World War II Honoree

Bill Heitzman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Union City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 331ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 83RD INFANTRY 'THUNDERBOLT' DIVISION. JOINED HIS DIVISION AS AN INDIVIDUAL REPLACEMENT DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE SOMETIME AFTER CHRISTMAS, 1944. ASSIGNED TO AN INFANTRY COMPANY WITH ONLY 28 MEN REMAINING OF AN ORIGINAL STRENGTH OF 100 SOLDIERS. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, HIS COMPANY WAS FIGHTING IN A SNOW-COVERED FOREST WHERE THE TREES WERE SPLINTERED FROM SHELLFIRE AND CRACKING AND FALLING FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE SNOW. SNOW ON THE GROUND WAS 2-3 FEET DEEP AND THE GROUND SO FROZEN THAT SOLDIERS USED TNT TO BLOW HOLES FOR FOXHOLES. TO AVOID FROZEN FEET, HE CHANGED SOCKS FREQUENTLY AND KEPT THE SPARE PAIR INSIDE HIS JACKET TO DRY. HE LEARNED QUICKLY NOT TO ENTER A WARMING TENT WITH HIS WEAPON, AS IT WOULD SWEAT, AND AFTER LEAVING THE TENT WOULD FROST OR FREEZE UP AND NOT FIRE. THERE WAS LITTLE HOT FOOD AND THE RATIONS THAT WERE AVAILABLE WERE EATEN COLD DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS. HE AND OTHERS DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEP WHILE IN THE LINE; MOSTLY NAPS, DUE TO THE CONSTANT NEED FOR LOCAL SECURITY AND PATROLLING. FIGHTING IN THE SNOW WAS AN ERIE EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT, BECAUSE OF THE DEAD BODIES UNDER THE SNOW THAT WOULD BE TRIPPED OVER OR VISIBLE IN GROTESQUE POSES. WHILE CLEARING A HOUSE IN THE TOWN OF HAMM, GERMANY, HE AND ANOTHER SOLDIER FIRED INTO THE DOOR OF A BUILDING AND TRIED TO BREAK THROUGH. THE DOOR WAS BLOCKED BY THE BODY OF A DYING GERMAN 'S.S.' OFFICER. AFTER ENTERING, HE RELIEVED THE DEAD OFFICER OF HIS LUGAR PISTOL AND PERSONAL PAPERS. ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT HURT DURING COMBAT, HIS CLOTHING WAS SUBJECTED TO BULLET AND SHRAPNEL HOLES. WHILE FIGHTING IN GERMANY, HE OBSERVED 3 GERMAN SOLDIERS HIDING WITH ANTI-TANK WEAPONS TO ENGAGE APPROACHING AMERICAN TANKS. HE SHOT 2 AND CAPTURED THE OTHER AND WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR FOR HIS ACTIONS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH BRONZE LETTER 'V' AND BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.