Soft launch: Soldier biographies and research notes vary in completeness. Prefer class-roster, NARA, newspapers, and other cited sources for contested facts — treat Research notes as leads, not settled history. Anyone can correct a page; contact us with questions.
Gerald Schlesinger
| Gerald Schlesinger | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1920 |
| Died | 2005 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32899263 |
| Rank | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 11 (25 August – 23 October 1943) |
| Section | 5D |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
| Team | IPW 71 |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Gerald Schlesinger (1920–2005) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11 and served with IPW Team 71.
Biography
Ritchie Boy Hess joined the US Army on April 29, 1943 as a private. He was transferred to Camp Ritchie and trained in the 11th Class, and graduated October 23, 1943. He arrived in England on May 10, 1944.
RB Eric Hess was assigned to IPW Team 71, which was attached to the 28th Infantry Division. His teammates included: Lt. Zachary Metz Class 16 Lt.
Research notes
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 85 |
| Nara ASN | 32899263 |
| Nara Name | SCHLESINGER GERALD |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 61 |
| Nara POE | 2364 |
| Nara DOE | 290443 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | NO |
| Nara Branch Code | 2 |
| Branch | No branch assignment |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 5 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | -1 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 20 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 4 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 405 |
| Nara Marital Status | 1 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 46 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 108 |
| Class_ASN | 32899263 |
| Class_Name | SCHLESINGER, Gerald |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Sources
- Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
- 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 2022-03-21 (1 post)