogator (IPW Team 101).
Assigned to the 95th Infantry Division in France, Skala used German-language skills to persuade enemy soldiers to surrender. During the capture of Metz in October 1944 he earned the Silver Star for gallantry; he also received the Purple Heart. He later received the French Legion of Honor (2014).
After the war Skala earned B.A. (1947) and M.A. (1949) degrees at Yale and worked in international marketing and executive search, including Boyden International posts in Brussels and London. He died in London on 3 April 2017.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
- Silver Star; Legion of Honor
- Fixed malformed live birth_place/death_place strings. Purple Heart added from the packet alongside the existing Silver Star and Legion of Honor display. City of birth within Austria is not asserted.
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 93 |
| Class_ASN | 32883052 |
| Class_Name | SKALA, Peter H. |
| match_method | pass2_unique_name |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 3 September 1924 — Born in Austria.
- 1938 — Family fled Austria after Kristallnacht.
- 5 April 1943 — Enlisted while a student at Queens College.
- 1943–1944 — Graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 10); assigned to IPW Team 101 with the 95th Infantry Division.
- October 1944 — Awarded the Silver Star for gallantry at Metz.
- 1947 — Received a B.A. from Yale.
- 1949 — Received an M.A. from Yale.
- 2014 — Received the French Legion of Honor.
- 3 April 2017 — Died in London, England.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Peter H. Skala for Camp Ritchie (private research document; selected non-private findings)
- RB Archive biographical note for 1LT Peter Hans Skala (Class 10; Yale; Purple Heart; Silver Star; French Legion d’Honneur 2014)
- Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
- Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-27 (1 post)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Peter H. Skala for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 2 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Skala, Peter H. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 2 source files: PETER SKALA (2020).doc, PETER SKALA.doc)