OBIT: George William READER, 2003, Tyrone, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Miller
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_______________________________________________ 

GEORGE WILLIAM READER 

  George William Reader died at 9:10 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2003 while 
residing at Epworth Manor in Tyrone.
  He was born in Tyrone on March 22, 1915, attended Tyrone High School 
and later attended a barber and beauty school, and then worked with his 
father as a barber in Reader's Barber Shop, then in downtown Tyrone.
  He, as with many brave American men, was called to war to defend his 
country during World War II. He had a very distinguished military 
service as a corporal in the 190th Field Artillery Group of the First 
U.S. Army, later to be assigned to the Third U.S. Army. He landed at 
Omaha Beach on June 8, 1944 to participate in the third day of battle 
of the still intensive fight for possession of Normandy. As a jeep 
messenger, he carried messages between the Field Headquarters Group and 
the 190th Artillery Group.
  As the was progressed, George's Corps earned the very unique 
distinctions during their movement from Normandy to their final 
destination in Czechoslovakia, of being the first on the beaches, the 
first to fire, the first in Paris, the first in Germany, the first to 
cross the Rhine, the first through the Siegfried Line, the first to 
contact the Russians, and the last to fire on May 7, 1945...and George, 
with the personal distinction of wearing out four different jeeps 
during the campaign to transverse mine fields, enemy positions, and 
enemy gun fire.
  He received military decorations for 190th Field Artillery Group 
Service, Pre Pearl Harbor Service, a Good Conduct Medal, an American 
Defense Ribbon, a World War II Victory Ribbon, and a Ribbon for the 
European Theater of Operations with an Arrowhead and five Battle Stars. 
But sadly, he also received 100 percent disability as a result of his 
unselfish sacrifice for his country's freedom. His family and his 
friends will always grant George that very special and beloved 
distinction in their hearts and minds as being a "True American Hero."
  He was preceded in death by his parents, George McClellan Reader and 
Rose M. Reader (nee Mentzer); his brother, Robert; and his sisters, 
Shirley Ricciotti and Marie Kingston.
  He is survived by his niece, Connie M. Sartoio of Naples, Fla. and 
Norwalk, Conn.; and two nephews, Robert Schetrompf of Lynchburg, Va. 
and Walter Schetrompf of Cary, N.C.
  Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003 at 11 a.m. at 
the Derman Funeral Home, Inc., Tyrone. Interment and flag presentation 
will be at Eastlawn Cemetery.
  Friends will be received at the funeral home on Monday from 7-9 p.m. 
  In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to Epworth 
Manor, 951 Washington Ave., Tyrone, Pa, 16686.  

Tyrone Daily Herald, September 13, 2003