Person:William Valk (3)

John Chester "Chet" Valk was born 7 February 1914 in Grand Rapids. When he was born, his name was entered as William Thomas Valk on his birth certificate. It may have been a transposition error – in other words, he may have originally been named Thomas William Valk. However, the family later decided on John Chester or “Chet” for short, but never had it recorded. When he joined the U. S. Army during World War II and had to obtain his birth certificate for identity purposes, the name "William Thomas Valk" was discovered. He had it legally changed. Chet was a paratrooper for the 101st Airborne, U.S. Army, and was killed in action on 31 December 1944 over Foy, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. He was buried at Rosedale Memorial Park, which lies on the Ottawa – Kent county line, Michigan. He had been married to Elfriede (Lomker) Valk (1920 - 1983), who was the first wife of his brother Bill; and was raising his nephew, James Frederick Valk (1939 - 1958), as a son

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Geboorte-overlijden, in Find A Grave
   Find A Grave, 31 dec 1944.

   Find A Grave

2. ↑ Rootsweb.ancestry.com.

   Obitaury Chet Valk

3. ↑ Battle of the Bulge
   1944.

   Battle of the Bulge