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Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700): Difference between revisions
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Ritchie Boy MSgt [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] was born in 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. In 1938, Fritz attended Started college in Geneva (Economics and Law). He emigrated to the United States from France in July 1939. He member of MII Team 446 attached to XVIII Corps (Airborne). At the outbreak of WWII, he was called back to serve in the Swiss Army. After completing his service In 1941, he returned to the US on a non-troop ship via Portugal. Fritz was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943 and he trained at Camps Upton, Lee, and Ritchie. He shipped out to England and was attached to the 18th Airborne as a French translator for Military Intelligence. At end of the war, he requested a transfer to the Office of Military Attache at the U.S | Ritchie Boy MSgt [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] was born in 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. In 1938, Fritz attended Started college in Geneva (Economics and Law). He emigrated to the United States from France in July 1939. He member of MII Team 446 attached to XVIII Corps (Airborne). At the outbreak of WWII, he was called back to serve in the Swiss Army. After completing his service In 1941, he returned to the US on a non-troop ship via Portugal. Fritz was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943 and he trained at Camps Upton, Lee, and Ritchie. He shipped out to England and was attached to the 18th Airborne as a French translator for Military Intelligence. At end of the war, he requested a transfer to the Office of Military Attache at the U.S. General Patton died one month later. In this SPECIAL ORDER of 21 October 1944, Ritchie Boy MSgt. [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] was recognized as a Qualified Gliderist and thus permitted to wear the Glider Badge. MSgt Bloch was in the Glider Corps. | ||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
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* Switzerland. No religious affiliation. | * Born 2 May 1911 in Switzerland. No religious affiliation. | ||
* 1940 — 1942 Served as 1st Lt. in Swiss Army. | |||
* ?28 June 1943? Enlisted as M/Sgt (ASN: 32967700) in Plymouth, PA (?). | |||
* 5 April 1944 — Graduated Class 16 (French Translator/Asst Interpreter). | |||
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Revision as of 12:47, 1 September 2026
| Fritz W. Bloch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1911 Grenchen, Switzerland |
| Died | 2003 |
| Nativity | Switzerland |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32967700 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Rank at Ritchie | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 16 (6 February – 5 April 1944) |
| Section | 7C |
| Enlisted | Plymouth, Pennsylvania |
| Team | MII 446-G |
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.
Fritz W. Bloch (1911–2003) was a Ritchie Boy (from Switzerland) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 16.
Biography
Ritchie Boy MSgt Fritz Bloch was born in 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. In 1938, Fritz attended Started college in Geneva (Economics and Law). He emigrated to the United States from France in July 1939. He member of MII Team 446 attached to XVIII Corps (Airborne). At the outbreak of WWII, he was called back to serve in the Swiss Army. After completing his service In 1941, he returned to the US on a non-troop ship via Portugal. Fritz was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943 and he trained at Camps Upton, Lee, and Ritchie. He shipped out to England and was attached to the 18th Airborne as a French translator for Military Intelligence. At end of the war, he requested a transfer to the Office of Military Attache at the U.S. General Patton died one month later. In this SPECIAL ORDER of 21 October 1944, Ritchie Boy MSgt. Fritz Bloch was recognized as a Qualified Gliderist and thus permitted to wear the Glider Badge. MSgt Bloch was in the Glider Corps.
Research notes
- MII 446
- Enlisted Man, Philippine Scout Or Recall To Ad Of An Enlisted Man Who Had Been Transferred To The Erc
- OCR (90%) of `1646020365419878.jpg` (gallery document).
- OCR (87%) of `1646017645420150.jpg` (gallery document) — dated 21 November 1945; 28 May 1947 — rank mentioned: Brigadier General.
- OCR mentioned officer rank Brigadier General (not auto-filled — verify).
Gallery
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 92 |
| Nara ASN | 32967700 |
| Nara Name | BLOCH FRITZ W |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 81 |
| Nara POE | 3299 |
| Nara DOE | 280646 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | M SG |
| Nara Grade Code | 1 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | NO |
| Nara Branch Code | 2 |
| Branch | No branch assignment |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 6 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the Panama Canal Department |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 6 |
| Nara Nativity | O2 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 11 |
| Nara Race | 1 |
| Nara Race Description | White citizen |
| Nara Education | 5 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 10 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 3 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 203 |
| Class_ASN | 32967700 |
| Class_Name | BLOCH, Fritz W. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline
- Born 2 May 1911 in Switzerland. No religious affiliation.
- 1940 — 1942 Served as 1st Lt. in Swiss Army.
- ?28 June 1943? Enlisted as M/Sgt (ASN: 32967700) in Plymouth, PA (?).
- 5 April 1944 — Graduated Class 16 (French Translator/Asst Interpreter).
Sources
- 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 2017-11-07 (3 posts)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2017-11-09 (2 posts)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2017-11-13 (1 post)
- OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 1646020365419878.jpg
- OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 1646017645420150.jpg
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Fritz W. Bloch for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Bloch, Fritz W. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: FRITZ W. BLOCH.doc)