World War II Honoree

Jessie J. 'Dutch' Pirtle

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Waverly, Tennessee

Honored By

Edwin Pirtle

Relationship

Son

A MEMBER OF 509TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY THAT MADE THE FIRST COMBAT JUMP INTO A COMBAT ZONE IN WWII. ONE OF 30 ENLISTED MEN TRAINED IN DEMOLITION WHO VOLUNTEERED FOR A MISSION TO DROP BEHIND ENEMY LINES CHRISTMAS EVE 1942, TO DESTROY EL DJEM, A RAILWAY BRIDGE AND THE COMMUNICATION LINES SUPPLYING TUNIS, THE CAPITAL OF TUNISIA. THE NIGHT TIME MISSION WAS DISCOVERED WHILE STILL IN THE AIR AND THE OBJECTIVE OF THE MISSION WAS PRESUMED BY THE GERMANS TO BE THEIR TARGET. GERMAN DEFENSE OF THE BRIDGE DICTATED THE ALTERNATE TARGETS OF RAIL TRACKS AND COMMUNICATION LINES, WHICH WERE BLOWN UP. IMMEDIATELY, THE GERMANS PURSUED AND CAPTURED MANY OF THEM BEFORE THE DAY WAS OVER. THROUGHOUT THE WAR HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO MANY PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS ESCAPING ONCE FOR A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS ONLY TO BE RECAPTURED AND FINALLY TO BE LIBERATED ON APRIL 13, 1945. AWARDED COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTIST BADGE, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE BATTLE STARS FOR TUNISIAN AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. BECAUSE OF SEVER BEATINGS AND TREATMENT, WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH A DISABILITY PENSION FROM THE WELCH CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL, DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, DECEMBER 7, 1945.