Schweinsberg

Pvt. Frederick G. Schweinsberg was born in Forest Park, Illinois, on August 5, 1918. He was the son of Alfred and Louise Schweinsberg. With his brother and two sisters, he lived at 443 Marengo Avenue in Forest Park and attended Grant-White Elementary School and Proviso Township High School. Frederick worked as a salesman for the A. B. Schweinsberg Real Estate Company, which was his family's business.

Frederick joined the Illinois National Guard and in November, 1940, he entered the army when the Maywood Tank Company was called into federal service. Frederick, with his company, trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky. It was during this training that Frederick became a member of the Headquarters Company of the 192nd Tank Battalion when the company was created in January of 1941. In the late summer of 1941, Frederick took part in maneuvers in Louisiana.

After the maneuvers, the 192nd was sent to Camp Polk, Louisiana. On a hillside, the entire battalion was informed that their tour of duty had been extended from one to six years. Those men over 26 years of age were released from military service. They were given passes to return home and take care of any unfinished business.

After returning to Camp Polk, Frederick and the rest of the battalion were sent by train to San Francisco. From there, they took ferries to Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. On the island, shots were given and preparations made for duty overseas.

In October 1940, Frederick was sent to the Philippines with the 192nd Tank Battalion. The battalion arrived there just two weeks before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In the Philippines, he worked with the company until American forces on Bataan were surrendered on April 9, 1942. Frederick was reported to have died near Cabcaban on April 12, 1942, while taking part in the death march. He was 23 years old. Since his final resting place is unknown, Frederick's name appears on the memorial wall in the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila.