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766. Pensacola's November Loss 11-12-1943 WWII

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Updated: Feb 27, 2022

US Army Sergeant Ezekiel "Zeke" Van Ellis was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 12, 1913, the son of Albert Ellis Jr. (1887-1951) and Emily Cox (1899-1938). Little is known about his parentage or his upbringing. He listed his birthplace as Pittsburgh however he is residing at 515 DeLeon Street in Pensacola, Florida in 1930 with his sister Anne Carter and working as a laborer. By 1940, he is apparently back in Pittsburgh where he enlisted in the US Army on April 1, 1941. However, he listed Pensacola as his point of contact so he was listed as a "Florida" casualty.


We do know that he was stationed permanently or temporarily at Camp Forrest, Tennessee with the rank of sergeant on November 12, 1943. Exactly, why he was there is unknown at the present time. This is because in 1943 the camp was used as a training area for infantry, artillery, engineer, signal organizations, and cooks. It was also the location of a military hospital as well as troops there to participate in maneuvers. And by 1942, it was being used as a POW camp for Italian and German prisoners of war. To make matters worst it also held Japanese, German, and Italian civilians being detained unconstitutionally under a program called "Alien Enemy Control."


So exactly what Sergeant Ellis' duty was at that time is unknown. He was listed as a "DNB or Death Non-Battle" casualty from an accidental gunshot wound to the head. This alone would strongly suggest that he may have been in a training status at the time of his death. According to his death certificate, he was dead on arrival at the base hospital. His remains were transported to the Philadelphia National Cemetery and buried there with full military honors.


Death Certificate 1943



Military Registration Card 1940






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