Alex Penkala

Pfc. Alex M. Penkala, Jr. (1924- January 10, 1945) fought in World War II as part of Company E ("Easy Company") of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, U.S. 101st Airborne Division.

Penkala was a native of South Bend, Indiana. After training in Camp Toccoa, Georgia, Penkala made his first combat jump on the 6th of June, 1944 (D-Day) as part of Operation Chicago. In September 1944, he jumped into occupied Holland as part of Operation Market Garden, which eventually failed. After being pulled off the line, Easy Company returned to France, where they were transported to Bastogne, Belgium to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. Alex Penkala was killed in action, just outside the Belgian town of Foy, by fire from German artillery. His friend Warren "Skip" Muck was in the same foxhole at the time and was also killed.

Penkala is buried at the American cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg.

Alex Penkala was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Tim Matthews.

References

• "Band of Brothers" by Stephen E. Ambrose

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