Karl A. Makela, Jr.
Biography: Karl Armas Makela, Jr. was born on June 28, 1912, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He was the son of Karlo Armas Makela, Sr. and Impi A.Tamminen and graduated from Fitchburg high school in 1930. While in school, he took part in both their wrestling and gymnastics programs as well as in his local community center.
His draft card shows he was working for Firestone Service Stores and his enlistment record indicates that he was working as an auto mechanic prior to the war.
Service Time: Karl entered the service on March 19, 1942, at Fort Devens, where he was processed and then sent for his basic training. He was eventually assigned to Company B of the 643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion and trained with them at a number of military facilities including, Camp Blanding, Florida, Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Camp Hood, Texas, the Desert Training Center and Camp Ibis, California, Camp Laguna, Arizona, Camp Gruber Oklahoma, and Camp Swift, Texas.
The unit shipped out from the Boston port on September 5, 1944, and arrived at Cherbourg, France, on September 15th. The 643rd was initially equipped with the 3″ towed anti-tank gun. Their first engagement was near Manhay, Belgium, on December 22, 1944. They crossed the Roer River on February 24th and were then re-equipped with M18’s in March and crossed the Rhine River at Wesel. It was right after departing from the Langelsheim, Germany in early April, that Karl was wounded and evacuated.
The rest of the unit continued to the Elbe River on their way to Zerbst, Germany. They were finally withdrawn to take up occupation duties in the Harz Mountains. Karl left the service at the rank of Sergeant on October 25, 1945, and returned to Fitchburg.
On October 26, 1946, Karl married the widowed Lila Wilhelmina Hyytinen who was also born in Fitchburg and was the daughter of Mattie Salo and Hilja Kalliomaki. Lila’s first husband was killed in action on July 9, 1944. in France. The new couple remained in Fitchburg and had a son, Michael, in 1956 and a daughter in 1959. The 1950 U.S. Census shows Karl working as a Calendar Operator for a paper manufacturer. He also worked as a custodian and in his spare time he enjoyed Cribbage. He was a member of the Masonic Temple. He passed away on January 31, 1992, and was buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Fitchburg.
I want to thank Karl’s grandson, Bryce, for providing the information and photos used in this tribute. Thank you also to Ben Savelkoul for the use of the grave marker photo.
