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.
Eric Hess
| Eric Hess | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 October 1924 Germany |
| Died | 15 March 2022 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32899350 |
| Rank | Technician Third Grade |
| Rank at Ritchie | 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.
Eric Hess (1924–2022) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11 and served with IPW Team 71.
Biography
Eric Hess (28 October 1924 – 15 March 2022) was a German-born Jewish Ritchie Boy who emigrated to the United States and enlisted in the U.S. Army on 29 April 1943. He trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11 (25 August–23 October 1943), arrived in England on 10 May 1944, and served overseas with IPW Team 71, attached to the 28th Infantry Division. Teammates included 2nd Lt. Zachary Metz, Ernest Fischl, Robert G. Gould, and Gerald Schlesinger. He died in Lakewood, New Jersey, at age 97.
Research notes
- 10/28/1924-A
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Nara ASN | 32899350 |
| Nara Name | HESS ERIC |
| 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 | N1 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 24 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 5 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 621 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 88 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 103 |
| Class_ASN | 32899350 |
| Class_Name | HESS, Eric |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline
- 10/28/1924 Born in Germany. Religion: Jewish.
- 4/29/1943 Joined Army at NYC as Pvt (32899350).
- 8/25/1943 Started Class 11 (German).
- Assigned to IPW Team 71 attached to the 28th Infantry Division Personnel of IPW 71:.
- Lt. Ernest Fischl (1911-1954) Class 8.
- Lt. Zachary Metz (1910-1995) Class 16.
- S/Sgt Hans Adler (1917- ? ) Class 9.
- T/3 Gerald Schlesinger (1920-2005) Class 11.
- T/5 Eric Hess (1924- A ) Class 11.
- T/Sgt Robert Gould (1915-1945) Class 11.
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 2021-06-21 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-03-21 (1 post)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Eric Hess for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Hess, Eric for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: ERIC HESS (2021).docx)