World War II Honoree

Francis J. Herbert

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Linda D. Herbert

Relationship

Wife

SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA WITH THE BRITISH-AMERICAN INVASION IN NOVEMBER 1942. SERVED IN ARMORED ARTILLERY WITH II CORPS. RODE INTO KASSERINE PASS TO DO BATTLE WITH ROMMEL'S AFRIKA CORPS. WHEN IT WAS OVER FEBRUARY 28, 1943, THE UNIT WAS OVERRUN EARLY IN THE FIGHT AND HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER. BEING FLUENT IN GERMAN, WAS ABLE TO GET A MEETING WITH ROMMEL WHERE HE CONVINCED HIM THAT HE DEFEATED AN INEXPERIENCED GROUP OF SOLDIERS THAT HAD ONLY BEEN IN UNIFORM A MATTER OF MONTHS. ROMMEL AGREED AND ORDERED THE WOUNDED TO BE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL IN REGENSBURG, THE FIRST ARMY HOSPITAL IN GERMANY. SPENT THE REST OF THE WAR AT THE HOSPITAL AS A PRIS'S END HE WAS FREED.