BIWER, Eugène

Registration Nr.:    07917 / S 0340
Birthday:    31.07.1930, Lintgen
Father:    Pierre BIWER
Mother:    Claire AUDRIT
Service entry:    09.03.1949
Contingent:    2nd
Ranks:    Soldat de 2e Classe
                  Soldat de 1re Classe (1952)
Death:    08.06.1953, Bitburg (GFR)

 

Eugene was conscripted into the Luxembourg Army between 9 March and 9 September 1949. Initially assigned to the Ist Battalion, he was transferred to the Corps de la Garde in May 1949.

He volunteered again in February 1952, joining the second Luxembourgish contingent. He served in the machine gun squad as an ammo carrier and rifleman. He was promoted to Soldat de 1re Classe in June 1952. In Korea, he allegedly found some gold crumbs which he brought back to Luxembourg.

Upon his return, he remained in the Army. According to his fellow soldiers, he was constantly plagued by anxiety and other symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). On 8 June 1953, he committed suicide in the Bitburg barracks in Germany. He was only 22 years old.