World War II Honoree

Kurt Vonnegut

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Indianapolis, Indiana

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

WHILE AT CORNELL, HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY. THE ARMY TRANSFERRED HIM TO THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE TO STUDY MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. HE LEFT FOR GERMANY AS A PRIVATE WITH THE 423RD INFANTRY REGIMENT, 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION, AND PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE ON DECEMBER 19, 1944. HE AND THE OTHERS WERE CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE FIRST ARMY AND WERE OBLIGED TO STAY AND FIGHT. ON DECEMBER 22ND HE WAS CAPTURED DURING THE BATTLE AND IMPRISONED IN DRESDEN. HE WAS CHOSEN AS A LEADER OF THE PRISONERS BECAUSE HE SPOKE SOME GERMAN. WHILE A PRISONER, HE WITNESSED THE FIRE BOMBING OF DRESDEN IN FEBRUARY 1945 WHICH DESTROYED MOST OF THE CITY WHEN ALLIED BOMBS CREATED A FIRESTORM. THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATTACK WAS UTTER DESTRUCTION AND CARNAGE. THE GERMANS PUT HIM AND THE OTHER PRISONERS TO WORK, BREAKING INTO BASEMENTS AND BOMB SHELTERS TO GATHER BODIES FOR MASS BURIAL. HE SURVIVED BY HUDDLING WITH OTHER PRISONERS OF WAR INSIDE AN UNDERGROUND MEAT LOCKER USED BY THE GERMANS AS AN AD HOC DETENTION FACILITY. THE GERMANS CALLED THE BUILDING SCHLACHTHOF FÜNF (SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE). HE WAS LIBERATED BY RED ARMY TROOPS IN MAY 1945 AT THE SAXONY-CZECHOSLOVAKIAN BORDER. UPON RETURNING TO AMERICA, HE WAS AWARDED A PURPLE HEART, AFTER SUFFERING A CASE OF FROSTBITE.