Harry E. Christner was born on June 1, 1918 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Urias J. Christner and Sevilla C. Coleman Christner. Harry enlisted in the Army on November 28, 1940, prior to the war, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Farm Hand and also as Single, without dependents. He received his basic training in Plattsburg, NY and was transferred successively from there to Fort Devens, Mass., Camp Blanding, Fla., Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Benning, GA and finally to Indiantown Gap, PA. He was sent overseas to England in July 1942, and served with the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division in Scotland, North Africa, Sicily, and back in England. With his company, he invaded France on D-Day, serving as post clerk for his company. Harry was "Killed In Action" near Marigny, Manche, France during the war and is now buried in Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France. He also has a cenotaph located in Union Cemetery, Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Source of information: The Republic, Meyersdale, PA, Thursday, August 31, 1944, www.findagrave.com