Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment
Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources
Line 20: Line 20:
|death_date=10 May 2017
|death_date=10 May 2017
|arm_or_service=Coast Artillery Corps
|arm_or_service=Coast Artillery Corps
|birth_place=Netherlands
|rank_final=2nd Lt
}}
}}


Line 30: Line 28:
== Biography ==
== Biography ==
. Rene was born November 22nd 1919 in The Hague, Netherlands. Rene and his younger brother Georges spent their formative years growing up in Brussels, Belgium. Rene's father, Jean was an industrialist, art collector, and champion horse owner. Rene graduated from the University of Brussels just as WWII was breaking out in Europe. His family escaped through a perilous car journey to the Pyrenees Mountains in the South of France. While his parents and Georges were evading the Nazis by sleeping out in remote farm houses, Rene enlisted in the Free French Army. Rene immediately enlisted in the US Army and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. Rene was assigned back to Europe where he was part of military intelligence interviewing people fleeing across the English Channel to insure they were not spies. Rene was part of D-Day and landed in Normandy under extreme conditions. One of Rene's favorite war stories detailed how he and his Sergeant got ahead of the other allied troops and much to their surprise would arrive in their jeep in towns that hadn't been officially liberated yet. Rene was awarded the highest honors for his performance throughout the war. From the provisional French Government under General Charles de Gaulle, Rene was awarded the Croix de Geurre for his contribution to the liberation of the French Republic. From the USA under the orders of General Eisenhower, Rene was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Oak Leaf Cluster. At the conclusion of the war, Rene reunited with his family who were already residing in Manhattan, NY. Soon after arriving back in the States, Rene went to work for the IBM Corporation. Rene met his future wife Marjory Diemer at a formal dance at the Anchor and Saber Club in New York City. Rene would rise to become a top executive at IBM World Trade where his linguistic skills came in handy.
. Rene was born November 22nd 1919 in The Hague, Netherlands. Rene and his younger brother Georges spent their formative years growing up in Brussels, Belgium. Rene's father, Jean was an industrialist, art collector, and champion horse owner. Rene graduated from the University of Brussels just as WWII was breaking out in Europe. His family escaped through a perilous car journey to the Pyrenees Mountains in the South of France. While his parents and Georges were evading the Nazis by sleeping out in remote farm houses, Rene enlisted in the Free French Army. Rene immediately enlisted in the US Army and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. Rene was assigned back to Europe where he was part of military intelligence interviewing people fleeing across the English Channel to insure they were not spies. Rene was part of D-Day and landed in Normandy under extreme conditions. One of Rene's favorite war stories detailed how he and his Sergeant got ahead of the other allied troops and much to their surprise would arrive in their jeep in towns that hadn't been officially liberated yet. Rene was awarded the highest honors for his performance throughout the war. From the provisional French Government under General Charles de Gaulle, Rene was awarded the Croix de Geurre for his contribution to the liberation of the French Republic. From the USA under the orders of General Eisenhower, Rene was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Oak Leaf Cluster. At the conclusion of the war, Rene reunited with his family who were already residing in Manhattan, NY. Soon after arriving back in the States, Rene went to work for the IBM Corporation. Rene met his future wife Marjory Diemer at a formal dance at the Anchor and Saber Club in New York City. Rene would rise to become a top executive at IBM World Trade where his linguistic skills came in handy.
<!-- Dan Gross timeline enrichment -->
The timeline research also records High school and university in Belgium. Worked as tabulating machine operator. Menzel also served as an Investigating Officer with the War Crimes Branch. Served as interviewer of people fleeing the continent.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
Line 53: Line 48:
| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 11/22/1919 Born in Netherlands.
* 8/1943 Assigned to Camp Ritchie.
* Assigned as CO of MII 415 attached to 2nd Infantry Division.
* Graduated as 2nd Lt. (ASN 01054061) with Class 11 PI and SC 1 Fr.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
Line 70: Line 55:
* 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 2022-12-13 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-13 (1 post)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Rene E. Menzel for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Menzel, Rene E. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: RENE E. MENZEL.doc)