Aloysious John “AJ” Lorentz was born on July 2, 1908, in Wadena, Wadena County, Minnesota. He was the son of Theodore Lorentz and Frances Catherine Tabery Lorentz. He attended St. Ann’s School and completed one year of high school in Wadena. After leaving school, he worked on his brother Joseph’s farm and later did other farm labor. Fifteen years ago, he began working as a truck driver for Lampert Lumber Company, where he remained until his induction into the Army. He had been in military service since April 1942 and overseas since November 1943. After leaving the United States, he was stationed in Ireland, later transferred to England, and entered France on D-Day. He served in the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, as a Staff Sergeant during World War II.

SSgt Lorentz was Killed in Action on August 26, 1944, during the Battle of Brest, France. He is now buried in the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-James, Département de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, weremember.abmc.gov