A photograph of a Pottstown soldier who was killed in the Pacific during World War II is being sought by a foundation trying to identify remains.
Carl M. Shaffer was born pon Feb. 21, 1921 in Pottstown to Herbert Donnell Shaffer and Katherine K. Shaffer, according to the Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation, which is seeking a photograph of him as part of its Tarawa Unknowns project.
The foundation says Shaffer was killed in the battle of Tarawa but whose remains were never recovered or identified.
He is currently an MIA from that action. One of the foundation’s missions is to help find, recover, and identify missing American servicemen and women from World War II and return them home to their families.
Shaffer married Helen E. Fox, also of Pottstown, and both attended Pottstown High School. Carl joined the U.S. Army Air Corps prior to September 1942 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Shaffer married Helen E. Fox, also of Pottstown, and both attended Pottstown High School. Carl joined the U.S. Army Air Corps prior to September 1942 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant.
He was killed on Jan. 21, 1944.
At the present time, the foundation's investigators and researchers are in need of a facial photograph of Staff Sgt. Shaffer to utilize a new computerized program which compares the cranial images of remains recovered on the battlefield with a pre-mortem facial photograph of a most likely match.
The foundation has found many references to Staff Sergeant Shaffer in the on-line versions of your local newspaper but no photographs. There is even a reference in a 1959 edition of your paper to something known as “Pottstown Portraits” which the article stated included a photo of Staff Sergeant Shaffer. Unfortunately, no photo can be found attendant to the article.
Any photograph of Shaffer would be helpful.
At the present time, the foundation's investigators and researchers are in need of a facial photograph of Staff Sgt. Shaffer to utilize a new computerized program which compares the cranial images of remains recovered on the battlefield with a pre-mortem facial photograph of a most likely match.
The foundation has found many references to Staff Sergeant Shaffer in the on-line versions of your local newspaper but no photographs. There is even a reference in a 1959 edition of your paper to something known as “Pottstown Portraits” which the article stated included a photo of Staff Sergeant Shaffer. Unfortunately, no photo can be found attendant to the article.
Any photograph of Shaffer would be helpful.
Do you know him? Do you have a photo?
You can contact the foundation through their web site -- https://chiefrickstone.com or contact John Armato at the Pottstown School District at 484-256-7491.