World War II Honoree

Loras Joseph Heck

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Garnovillo, Iowa

Honored By

Mary Ann Stroud

Relationship

Niece

SERVED IN ITALY FROM 1944 TO 1945. HE WAS SERVING WITH THE COMBAT ENGINEERS, GUARDING A MINE BY A BRIDGE, WHEN THE HEAD HAD GOTTEN SICK. SINCE HE HAD TRAINING AS A COOK, HE WAS ASKED TO HELP OUT FOR THE NIGHT. HE MADE SUCH A GOOD PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE THAT THE CAPTAIN ASKED HIM TO SWITCH DUTIES AND BECOME THE FIRST COOK. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE MESS SERGEANT WAS KILLED AND HE TOOK OVER AS MESS SERGEANT, SERVING THE FRONT LINE TROOPS FROM THE BACK OF A TRUCK. LATER HE WAS ASKED TO COOK FOR THE OFFICER'S MESS. RECEIVED 3 BATTLE STARS FROM THE ROME-ARNO GOTHIC LINE AND THE PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. AFTER THE WAR IN EUROPE WAS WON, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO BE PART OF THE INVASION OF JAPAN. HE WAS THE HEAD COOK ON A SHIP HEADED FOR THE PACIFIC WHEN THE SECOND ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED. HE NEVER FORGOT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CAME OVER THE LOUDSPEAKER AT 4:00AM ONE AUGUST MORNING, 'WE'RE CHANGING COURSE AND HEADING FOR HOME SWEET HOME'.