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Private First Class Alex M. Penkala, Jr. (1924 - January 10, 1945) was a paratrooper with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Penkala was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers byTim Matthews.

Penkala was born inSouth Bend, Indianain 1924. He had 12 brothers and sisters. His mother died when she had her thirteenth child, and Alex’s sister, Irene, looked after Alex and the others. His family was from Finland. He dropped out of high school during his sophomore year. Enlisting in the army on February 27, 1942 atToledo, Ohio, he also became a cook

In August 1942 after training inCamp Toccoa,Georgia, Penkala made his first combat jump on June 6, 1944 (D-Day) as part ofOperation Overlord. In September 1944, he jumped into occupiedHollandas part ofOperation Market Garden, which eventually failed. After being pulled off the line, Easy Company returned to France, where they were transported toBastogne, Belgium to fight in theBattle of the Bulge. Alex Penkala was killed in action, just outside theBelgiantown ofFoy, by fire from Germanartillery. His friendSergeantWarren “Skip” Muckwas in the same foxhole at the time and was also killed. Penkala is buried at the American cemetery inHamm, Luxembourg.

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