World War II Honoree

Carl Heckmann

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Navasota, Texas

Honored By

Mark Heckmann

Relationship

Son

CHAPLAIN (CAPTAIN). SERVED WITH THE 314TH REGIMENT, 79TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATERS OF OPERATION. HE LANDED AT UTAH BEACH, NORMANDY ON JUNE 17, 1944. HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1944 DURING COMBAT AT MEURTHE RIVER IN NORTHEASTERN FRANCE AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED THE SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART AND PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. RECEIVED SILVER STAR FOR VOLUNTEERING HIS ASSISTANCE AS A LITTER BEARER. THE ONLY ROUTE TO WOUNDED MEN WAS OVER OPEN TERRAIN, SUBJECT TO ENEMY OBSERVATION AND INTENSE FIRE. HE MADE REPEATED TRIPS AND EVACUATED CASUALTIES UNTIL HE WAS CAUGHT IN THE ENEMY FIRE AND SEVERELY WOUNDED. AFTER RECOVERING FROM HIS WOUNDS, HE RETURNED TO THE 79TH DIVISION IN DECEMBER 1944 AND CONTINUED TO SERVE UNTIL RETURNING TO THE U.S. IN DECEMBER 1945. HIS AWARDS INCLUDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH FOUR BRONZE SERVICE STARS FOR PARTICIPATION IN NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS.