World War II Honoree

Charles Havlat

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dorchester, Nebraska

Honored By

Henry J. Zasowski, Jr.

Relationship

Miliary Historian

PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE HOLDS THE MORBID AND HISTORIC DISTINCTION OF BEING THE LAST KILLED IN ACTION OF WWII IN EUROPE, IN COMBAT AS A MEMBER OF THE 803RD TANK DESTROYER BATTALION. AT 0820 HOURS ON MAY 7, 1945, SIX HOURS AFTER GERMANY'S SURRENDER AT RHEIMS, FRANCE, HE TOOK A BULLET THROUGH HIS HELMET AND DIED INSTANTLY. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED MERELY 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE CEASE-FIRE TOOK EFFECT AT 0830 HOURS.